Periwinkle: planting and care in the open field, agricultural cultivation

Periwinkle, belonging to the Kutrovye family, is an evergreen perennial plant. The shrub is famous for its unpretentiousness to living conditions, therefore it has long been a symbol of vitality. Thanks to this feature, many magical legends are dedicated to the flower: it was believed that the twigs of the plant were able to detect and exorcise evil spirits. How to properly plant and care for the periwinkle in the open field so that the plant becomes the highlight of the garden?

General characteristics of the flower

Periwinkle is a shrub or shrub with creeping or vertical shoots.The surface of the oval leaves is glossy, the color is deep green. Leaf plates of certain varieties are framed by a border or covered with light beige spots. Solitary funnel-shaped flowers are painted in purple, pink or white.

The effectiveness of the plant lies in the structure: bright flowers are formed at the end of vertically directed long peduncles. Flowering beginning in spring is stretched, long. In place of withered flowers, fruits are formed - a pair of cylindrical plates attached to each other

Types and varieties

Biologists know about ten types of periwinkle, but only three of them have gained popularity among gardeners. Given the large number of varieties, this is quite enough for everyone to choose a flower according to their taste and growing conditions.

Periwinkle large

View with horizontally curly and vertical shoots. Leaf plates are ovoid, large. The leaf length is often 9 centimeters.The blue or blue flower is divided into 5 petals, the transverse diameter of which is 5 centimeters. Depending on the place of growth, the leaf plates and flowers of the large species are narrow, and the shoots are pubescent.

Covered with flowers in May-June. The winter hardiness of the plant is good, but in those parts of the country where winter is not abundant in snow, periwinkle can not do without a layer of insulation.

Periwinkle pink

Pink catharanthus or Madagascar periwinkle - a shrub 50 centimeters high, which arrived in our area from the island of Java. The shiny surface of oval leaves is divided in the middle by a thick vein. Large flowers consisting of 5 petals are placed at the end of thin green shoots. The duration of flowering pink periwinkle - 10 months.

Small periwinkle

Ground cover flower with curly 60 cm shoots. The diameter of the leaves is 3-5 centimeters.On 20-centimeter peduncles, flowers are formed, shaped like funnels with a diameter of 2.5 centimeters. Flowering species small falls in May or June. The duration of the period is 30 days.

Periwinkle herbaceous

Flower with creeping shoots covered with elliptical glossy foliage. Placed on a 15-centimeter peduncle, single flowers are painted in blue-violet. Flowering begins at the end of May and lasts 27-30 days. The herbaceous variety is endowed with resistance to low temperatures, however, in regions with little snowy winters, it is better to cover the shoots with spruce branches.

Ampel periwinkle

Perennial species intended for growing indoors. The height of the plant does not exceed 20, and the diameter of the flower is 4-5 centimeters. The ampelous variety is grown in an apartment and a garden.

Kiff's Periwinkle

A flower that was specially bred by specialists for cultivation at home. During the flowering period, the Kiff variety is strewn with large flowers of bright pink color. It is rare to see a variety with burgundy flowers.

Periwinkle Variegata

Variegated perennial with creeping branches up to 80 centimeters long. Plant height - 30-40 centimeters. Variegated has thick, smooth-skinned, dark green leaves that border wide stripes. Violet-blue funnel-shaped flowers up to 4 centimeters in diameter. The frost resistance of the Variegata variety is high. Flowering lasts from May to June.

Periwinkle Atropurpurea

Compact shrub covered with small leaves: their size does not exceed 3 centimeters. The length of the shoots growing in the horizontal direction varies from 30 to 80 centimeters. Thanks to the rooting of the stems, it can reproduce on its own. The flowers are large, purple-purple. Atropurpurea prefers to grow in shady or semi-shaded areas with well-drained soil.

Small periwinkle Plena

The ground cover variety differs from a number of other varieties in double, lush blue flowers.The leaves are dark green, elongated. Curly shoots grow in length by 30-80 centimeters per year and quickly braid the nearby territory. Captivity likes to grow in partial shade or shade and is resistant to low temperatures.

White periwinkle

Herbaceous evergreen plant with creeping rooting stems. White, large flowers consist of 5 petals. Flowering period - May-June.

Specific flower cultivation

Periwinkle is one of those plants that do not require any special care. All the flower needs is some water and fertilizer. Thanks to this feature, both inexperienced gardeners and summer residents who come to the site once a month can successfully grow it.

Choosing a seat

Depending on the requirements of the species, the shrub is planted in a place protected from the northern winds, in a weak or full shade. Since excess moisture provokes the development of fungal diseases, groundwater should not lie close to the surface at the landing site.

How and when to sow seeds

Periwinkle is one of those plants that can be planted regardless of the season. Sowing material is sown in early spring, before winter or on a rainy summer day. In a box with loose soil, a groove is made and at a depth of 1 centimeter, the seeds are laid out in it in increments of 1-2 centimeters. The box is placed in a dark place or covered with a piece of black polyethylene.

Boarding process

Planting of young plants is carried out in separate holes, with a step of 35-40 centimeters. The roots are straightened and sprinkled with nutritious loose soil, slightly crushed. A new flower is watered with a moderate amount of water.

Further periwinkle care

In order for the flower to be as magnificent as possible, the plant needs to provide favorable conditions for active growth. The condition of the bush is influenced by such factors.

Lighting

The plant needs a lot of light only at a young age. Adult specimens prefer to grow in partial shade or shade. In the sun, the bushes become liquid.

Temperature

The temperature in the room until germination should be +23 C. As soon as the sprouts appear on the surface, the box is placed on the windowsill, and the temperature is reduced to +20 C. Plants aged 2-3 years are comfortable at a temperature of +20 , +24 C.

Moisture and watering

Periwinkle is not very picky about humidity, so it grows well even with a minimum amount of watering. In the southern regions, where the sun's rays are especially active, the frequency of watering is slightly increased: the plant will be lush and, accordingly, beautiful.

Does the periwinkle need a transplant?

Most experienced gardeners believe that the periwinkle can grow well in one place for many years.Transplantation is necessary only when the shrub has captured areas where other cultivated plants grow. In this case, the bush is carefully dug up and transferred to another place.

Cutting

To activate the tillering process, pinch all the stems of the plant. After the procedure, the bush becomes more compact and lush. After the end of spring flowering, the periwinkle is trimmed, and cuttings are cut from he althy stems. Although autumn is the time for preparatory work, there is no need to prune an evergreen before winter.

Soil

The soil for planting should be loose, nutritious and drained. Acidic soils must be neutralized before planting. Before planting a plant, poor soil is fertilized with rotted manure or mullein solution.

Fertilizers

Complex mineral or organic fertilizers are used as a nutrient mixture for feeding a flower. The most effective application of leaf humus or compost.

We fight pests and diseases

In conditions of high humidity, periwinkle is affected by powdery mildew and rust. Strong fungicides are used to control diseases. For the treatment of powdery mildew, the bush is sprayed with Topaz, Skor, Quadris, and Bordeaux mixture, Kuproksat is suitable for rust.

Among insects, only aphids attack the flower. Processing is carried out with Fufanon, Karbofos.

Breeding methods

Periwinkle propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering. For amateur gardeners, experts recommend using one of the vegetative methods for breeding a flower. Growing a flower from a seed is harder and takes much longer.

The stalk is cut from the middle part of he althy matured shoots. The interval between planting material is 20-30 centimeters. Landing on the site is carried out in spring or late summer.

Evergreen species are propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, the shoot in one place is tightly pressed to the ground and fixed with a metal pin or applied with pebbles. The next year, when normal roots are formed, the branch is cut off. If you use this method, the probability that reproduction will be successful will be almost one hundred percent.

Periwinkle in landscape design

Evergreen flower in the shortest possible time braids everything around with lush stems. The plant is decorated with borders, ridges. Looks beautiful in mixborders and between trees. The green carpet is combined with hyacinths, blueberries, lungwort, forget-me-not.

When growing a flower in a small garden, do not forget about correcting the direction and length of the stems. If left unchecked, it can quickly braid around and overwhelm other small plants.

When to collect and how to store periwinkle seeds?

Seeds are harvested after the end of the flowering period. Depending on the species, seed harvesting is carried out from the end of June to September. Ripe boxes are torn off from the shoots, opened and poured planting material onto a paper sheet .

It is recommended to keep the seeds in an envelope or bag placed in a dry, well-ventilated place. On the eve of sowing, they are disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. However, since growing from seeds takes a long time, only enthusiasts should do it.

Periwinkle is a colorful flower, absolutely undemanding to soils and growing conditions. The shrub looks great in any part of the garden: be it between trees, in a mixborder, on a border or in a flower bed with bulbous flowers. Thanks to its “independence”, the plant can be successfully grown both by amateur flower growers and busy summer residents.

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