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Clematis Westerplatte is a Polish cultivar. Bred by Stefan Franchak in 1994. The variety has a gold medal received in 1998 at an international exhibition. Curly large-flowered vines are used for vertical landscaping of gardens and balconies. For the cultivation of clematis, Westerplatte requires supports, therefore, high walls, fences or gazebos are most often decorated with vines.
Description of clematis Westerplatte
Clematis Westerplatte is a deciduous perennial plant. The growth force of the stems is average. Lianas are highly decorative and for several years create a dense carpet of leaves and flowers.
Under favorable growing conditions, the stems reach 3 m in height. Lianas are plastic; when grown, they can be given the desired direction.
The plant forms large, velvety flowers, 10-16 cm in diameter. The color of flowers is rich, pomegranate. Bright flowers do not fade in the sun. Sepals are large, slightly agitated along the edges. Several grooves run in the middle. Stamens are light: from white to cream in color. Leaves are green, obovate, smooth, opposite.
In the description of the clematis variety Westerplatte, it is stated that when properly formed, the plant shows abundant flowering from July to August. During this time, there are two waves of flowering: on the shoots of the past and the current year. In the second period, flowers are located along the entire length of the liana.
The frost resistance of the variety belongs to zone 4, which means that the plant can withstand temperatures of -30 ... -35 ° C without shelter.
Clematis Westerplatte trimming group
Clematis (Westerplatte) Westerplatte belongs to the 2nd group of pruning. The main flowering occurs on the shoots of the last year, so they are preserved. Clematis Westerplatte is cut in 2 times.
Pruning plan:
- The first pruning is carried out in the middle of summer after the shoots of last year have faded. At this time, the stems are cut along with the seedlings.
- The second time, the shoots of the current year are pruned at the time of the winter shelter. Shoots are cut, leaving a length of 50-100 cm from the ground.
Easy pruning allows the vines to bloom lush all summer. With radical pruning of all lashes, clematis Westerplatte will bloom only from mid-summer on shoots that have grown this year. According to the photo, description and reviews, clematis Westerplatte, when fully pruned, forms a smaller number of flowers.
Optimal growing conditions
Clematis Westerplatte is grown in lighted areas. But the peculiarity of the culture is that only vines should be in the sun, and the root part should be shaded. For this, annual flowers are planted at the foot of the plant. Perennial plants with a shallow root system are also planted for shading at a short distance.
The plant forms very delicate stems with thin clinging tendrils. Therefore, the growing area should not be strongly blown, and the trellis should have a medium-sized cell.
Planting and caring for clematis Westerplatte
For planting clematis Westerplatte, seedlings with a closed root system, usually growing in containers, are purchased in the garden.It is most favorable to plant plants over 2 years old. Such seedlings of the Westerplatte variety should have a well-developed root system, and the shoots at the base should be lignified. The transplant can be carried out throughout the warm season.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The site for growing clematis Westerplatte is chosen taking into account that the culture will grow in a permanent place for a long time, because an adult clematis does not tolerate a transplant.
The site for growing is chosen on a hill, the roots of the plant do not tolerate stagnation of moisture. The soil is cleaned of weeds, so as not to provoke the occurrence of fungal diseases. The crop is suitable for growing in large containers.
Seedling preparation
Before planting, the seedling can be stored in a container in a bright place. Before planting, the plant together with the container is placed for 10 minutes. in water to saturate the roots with moisture.
The earth lump is not broken when landing. For disinfection, the roots are sprayed with a fungicide. For better rooting and stress relief during transplanting, the seedling is sprayed with Epin solution.
Landing rules
For planting clematis, Westerplatte prepare a large planting pit measuring 60 cm on all sides and depth.
Landing plan:
- At the bottom of the planting pit, a drainage layer of gravel or small stone is poured. On light, permeable soils, this step can be skipped.
- A bucket of mature compost or manure is poured onto the drain.
- Then a small amount of garden soil mixed with peat is poured.
- The seedling must be placed in the substrate 5-10 cm below the general ground level. During the season, the fertile soil is gradually replenished, completely filling the left space. This is an important rule when planting large-flowered clematis. With this placement, the plant will form additional roots and shoots to form a lush crown.
- The seedling is covered with a mixture of garden soil, peat, 1 tbsp. ash and handfuls of complex mineral fertilizers.
- The soil at the planting site is pressed and watered abundantly.
Clematis Westerplatte is planted together with other varieties and plants. To do this, a distance of about 1 m is observed between crops. Often the variety is used in joint planting with roses. So that the rhizomes of different cultures do not come into contact, they are separated by roofing material during planting.
Watering and feeding
When growing clematis Westerplatte, it is important not to allow the soil to dry out. For one watering, a large volume of water is used: 20 liters for young plants and 40 liters for adults. Clematis is watered not at the root, but in a circle, retreating from the center of the plant 30-40 cm. When watering, they also try not to touch the stems and leaves of the creeper in order to avoid the spread of fungal diseases.
Liquid fertilizers for flowering plants are used as fertilizers, for example, Agricola 7. The number of applications depends on the original soil fertility and the condition of the plant. Vines are not fertilized with fresh manure.
Mulching and loosening
Surface loosening is carried out at the beginning of the season, together with the removal of weeds and old mulch. In the future, loosening with the help of tools is not recommended because of the danger of damaging the roots and delicate stems, replace it with mulching.
Mulching for Westerplatte clematis is an important agricultural technique. To protect the roots on the soil, coconut trunks, wood chips or sawdust are laid out around the bushes. The material allows you to keep the soil moist and breathable, prevents weeds from germinating.
Pruning
During the season, weak and dry vines are cut from clematis Westerplatte. After flowering, last year's shoots are cut off completely. For shelter for the winter, leave 5-8 shoots with buds.
Preparing for winter
Clematis Westerplatte belongs to frost-resistant plants.But shoots and roots are covered for the winter to avoid damage to the plant during thaws and frost breaks. They cover plants in late autumn on slightly frozen soil. Before that, remove all plant residues, fallen and dried leaves, including from the stems.
The roots are covered with a dry substrate: peat or mature manure, filling the voids between the stems. The remaining long shoots are rolled up in a ring and pressed against the soil with a material that is not subject to decay. Spruce branches are applied on top, then a covering waterproof material.
In the spring, the covering layers are removed gradually, focusing on the weather conditions, so that the plant is not damaged by recurrent frosts, but also does not get locked up in the shelter. Vegetation begins at temperatures above + 5 ° C, so overwintered shoots need to be tied up in time.
Reproduction
Clematis Westerplatte is propagated vegetatively: by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. Seed propagation is less popular.
Cuttings are taken from an adult plant over 5 years old before it blooms. Breeding material is cut from the middle of the vine. Cuttings are rooted in planting containers with a peat-sand mixture.
Clematis reproduces well by layering. To do this, the extreme shoot of an adult plant is laid in a groove, in the soil and sprinkled. With the formation of roots, a new shoot can be transplanted into a pot without separating it from the vines, and grown throughout the summer season.
In order to propagate clematis by dividing the bush, it is necessary to dig out the bush completely. This method is used only for plants under the age of 7 years. Older specimens have a highly overgrown root system and do not take root well if it is damaged.
Diseases and pests
Clematis Westerplatte, with proper care, is resistant to disease and pest damage. But when grown in a shaded, non-ventilated or damp area, it is susceptible to powdery mildew, as well as other fungal diseases. To protect the plants, they are transplanted to a more suitable place. For prophylaxis, at the beginning of the season, they are sprayed with solutions of copper or iron sulfate.
Serious diseases of clematis are various wilting:
- Fusarium wilting caused by a fungus, occurs at high air temperatures. At first, weakened shoots are infected, so they must be removed in time.
- Verticillary wilting or wilt - a common disease of clematis. Occurs when grown in acidic soils. For prevention, the soil must be limed. To do this, at the beginning of the season, the soil is watered with milk of lime, which is prepared from 1 tbsp. lime or dolomite flour and 10 liters of water.
- Mechanical wilting provokes the swaying of vines in strong winds and their damage. Plants must be protected from drafts, attached to a reliable support.
Prevention of wilting is the acquisition of healthy seedlings, their correct, deep planting and care.
Clematis hybrid Westerplat does not have specific pests, but it can be damaged by common garden parasites: aphids, spider mites. Roots are harmed by mice and bears. You can partially protect plants from rodents by installing a fine mesh around the root system.
Conclusion
Clematis Westerplatte is a perennial plant for vertical gardening. It has been growing in a suitable place for several decades. Large burgundy flowers against a background of dense greenery will decorate the southern walls of buildings and fences, as well as individual columns and cones. Suitable for growing in different climatic zones and refers to unpretentious varieties.
