Flax flowers growing. Decorative flax - cultivation

Flax is a bright, tender, unpretentious plant. As an ornamental plant, annual large-flowered flax and several perennial species.

Linen - ornamental plant for garden

Flax is a genus of perennial and annual plants of the flax family. The number of species is about 230. Gardeners grow several ornamental species - annual and several perennial species, among which the most common are -, coarse flax And .

1. Flax grandiflora – an annual, very tender, beautifully and long-flowering plant, low to 50 cm in height. Grandiflora flax flowers have a diameter of up to 4 cm and a variety of colors - white, red, pink, blue, some varieties have darker eyes in the center of the flower. The flowers are open only in sunny weather. Large-flowered flax is beautiful, it looks especially impressive in large groups, included in the composition, suitable for cutting in. Flax grandiflora is a plant; seeds can be sown directly in open ground in May or before winter. Blooms from June to September.

2. Perennial flax – perennial up to 50 cm tall with blue or white flowers up to 2 cm in diameter. Blooms in June-July.

3. Yellow flax - a perennial plant from 20 to 40 cm in height with bright yellow flowers up to 3 cm in diameter. Blooms in June-July.

4. Austrian flax – perennial up to 50 cm in height, blue five-petal flowers. Blooms in May-June.

5. Tauride flax – yellow flowers are collected on a stalk about 50 cm long in umbrella-shaped inflorescences of 10-20 pieces.

Linen in garden design

Linen. Growing, planting and care

Flax is a light-loving plant that grows in sunny open places. Prefers light fertile soils with a neutral reaction.

Flax propagates by seeds, except for perennial species seed propagation Reproduction is possible by dividing the bush and cuttings. When propagated by seeds, flowering in perennial flax species begins in the second year. When planting, maintain a distance between plants of about 15-20 cm.

A gardener, when choosing flowers to grow in the garden, often undeservedly bypasses perennial flax. The fact is that this flower Since ancient times, it has been considered a wonderful decoration for a home, which can also protect it. This culture is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, but at the same time it has a relatively high decorative value, since it has a very beautiful flowers. There is an opinion that the flowers of this plant must be blue, but this is far from the case.

Description of perennial blue flax

Len is herbaceous plant. This genus unites about 200 of the most various types. Often flax is not very large bushes, the height of which does not exceed 50 centimeters. Despite the fact that the shoots of this culture are very thin, they are relatively powerful. The flowers vary in size (from very large to small). They can be painted white, bluish or red-pink.

This plant is widely cultivated by gardeners in the middle zone. It feels great in temperate climate, so it can be found in nature in Africa, North America, and also in some areas of Asia and Europe.

Types and varieties of flax

Among all the known types and varieties of flax, the most popular among gardeners are the following:

Oilseed. This decorative variety is often cultivated in room conditions. Most often, such a plant is grown in order to obtain flax seeds, which are distinguished by their high nutritional value, as well as healing properties. As a rule, the bush does not exceed 0.3 meters in height. The flowers are not very large. They can be colored yellow, bluish, or even red.
Decorative. This type It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, so even a person far from gardening can grow it. In addition, you should know that from the various decorative varieties linen produces durable fabric used for sewing clothes, linen, etc.
Large-flowered. This variety of flax began to be grown in mid-latitudes not so long ago. But for this a short time he managed to become one of the most popular gardeners popular varieties. The height of a medium-sized bush, as a rule, does not exceed 50 centimeters. The flowers of this variety have very large size, and they can be painted in a wide variety of colors. Such a plant is perennial; if it is provided with favorable conditions for growth, then without replanting it can be grown in the same place for five years.
perennial flax. This variety is the most widespread compared to others. Very attractive bushes of this flax are used to decorate borders, flower walls, etc.

Planting flax in open ground

Flax is not very demanding when it comes to growing conditions, which makes choosing a suitable place for planting it much easier. However, if you want it to grow and develop within normal limits, then for planting choose an exclusively open, sunny area, which should not be shaded by shrubs or trees or from various buildings. If there are very few sunny days in your region, then you are unlikely to be able to grow perennial flax.

Also this plant undemanding to the composition of the soil. It can be grown in almost any soil except swampy soil. For planting, choose an area with light soil where groundwater lie relatively deep. Perennial flax can be grown quite successfully on slightly steep slopes.

It is recommended to sow seeds of varieties of perennial flax in boxes at home. If you live in a region with a relatively mild and warm climate, then you can sow seeds in open ground. It is not recommended to bury them in the ground. The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of a previously prepared area, and then the crops are moistened with water from a sprinkler. You can sow seeds in open soil both in spring (when warm weather sets in and the daytime temperature is about 20 degrees) and in autumn time(you need to make it before the cold weather, while the average daily air temperature should be at least twenty degrees).

If you are planning to sow perennial flax in open soil, then do not forget to take into account the cold factor. Sowing is strictly prohibited on a rainy or damp day. The area with crops must be covered with a not very thick layer of soil, then they are insulated in the same way as most garden flowers.

Flax propagation

There are several ways in which flax can be propagated quite successfully. They will be described in more detail below.

Generative (seed) method

You can grow such a flower from seeds in containers. You can also sow seeds directly into open soil; such sowing is carried out in spring or autumn (before winter). All you need to do is spread the seeds evenly over the surface of the soil, and then simply spray them with a spray bottle. They should not be buried in the ground. Perennial flax seeds can be sown in the soil if necessary in the summer.

If you decide to sow seeds in containers, you should know that grown seedlings cannot be transplanted into open ground, because they become very sick after such a procedure and often die. When the seeds are sown, the containers are immediately transferred to fresh air.

Dividing the bush

If you grow two-year-old flax on your plot, it can be propagated by dividing the bush. In the middle spring period or in August, after the plant has flowered, the bush is divided into several parts. The cuttings must be immediately planted in open soil, keeping a distance of 0.2 m between them. They should be watered regularly and often enough, and also protected from direct rays of the sun.

Caring for blue flax

If you want the flowering of flax to be as spectacular as possible, and for it to grow and develop normally, it will need to be provided with good proper care. Below we will describe in detail the features of caring for perennial flax.

For normal growth and development, such a flower needs sufficient quantity water. In this regard, it is necessary to water it systematically. However, make sure that there is no stagnation of water in the soil.

Please note that flax reacts extremely negatively to stagnation of liquid in the soil. Depending on air temperature and rain, flax is watered on average 1 or 2 times every 7 days. It is important that the soil under the bushes is slightly moist at all times. After autumn begins, watering is gradually reduced, and then it must be stopped altogether.

It is also necessary to carry out weeding in a timely manner, since dense planting and weeds negatively affect the decorative properties of flax.

You won’t have to feed perennial flax often, which makes caring for it much easier. Before you start sowing seeds in open soil, you need to add a little a large number of organic matter, and also add a little potassium fertilizer. During the growing season, it is recommended to feed flax at least two more times, using liquid fertilizers. It is recommended to feed such flowers only after they have been watered.

The gardener will not have to deal with a bunch of diseases and pests, because flax has a fairly high resistance to them. However, in some cases, a flax flea beetle may settle on the bushes. If you decide to fight it with different traditional methods, then keep in mind that all of them will be ineffective. Therefore, without wasting time, treat the infected bushes with chemicals specially designed for this purpose.

In order for such a very beautiful and enough unusual flower grows normally in your garden plot, and to ensure the most spectacular flowering, it should only be planted next to those plants that have a very similar development pattern and also require the same growing conditions.

Linen in landscape design

Perennial blue flax is quite popular among gardeners. This flower is recommended for use in a variety of group compositions, for example: in mixborders, rock gardens, flower beds, and also in very picturesque borders.

It has been noticed that flax goes well with those crops that require large quantities sunlight and are characterized by fairly high resistance to drought. Perennial flax exhibits excellent growth when planted in a Moorish lawn. It is recommended to plant it together with such beautiful flowers as marigolds, clover, daisies, and cornflowers.

Perennial blue flax certainly deserves attention from gardeners. Its advantage is that it is not too picky about growing conditions, it is relatively easy to care for, and this flower is very beautiful.

Since ancient times, flax (Linum usitatissimum) has been grown in Rus', the use of which in household was very varied. Today you will hardly tug at flax to get yarn from it and weave it into cloth with your own hands. But this plant has both medicinal and decorative properties, which are worth taking note of by the modern gardener. Wise ancestors said: “If you sow flax, you will reap gold.”

And it seems that these simple flowers accompanied man throughout his history. In any case, archaeologists claim that flax seeds and linseed oil were already known in the bronze and iron ages. The ancient Egyptians cultivated flax to weave linen, and the Romans considered this plant a symbol of purity, light and fidelity.

What kind of flax is there?

Seed flax – annual flax family. It is not found growing wild, but is cultivated in various forms. For industrial purposes it is usually distinguished Dolguntsy– tall (from 90 to 150 cm) plants grown mainly for fiber; curls– low-growing (from 30 to 60 cm) varieties; mezheumki– medium-sized plants.

The flax we are used to is inconspicuous in appearance: it has a thin stalk on which are located numerous narrow leaves and small flowers pale blue or light blue, collected in loose umbrella-shaped inflorescences. But breeders have developed many varieties, including decorative ones - with rather large and expressive flowers.

How to grow flax

Flax is sown in spring; usually randomly. The crops are harrowed by embedding the seeds into the soil to a depth of 1.5–2 cm. When sowing in rows, the distance between them is about 20 cm.

Flax is not afraid of cold weather, young seedlings are resistant to frost down to -3° C, so it can already be sown in the end of April. After 1.5 - 2 months, flowers will appear, and then rounded seed pods. Flax seed, which is medicinal raw materials, ripens in July - September depending on the variety and sowing time.

For planting, it is advisable to choose an area where the soil is well drained and fertilized. Despite its unpretentiousness, flax develops better on fertile soil . When the buds set and the first flowers appear, you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out - at this time the plant is very sensitive to moisture. In addition, you will only need to weed and loosen the crops once or twice a season.

Healing properties of flax

At home, flaxseed (whole or crushed) is most often prepared mucous decoctions and infusions, using them for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Crushed or ground into flour seeds are used for poultice or compresses; dry seeds, poured into a linen bag, are heated and applied to the sore lower back with radiculitis.

Decoction of seeds in folk medicine used for various diseases of the kidneys and bladder; in dental practice it is used for stomatitis and inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa - as an enveloping agent.

Used and linseed oil- it is prescribed for disorders of fat metabolism, for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. It also has a mild laxative effect; used externally in the treatment of burns. The medical drug linetol is produced from flaxseed oil.

Beneficial properties of seeds lasts 3 – 4 years(if you store them in a dry place, away from moisture).

It is worth sowing flax simply because it is beautiful. Low varieties can be placed as a border in an apothecary garden or along garden paths; delicate flowers flax on graceful stems will look good in a mixborder.

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet

Despite the fact that flax, in terms of its survival characteristics, is a plant that, when growing, can cover a large area, drowning out other representatives of the home flora, amateur gardeners cannot resist its beauty.

Long flowering during the three summer months attracts summer residents, for whom growing flax at home is becoming increasingly popular.

Features of cultivation

In the old days, people were guided folk signs, which made it possible to choose the right time for planting flax - a plant that in Rus' was considered the main agricultural crop, because flax was used to weave cloth for clothing, beat butter, make flour, and insulate houses with flax tow.

The sages said: “If you sow flax, you will reap gold” and they were right.

Flax has been a strategic crop for many centuries, so its cultivation was treated in a special way. As soon as the rowan blossomed, the cuckoo began to crow, and the buds began to open on the oak trees, it was time to sow flax.

Agricultural flax - the cultivation and care of which took place in families according to certain rules, but unchanged for each peasant were his planting and harvesting:

Flax was sown in the second half of May, while monitoring the condition of the soil - the soil should be sufficiently moist and warm up well.
By June 3, the day of the celebration of Saints Helen and Constantine, the planting of flax had to be completely completed.
Today it is very convenient to plant this crop, according to lunar calendar, which describes all the favorable periods for sowing it. Modern weather conditions already allow flax to be planted even at the end of April or beginning of May, depending on weather and soil conditions.
The plant is not frost-resistant; it cannot withstand temperatures below 3 degrees, so it should be uprooted during the harvest period.
Flax does not like heavily waterlogged soil.
In the fight against fungal diseases, gardeners treat the plant with fungicides.
The soil for this crop must be loose enough to allow the root system to be enriched with oxygen.
When growing flax, special attention is also paid to weeding. Weeds should not be allowed to choke out the young shoots of this crop.
In early September, when the weather is warm and dry, the flax is pulled out and placed in sheaves to dry. At home, it is easier to notice the readiness of flax for harvesting. You should pay attention to ensure that the stems do not dry out - they should have a light yellow color.

Types of flax and their cultivation

There are several types of flax - oilseed, decorative, large-flowered. Its height can vary from 30 cm and above to one and a half meters in height. In appearance, its flowers are narrow leaves, small and large; depending on the type, the flowers are pale blue, blue, yellow and even red. Modern collectors can boast of new decorative species, differing in many ways from the usual flax.

At home, growing oil flax has long been in demand due to its special useful properties seed composition, which is processed into linseed oil. The seeds of this type of flax contain 42% fatty oil. In industry, this particular type is used for the production of drying oil, paints, soap, and artificial leather.

Those who are aimed at growing oil flax at home on their plot need to know that this crop has a more developed root system than its other species, so it needs to be planted in a separate spacious area. Flax likes moderate watering, but is heat-loving. The height of the plant ready for harvest reaches 20-70 cm. Such varieties of oilseed flax as “Novinka-198”, “Lubensky - 7”, “Start” and others are suitable for sowing on a personal plot.

You should not plant flax in a place where its predecessor was corn or flax - this reduces the yield; it is better if these were melons or winter crops.

Sowing of oilseed flax is carried out using the inter-row method at a distance of 15 cm between the rows, with a planting depth of up to 7 cm. Before planting the seeds, they are disinfected with protective and stimulating drugs according to the instructions for them.

During the growth period, be sure to weed out weeds. The appearance of the first shoots begins on the 7-10th day, from this moment the plant requires careful protection from weeds and pests.

Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium are suitable mineral fertilizers: nitrogen is used from sunrise to flowering, phosphorus - throughout the growing season, potassium - during the budding period. For pests, spraying with herbicide compounds is used.

Oil flax is harvested in a separate way - first the head is removed, they are cleaned and dried, then the stems are removed with roots, the ground must be plowed or dug up. When storing flax seed, the humidity in the room should not exceed 10%.

Flax grandiflora

More recently, large-flowered flax has appeared in domestic decorative floriculture, the cultivation of which from seeds attracts lovers of home flora. The main factor indicating the demand for this plant is its rich color range - from pale pink to bright blue. This type reaches a height of 60 cm, has flowers that may not fade for several days. This type of flax blooms from June to October, provided it is planted in May.

Large-flowered flax can grow in one place without losing appearance up to 5 years. If the external quality of leaves and flowers is poor, it should be planted in another place.

This species loves well-lit areas, preferably on slopes, so that water does not stagnate in the soil. For early flowering, seeds can be planted in April in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. In warm weather, seedlings can be planted in open ground in May.

Under favorable conditions, seeds are planted in the soil at a temperature of at least 12 degrees Celsius. After 10-14 days, flax sprouts can be observed.

Sometimes, in order for flax to bloom for up to six months, the seeds are transplanted to a new place after two weeks in the summer.

Flax is not afraid of transplantation, so it can be transplanted by separating it from the bush. You can sprinkle soil with compost on the damaged root and flowering will resume. Holes are dug no more than 50 cm, a solution of water and phosphate-nitrogen fertilizers are poured. The bushes are planted and covered with earth.

Decorative types of flax

For beautiful and durable fabrics and beautiful clothes Of these, we should thank decorative flax, the cultivation of which is the simplest process in comparison with other types of flax. Thanks to the beautiful color palette shades of this plant, personal plot acquires beautiful view, which encourages summer residents to plant decorative flax on alpine hills, courtyard flower beds and as an addition to already formed flower beds with other flowers.

Decorative flax is planted only in places with moderate soil moisture, in a brightly lit area, not obscured by trees and bushes.

The method of growing decorative flax is by seed. If at the end of May or beginning of June the soil warms up well, the seeds can be safely planted in the soil; if weather conditions do not allow this, flax can be planted in greenhouse conditions, and then seedlings in favorable period plant in open ground.

The soil must have sufficient drainage and humus; you can add organic matter. When planting seedlings, the distance between them should not be less than 5 cm, and no more than 7 cm deep.

Care for decorative flax should be carried out constantly:

keep an eye on weeds and weed them out on time;
in dry weather, water;
You should not water the plant in the fall - it should dry out naturally;
Fertilizers should be fed 2-3 times a season;
When flax fleas, the number one pest for flax, appear, it is imperative to use appropriate chemical protection by spraying.

It is advisable to plant flax only with those plants in the same flower garden that have similar growing conditions, are not moisture-loving and have a moderate root system.

perennial flax

Most popular look flax for decorating flower walls, lawns and borders - perennial flax, growing from seeds of which is the most convenient and in a fast way reproduction. These species include Rudbeckia, Gaillardia, blue perennial flax, Aquilegia, Terry caspea, Lupine and others. Simple recommendations from professional gardeners will help you grow perennial flax species at home:

Perennials are best planted in closed ground, then at temperatures above 20 degrees, plant them in the ground on the site.
Flax seeds should not be planted in wet soil in rainy weather.
In warm climate zones, seeds of perennial flax species are planted in autumn.
Seeds of perennials do not need to be placed in the ground, but simply sown. This way they will quickly establish contact with the soil.
In warm climates, plants reproduce by self-sowing.
Some types of perennial flax (Rudbeckia, Aquilegia) can simply be spread out on the surface of the soil for the first time and watered.
Perennials sown in the spring bloom in the first year, and in the fall in the second year.
Seeds sown in autumn must be covered with soil and insulated for the winter, like any flower crop.
When flax sprouts about 5 cm in height, the sprouts should be thinned out, leaving a distance of 10 cm.
Among perennials there are species that do not like transplanting; this should be discussed with the seller immediately before purchasing seeds.
Perennial flax should be acclimated to cold soil gradually if the seeds are planted in the fall. To do this, the seed is placed in damp paper towel. Wrap in a bag and put in the refrigerator for a week.

Germination of seeds

Sprouted flax seeds have long been considered a product that has a healing effect, so by germinating flax at home for planting, you can combine business with pleasure.

A flax seed sprout is a green shoot that, through the process of photosynthesis, receives energy for growth, as well as all the beneficial vitamins and minerals. At the moment of seed germination, its adaptation begins, so in order to get strong shoots that will produce in the future good harvest, you need to know how to germinate flax seeds correctly:

When carrying out the germination process, you will need potassium permanganate for disinfection, as well as a wide-necked jar, water, and a sieve.
Before the disinfection process, flax seeds should be poured into a jar and poured cold water. Dry seeds that float to the surface should be removed. In this way, it will be possible to weed out the bad grains.
During the soaking process, flax seeds produce mucilage, which must be removed by repeatedly washing the seeds.
The selected seeds should be dipped into a soft pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.
Rinse the seeds under water and pour hot (60 degrees).
After the water has cooled, add 1 tbsp. l. complex of minerals. Soak in the composition for 1 hour.
Now you can begin the germination process: take a small grid, put a cloth on it, and seeds on top thin layer. Spill with water. Water will gradually drain from the grate.
Keep container with rack on sunny side at a temperature of 24 degrees.
Germination takes place within 4 days. The container is left in the refrigerator overnight to harden the seed. This will make it possible to plant the seeds in the soil, which has only warmed up to 2 degrees.
Laying in the ground is carried out at a depth of 3 cm.

Such sowing measures will help increase the frost resistance of perennial flax species.

Growing: easy

Temperature: Resistant to both high and low temperatures

Flowering: spring-summer

Location: bright light

Height: 20-50 cm

Watering: depending on the type

LATIN NAME: Linum

FAMILY: Linaceae

HOMELAND: Southern Europe, Southwest Asia

Transplant: in spring

Care: cutting off faded inflorescences

The genus flax includes more than 200 species of herbaceous and subshrub, annual and perennial, hardy and delicate plants, which are characterized by simple leaves without stems and funnel-shaped flowers.

Some types of flax are widely used in agriculture and production (for example, common flax Linum usitatissimum and its two subspecies: Vulgare, from which textile fibers, and Humile, grown for seeds). Many types of flax have decorative value and are highly valued by flower growers.

Among them we can distinguish the perennial creeping alpine flax (Linum alpinum), bell flax (L. campanulatum) with oblong-spear-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, capitate flax (Linum capitatum), reaching 40-50 cm in height, with spear-shaped leaves and flowers of a delightful golden yellow hue. Plants belonging to the perennial flax species (Linum perenne) have straight spear-shaped leaves and blue flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Large-flowered flax (Linum grandiflorum) is quite popular among annuals. Breeders have developed numerous varieties of flax.

Lenok is a perennial herbaceous plant. The height of the stem reaches from thirty to one hundred centimeters. Lenka flowers are collected in large clusters, ranging from gray-yellow to yellow-orange. It blooms for a long time, from late spring to early autumn. Distributed in all territories of Ukraine with the exception of Crimea.

Most often, Lenok is found in a field, near a road, among other herbs, like a weed. Lenok is a medicinal plant. The entire plant except the rhizome is used for medicinal purposes. To do this, flowers and leaves of Lenka are cut off during the flowering period and dried on outdoors or in a well-ventilated area away from direct sun rays and are further used in decoctions and tinctures. The interesting thing is that the already dried plant smells quite unpleasant. It has a sharp, salty-bitter taste. Of the entire mass of cut flowers, no more than twenty percent remains in dried form.

For medicinal purposes, either alcohol tincture of Lenka is used, or dried flowers are brewed and taken orally for various diseases, lotions are made to sore spots by applying a tampon soaked in the tincture.

Regular Lenok - care:

Lighting:

Lenok grows equally well both in the shade, for example, next to bushes, and in open areas, such as fields, hills, dry slopes, light forest clearings or roadsides.

Temperature:

It grows in a temperate continental climate, best when the summer is warm with little rainfall, it is unpretentious and not sensitive to drought, as it is a weed.

Watering:

Lenok does not require special watering; the plant only needs natural watering, although in particularly dry summers, in order to reap a high harvest, periodic watering may not be amiss.

Humidity:

Lenok doesn't need high humidity soil, it grows well in open areas and is drought-resistant.

Feeding:

IN additional feeding no need, those are enough for him minerals which he takes from open ground. Moreover, Lenok is used as a medicinal plant; it should not be fertilized with any mineral or chemical substances, since they are all concentrated in the plant and this can only be harmful to health.

Transfer:

Since the plant is herbaceous and grows only in wildlife, it should not be replanted, as this may lead to the death of the plant.

Reproduction:

Lenok reproduces by seeds. After the plant has flowered, it forms an oblong capsule, enough big size, in which flat, black seeds ripen. In autumn they can be collected and sown in early spring, as soon as the night frosts pass. Optimal temperature for germination from +6 °C to +8 °C, ideal from +20 °C. It germinates in April-May, blooms all summer, bears fruit from September to October.

Some features:

Medicine does not officially recognize Lenok medicinal plant, but a large number are known folk remedies against all kinds of diseases with the help of lenka tincture. However, Lenok is widely used in Tibetan medicine. Also, a decoction of Lenka in milk helps in the summer to escape flies.

Common Lenok – diseases and pests:

Since Lenok is a weed, it has no pests

Tell us what linen looks like? One day, while walking with my child in the park, we came across a rather tall bush with blue flowers. A woman passing by said that it was flax blooming. Since school, I remember that the plant has blue-blue flowers, but I was confused by the fact that it was at the end of summer, and I always thought that flax had already faded by this time.

The warm climate and fertile soil of our homeland create favorable conditions for growing in industrial scale not only cereals, but also many other crops. So, in middle lane In Russia you can often find entire fields that from afar look like a giant blue cloud. This is flax in bloom - one of the ancient plants, which is known for its oilseed and spring qualities. It is from flax stalks that special fiber is obtained for the manufacture of natural fabric, and the seeds are the raw material for the production of flour and.

What does linen look like?

This grows annual plant quite a large but sparse bush. The average height is 60 cm, but there are more tall views“tall” up to 1.5 m. The central stem itself is straight and thin. The bulk of numerous small lanceolate leaves are located in its lower part, while at the top the shoot forms lateral branches. The leaves are colored light green color and are covered with a barely noticeable waxy coating.

The fresh above-ground part of the plant is poisonous and should be used for internal use it is forbidden.

The root system of flax is taprooted, the central root is thin, but not too long, colored White color. In the upper part, the lateral branches are slightly larger, while at the bottom the rod is overgrown with many small roots and threads.

How does flax bloom?

At the beginning of summer, unsightly-looking bushes are transformed when delicate flowers bloom on long peduncles. They are not too large, from 1.5 to 2.4 cm in diameter, collected in thyroid racemes, and consist of five wide petals with rounded edges.

The color of flax inflorescences depends on the specific variety. The most commonly grown species are those with blue and blue flowers, but there is also flax that blooms with white, pink and red-violet inflorescences.

Flax blooms for a long time and lasts all summer.

How does flax bear fruit?

At the beginning of autumn, in place of the buds, fruits begin to ripen - small, up to 8 mm long, ball-shaped boxes with false partitions, inside of which small seeds are formed. There are usually no more than 10 seeds, and they themselves are flat and shiny, with a sharp top, and brownish in color.

For alpine slides, large flower beds, mixborders and individual group plantings, for cutting and arranging bouquets, large-flowered flax will be an amazing bright discovery for you. Growing from seeds is easy and has a high success rate.

Large-flowered flax: description

It with decorative flowers, belonging to the genus Flax from the Flax family. It reaches a height of up to 110 cm, but most often the growth is limited to 30-60 cm. The stem of flax is erect and branched. The leaves are sessile, alternate in arrangement, lanceolate in shape with pointed tips. Bright flowers form an inflorescence corymb, which has a fairly loose structure. The natural habitat is the northwestern part of the African continent (Algeria). Flax was introduced into culture in 1820, and since then it has been actively cultivated as an annual.

Grandiflora flax: cultivation

From small seeds, if desired, you can grow a beautiful perennial plant. Flax has an unpretentious character, is resistant to cold, and tolerates even mild frosts. It is preferable to choose sunny, well-lit areas for it. It will grow in any poor garden soil, but preferably without stagnant moisture. In Russia with cold climatic conditions, we recommend choosing large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds is very simple. Germination is almost 100%, and the plant spreads all the way to the taiga zone.

Before planting, the area must be dug up; it is recommended to add humus or compost (1 square meter 3-4 kg). And also a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Then mix everything thoroughly and level it with a rake. It is best to water the soil well and leave it for a couple of days, and only then start planting. This can be done in two ways: seedlings or directly into the ground. Choose the one that suits you best.

Flax (red) large-flowered growing from seeds to seedlings

It is recommended to sow in mid-April, as the plant develops quite quickly. Use light soil that is permeable to air and moisture. Pour it into small boxes in an even layer of 5-8 cm and moisten with a spray bottle. Do not bury the seeds, but carefully scatter them over the surface, sprinkle a 1 cm layer of soil on top. It is best to make a small greenhouse and cover the box with polyethylene. Be careful with waterlogging - this is what grandiflora flax does not like. Growing from seeds (photo) is a fairly quick process, seedlings will appear in 7-10 days. As soon as the seedlings have the first pair of true leaves, they should be planted in separate pots with a diameter of about 7 cm and the same depth. Flax has a strong tap root system, so we recommend not delaying planting. The further you go, the more difficult it will be to separate the plants from each other without damaging them.

Sowing seeds in the ground

This method also has a right to exist and is simple. You can sow seeds in early spring (April-May) or late autumn, which is called before winter. Prepare the soil in advance using the method already mentioned above. Then make neat grooves at a distance of 10-15 cm, 4-5 cm deep. Spray them thoroughly with water. Do not press the seeds, but just spread them out in an even layer and sprinkle a small amount of soil on top. When seedlings appear, they must be thinned out; leave a distance between plants of 5-8 cm.

Basic rules for caring for flax

If you want, as they say, to plant a plant and forget it, then choose large-flowered flax (Rubrum). Growing from seeds with seedlings or directly in the ground will not cause any difficulties, and care is even easier.

Choose light soils without stagnant moisture and cold drafts.
The plant is heat tolerant, so additional watering will only be required in extremely dry summers.
During the season, make 2-3 complex feedings mineral fertilizers, and the plant will delight you with lush flowering.
Flowerbeds where flax grows need to be weeded, like any other.
After rain and watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil so that a crust does not form, especially on heavy soils.

What other “lazy” plants can be planted in the garden?

There is not always time to care for the garden and flower beds, but everyone wants to have their own fragrant corner on the site. Someone will say that this does not happen, and any plant requires attention. Of course, this is true, but the degree of care and its thoroughness differ. If you rarely visit the dacha, then not only large-flowered flax will suit you. Growing some other species from seeds will also come in handy. Pay attention to the openwork gypsophila. Perennial will cover the ground with an even carpet. You can also use an annual analogue - graceful gypsophila, it grows quickly and blooms luxuriantly.

Our traditional cornflower is simple and charming at the same time. Now many varieties have been bred not only with blue coloring, but also white, pink, and purple. In addition, the plant will delight you with a double wave of flowering - June and September.

We recommend choosing fragrant iberis or matthiola, toadflax, alyssum, which weaves everything into an even canvas, calendula (not only pleasant, but also useful), nasturtium for both horizontal and vertical gardening, morning glory.

If you are looking for something easy to care for, yet effective and... unusual plant Look at the bright and cheerful large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds at home will help you get high-quality seedlings and plants that are stronger by the time they are planted in the ground.