Content
Periwinkle Blue and Gold is a beautiful groundcover with blue flowers and decorative foliage. It is used to create a green carpet in the garden, in single plantings and in combination with other flowers. Differs in good winter hardiness, therefore, in the regions of the middle zone, it hibernates outside, under a layer of mulch.
Description
Periwinkle Blue & Gold is a groundcover perennial up to 15-20 cm high. It is highly decorative due to its interesting 5-petal flowers of a pale blue color and yellow leaves with green edges. It blooms 2 times per season - in May and August. Decorates the garden at any time thanks to its interesting foliage and the ability to completely cover the soil.
Periwinkle Blue and Gold is winter-hardy, withstands frosts down to -24 ° C, which allows it to be grown in many regions of Russia
Perfectly fills the space, creates an attractive dark green background. It can be grown both in soil and in pots, as well as in large pots and containers. The culture prefers shade and partial shade.
Growing from seeds
Growing periwinkle from seeds is quite simple. To do this, they are planted immediately in open ground in early May or early September. If these dates are missed, they can be sown until mid-June, then the flowers will appear once - in the second half of summer. Growing seedlings is also allowed. For this, seeds are planted in early March.
Seed preparation
The germination of Blue and Gold periwinkle seeds is quite good, but they can be soaked in a growth stimulator (Epin, Kornevin) beforehand. If purchased from a reputable supplier, etching is not necessary.
Sowing
For cultivation, a loose mixture is prepared from the following components: peat, sand, vermiculite (ratio 2: 2: 1).
Growing instructions:
- Deepen the seeds by 1.5 cm, plant at a distance of 4 cm.
- Moisturize liberally.
- Cover with black plastic wrap and store in a dark, warm place (25 ° C).
- A week later, open the film, the first shoots should appear.
- Reduce the temperature gradually to room temperature.
- Dive after the appearance of 4-5 leaves.
Seedlings of periwinkle Blue and Goal can be grown in individual containers
How and when to plant in open ground
Blue and Gold periwinkle is planted in open ground at different times. Planting time depends on the climate in the region:
- in the south - at the end of April;
- in the Moscow region and in the middle lane - in early May;
- in the Urals and Siberia - in mid-May.
Site selection and preparation
The site is chosen with weak shading - it is better to plant the periwinkle next to large trees and shrubs, next to a fence or house that protects the place from the wind. The soil should be sufficiently fertile and light, with neutral acidity (pH = 7).
It is also important to remember that periwinkle, like many other plants, does not like strong waterlogging. Therefore, it is better to plant a bush on a small hill, but definitely not in a lowland.
1-2 weeks before planting, the site is cleaned and dug up.If the soil is not very fertile, it is recommended to apply humus and complex mineral fertilizer in an amount of 50-60 g per 1 m2.
Planting stages
Planting periwinkle Blue & Gold is carried out as follows:
- Several shallow holes are formed at a distance of 15-20 cm.
- A drainage layer (stone chips, pebbles) is laid on the bottom.
- Saplings are installed and covered with earth. If the site has not been fertilized beforehand, you should add a pinch of wood ash or a mixture of superphosphate with potassium salt.
- Water well and spread mulch (peat, sawdust, hay, spruce branches).
Care
Caring for Blue & Gold periwinkle is very simple. Water it sparingly, not very often. For example, even if the rains are not heavy, additional moisture is not needed. If drought is established, it is enough to water once a week with warm, settled water.
Many summer residents do not feed periwinkles at all. But in order to maintain long-term flowering, you need to add nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer in the summer (at the end of June and in the middle of July).
From time to time you need to weed the soil and loosen it, especially after watering. If you lay a layer of mulch immediately after planting, the earth will not have time to dry, so additional watering is extremely rare.
Diseases and pests
Periwinkle Blue & Gold has good immunity, but it can suffer from powdery mildew or pests (aphids, spider mites, and others). Therefore, in May, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment with any fungicide:
- Maksim;
- Tattu;
- Profit;
- Topaz.
Insects are fought with folk remedies (a solution of shavings of laundry soap, an infusion of onion peels, dry mustard powder) or insecticides:
- Decis;
- Fufanon;
- Spark;
- Confidor and others.
Pruning
Pruning can be done in early October or early spring, before sap begins to flow. All damaged and dry shoots are removed, and healthy branches are cut in half. The cut points can be sprinkled with coal powder or treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Preparing for winter
Periwinkle Blue & Gold can winter on the street in all regions, except for Siberia and the Urals (where it is sent to a warmed balcony or loggia). The plant does not require special preparation for winter - it is enough to prune, water well and lay a large layer of mulch from spruce branches, leaf litter, peat.
Reproduction
There are several ways of breeding periwinkle Blue & Gold:
- Seeds - sowing in open ground or in seedling containers.
- Cuttings (length 20 cm): in spring they are planted in open ground.
- Layers: in the summer, the shoot is sprinkled with earth, after 3-4 weeks it gives roots, after which it can be transplanted to a permanent place.
- Also, periwinkle is propagated by dividing an adult bush (from 3-4 years old). In the summer, it is dug up and cut into several parts so that each one has 2-3 shoots.
Photo in landscape design
The main role of the Blue & Gold periwinkle is a ground cover. Creeping shoots create a pleasant green carpet, decorate the garden with both flowers and foliage.
Periwinkle can be planted along paths in the garden or in the park
The bush is used both in single plantings and in mixborders, multi-tiered flower beds.
Periwinkle is not picky about the soil, so it can be grown on rocky slopes
Blue & Gold can be planted in hanging planters or in portable containers to decorate the terrace.
Most often, periwinkle is used in single plantings, since it tries to capture a large territory
Periwinkle Blue & Gold will help to decorate inconspicuous corners in the garden
Conclusion
Periwinkle Blue & Gold is an interesting groundcover with attractive flowers and lush greenery. The culture does not require watering and feeding, it reproduces very simply, quickly takes up space. Can be used to decorate nondescript, shady areas in the garden.
