Planting levkoy on seedlings - features of growing and care

Planting Levkoy on seedlings is a simple process that even a novice gardener can do. Due to the unusual shape of the inflorescences, this plant is also called the white violet. It is often planted in the garden and in flower beds, where flowers look great in small groups and as part of voluminous compositions. White, pink, purple, raspberry levkoi reach a maximum of 70 cm in height, depending on the variety. They are bright, with smooth or double petals, quickly take root and do not require special care, therefore they are highly valued in gardening and landscape design.

Sowing seeds

Levkoy seeds are found in pods that form on plants at the end of the flowering period. They can be collected or purchased in the store by choosing the desired variety and characteristics. They should be kept dry and cool during the winter. It doesn't matter when to plant levka on seedlings - it can then be added to open ground throughout the summer. However, it is best to start in late March or early April so that the seedlings are ready for full warming.

The procedure consists of several stages:

• place the seeds in water for 24 hours;
• stratification - after soaking in water, put them in the refrigerator for several days in gauze or napkin;
• sow seeds in a previously prepared container with a substrate and embed them in the ground to a depth of 5 mm;
• Drizzle abundantly with water and leave in a dark room at room temperature.

There are several rules for planting levka for seedlings. The main one is the correctly selected soil for seeds. You can make it yourself, from 1 part sand and 3 parts turf mixture, you should also add 1 part humus or any other organic fertilizers... It must maintain a moderate humidity at all times.

Terry representatives of Levkoy are sterile, but such inflorescences can also be obtained from seeds of simple varieties. However, there is a need to get exactly double flowers; it is better to purchase material for sowing in a store.

Planting Levkoy on seedlings and caring for the plant

When planting Levkoy on seedlings, you should focus not on the number of days, but on the condition of the plants. So, from a dark room, they can be rearranged in the sun only when most of the sprouts appear above the ground surface. It may take 4-5 days, but it is worth preparing to wait up to 2 weeks. Further, the seedlings can be rearranged on a closed balcony or loggiawhere the temperature does not rise above 10-12 degrees. After a few days, they can be watered and moved to a warm room.

The next stage is picking. The procedure is carried out 10-12 days after moving the boxes with seedlings in the sun and consists in planting the largest and most viable plants in separate containers.

The picking algorithm is simple:

• prepare individual pots with a mixture of sand, leaf and turf in a ratio of 1: 2: 2;
• carefully remove the plant from the common box with a spatula or wooden spoon and move it to a new container;
• cover the flower with earth and compress it a little;
• water the soil and leave the seedlings for several days.

The deepening of the levkoy when diving is up to 5 cm, it is such a hole that must be made in the ground in advance. The plant should be taken out carefully, along with a lump of the old soil, so as not to damage the rhizome.This is not difficult, since the root is tap root and directed deep into the soil.

The first time after picking, the plants should not be watered - they must adapt to new conditions. When they have 2 or more true leaves, you can apply a small amount of mineral fertilizers. More often, a mixture of zinc and manganese sulfate (0.1 g each), as well as boric acid and copper sulfate (0.3 g each), dissolved in 1 liter of water, is used. You can also purchase any fertilizer for decorative flowers and apply it according to the instructions.

Outdoor transplant

The best time to plant levkoy when growing from seeds in open ground is late spring, in cloudy weather. 2 weeks before the expected planting, the plant should be hardened. They are taken out into the open air for 60 minutes at first, then the procedure time is gradually increased. The soil should drain well, you can choose an area with bright sunlight. Levkoy prefers soils with a neutral or weak alkaline reaction, loose and fertile. It is better to choose these flowers for sod-sandy loam or sod-loamy soils. The seedlings are placed in pre-prepared holes filled with water, at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other. Then it remains to sprinkle them with earth and compact the top layer.

It is not necessary to plant the levkoy on the site where any representatives of the Cruciferous family grew in the previous year. This increases the chances of infestation by the cruciferous flea, a specific pest that also parasitizes flowers.

It is not difficult to cope with planting Levkoy on seedlings. All preparations begin in early spring, so that in summer the plants can delight with bright flowering and rich aroma. An easier way is to plant seeds directly in the open field. However, the germination rate will be lower. Using seedlings allows you to predict in advance which plants will take root and arrange a lush and colorful flower garden.

Terms and rules for sowing seeds - video