Caring for alyssum after flowering - collecting seeds and preparing bushes for wintering
Many flower growers prefer to grow perennial alissum so as not to plant it every year. This variety is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and good winter hardiness. However, proper care for alyssum after flowering will extend its life. What needs to be done so that the bushes are strong and bloom profusely for more than one season?
When the seeds of alyssum are harvested
If the task is to prepare planting material for plant propagation in the next season, it is important not to miss the moment of collecting seeds. Given that they are very small, this must be done in a timely manner. Otherwise, the fruits will open and the alissum itself will multiply by self-seeding chaotically. You should start collecting seeds no later than early October. It will be more convenient not to pick each fruit separately, but to spread a piece of cloth or film under the bushes. Then simply rub the inflorescences with your hands and pick out large debris. Small pieces can be left - they will come in handy during sowing so that the seeds do not fall so thickly.
To prevent light small seeds from being blown away by the wind, collecting seeds should be carried out in calm weather.
The collected seeds must be dried by placing a blanket in a dry ventilated room. You can sprinkle them on a tray or newspaper. It is better to store seeds in cloth bags.
If the moment was missed, and the seeds crumbled, you can collect at least some of them by sweeping away with a broom and winding them.
Alyssum care after flowering
Perennial alyssum winters well, especially in the southern regions. However, it also has limiting values, below which the bushes completely freeze out - this is 15 ° C of frost.
If winter frosts are not so severe in your area, alyssum can overwinter well, provided that it needs to be prepared. For this:
- After the alisum has faded, cut off all the inflorescences. An exception is the case if you need to collect seeds. Then the inflorescences are left to ripen.
- Overgrown and thinned bushes can be trimmed 2.5 weeks after the end of flowering. Long stems are shortened by 1/3, and then aliisum will again grow lush forms.
- If the flowers grow on poor soil, after the autumn pruning, feed them with a mineral complex with a predominance of potassium-phosphorus preparations.
- When the trees in the garden have shed their foliage, collect it and sprinkle the alyssum bushes well. Mulching protect plants from freezing.
- After the snow has fallen, you can create another layer of cover above the flowers by throwing snow on the plants.
Thus, proper care for alyssum after flowering will allow perennials to overwinter without loss. In addition, strong and healthy bushes will become even more luxuriant in the spring, adding many young shoots.