Marigolds (velvet, black-shaved) are unpretentious flowering plants. When grown in seedlings, they bloom in flower beds in early summer and decorate the garden until frost. But there is not always time to engage in sowing flowers for seedlings. So that in the spring there is more time for growing vegetables, gardeners are wondering whether it is possible to sow velvet before winter, and if so, when and how to plant marigolds in the fall. Our step-by-step instructions and video will help you choose the sowing time and plant your favorite flowers correctly.
Where did the brightly blooming Tagetes come from?
Marigolds belong to the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family and are perennial or annual plants. The Latin name sounds like Tagétes and was given by Karl Lineus back in 1753. The name was given in honor of the Etruscan deity Tages. Natural original growth was in Argentina, Arizona to New Mexico. It was transported from America to Spain by the conquistadors in the 16th century. From this country, the flower spread throughout Asia Minor, Russia and Europe.
Gardeners reviews
Vadim, Moscow
Today I will tell you about "Tagetes Thin-leaved" Paprika. These flowers are an annual plant and need to be planted every year, which is why I have been buying them annually for the past few years.
Mashasneg, Yekaterinburg
I plant marigolds directly into the ground, since they have a wonderful germination capacity, where they grow densely, I dive them in another place. Marigolds are unpretentious flowers, they can also grow well at home.
Photo
How beautiful to plant marigolds in a flower bed can be seen in the photos below.
History of names
Fine-leaved marigolds, like other species, belong to the Astrov family. In Latin, the flower is called Tagetes tenuifolia.
The first word in the name owes its origin to Karl Linnaeus. He named it after the grandson of Jupiter, who amazed everyone with his romantic beauty and had the gift of foresight. His name was Tages. In the modern world, Tagetes, regardless of their species, also continue to amaze everyone who sees them with their beauty.
The second word in the name of the flower is translated as thin-leaved.
Well, marigolds, as, probably, many people guess, they were nicknamed because the petals of their inflorescences look very velvety both in appearance and to the touch.
And this type of marigold is called Mexican. And here everything is very simple and with the folk name of the flower, unlike the rest of the marigolds, they finally hit the mark. After all, all known types of marigolds are from the American continent.
Comment! Specifically, fine-leaved marigolds naturally grow in the mountainous regions of Mexico.
Fine-leaved marigolds have been known in culture only since 1795.
Soil preparation
Marigolds are transplanted most often when the seedlings ripen to the required size. To do this, you should first prepare it in the soil, pre-fertilized with humus and peat, as well as dug up. The introduction of inorganic fertilizers, for example, superphosphate granules, is also allowed. Ammonium nitrate in an aqueous solution will be useful for flowers: 1 tbsp is diluted in a bucket (10 l) of water. l. substances.
If the transplant is early, then depressions are made under the bushes no deeper than 3 cm and at least 1.5 cm.When planting late, the soil is already moderately moist and dug holes up to 7 cm deep.
Can you transplant during the flowering period?
When can you transplant a plant into open ground and should you do it during flowering? Marigolds are transplanted at an ambient temperature not lower than + 10 ° C. This will ensure stable growth and protect against possible damage and subsequent wilting. Also, the development of flowers will not slow down or pause. Therefore, if the color of the seedlings is already beginning to appear, and the conditions on the street do not allow transplanting, you should still hold the plant until the onset of heat.
Thin-leaved or Mexican marigolds: species description
Tagetes thin-leaved appeared in Russian gardens not so long ago, but its attractiveness and unpretentiousness were appreciated by flower growers. The plant is native to Central America. Tagetes thin-leaved (Latin Tagetes tenuifolia) or Mexican is an annual herb 20-40 cm high. The stems are branched from the very base, the shoots are strong and flexible. The leaves are narrow, up to 3 cm long. They are pinnately dissected, with jagged edges and punctate glands. The color is light green.
Information. The scent of Mexican marigolds is different from the scent spread by other members of this genus. It is not intrusive, soft, has subtle citrus notes.
Germinating seeds
- Fill with substrate (loose and light) and prepare boxes.
- Make grooves in the soil mixture every 4 cm to 1 cm deep.
- Sprinkle the planted seeds with a mixture of sand and garden soil. As a rule, sprouts will appear within a week.
- The first sprouts should be in a temperature range of + 22 ° С - + 25 ° С.
- The grown seedlings are capable of developing at a temperature of + 18 ° C - + 20 ° C.
- Seedlings dive with the appearance of the first two leaves.
An already young grown plant is transferred to open growth conditions, depending on the temperature (not lower than + 10 ° C), as well as the weather. This a favorable period for transplanting marigolds from the second half of April to the first part of May.
The place of planting of the planted variety of flowers is determined in advance, since the plants need room for growth.
- High varieties are placed in 40x40 cm holes.
- Medium-sized flowers are planted in a 30x30 cm hole.
- For undersized ones, a 20x20 cm deepening is enough.
From the video you will learn how to sow marigolds for seedlings:
The use of marigolds
Tagetes leaves and flowers contain a mobile yellow essential oil. It is extracted from plants and used in the perfumery, cosmetic and food industries. The healing properties of flowers help get rid of stomatitis, bronchitis, asthma, and prevent cataracts. To relieve stress from stress, it is recommended to take a bath with a decoction of marigolds.
In cooking
Fragrant plants are often eaten. Tagetes is a popular spice in Mexican and European cuisine. Dried and ground flowers are added to soup and main courses. Marigolds are used for flavoring and coloring alcohol.
In the garden
The smell of tagetes is not tolerated by many pests: cabbage whiteflies, onion flies, bears, Colorado potato beetle. If you plant flowers around the perimeter of the garden and between the rows of vegetables, then the crop will be protected. The roots of marigolds are able to rid the soil of nematodes. The special fungicidal properties of the plants help disinfect the soil and prevent rot.
Competent transplant
The main rule for transplanting is compliance with temperature and weather conditions, since marigolds are whimsical during this period as people from warm countries. Each bush is examined for the presence of a well-developed rhizome and the presence of three or more leaves.
Many of the modern varieties of this plant used are hybrids, this greatly affects the subsequent collection of seeds and propagation in this way. Subsequent generations may differ from the parent plant.
Important conditions for the growth of black shaves
Requirements, the fulfillment of which will allow obtaining the best plant samples:
- The place should be well lit, partial shade or full shade will limit the splendor of the plants and the brightness of the petals.
- Neutral loams are the best soil option for marigolds.
- Regular watering of flowers is needed in the first half of summer.
- Fertilizers are replenished about once a month for the whole summer.
How to properly relocate to the site?
- Adhere to the chart for the height of the varieties and keep the distance between specimens.
- One plant occupies a single hole.
- Immediately after planting, the seedlings need abundant watering.
- Duration of watering - until the stem is strengthened and the marigolds take root.
Growing bushes
Flowers of different varieties love warm weather. They are drought-resistant, unpretentious, they need to be planted from the sunny side, they can be planted in partial shade. Fertile loamy soil is best suited for planting marigolds with normal moisture in the first half of the summer season, if dry and hot weather is the second half of summer.
You can transplant a flower, capturing a clod of earth, on any day of the entire season. Frosts have a negative effect on the seedlings of marigolds. A temperature of -1 ° C kills them, and an adult plant is afraid of a temperature of -2 ° C.
To prepare seedlings, seeds are sown from the 15th in April, they begin to sprout after 10 days. With the appearance of the second leaf in seedlings, they are dived into boxes, pots or planted in a greenhouse 5–6 cm from one another. Should be fed 1-2 times with urea or nitrophosphate.
Seedlings are planted in open ground from the beginning of June. Consider the threat of cold return when planting, because even a slight frost is dangerous for the bushes. You can not plant flowers densely, there will be no lush bloom in the shade.
Sowing directly to the flower bed
Reproduction of marigolds is carried out by seeds, which are sown directly into the ground after the end of the frost. After overgrowth, the bushes are thinned out or planted less frequently so that each plant has enough room to develop.
The interval before the first sunrises from the moment the seed is introduced into the soil is 40-50 days. This time is different for specific varieties. Thus, April is the most preferred time for sowing.
Marigolds give strong stems only in fertile and loose soil. To do this, plow and add the following composition to the ground:
- Humus or compost - 1 part.
- Peat - 2 parts.
- Washed sand from the river - 0.5 parts.
In August
Can they be planted in August and what is the best way to do it? The plant is sown in any warm period and depends on the timing of the first shoots and flowering. Usually, most varieties give flowers after one and a half or two and a half months. Therefore, in mid-September, the first buds will bloom on the flowerbed or in October. The first frost or temperature drop occurs already during this period. Therefore, marigolds should be planted at such a time in greenhouses or greenhouses.
Before winter
Can these flowers be sown before winter?
The optimal month for sowing a plant is considered February, since by the spring, mature seedlings will be obtained.
If this period is missed, plants are planted in a greenhouse in March. However, with late planting, flowering plants are expected no earlier than June.
Seed propagation in open ground
For planting black shaves in open soil, calculations are performed in the following format:
- It will take from 1 week for the first shoots to appear.
- Flowering will be after 1.5-2.5 months.
- The favorable period with the right temperature, as a rule, begins in mid-April.
Therefore, it should be planted from mid to late April to May. This will allow you to get flowering areas and developed plants by the summer.
To plant or not to plant
To the question - is it possible to plant marigolds before winter, the answer is unequivocal - of course it is possible. Another thing is that in regions with harsh winters, crops will need to be mulched, otherwise the seeds may freeze out.
The seeds that survived the winter cold will undergo stratification, as a result of which the seedlings of velvet flowers in the spring will be frost-resistant.
Attention! Before choosing seeds, familiarize yourself with the varieties of marigolds undersized Here.
What rules must be followed?
Sowing directly into open ground is better suited for the southern regions, since there is less chance of falling in the springtime the temperature regime at night is lower than up to + 7 ° C.
Seeds are planted taking into account the following features:
- the soil is well loosened and fertilized;
- immediately before sowing, the seeds are germinated;
- the grooves or pits for germinated seeds will be shallow, no more than 5 cm;
- observe the availability of free space between individual plants, depending on the selected plant variety;
- compulsory watering after planting and sprinkling with garden soil is abundant;
- diseased or weak plants are removed as soon as they are noticed.
The seeds are germinated by keeping them in a damp cloth for 2-3 days under the sun in a warm place, such as on a windowsill.
Seedlings are planted according to different rules:
- For seedlings, it is important to observe the temperature regime in the first week or two after transplanting, therefore, this should not be allowed to occur before the onset of stable warm weather.
- The depth of the hole for the seedling is 3-4 cm, if it goes deep into it by 2-3 cm.
- The smallest distance between the bushes is 20 cm, 30 cm and 40 cm (determined by the selected variety and its subsequent branching).
- Laying a drainage layer at the bottom of the groove will help to avoid stagnant water at the roots.
- After carefully placing the seedling in the hole, sprinkle it with soil.
- Provide plants with optimal care.
How is marigold growing?
Professional flower growers know that thin-leaved marigolds are not demanding and unpretentious plants, but they adapt to any conditions of the living environment.
There are even subspecies that live on the tracks, while perfectly tolerating various exhaust gases, dust, bad soil and smog. Basically, almost all plants love open areas, that is, sunny areas, but this is not necessary for marigolds! They can quite normally take root in a darkened area, or in complete darkness. Even so, they will grow, bloom, delight a person with their appearance and smell. In order for marigolds to grow strong and large, you need to choose fertile soils, in extreme cases, neutral. The plant will be delighted with the shade, but it will be able to adapt to it quite normally. Only one species, erect marigolds, does not like shade, therefore, they begin to disappear.
Like every plant, marigolds love to be well looked after and cared for. That is why they delight the owner with their long flowering and growth. It is necessary to ensure that the plant grows on fertile lands, therefore it is worth feeding the soil with the help of various dressings about 2-3 times during the entire growing season. Also, marigolds can be grown at home in pots, bowls and boxes. They can be placed on the balcony or on the windowsill. After all, this is the simplest decorative flower that is simply irreplaceable for decoration.
Turkish Carnation Care
Caring for planted or transplanted marigolds should be carried out taking into account the following mandatory procedures:
watering;- weeding and loosening;
- top dressing;
- pruning;
- pest prevention and control.
Maintenance is simple and does not require much effort.First of all, it is important to provide the plant with sufficient moisture and fertilizer. Watering should be constantly and in moderation, and with the active development and growth of the plant, the portions and frequency of watering should be increased. Rare watering begins from the moment flowering appears. On hot summer days, evenings are most favorable for watering.
During periods of active development of marigolds, weeding and loosening between the bushes are done. When weeding, remove weeds and diseased or weak plants.
Any fertilizer other than manure will help develop a strong and lush inflorescence. The most favorable periods for feeding: during transplantation or growth, during the period of tying buds and immediately before the appearance of color.
Flowering will stop with frequent fertilization.
You can view photos of marigolds, as well as find out why they sometimes do not want to open their buds here
In summer, you can prune marigold bushes to make them look more well-groomed and graceful. So new buds can form faster, and flowering becomes more abundant.
Due to the specific aroma of marigold inflorescences, most pests prefer not to spoil the flower, however when breeding rules are violated, gray rot, spider mites, snails and slugs appear. In the first case, the burning of the infected plant will be effective, in the second - the use of specialized means, and in the third - the manual collection of pests. Read about how to protect your favorite marigolds from diseases and pests in our material.
What is sick and what pests are dangerous
Flowers have a specific fragrant smell, the roots are endowed with the same aroma. The soil is protected from fusarium and fights against fungal diseases on flowers and what is planted nearby. Experts recommend planting flowers around the entire perimeter of the site.
If you take care of the flowers, they will be healthy shrubs. Dry weather causes spider mites to appear. If the conditions are damp, it is a rotting fungus. It is necessary to water and spray in the first option, in the other - to maintain the dried soil. Do not use poisonous spray when snails and slugs appear, bushes may die.
At low temperatures, high dampness, humidity and dense planting, leaves with stems are covered with wet spots of a dark brown color - this is gray rot. All these plants must be destroyed immediately, otherwise the disease will pass to healthy bushes. If you throw frozen flowers on compost, then midges with harmful creatures will no longer appear there.
How and when to collect your seeds
To make the flower bed no less lush next year, you need to take seed from the largest and healthiest bushes. It is advisable not to miss the moment of their flowering - further countdown will go from it.
Achenes ripen 40 days after the appearance of the first inflorescences. But you need to collect them when the basket withers and becomes dry, and the stems acquire a brown tint.
Seed pods are carefully cut and laid out under a canopy for drying. Then the seeds are poured into cardboard boxes and paper bags, on which the date of collection must be indicated.
All work is carried out in warm, not humid weather. Otherwise, the seeds will not be stored for a long time.
Pest control
Photo:
With a lack of air humidity, there is a possibility of spider mite damage to seedlings. It can be prevented by spraying water around the bushes several times a day. Treating flowers with infusions of various plants will help from ticks: garlic, wormwood, onion husks, red pepper or tobacco dust. In case of severe damage by pests, plants are treated with insecticides.
Where to get seeds
In addition to the fact that the seed is bought in specialized stores, you can prepare it yourself.
To do this, a few such inflorescences are left on the plant, which has bloomed and formed seed baskets, allowing them to dry on the bush. After that, the dried seeds are easily removed and stored until spring.
Some amateurs - flower growers do this: they put several dead plants removed before winter into the ground to a depth of 10-20 centimeters. You can cover this place from above with the remains of other flowers and weeds. In the spring, when the ground thaws, remove the overwintered plants and collect seeds from them, plant in the usual way.
Description of Chernobrivts
Read about the features of caring for low-growing marigolds here.
The root system is fibrous, the leaves are pinnately dissected or pinnately separate, alternate or opposite, the color of the greenery can be light or dark green.
Baskets of inflorescences from yellow to bright orange or brown shades. Flowering begins in June and may last until the first frost. It should be noted that marigolds can be sown on their own... The germination of seeds caught in the soil lasts up to 4 years. The pleasant smell does not come from the buds, but from the greenery of the plant.
In addition to this flower bed with marigolds on the site, this is an invaluable home pharmacy.
Flowers help in the treatment of the following diseases:
- prevention of cataracts;
- diabetes;
- spleen inflammation;
- stomatitis;
- asthma;
- bronchitis;
- cold.
Also, a decoction of dried flowers is recommended to drink in case of intoxication, to purify the blood.
We talked in detail about the medicinal properties and contraindications to the use of marigolds in this article, and read about the features of the use of this plant in folk medicine and cooking in our material.
What are these flowers?
In nature, marigolds live in America, in the 16th century they were taken to Spain. Then they quickly spread to European and Asian countries, including Russia. The Latin name for the flower, Tagetes, comes from the name of the Etruscan deity.
Flowers are simple and double, bright reds, yellows and oranges, and bicolor is often found. The base of the flower is elongated, covered with green leaves. The stems are straight. The foliage is dense, dark green, composed of pinnately-divided leaves with a jagged edge. The height of the bush is from 20 to 120 cm. Core root system. The plant has a peculiar smell. They bloom for a very long time and profusely. You can familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the flowering of marigolds, as well as the necessary conditions and photos of blossoming plants in this material, and here you will find a description and photos of various perennial and annual species and varieties of these plants.
Reference! Marigolds are very easy to maintain and care for, they easily tolerate various climatic adversities, air pollution, and the bush itself is quite strong. That is why they are widely used in landscaping streets and other public areas, as a curb plant, along the edges of flower beds and along sidewalks and paths.
Disease prevention
Photo: <>
Seedlings suffer from "black leg" if the soil is contaminated. Mature plants are affected by "gray rot" during prolonged rains. Viral diseases are very difficult to treat, therefore, plants with rot are destroyed, in healthy ones, watering is reduced, and treated with antifungal drugs.
"Tagetes will bloom more actively and hurt less if planted in sunny, ventilated areas, not thickening the planting."
When to plant marigold seedlings in open ground
The seedlings of marigolds are ready for transplanting into flower beds when they reach 35-40 days of age. But here, again, you need to take into account the climatic features of the region.
After waiting for the air temperature to stabilize, and will not fall below zero, they begin to harden the sprouts.
The first days they keep them with the window open, then they begin to take them out into the fresh air. After 2 weeks, you can plant it on a flower bed, choosing a sunny area for a flower garden.
Planting seedlings
After you have grown seedlings from seeds or purchased them from the store, you can plant young plants in the soil. To do this, you need to act in accordance with the following algorithm:
- Loosen the soil in the place where you decide to grow marigolds. You need to dig up the soil at least 15 centimeters deep. For these purposes, it is advisable to use a special tool, for example, a hoe. If there is no such device, you will have to act manually, breaking the soil tubers. Loose soil is a guarantee that the roots of the flower will have enough oxygen. At the same time, you need to get rid of stones, sticks, as well as debris that may be in the ground. Any foreign objects will slow down the growth of the plant, and can also cause wilting.
- Next, you need to dig a hole for each of the plants. Its diameter and depth should be such that the entire root system fits, and the leaves are on the surface.
- After that, the plant is placed in a hole and, holding it vertically, is sprinkled with earth. Lightly tamp the soil and then water the plant. The ground around it should be moist, but not flooded and not too damp, so that the plant does not wilt.
- To avoid the growth of weeds, you need to mulch the soil. To do this, mulch (it can be pine bark or any other organic material) is spread around the sprout, creating a layer 2-2.5 centimeters high. By the way, mulch will not only protect the plant from the appearance of weeds, but also retain moisture, which means that marigolds will not need too frequent watering.
The soil needs to be fertilized regularly. Top dressing can be purchased in a special store (a universal fertilizer for flowering horticultural crops or a special analogue for marigolds that are bred according to instructions is suitable) or made at home from nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium in a ratio of 20:10:20 (20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium). It is not necessary to fertilize the plants too intensively. Enough once every two weeks. More frequent feeding is harmful to the plant.
Transfer to a suitable container
The last step will be planting marigolds in a pot:
choose a suitable container;- we lay a layer of drainage material;
- we put about half of the prepared soil with a mound;
- we distribute the roots over the "mound";
- we fill up the remaining soil, slightly pressing it to the roots;
- watering;
- after planting, do not immediately expose the plant to bright light, let it acclimatize for 3-4 days.
Follow-up care
For several weeks after planting, marigolds need constant watering. But do not overdo it, since the plant is susceptible to a number of diseases caused by excessive waterlogging: gray rot, black leg and bacterial sores.
Further, flower care is a simple set of rules.:
- loosening (air access to the roots and exclusion of weed pressure);
- watering (moderate, although marigold easily survives aridity, the plant may look wilted, but after watering the leaves gain strength);
- feeding (mineral fertilizers).
Marigolds can and even need to be cut, as this will allow you to form a beautiful flowering bush, for this you just need to pinch a couple of lower branches. After the marigolds began to bloom, do not leave wilted inflorescences, but break them off, this will contribute to more lush flowering and the formation of new inflorescences.
If you decide to collect marigold seeds, then leave a few dried plants, and after complete drying, collect seeds from them. Marigolds are distinguished by good preservation of seeds until spring..
Do not forget that all marigolds are hybrids, flowers from seeds will grow other, not like the parent plants.Having bought seeds once, you may later not think about buying new ones (if you don’t want to try a new variety), the germination rate of marigold is high, it will be quite enough for you to collect seeds from your grown plants.
If there is a flower that is so common all over the world, then it is solar marigold. Purchase seeds and if you follow the simple planting rules, you will see this piece of the sun in your garden.
Tips from experienced florists
- Do not be afraid to be late to plant marigold seedlings. This can be done throughout June.
- The soil must be very well dug up and processed before planting.
- Marigolds do not like abundant watering; excess moisture can lead to root rot.
- Marigolds are a medicinal plant. Useful tinctures and decoctions are prepared from their flowers. They are used for asthma, bronchitis, stomatitis and other colds.
- This flower is also used as a spice in cooking.
Description and features of marigolds
Marigolds have straight stems and ribbed shoots. Despite the strong branching, the bush is compact, height 20-120 cm. The root system develops in a fibrous type.
Leaves are of several types, it depends on the variety: pinnately separate, dissected and whole. They are located opposite each other or in the next order.
Coloring all shades of green, both light and dark. An elongated shape with a pointed end, reminiscent of feathers. The edges of the plate have small teeth. Openwork greens.
The inflorescences located at the tops of the shoots resemble medium-sized baskets in shape. There are simple, semi-double and terry. They are a cup of accreted short leaves with a long stem. In the middle there are tubular flowers with dark-colored corollas. Closer to the edge, false ligulate with oval wavy petals. The aroma is specific. The colors are varied: brown, red, orange, yellow and variegated, as well as white and greenish, which is present in varieties bred by selection. Abundant flowering from June to frost.
The fruit is a flat black or black-brown capsule. The seed is long, black and white, the germination period is 3-4 years.
The specifics of growing seedlings from seeds at home
The process of growing marigolds by seeds does not differ in complexity or any special procedures. More problems are caused by the preparation of seed material, soil for the plant.
If, instead of a standard container (plastic container, glasses, boxes), you have chosen the method of growing in a snail, a peat tablet, then it is worth clarifying some of the nuances. The rest of the cultivation technique is similar with flower crops.
Soil and seed preparation
Marigold grains require mandatory processing for disinfection. It doesn't matter if you bought the seed in the store, from your hands or collected it yourself. Soak in a weak manganese solution is required.
This helps to minimize the infection and development of infectious, bacterial diseases of young and adult plants.
The substrate should also be rendered harmless from pathological infections. If you bought a special potting mix, then you can skip this step. Self-prepared is recommended to be processed in two ways:
- Steaming with boiling water. Then allow to cool and dry.
- Send for roasting in the oven.
To prepare a homemade potting mix, you need a combination (mixing) of 3 ingredients:
- 1 part of humus;
- sand - half of humus;
- peat is put twice as much from organic matter.
If you don’t want to waste time looking for manganese or you don’t have time to fry, use one of three drugs for neutralization: Vitaros, Maxim, or the most popular and effective Fitosporin.
Need to know! After any of the proposed soil treatment, planting marigold seeds can be carried out in 14-21 days.During this time, the preparations are actively working for the benefit of future handsome marigolds. The same preparations are used to treat the container for planting. Waiting time is 14 days.
Choice of capacity
Marigolds are not demanding. Therefore, any convenient container is suitable for seedlings. The budget options remain plastic cups, long-shelf milk or mayonnaise boxes.
Seed collection
Marigold seeds are oblong sticks of black color with white tips that form in the center of the flower after it dries. As seeds retain their germination for more than 4 years, flowers can be self-seeding.
Varieties of American selection germinate later than French varieties, and hybrids cannot be grown from seeds at all, they may not sprout or the new plant will not have parental properties.
How to propagate marigolds by seeds? Seed collection begins in September, in the second half of it. The main sign for this is the wilting of the bushes, especially if the stem is dry near the head - the seeds are ripe. To collect seed material, dry, calm and sunny weather is needed - the seeds collected in bad weather can become damp and germination will be reduced.
The seeds are harvested in the following way:
- cut off the testis and put it in a ventilated place for drying;
- then carefully open the head with the seeds and shake them out on a newspaper.
There is another way to collect seeds:
- collect flowers in a bunch and hang in a ventilated and dry room over a newspaper;
- as soon as the pods are ripe and open, the seeds can spill out on their own.
The seeds are then placed in a paper bag and stored until spring sowing.
