How to grow phacelia in the country as fertilizer
Siderata are actively used by summer residents to improve soil quality. It could be peas mustard, clover, oats, rye and other plants. However, plantings can spoil the overall landscape design. Experienced gardeners know how to grow phacelia in the country in order to enrich the land with the necessary amount of trace elements, while maintaining the aesthetics of the appearance of the site.
How to grow phacelia in the country
Visually, the plant is a culture with blue-purple flowers and a sweet aroma. These characteristics are a magnet for bees, so there is no problem of pollination. Phacelia blooms for 3 days, after which the plant is mowed and used as fertilizer.
Despite the fact that planting and caring for phacelia in the open field is not difficult, a limited number of unpretentious plant species take root in mid-latitudes. There are only 4 types out of 200 available.
The seeded area prevents unwanted grass from growing. It is permissible to be planted together with agricultural crops. Therefore, the most popular cultivation in the country is phacelia, as a source of weed control. The vitamin and mineral balance is not disturbed.
Despite being invulnerable to external factors, the plant painfully tolerates transplantation. The honey plant does not take root in a new place, therefore it is recommended to plant a new portion of seeds in the selected area.
Phacelia sowing technology
The popularity of green manure is based on its versatility. The plant takes root on any type of soil, hiding external imperfections. The summer resident does not need to calculate the lighting level, clay content and the degree of nutrient enrichment.
The only condition for the growth of phacelia seeds is moisture. A significant proportion of seeds die during drought.
Planting phacelia seeds consists of several stages:
- choose a site requiring "fortification" and getting rid of weeds;
- make a 3 cm depression in the ground;
- water. The soil must be moist, so you need to wait until the water is completely absorbed;
- mix seeds with sand, place in a dug niche.
Due to the short life cycle, the plant can be planted several times per season. Frequent planting in one area accumulates nutrients in the upper layers. When digging, trace elements are evenly distributed over deep layers.
Phacelia can be grown in the country from early spring to late autumn. There are no restrictions on the recommended dates. Frosts do not harm the seeds. The land does not need rest between plantings, so re-seeding is available immediately after flowering ends.
At the end of the cycle, gardeners use several methods of cleaning dead wood.:
- the stems are removed, crushed, evenly distributed over the area, dug up;
- the soil is cultivated along with the plant remains.
The first method takes more time, but allows you to provide a different location with biological material. The second one feeds only a selected fragment of the territory.
Features of collecting seed
The fastest and most proven breeding method is seeds. Minimal hassle with high productivity.
Before properly harvesting phacelia seeds, you will need:
- scissors or secateurs;
- containers for stacking inflorescences (basin or basket);
- gloves. Acute dryness can be injured.
After making sure that the spikelets are ready, you can start the procedure. "Umbrellas" with a part of the stem are cut and placed in a container. After processing the entire territory, the inflorescences are peeled. It is recommended not to combine the processes - some of the material will be lost. Within the backyard area, the event is held manually. Industrial volumes are processed with special agricultural machinery.
Carry out work in dry weather. Rains and high humidity spoil the quality of raw materials. If weather conditions impede natural processing, the plucked "cobs" should be placed in a dry, ventilated room to remove excess moisture.
The final stage is final drying. For this, a platform is prepared under a canopy, onto which seeds are poured in a thin layer. It is appropriate to use a fine mesh as a frame. Avoid direct sunlight. Optimal conditions are accommodation in partial shade. The material is periodically mixed for uniform drying. If the procedure is carried out indoors, ventilation is provided. The lack of fresh air negatively affects the quality, provoking rotting. The finished product is poured to remove the remains of bolls and husks.
Storing phacelia seeds
The shelf life of treated seeds is 5-8 years. This makes it possible to provide a reserve for many years of disembarkation. Suitable for processing large plantations. The question is also being resolved - when to plant: growing phacelia from seeds is carried out on demand. The summer resident does not need to wait for the ripening of fresh plantings.
So that the material does not deteriorate during its entire service life, it is necessary to create certain conditions:
- put in linen / canvas bags. Exclude plastic bags;
- maintain the air temperature within 10 ° -15 °;
- provide low humidity and good ventilation;
- protect from direct sunlight;
Violation of the requirements leads to damage to the material, or to premature germination.
If it is required to store seeds for a period exceeding natural storage, freezing is allowed. Moving to cold does not affect growth rates.
Germination test
Before the start of the season, it is recommended to examine the seeds for marriage. The tests take place at the end of winter. A kind of temporary "airbag" allows you to buy additional raw materials in stores if you receive a negative research result.
Frozen seeds, after being removed from the refrigerator, remain in the container for 2-3 weeks at room temperature. After adaptation, it can be removed from the bag.
For work, you will need a plastic container or other flat container filled with soil. The seeds of the "control group" are evenly distributed over the ground (no need to bury) and recalculated. This will determine the% similarity.
After recalculation, several actions are performed:
- the material is covered with a thin layer of earth;
- watered abundantly;
- covered with foil.
It turns out a kind of greenhouse. They are left alone for 5 days in a warm room. The result is checked already on the third day. This time is enough for the formation of shoots. After waiting for the deadline, the seedlings are recounted. 8-9 seeds out of 10 that break through indicate good quality. Such raw materials are suitable for sowing. This indicator determines when to sow phacelia as honey plant.
Even the best material can be spoiled by violation of collection and storage technology. To reduce losses, it is recommended to take a responsible attitude to the process of preparing raw materials.