Pushkinia or dwarf hyacinth is a decorative perennial plant from the asparagus family. Originally from highland Caucasian meadows, this primrose is now widely grown in summer cottages and used in landscape design.
Description
Bell-like flowers of Pushkinia are collected in racemose inflorescences on a stalk 15-20 cm high. They vary in color from pale blue to white, with a bright blue or cyan stripe along each of the six petals. They smell weak but pleasant. Near the ground are two or three dark and glossy xiphoid sheets. Rhizome has the appearance of a scaly bulb.
Species and varieties
In gardening, three main types of this plant are used:
- Pushkinia scaphoid (Puschkinia scilloides var. Scilloides) has small, about 2 cm in size, flowers. It blooms in late April and May 15-20 days.
- Lebanese Pushkin or Libanotica (Puschkinia scilloides var. Libanotica), a subspecies subspecies, is distinguished by larger flowers and a six-toothed crown formed by fused lobes. The popular Alba variety belongs to it, it stands out with rather large (up to 8 cm) flowers of a pure white color.
- Pushkinia hyacinth-shaped (Puschkinia scilloides var. Hyacinthoides) is slightly smaller in height (10-15 cm), but it is capable of producing up to four peduncles, studded with smaller flowers, in shape resembling hyacinths. This species usually blooms a week later than the prolesciform.
Outdoor landing
Pushkinia is a perennial plant, and at the age of 4-5 years a nest of several young onions forms around the mother’s bulb. They should be excavated at the beginning of autumn, before they are separated from the nest.
Preparing planting material
Bulbs ready for planting should be separated, cleaned from the ground and excess scales, and thoroughly dried. But you need to consider that they can not be stored for a long time - they should be planted in open ground as soon as possible.
Landing time
The optimal time for landing is from September 15 to October 15.
Location and soil
Pushkinia prefers to grow in the sun, so the site for planting should be selected unshaded, but at the same time protected from the wind. Also, do not plant a flower near groundwater - they are dangerous for the root system.
The plant is demanding on the quality of the soil, therefore, if the soil on the site is not nutritious enough to grow Pushkin, it will not be superfluous to purchase a ready-to-use enrichment mixture for planting.
Properly planted bulbs take root in about two weeks.
Landing pattern
After the soil is prepared - well moistened and loosened, you can begin to plant:
- Dig a hole 15 cm deep - the size will depend on the number of prepared bulbs.
- Sprinkle the bottom with sand, cover with compost and add gravel or expanded clay drainage on top.
- Distribute the bulbs at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle seedlings with earth, taking into account that they should not sit too deep.
- Tamp and water the earth.
Garden care
Despite the increased requirements for planting and soil, in the care of Pushkinia is quite unpretentious.
Watering
It is not necessary to water the plant too often, only in dry weather, although during flowering, you need to do this more often. Watered soil should be thoroughly loosened each time.
Top dressing
In order to ensure good growth at the beginning of spring, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are distributed directly on the snow where the Pushkinia will rise. The second stage of feeding is done after the formation of the buds - for this purpose mineral complexes are used.
Care Features
The more climatic conditions differ from those usual for Pushkinia, the more thorough care it requires:
- In June-July, faded plants wilt. The dead aboveground part must be immediately removed, but the area with the bulbs must be maintained in order for the rest of the time: loosen the soil, weed and occasionally water. For convenience, the location of the bulb can be indicated.
- Given the reduced frost resistance, in September-October, the landing site is prepared for winter using mulching.
- Plants that have reached the age of five years, it is necessary to dig and separate the formed "nests" for transplantation.
Breeding
Pushkinia is capable of breeding in two ways:
- Bulbs are the most convenient way for gardeners. Any plant that has reached the age of 4-5 years is ready for it.
- Seeds are less reliable. Firstly, the substances secreted by mature seeds attract ants. This leads to the disappearance of a large number of seedlings. Secondly, sprouts germinated from seeds are very sensitive to negative environmental factors, require more care and protection and begin to bloom only in the fourth year after germination.
Bulb Storage
Extracting mature bulbs can be done only when all the leaves have completely died out, but not too late. The nest dug from the earth is divided, dried in a shaded place, and then cleared of the earth.
Next, the bulbs are sorted for storage into two categories:
- Large, with scales, can be stored in a dry room at a temperature below room temperature, but not for long - their protective layer is very thin and should be planted as soon as possible.
- Young, smooth bulbs should ripen under certain conditions - for this they can be placed on moderately moistened wood shavings or a peat pillow.
Pests and diseases
There are three main dangers in the plant area.
| Problem | Description | Decision |
| Rodents | Field mice and other small rodents eat bulbs and young shoots. | Installation on the site of baits with special poisons. |
| Ticks | Root mites damage the bulb. | Tillage before planting with specialized substances and their subsequent dissolution in water for irrigation. |
| Fungal infections | Dark spots on the leaves, yellowness and premature wilting. | Processing the bulbs before planting with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and leaves and stems with copper preparations. Immediate destruction of infected plants along with land to prevent the spread of infection. |
Distillation
Pushkinia amenable to distillation at home. To do this, you need a regular flower pot filled with a mixture of turf, sand and humus in an approximate ratio of 2: 1: 1. 3-4 bulbs are placed in the prepared mixture in November and the pot is kept for a couple of months in a dark, cool and humid place.
After that, they are moved to a bright, cool room and regularly watered. As a result of this imitation of spring, the plant emerges and blooms, pleasing to the eye in winter.
Mr. Summer resident recommends: use in landscaping
Dark green leaves harmonize well with conifers.
Designers recommend using it not only in flowerbeds, but also for decorating alpine slides and garden paths.
Since Pushkinia quickly fades, it will be wise to combine it with perennials that bloom in summer. Such a move will make it possible to observe the complete seasonal transformation of the garden: the gentle spring sky-blue placers on the flower beds that have just been freed from snow will be replaced by a summer riot of colors that masked wilted primroses.
