Tuberose: planting and care in the open ground, features of cultivation and recommendations

Tuberose, or polyanthesis tuberous, a plant that was not in vain called "the queen of the night", because with the onset of the evening its intoxicating aroma becomes the main in the garden. This smell over the past decade has become one of the most branded and widely used in perfumery. It will be interesting for any gardener to grow tuberose in his own home, planting and care in the open ground beyond which is quite possible if certain rules are observed.

Origin and description of the flower

The native land of Mexico, from where it was brought back in the 16th century, the first description of the tuberose was made at that time. Polyantes (Greek "shiny flower") belongs to the subfamily of the agave family of asparagus, has a total of 13 species.

The greatest popularity of tuberose was acquired in the 19th century, in which not only gardeners, but also poets praised it in their works. Now this flower is experiencing its rebirth, surprising everyone with its beauty and charming aroma. A very expensive extract, which is obtained from its flowers, is used in the manufacture of the spirits of world famous companies "Gucci" and "Dior", also essential oil and fragrant sticks are made.

This plant is perennial, having an onion tuber at the base of a powerful root system and several basal leaves collected in a rosette. Height of adult stem can reach 50-100 cm, and leaves - 30-40 cm.

In Russia polyantes in open landings is used in southern regions (Crimea, Krasnodar Territory). However, in the central areas, including in the suburbs, amateur gardeners are successfully engaged in its cultivation.

Tuberose reproduces mainly tubers, the life of which is 2 years: the first plant should grow well and acquire leaves and shoots, and in the second year the flowering begins, after which the mother tuber dies, but gives life to a multitude of children.

Bloom

The flowering time starts in July and lasts until October. Flowers, located on top in the form of an ear with a lot of inflorescences (up to 30 pieces), have dense waxy lobes. The size of flowers is 5-6 cm in length and 3-4 cm in diameter. When opening buds, they emit a very pleasant and strong smell. For several centuries, as a result of the selection, various shapes and shades of colors are displayed: terry, pink, yellow, purple, salmon and lilac.

Flowers on one stem begin to bloom starting from the bottom of the peduncle. Tuberose, planting and care in the open ground behind which are carried out correctly, blossoms almost 3 weeks, retaining a beautiful decorative look and smell. If flowers are cut off, then in the bouquet they can stand almost 2 weeks, and when adding vinegar to the water and longer. After flowering a box with flat seeds is formed.

Tuberose: description of reproduction, care

Reproduction of tuberose is possible in 2 ways: with the help of seeds and daughter tubers. The most widely used method is multiplication by dividing tubers. At the end of the season around the mother tuber, 10-20 baby bulbs are formed, which after reaching a size of 2 cm can already be grown separately.

Bulbs should be excavated after the plant withers in the fall, after which they must be cleared of the soil and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate from bacteria. Keep them until spring is better in a cool room at 10-15 ° C, putting in a substrate of a mixture of dry sawdust and sand.

Nodules are best before planting in February, put in peat or a mixture of humus, turf and sand in special boxes for seedlings to a depth of 3 cm, leaving the tip of it on the surface. Dismounting takes a certain time: shoots appear only after 3-4 weeks, the boxes are placed in a bright and warm place and are well watered regularly.

To successfully grow tuberose, planting and care are important. In the open ground of the nodule can be planted only when the threat of spring frosts and frost passes, and the air temperature will be at least 10 ° C. Tuberose prefers light soils and good watering. Before planting, it is better to add compost or humus to the ground.

The distance between planting is 25 cm, so that there is enough room for the formation of new children and everyone has enough food. When the children are planted, the distance for large ones is 15 cm, for small ones about 10 cm, the depth of embedding is 2-3 cm.

Care of plants

It is very important after planting tuberose and when leaving in the open ground to ensure optimal conditions for good growth and abundant flowering:

• Polyanthesis is a plant that is thermophilic and loves moist soil, therefore it is necessary to water it regularly only with warm water, making sure that the soil does not dry out, and moisture does not accumulate, because roots may rot;
• After each watering do a thorough loosening and make sure that the top of the tuber does not fall on the ground;

• It is necessary to regularly destroy weeds around planted plants;
• For feeding, complex mixtures are used taking into account the fact that the plant does not like excess nitrogen; The best option is to use organic fertilizers 2-3 times per season: immediately after the tubers are planted and before the flowering begins;
• Do not allow thickening of planted plants, since polyanthes is very freedom-loving;
• After the end of flowering (end of September - early October), watering should be stopped, and the tubers are left to ripen until the cooling begins;
• Digging a nest with nodules do in October before the onset of frost.

Recommendations and features of care

There are several rules that will help to accelerate the emergence of peduncles in the first year of plant life.

Features of care and planting tuberose:

• Tuber babies can be separated from the main bulb already in the summer, they are planted separately, which will allow to grow the ready-made material by autumn, which will be able to blossom next year;
• In the autumn the plant that has already blossomed can be transplanted into a pot and placed in a greenhouse or on a warm veranda for a month until the entire stem turns dry and yellow, only then the well ripened children are dug and laid for storage;
• In the spring it is recommended to plant the children only separately, separating them from the mother bulb, otherwise they will slow down its growth.

Diseases and pests

Tuberose, planting and care in the open ground, which is carried out according to the rules, is usually not affected by disease, but the insects frighten away the sharp smell of flowers. However, occasionally there are cases of attack by pests (spider mites, aphids), defeat by gray rot. When there are some signs of the disease (dark spots on the leaves, etc.), the plant should be treated with fungicides.

In the spring, it must be protected from the teddy bears who like to dig up the tubers planted in the open ground.

Application of tuberose in landscape design

Such a beautiful and original smelling plant will be an ornament of any flower garden, in which it can be combined with many other flowers. Optimal neighbors are gladioli, which have a similar growing technique. Tuberose usually bloom a little later and become successors to gladioli, providing continuous flowering in the flowerbed.

Polyantes have a sufficiently high stalk-tsvetonos, because in front of them you can plant low-growing flowers or deciduous plants.

To decorate balconies and loggias, pots with tuberose are used to admire its beauty and aroma for a longer time. However, it is not recommended to leave them in a poorly ventilated room, since a strong odor can adversely affect susceptible people.