Almost every gardener knows about the plant amazing beauty- New Zealand delphinium. The tall and luxurious flower amazes the imagination. It, like an angel, rises above other perennials and fascinates with its beautiful, large inflorescences. There is no landscape designer who would not resort to this plant to decorate the site.

They decorate flower beds, construct decorative flowerpots from which terry peaks of different colors shoot upward. New Zealand delphinium is grown against a background of shrubs and greenery. This makes them look even more impressive. The unpretentiousness of the plant allows you to take on the cultivation of this handsome plant without fear. However, the growing process also has its own characteristics. Delphinium will delight you with magnificent flowering if the conditions of maintenance are observed, and. The gardener's guide will tell you about all the intricacies of plant care. It will help you grow tall, terry and crazy beautiful bushes.

The New Zealand delphinium differs from its counterparts in its tall stems and large sizes inflorescences. It is considered one of the most beloved plant species by gardeners. It impressively rises on the site and consists of stems covered almost entirely with flowers. The cluster of inflorescences can reach 70 cm, and the diameter of the flowers can be 9-10 cm. The bottom of the plant is covered with greenery. The leaves are strongly dissected and have a bright green color.

Depending on the variety, flowers can be double, semi-double or single.

The classic type of flower has five petals. But such delphiniums are not usually grown. There is a spur on the upper petal of the flower. Thanks to him, the plant is sometimes called spur. The petals of the flower, after fully opening, have a greenish stripe in the middle. This occurs because the bud is green when unopened. Having blossomed, it changes color, but not completely - a barely noticeable greenish stripe remains. The entire bush of New Zealand delphinium can reach a height of 2 m, the brush with inflorescences is 70 cm or more. The color of the flowers varies from white, pink, purple, violet, cornflower blue to red. There are also varieties with brown, black and burgundy color. The middle of the flower is always crowned with a bright eye. Perennial delphinium grows in one place for 5 to 8 years. Flowering begins at the end of June and continues throughout July. If faded inflorescences are cut off, there will be re-blooming in August and September.

The plant can be found wild in Asia, America, Europe, and Africa. It adapts perfectly to almost any conditions. However, it requires light soil and relative warmth. Delphinium is actively used in, without it it is already unthinkable winter gardens, greenhouses and garden plots.

The plant is usually divided into annual and perennial species. Gardeners prefer to grow perennials. There is no hassle with them and they look much more impressive.

Perennial species of delphinium are in turn divided into groups: New Zealand group, Scottish and morphine.

The first became widespread due to the large growth of the plant (up to 2 m) and huge flowers (up to 9 cm in diameter). It is this category of delphinium that interests us. The following varieties are very popular:

• "Double Innocent" - the plant has huge snow-white flowers. Looks beautiful against a background of scarlet roses or lilies. The variety tolerates frost well and is not exposed.
• "Pink Punch" - dark pink flowers, quite large. Winter-hardy variety, rarely exposed to disease, .
• "Sneferu" - the flowers resemble the heavenly heights, bordered by a lilac fringe. Flower growers love this variety for its color - it looks impressive against the backdrop of greenery, tall shrubs, and trees. Reaches a height of 1.5-1.7 m.
• "Sky Lagoon" - the color of the flowers is pale blue, pure. The brush resembles a bridal bouquet, just as touching and innocent.
• "Sphinx" - the flowers are dark purple in color. This variety is usually grown in conjunction with others, such as white and blue shades of flowers. So it will look bright and beautiful.
• "Moonlight Blues" - flowers are bright blue, dense and large. They look beautiful next to lilies.

All of the listed varieties of New Zealand delphinium reach 1.5-2 m in height. They have large double or semi-double flowers. They will fit perfectly into the design of the site and will delight the owners for many years.

Any plant variety requires certain conditions. They are not complicated, but they must be provided. Growing conditions will always vary by region. In the northern regions, delphinium is planted later, in the southern regions, vice versa. But there are general rules and plant growing conditions.

Delphinium loves sunny places with light soil. The plant is quite unpretentious, but will not grow in damp soil and a dark place. The flowers will be small and pale. Delphinium does not tolerate acidic soil. If you plan to plant the plant in this particular soil, you should add slaked lime to the soil.

For spurs, you need to carefully prepare the soil where it will grow. If this is done, the plant will grow without problems, it will not need to be fed endlessly and monitored for the appearance of diseases.

The soil is prepared as follows:

• In the fall, the soil is dug up and complex fertilizer is added to it.
• Then peat, garden soil and well-rotted humus are added. The ratio of components is one part of each.
• In the spring, the soil is dug up again and superphosphate, ammonium sulfate and potassium salt are added to it according to the instructions on the packages.
• If the ground is damp and moisture accumulates in the area, you need to add river sand to the bottom of the hole under the delphinium. The sand is covered with a substrate of peat, garden soil and humus.

As seedlings grow in open ground, fertilizers should be applied, but this measure is provided only in the case of unprepared land. Delphinium, especially in the growth phase, does not tolerate drought. It is necessary to monitor young seedlings and water them in a timely manner. If frost suddenly sets in, it’s okay. Delphinium tolerates them well. You can cover them with non-woven material as a preventive measure.

Having planted the seedlings correctly, the gardener no longer has to worry about his pet and can expect a luxurious experience. It is worth noting that annuals are planted with seeds in the fall so that they bloom in July. But this condition does not apply to the New Zealand delphinium, since it is a perennial.

The plant does not require special care:

• It is important to monitor soil moisture at first. Do not overfill the spur. He does not like dampness and drought.
• You should also trim off faded inflorescences in a timely manner.
• If humus and complex fertilizer were not added to the soil during planting, the delphinium needs to be fed during the growth period. Feeding is carried out once every two weeks. In the fall, it is stopped so that the plant gains strength for wintering.
• There is one interesting nuance in plant care. Always remember that cutting off faded flowers will encourage re-blooming. This is undesirable if the region where delphinium is grown has short summers and harsh autumns. The plant simply does not have time to gain strength for the winter.
• In autumn, the stems of the plant are pruned to 20-30 cm from the ground. It is advisable to cover the cavities of the stems with clay or garden putty. This is done to prevent moisture from getting inside the root outlet. The plant may rot.

Otherwise, the delphinium goes into winter quite simply. It doesn't need to be covered. Some gardeners, especially in the northern regions, cover it with spruce branches. It's enough.

The most common "guests" of the delphinium are slugs, delphinium flies, aphids, powdery mildew and black spot.

Pests: types and control:

• Aphids and flies are most often reported due to hot and dry summers. To combat these, they resort to the use of insecticides. They can also treat the plant as a preventive measure.
• Slugs appear due to damp soil. This usually happens during rainy and cold summers. Therefore, it is important to plant the plant in well-ventilated areas. You can fight slugs with chlorine. Its smell scares them away.

Plant diseases often appear in the second half of summer. You can get rid of powdery mildew using Fundazol. But the main thing here is to notice the emerging fungus in time. Otherwise you might lose favorite plant. If black spots or spots that resemble rings appear, it is best to trim the leaves. It is almost impossible to get rid of these diseases. Therefore, it is more advisable to immediately remove the affected parts of the plant.

To avoid the appearance of pests or diseases, treat delphinium with insecticides and as a preventive measure.

New Zealand delphinium is quite easy to grow. You just need to follow the basic rules and growing conditions. In this case, the marvelous plant will always delight you with beautiful and impressive flowers. Always take into account the region where the delphinium will “live”. The method of caring for the plant will depend on this. In cold regions, for example, re-blooming is not desirable, but in southern regions it is the opposite. Take into account all the nuances and the delphinium will always delight you with its luxurious blooms.

More information can be found in the video.

For many years I have been trying to purchase good varietal delphiniums of foreign selection. But all attempts to find them in Russia were unsuccessful. One could only dream of pink or fully double delphiniums.

Perennial delphiniums, which grew from seeds of the English company "Unwins", often had flowers with one layer of petals (or their flowers were of uneven color), which reduced both the size of the flower and its decorative effect. Many grown delphiniums had loose ears. To get a good decorative delphinium, it was necessary to grow many seedlings, from which a large number of plants were then discarded. As a result, there was a lot of work, but the result did not suit me.

And finally, my search was crowned with success: I received seeds of varietal delphiniums from New Zealand from the company of New Zealand breeder Terry Dowdeswell, specialized in delphiniums. The seeds came with instructions for English language. Having compared its text with the instructions on bags of delphinium seeds sold in Russia, I understood why our gardeners often fail when growing these plants. Here are the main points from this instruction for sowing delphinium seeds, which I tested from my own experience.

Growing delphinium from seeds

Before sowing, I store delphinium seeds in the refrigerator (at above-zero temperatures) for no longer than one year. I don’t soak the seeds before planting!

To sow delphinium seeds, I use small sterile containers with a transparent lid, filling them with live or steamed soil (I leave a distance of 1 cm to the top edge of the container). I spill the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (foundazole or the drug "Maxim") for the "black leg"; When growing delphinium seedlings, I water the soil with this solution weekly. I spread the seeds evenly over the surface of the spilled soil (at a distance of at least two centimeters from each other), press the seeds into the ground, and sprinkle with dry soil (7-10 mm layer). I close the lid, wrap the container in plastic and put it in the refrigerator (not in the freezer, at a temperature of +3 -+5 degrees). After two weeks, I take the container out of the refrigerator and, having removed the plastic, put it in a bright and moderately warm (+ 20 degrees) place.

Some delphinium seeds can germinate in the refrigerator already 10-12 days after sowing - then I remove the plastic from the container and, without opening the lid, place it on a bright window. When growing delphinium seedlings, I illuminate the seedlings with a lamp, since there is not enough light in the window, and this causes the plants to stretch out.

I expose white delphinium seedlings to a bright window when the first sprouted seed appears. I highlight germinating white delphinium seeds better than delphinium seeds of other colors.

I grow the hatched delphinium seeds in a container with a closed lid until the plants fit under the lid. Once a day, I lift the lid of the container for a short time (so that the leaves of the seedlings do not dry out) and ventilate the plants. I water the delphinium seedlings carefully, with a small stream, using a medical disposable syringe.

I grow delphinium seedlings in a window with a temperature no higher than 20 degrees Celsius.

Once every 2 weeks I fertilize the plants with a solution of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (the concentration is half that for adult plants) with the addition of Epin (2 ampoules per 10 liters of water) or zircon (1 ampoule per 10 liters of water).

I plant delphinium seedlings in small pots when the plants have 2-3 true leaves. When picking, I take the plant only by the cotyledon leaves and bury it in the ground until the true leaves grow. After picking, I grow the plants at a temperature no higher than + 20 degrees; I make sure that the soil in the pots does not dry out.

In the spring, I plant delphinium seedlings in the ground after the end of frost. I shade it from the sun, water it in a timely manner, fertilize it and carefully protect the young plants from slugs (they can eat all the young leaves, and then the plants will die). I fight slugs with metaldehyde, scattering it around the plants.

New Zealand delphiniums in Russia

The very first blooming New Zealand delphiniums shown created a real sensation at the permanent exhibition of amateur flower growers in Kazan. Their level was an order of magnitude higher than that of delphiniums grown from English seeds. And some plants turned out to be completely double (they had 21 petals on each flower). New Zealand delphiniums belong to the group of Elatum hybrids, reaching a height of 160-200 cm. They are characterized by a dense arrangement of flowers on a peduncle-spike 60-80 cm long.

These plants tolerate winter and spring frosts well. In June 2004, it rained almost every day, so it was impossible to carry out preventive treatment of delphiniums against powdery mildew - everything was immediately washed away by the rain. And at the same time, only two plants became ill, which stood in dense plantings near the unventilated blank wall of the house. But, cut off at the root, these delphiniums did not die, but bloomed in the fall.

In the third year, I divided the overgrown New Zealand delphiniums and planted them for propagation beautiful varieties. After digging up each delphinium, I washed the rhizome from the ground, split it to a hollow center, and then cut sections with two or three peduncles, around which several large buds had already formed. Each division had enough roots. I cleaned the old hollow peduncles of rotten parts.

All parts of delphinium are poisonous, so when working with it you should be careful, wash your hands thoroughly after work, and avoid touching your face and eyes.

Delphiniums grow in one place for many years, have a large number of roots and greatly deplete the soil. Therefore, before planting the divided bushes for each plant, I prepared holes by mixing garden soil with living soil, sand, rotted compost and Kemira fertilizer. I planted bushes, watered the soil well to a great depth and shaded the delphiniums from the sun. The new plantings have taken root well.

Delphinium selection

Except vegetative propagation, which did not give large quantity plants, I tried to grow New Zealand delphiniums from seeds that were collected from mother plants. The second generation of delphiniums retained their color purity and range, but seedlings different from their parents also appeared.

Seeds of New Zealand delphiniums planted in the ground before winter tended to split more severely, so I grow these delphiniums from seeds only at home, through seedlings.

The third generation of New Zealand delphiniums (grown from second generation seeds) had more severe splitting. Therefore, I no longer began to grow third-generation seedlings - I collect seeds only from queen cells.

When I posted photographs of New Zealand delphinium seedlings on my website, they began to ask me questions about the names of their varieties. But in order for a delphinium seedling to become a variety and receive a name, it must be registered accordingly. Using the Internet, I found in England the organization responsible for registering delphiniums, the registration form and the cost of payment for registration. Everything seems simple. And the registration cost is small. But I can’t yet find in Russia a special English album on color codes (R.H.S. Color Chart), released and supplemented in different years English Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.).

The color of the delphinium (as well as the color of the flower of any plant) must be described according to this album (any year of release), and next to the description of the color you must put the year of release of the album used and the code of this color. In the last issue (2001) R.H.S. Color Chart expanded to 808 colors, codes from 1A to 202D.

Therefore, I decided for now to register these varieties here in Russia (at the State Commission for Registration of Varietal Plants), although this requires the provision of more documents and is more expensive than in England. I decided to name the varieties of delphiniums in honor of the heroes of English literature and in honor of people dear to me. The photographs below show the flowers of these delphiniums.

The variety "Lady Rowena" is the name of my wife, who received her name in honor of the main character of W. Scott's novel "Ivanhoe". Light pink color ok with a darker pink edge to each petal; completely terry. Flower size 7-9 cm.

The variety "Aivengo" is named after the main character of the novel of the same name. A sky-blue flower with a pink tint in the depths of each petal, at the point of attachment to the trunk; completely terry. Flower size 7 cm.

The variety "Prince Arthur-2003" is named after my grandson and the year of his birth. Dark pink flower, fully double. Flower size 7-9 cm.

The variety "Doctor Nina" is named after a wonderful doctor and my mother. Semi-double flower of light pink-milky color, with light staminodes in the third row of the flower; staminodes with stripes in the middle of a light pink-milky color. Flower size 7 cm.

The variety "Sean Connery" is named after my favorite actor. A dark violet-blue flower with a wide dark lilac stripe down the center of the petal; all three rows of petals are the same length. Fully terry. Flower size 8 cm.

I hope that very soon the names of these varieties of delphiniums will appear in the State Register of Varietal Plants of Russia. As I was told by the State Commission, varietal delphiniums have not been registered in Russia for a long time.

This year I am purchasing newest variety delphinium "Coral Sunset", considered coral pink in color. It would be interesting to try to cross this delphinium with New Zealand delphiniums and get a new beautiful variety.

Growing perennial delphiniums

Delphiniums grow on well-cultivated and fertilized soil (slightly acidic or neutral reaction) without stagnant water or nearby groundwater.

When planting delphiniums, I prepare a separate hole measuring 40x40x40cm for each bush. The distance between plants should be at least 50cm. The planting site should be sunny and protected from the wind, as the plants are very fragile and break easily.

To prevent delphiniums from breaking in the wind and rain, I attach each peduncle of the plant (in 3-4 places along its entire length) with plastic holder rings to a pin at least 2 meters high, stuck nearby in the ground. For this you can use another similar device; It's better to paint it green.

I plant delphiniums in spring (late April) or autumn - from late August to mid-September. IN landing hole I add compost, humus, ash, and Kemira granulated mineral fertilizer. After planting, I water the plant abundantly until it takes root.

For lush flowering in spring, I fertilize delphiniums with nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium.

In the first year I cover young delphiniums for the winter. You can cover the plants with spruce branches or a small layer of soil, and put a film on top, securing its edges (so as not to be blown away by the wind).

Delphiniums can grow in one place for up to 10 years. But if at the age of 4-6 years the center of the plant rots and the bush falls apart, then in the spring I divide it and plant it. When dividing the bush, I leave no more than 2-3 last year’s trunks, around which young shoots grow.

In the spring I form large delphinium bushes, leaving 2-4 peduncles. I break out the remaining shoots, since with a larger number of shoots the delphinium flowers become smaller and their color is less saturated; and in double delphiniums the flowers can grow semi-double.

Broken, non-hollow shoots no shorter than 10-15 cm can be used for cuttings for vegetative propagation of delphinium. Before planting, I soak the cuttings for 2-3 hours in a heteroauxin solution, and then plant them in a peat-sand mixture and cover them with a glass or plastic jar. I make sure that the soil under the jar does not dry out. After 1.5 months, delphinium cuttings take root.

Delphinium pests

Unfortunately, this beautiful and majestic plant has pests - delphinium fly, slugs, nematodes, aphids.

Main pest- delphinium fly - lays eggs at the base of plant stems in mid-May. This insect overwinters in the form of a pupa, so when replanting the delphinium, I inspect its roots and add “Bazudin” to the planting hole. When insects are found on plants, I water them in mid-May with karbofos or fufanon.

Delphiniums are susceptible to powdery mildew and viral infections (although new varieties are already immune to these diseases). There is no need to wait for the plants to get sick - it is better to do prophylaxis with a solution of foundationazole, the drug "Maxim", an iodine solution (5 g per bucket of water) or the antibiotic "Tetracycline" (1 tablet per 1 liter of water). I process delphiniums three times at weekly intervals, and rainy weather and more often.

When using cut delphiniums to prolong the shelf life of fresh flowers, I turn the cut peduncle upside down, carefully pour water into its hollow trunk and then seal it with a piece of cotton wool. In this form, I place the delphinium peduncle in a tall vase.

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New Zealand delphiniums amaze with their beauty and unusualness. The plant looks like a giant, as it reaches a height of 2 m. The powerful stem is covered with large double flowers of various colors. Due to their durability and decorative qualities, they differ significantly from other varieties of delphinium.

Out of 2 m in height, the brush is 65-70 cm long. The opened bud reaches 11 cm in diameter. Depending on the variety, the flowers are ordinary, double and semi-double. The bottom of the delphinium is abundantly covered with greenery. The dissected leaves are colored rich green. In the same place, delphinium can grow from 6 to 9 years.

Flowering begins at the end of June and continues until mid-August. During this period, faded brushes are cut off. In this way, the re-blooming of New Zealand delphinium is stimulated.

Crop varieties

New Zealand delphiniums are considered the most popular, as they have many perennial varieties:

1. Queen of Spades. The plant is valued for its large velvety black-crimson flowers. Thanks to the strong corrugation, they look elegant and gentle at the same time.
2. Giant Lime. Unlike other representatives of the New Zealand group, Lyme grows up to 2.5 m in height. The flowers are completely double with a yellow-green stripe in the middle. It does not require special care.
3. Azure. The flowers of the plant are colored blue. It is considered a favorite variety because it blooms twice per season.
4. Dusky Maiden. Delphinium is tall. The flowers are delicate, large in diameter and pink in color. The buds have a brown or black eye.
5. The bride's bouquet. A plant with super-double flowers that look great against lush greenery.

Varieties of New Zealand delphinium are represented by plants with a height of 1 to 2.5 m. All have large double and voluminous flowers. Some bloom twice per season.

Plant propagation methods

Successful growth of delphinium on plot of land depends on the method of planting and care. The gardener must know such points as the time of sowing seeds, growth conditions, watering and more. Growing is not such a difficult procedure if you devote time to it.

How to grow a flower in a summer cottage?

Despite the luxury and sophistication, the flower is unpretentious. Able to withstand winter frosts without needing shelter. The propagation method is dividing the bush, which is carried out in the spring. The parts into which the plant is divided should have 2-3 healthy branches.

Dividing the bush is not the most popular propagation method. Most often, flower growers resort to planting seeds. Moreover, the material is prepared at home, if there is an opportunity and desire.

Seed preparation and processing

Before planting in the soil, a disinfection procedure must be carried out. The seeds are distributed on gauze and dipped in a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. This is followed by the washing process. planting material V clean water. After soaking in Epin, they are dried.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

A small container is filled with soil, lightly trampling it down. After distributing the seeds over the surface, they are covered with soil to a depth of 3-4 cm. The soil is sprayed warm water, and the container is covered with black film. In the dark, the seeds will germinate faster and can be replanted.

Soil preparation

The soil is a mixture of compost, peat, soil and sand. Perlite added to the soil makes it loose. One part of the substance is taken to 10 parts of soil. Before pouring into containers, the soil is heated in the oven to destroy weed seeds and fungal spores.

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place

To determine whether it is time to plant a plant on permanent place, inspect the root. It should wrap around the entire earthen ball in the pot.

The sprouts can be easily removed from the container, while the roots remain intact.

Further flower care

After transplanting to a permanent place, they begin to care for the flower.

Rules for watering and fertilizing

The giant needs regular hydration. There is no need to water the plant too often and abundantly, as the plantings may be attacked by blackleg, and then they will die. Watering should be moderate.

As soon as the plant reaches a height of 15 cm, the first feeding is carried out.

The manure is diluted with water, the plant is watered, after which the soil is loosened and weeds are removed.

Trimming

Delphiniums that have reached 25 cm in height are subject to thinning. The purpose of the procedure is to obtain larger inflorescences with intense color. On average, no more than 5 branches are left on one bush. Pruning promotes air circulation, increasing the giant's resistance to plant diseases.

Thin and weak stems at the soil surface should be pruned. The cut is treated with an activated carbon tablet, ground into powder. If there is a heel left on the cut branches, they are rooted.

Methods of controlling diseases and pests

In mid-summer, delphinium is affected by powdery mildew. If urgent measures are not taken, the above-ground part will die in a few days. The giant is treated with “Topaz” or “Fundazol”.

Gardeners have to treat the plant for black spot. To do this, a Tetracycline tablet is diluted in 1 liter of water. Hibiscus plants are sprayed with the solution. Instances in the non-advanced form of the disease can be treated.

Growing New Zealand delphinium is a difficult task that requires certain knowledge and minimum experience. If you approach the process with great responsibility, even a beginner will be pleased with the plant with large and beautiful flowers. Creation optimal conditions maintenance and care will do their job.

Delphinium is a flower that belongs to herbaceous plants. Family – Ranunculaceae. Another name for the flower is larkspur. In total, there are more than 450 species of annual and perennial delphiniums. Annual plants can be represented by 40 species. In China and Southeast Asia, delphinium is very common. Some gardeners say that the unopened flower resembles the head of a dolphin. This is where the name of the plant comes from. But there is another opinion, they say, the flower appeared in the city of Delphi, in Greece. In any case, all flower gardeners agree that the plant is popular and decorates any flower garden.

It’s worth noting right away that growing delphinium is a very difficult task. The place chosen for planting the plant should be well lit in the first half of the day. After lunch, it is advisable to have some shade. Water should not stagnate on the ground, otherwise the flower will begin to rot. After the plant is planted in. After five years, the plant must be transplanted to a new place, otherwise it disappears. Often the long and fragile stems of delphiniums break from the wind. This is why they need to be staked as soon as the stems grow high. If you are ready to follow all the rules for caring for this flower, then it will thank you lush flowering in September, or even in August.

As already mentioned, delphiniums come in two types:

• annuals,
• perennial.

Annuals:

The most common annual species is field delphinium varieties Alaska. It is a wildflower that reaches two meters in height in the wild. The inflorescences are double or simple. How cultivated plant delphinium appeared in 1572. Delphinium blooms begin in mid-summer and end in late autumn.

It is noteworthy that the Alaska delphinium is a hybrid plant. This is a mixture of Doubtful and Oriental varieties. The stem can reach 100 centimeters in height. Flowers come in purple, red, blue, pink and even lilac. Among them there are also dwarf plants that begin to bloom late and end flowering only with the onset of frost.

Perennials:

Already in the nineteenth century, perennial delphiniums began to be grown. These were Delphinium tall and Delphinium grandiflora. Then they started receiving hybrid plants. And the French florist Victor Lemoine developed plants with double red, blue and lavender flowers. Today there are more than eight hundred flowers of perennial delphiniums. At the same time, there are both tall and low-growing plants.

Perennial hybrid flowers are divided into groups depending on their place of origin.

• Scottish hybrids of the F1 group are considered the most popular.
• Marfin and New Zealand delphinium hybrids are also considered popular, but a little less.

For example, New Zealand delphiniums tolerate frost well and have unsurpassed decorative functions. As for the Marfinsky species, it is very difficult to find. The fact is that a flower grown from seeds loses its characteristics.

A group of New Zealand delphiniums was created not so long ago. The plants are distinguished by their tall growth and double flowers. The popularity of flowers of this group determined frost resistance, disease resistance, and durability. If you want to make money growing flowers, then New Zealand varieties are the best option.

Growing delphinium with seeds

It is considered an exciting activity when delphiniums are grown from seeds. Moreover, you can make good money from this. Today we will tell you how to grow delphiniums from seeds. Sow seeds at the end of winter. If the seeds were stored in a warm place, they will not germinate well.

Before seeds are planted in the soil, they need to be disinfected. To do this, the seeds are placed in a gauze bag and dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate for several hours. Then the seeds are washed cold water, are dried.

For seeds, soil is prepared from peat, humus and ordinary soil from the garden. In order for the moisture resistance to be moderate, you need to add sand, perlite and a regular soil mixture, which is sold for flowers in the store, to the mixture. To destroy all pests, the soil must be heated in a water bath. Once the containers are filled with soil, you can plant the seeds.

When planting, be sure to write down where which variety is planted - and indicate the date of planting. The seeds are sprinkled with soil to a depth of three millimeters. Upper layer compacted. Then you need to cover the crops with black film and place them on the windowsill - closer to the warmth. The fact is that seeds germinate better in the dark. In order for the seeds to germinate quickly, you need to provide a temperature of 15 degrees maximum. To increase germination, containers with crops are placed in the refrigerator overnight after just three days. After two weeks, shoots appear. Then you immediately need to remove the film. From time to time, the ground needs to be watered or simply sprayed.

As soon as the plants have three leaves, they can be planted in separate pots. Germination is carried out at temperatures up to 20 degrees. The soil should be loose and allow moisture to pass through well. In May, you can accustom the plant to the air by placing it on the windowsill while ventilating the room. Before planting in the ground, you can feed the plant with minerals. As soon as the roots in the pot entwine the soil, you can plant the plant in the soil. It is very easy to remove seedlings from the flower bed without damaging the roots.

When you are confident that frost will not return, you can plant the delphinium in the ground. The holes are dug at a distance of 60 centimeters from each other. The diameter of the pit is 40 centimeters, the depth is up to 50 centimeters. We put half a bucket of humus in each hole. You can add ash and complex fertilizers. At the end, the resulting mixture must be mixed with soil so that fertilizers do not fall on the young roots of the flower. As soon as the planting is completed, the earth is trampled down and watered. At first, the seedlings need to be covered with a dome of plastic bottle. As soon as it starts active growth, the dome is removed.

So, shoots 15 centimeters high appear. The plant needs to be fed with cow dung at the rate of 1 bucket of dung per 10 buckets of water. The bed needs to be constantly loosened, watered and mulched, and the bushes need to be trimmed when the plant reaches a height of 25 centimeters. Leave up to three stems on the bush. Weak shoots are cut off. This way we will protect the plant from diseases. Cut shoots can be used for germination. So, we put them in sand and peat. After three weeks, roots may appear.

After the plant grown in the ground reaches half a meter in height, three supports up to two meters high must be dug around it. The work is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots. Once the delphinium reaches a height of 120 centimeters, you can tie up its stem so that it does not break from the wind.

During the growing season, the plant must be provided with 60 liters of water. To prevent the plant from disappearing in the hot summer, up to three buckets of water are poured under it every day. After the soil dries out after watering, it is loosened to a depth of five centimeters. Watering is especially necessary when inflorescences form. If the plant appears powdery mildew, then you need to fight it. Disinfectants are used that can be bought at a flower shop.

As soon as flowering ends, the inflorescence must be removed. Then the seeds are picked for a new harvest, and at the place of the cut a shoot will appear, which will flower again. Even then you can divide the flower into several plants. Leaves also need to be cut from the plant after flowering to a height of 40 centimeters.

Delphinium Homeland: Northern Hemisphere Plant type: herbaceous annual or perennial Family: Ranunculaceae Lighting: sunny place, partial shade

Soil: neutral, sandy loam, loamy Watering: regular Temperature: thermophilic Flowering: June-July Height: up to 2 m

Reproduction: seeds, division, cuttings

Hybrids of New Zealand delphiniums

In New Zealand, breeder Terry Dowdeswell has been working very fruitfully in recent decades. He created a luxurious series of delphinium hybrids, which he called New Millennium Highbrides. These flowers have the highest decorative qualities, are winter-hardy and durable.

Terry Dowdeswell's delphiniums have very large flowers, collected in dense brushes of pure and beautiful colors, semi-double or true double, with 4-6 rows of petals.

Seed storage secrets

The most important thing is that delphinium seeds are stored correctly. When stored in room conditions they lose their germination capacity by the end of the first year.

Seeds should be stored at low but positive temperatures. That's why the best place for this purpose - in the refrigerator.

Sowing seeds of New Zealand delphiniums

I select a container for sowing seeds with a height of 8-10 cm (it is better to have the possibility of watering through a tray), fill it with a soil mixture (leaf, turf, river sand -2:1:1), water it with a solution

By the way

Delphinium seeds with dark-colored flowers take longer to germinate than those with light-colored flowers.

Fitosporina-M, I let the soil air out a little and scatter the seeds on the surface. For 1 cm2 - approximately 3-4 seeds.

I sprinkle the seeds with sifted soil in a 3 mm layer, pat them down, gently moisten them and cover them with film.

Shoots

I put the crops in the refrigerator for stratification for 2 weeks. Seed germination different varieties is individual and ranges from 50% to 80%. After stratification, I place the crops on the windowsill (18~20°C) and ventilate them daily.

Shoots appear in about 2 weeks.

Seedling care

To prevent the seedlings from being affected by the black leg, I water through a tray.

After about six weeks I start picking, which I do in separate cups; I make sure that when planting I do not cover the growing point. For the first 5 days I place the plants away from the sun.

Disembarkation

At the end of May - beginning of June, I plant my seedlings in a permanent place (usually in groups of 3-5 pieces). A sunny place or ventilated partial shade, without stagnant water, is best suited for them.

Before planting, I dig up the soil well, add humus, sand, and leaf soil to it. In hot and dry weather, delphiniums require abundant watering.

Feeding delphinium

When the height of the shoots is 10-15 cm, I carry out the first fertilizing (organic or mineral fertilizers). During budding and at the beginning of flowering, I feed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

When renewal buds are formed, it is advisable to feed them with nitrogen-free fertilizers.

New Zealand hybrid plants are tall (up to 200 cm) and need to be tied to a support.

Protecting delphiniums from diseases

Delphiniums are highly susceptible to diseases, so they should be sprayed as a preventive measure with solutions of biological products in July - August, every 2-3 weeks. When diseases (powdery mildew) appear, plants should be treated chemicals protection.

When preparing delphiniums for winter, I always cut off the flower stalks, leaving about 25 cm from the ground. I collect the flower stalks in a bunch and tie them with twine or simply break them in half to the ground. This is done so that moisture from autumn rains does not get into the hollow stems and does not reach the root system - this way the roots are protected from rotting and damping off.

The most expensive varieties can be mulched with peat or humus with a layer of 3-4 cm.

Vegetative propagation

Important

When sowing seeds in the ground, the number of delphinium seedlings decreases sharply.

As a result of natural selection, it sprouts and develops more plants with natural color (blue-violet). To preserve varietal characteristics, delphiniums are best propagated vegetatively - by division or cuttings.

Large, dense delphinium bushes should be thinned out, leaving 2-3 of the strongest shoots. Removed shoots can be used for cuttings.

Preparing for winter

Faded delphinium stems must be cut back to the ground - in this case they will bloom again, although the flowering will not be as luxurious.

The division of bushes is carried out in early spring or at the end of August. When planting, the root collar is deepened by 2-3 cm, no more

Delphinium seeds can be sown at several times: in March - in the garden, in April and May - in the ground, before winter - on frozen ground.

Varieties of New Zealand delphiniums - description

• Innocent-pure white with a white eye.
• Double Innocent– white double and semi-double flowers.
• Pink Punch– double and semi-double dark pink flowers.
• Purple Passion– purple-violet with a white eye.
• Moonlight Blues– dense clusters of bright blue double flowers.
• Morning Light– dense clusters of two-color bluish-lilac semi-double flowers.
• R oyal Espiration– cornflower blue with a white eye.
• Dusky Maidens– pink with a brown eye.
• Blue Lace– light blue with a pink tint, terry.
• Misty Mouwes– light and dark lilac with corrugated petals, terry.

New Zealand delphiniums - photos of varieties

New Zealand delphiniums: question and answer

I really like New Zealand delphiniums. But buying plants is expensive. Perhaps they are not very difficult to grow from seeds? What kind of care do they need? Will perennial delphiniums grow here?

Liliya Voskoboynikova, Kolomna

New Zealand hybrids are very decorative, winter-hardy and disease-resistant. Delphinium seeds quickly lose their viability; they can be stored in the refrigerator (at low positive temperatures) for no more than a year. Best time for sowing - March. Before sowing, the seeds need to be soaked for 20 minutes. in a gauze bag in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Seedlings do not tolerate picking well, so it is advisable to sow the seeds in individual containers, and the layer of soil in them should be at least 10 cm. Use a mixture of sand, leaf or turf soil with the addition of a small amount of humus and peat. The cups with seeds are covered with a dark film, the temperature until germination is maintained at 10-15°C (with seedlings appearing after 9-10 days).

The seeds are covered with a thin layer of soil 2-4 mm. Soaking the seeds will help increase germination; for this, they are kept in a damp cloth in the refrigerator for 5-6 days before sowing. Another way is to place the container with the sown seeds in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Seedlings are grown at a temperature of 20-25°C; they should not be immediately exposed to the sun. In cloudy weather, it is advisable to carry out additional lighting.

Young plants should be watered moderately and regularly using a spray bottle.

Plant seedlings in open ground possible at the end of April. New Zealand hybrids are considered frost-resistant; in winters with little snow they are covered with spruce branches. You can sow seeds before winter, but in this case, due to the effects of frost, the color of the flowers is not guaranteed.