Planting and caring for foxglove in open ground, its types and medicinal properties

In their garden plots, gardeners often plant not only vegetables and fruits, trees and shrubs, but also ornamental plants. Planting and caring for a crop such as foxglove in open ground does not cause much trouble, which is why the flower is popular. An unpretentious ornamental plant belongs to the Podorozhnikov family and is used both to decorate the site and in the treatment of various diseases.

Description and features

Scientifically, foxglove is called digitalis, the word is translated from Latin as thimble. The distribution area of ​​the culture is from the Mediterranean to North Africa. Forest clearings and any open areas are places where this unpretentious but attractive plant is most often found. Foxglove is grown as a biennial or perennial plant. The height of the unbranched hard shoots of digitalis varies from 30 to 150 cm. The leaf blades have a greenish tint, they are entire, and are characterized by an oblong lanceolate shape.

Foxglove inflorescences are racemose, large buds are formed on them, characterized by a yellow, light red or purple hue. The timing of digitalis flowering depends on the climatic conditions of the growing area - on average, it lasts from mid-July to the first days of September. In place of the flowers, boxes appear containing brown seeds.

It is important to remember that all types of foxglove are extremely poisonous, and therefore are not suitable for planting in the flowerbeds of kindergartens and schools and in summer cottages where children often play.

Growing seedlings

First of all, experienced summer residents recommend growing seedlings at home. The process is not complicated, but it helps to quickly obtain beautifully flowering and healthy crops.

Deadlines

Seed material from the plant is collected in the fall, and the seeds located in the lower bolls have the highest germination rate.They are carefully taken out and laid out on a sheet of paper to dry. After this, store in paper bags or linen bags in a dry and cool place. In the spring, in the first ten days of March, they begin to sow material for seedlings.

Seed preparation

In order for the seeds to germinate quickly and strong and healthy seedlings to form, it is recommended to prepare them properly. To do this, take water at room temperature and pour it into a glass container. The seeds are placed in it and kept for a week, changing the water to fresh water every 6 hours. The last time you can add one of the growth stimulants, diluted according to the instructions for use.

How to plant

Sowing of material is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. To plant foxglove seeds, purchase soil from a gardening store or make it yourself.
2. The seeds are dried a little on paper and laid out on the surface of the soil without burying them.
3. On top of the material is sprinkled with a layer of river sand, previously steamed in the oven.
4. Cover the container with seeds with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place with diffused lighting.
5. After approximately 2 weeks, the first shoots appear.

Temperature and light conditions

After the first sprouts appear above the surface, the plant is given proper care. The seedlings of this crop develop rather slowly, but this is a natural process. Keep the seedlings under the diffused rays of the sun, periodically removing the film for ventilation. The temperature should not fall below 18 degrees and rise above 28, otherwise the young shoots will die.

Picking

To ensure that young plants have enough nutritional components and space for root development, picking is carried out.The procedure is performed when a pair of true leaves are formed on the foxglove. Algorithm of actions:

1. Prepare disposable cups with the same soil composition.
2. The general container is slightly moistened to make it easier to remove the seedlings.
3. Use a teaspoon to carefully separate the seedlings and transfer them to individual pots.
4. At first, protect from drafts and direct rays of the sun.

Watering

Irrigation is carried out based on the condition of the soil - it should not be dry, but it is also impossible to overwater the foxglove, as this will destroy the young seedlings.

Loosening

Loosening of the soil is carried out when the need arises, acting carefully so as not to harm fragile plants.

Hardening

Before transferring foxglove seedlings outside, a hardening procedure is carried out. First, take the containers with seedlings out onto the balcony or into the garden for a few minutes, each time increasing the duration of stay in the fresh air by 20-30 minutes. After two weeks, they begin planting in open ground.

Planting in open ground

When transferring plants to flower beds, certain rules are followed so that the foxglove quickly takes root and pleases with abundant flowering.

When to plant

The timing of planting crops depends on the weather conditions of the growing region. Most often, these are the last days of May or the first ten days of June, when the earth has warmed up enough and return frosts are already unlikely.

Site selection

The area where foxglove will be grown should be open to sunlight for most of the day. However, partial shade is also suitable for placing plants.

Do not choose a place under trees for foxgloves - high humidity, which lingers in the tree trunk, harms the flower, and autumn leaf fall spoils the decorativeness of the crop.

Soil preparation

Before planting, dig up the soil at the selected location and remove the roots of weeds. If the soil is poor, additional nutrients are added - rotted manure or complete mineral fertilizer.

Planting scheme

When planting foxgloves, adhere to the following instructions:

1. Dig holes with dimensions slightly larger than the volume of the plant’s root system, at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
2. Using the transshipment method, carefully move the seedlings along with the root ball into the holes.
3. Compact the soil and water the seedlings.

It must be remembered that in the first growing season, foxglove forms only a leaf rosette; flowering occurs in the second year after planting.

Care

After moving the seedlings to a permanent place in the garden, they provide them with competent agrotechnical care and carry out preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests.

Watering

Foxglove does not need high humidity and tolerates short-term drought. If it rains regularly during the summer season, then you can do without watering altogether. Irrigation is carried out only if there is insufficient natural precipitation.

Weeding and loosening

After each watering or rain, they loosen the soil, combining this procedure with weeding. Since the foxglove root system is horizontal, loosen the soil to a shallow depth, and do it very carefully.

Top dressing

Like all ornamental crops, digitalis requires the introduction of nutritional components.During the growing season they do this no more than 2 times. Fertilizer is applied in liquid form, dissolving the mineral composition in water.

Protection from diseases and pests

The most common diseases that affect foxglove in the absence of prevention and non-compliance with care rules are viral mosaic and powdery mildew. In order not to expose other plants to the risk of infection, affected crops are dug up and destroyed outside the garden plot.

Of the insects, aphids most often settle on digitalis. This insect carries viral diseases, therefore, when it is detected on plants, spraying with chemicals immediately begins. Iskra or Biotlin will do.

Trimming

The sanitary procedure is carried out throughout the season, removing broken or diseased branches of digitalis. Faded buds are also removed in a timely manner.

Transfer

This process is not particularly difficult, since the digitalis root system is shallow. Prepare a hole slightly larger than the previous ones and carefully transfer the plant into it. After transplantation, watering is carried out.

After flowering

When digitalis finishes the flowering process, prepare it for winter. Add more soil to the roots of the plant so that frost does not damage them. Despite the fact that the perennial variety of foxglove is characterized by increased frost resistance, in the absence of snow cover the plant may freeze. Withered digitalis flower stalks are cut off and the rosette is covered with spruce branches or sawdust.

Reproduction

Digitalis propagates easily; each gardener chooses the best option for himself.

Seeds

Foxglove can be propagated not only by growing seedlings, but also by directly planting the material in open ground.They do this in early May. Digitalis seeds are soaked in water for a week in the same way, and then sown in the soil without deepening them. Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top, and if it is still cool outside, cover the plantings with lutrasil. When sowing seeds, maintain a distance of 20 cm.

If the gardener wants to get larger digitalis rosettes, the plantings will be thinned out in the future.

By shoots

Another quick and affordable way to grow foxgloves in your garden is to use cuttings from the plant. Withered brushes are cut off, and after 20 days small shoots appear at the base of the peduncles. After about 8 leaves form on them, carefully separate them from the main plant and plant them in a permanent place.

Kinds

About 50 species of foxglove are known, the following are popular among gardeners.

Purple

Brief characteristics of the variety:

1. It is most often grown as a biennial plant, not a perennial plant.
2. It reaches a height of 150 cm.
3. Flower color is pink, cream or purple.
4. Some varieties have small spots on the surface of the petals, for which they are called Dalmatians.
5. The inflorescence does not exceed 80 cm in length.

Large-flowered

Description of the large-flowered species:

1. The height of foxgloves of this species does not exceed 120 cm.
2. The flowers are yellow in color.
3. There are brown veins inside the corolla.

Rusty

Characteristics:

1. The height of the plant ranges from 70 to 120 cm.
2. It is considered one of the most beautiful and popular species among summer residents.
3. The color of foxglove flowers varies from pale yellow to golden brown.

Woolly

Short description:

1. The shade of small digitalis flowers is brownish-yellow.
2. This variety is medicinal, not decorative.

Yellow

You can recognize a culture by the following features:

1. The height of this foxglove does not exceed 100 cm.
2. The flowers are bright yellow.
3. Their length is about 2.5 cm.

Dark (Unclear)

The detailed description is as follows:

1. A rare perennial plant, only collectors can boast of such a specimen.
2. Tubular flowers with slight pubescence are colored creamy yellow or yellow-orange.
3. In nature, digitalis is found in the mountains of Spain and does not exceed 50 cm in height.

Tapsi

Characteristics of the variety:

1. Also a type of digitalis that came from Spain.
2. The pinkish-crimson buds of digitalis are about 5 cm long.
3. The diameter does not exceed 2.5 cm.
4. The flowering time of foxglove occurs in the first month of summer.

Merton

Brief description of Merton's digitalis:

1. It is a hybrid of the purple and large-flowered varieties.
2. Digitalis does not exceed 80 cm in height.
3. The color of the flower petals resembles mashed strawberries.

Nevada

Characterized by:

1. Yellow-reddish large buds.
2. Height is about 130 cm.

Ciliated

Description:

1. Belongs to the category of low-growing plants, not exceeding 60 centimeters in height.
2. The flowers of foxglove, which belongs to the ciliated species, have a yellowish-white color.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

In addition to decorative types of digitalis, there are also medicinal varieties of digitalis that are successfully used in medical practice. They help with the following diseases:

• atrial fibrillation;
• poor blood supply to muscles and tissues;
• cardiosclerosis;
• myocardial dystrophy, hypertension and tachycardia attacks;

It must be remembered that the digitalis culture is extremely poisonous, and without prior consultation with a treating specialist, the plant can harm human health.

Foxglove has been used since the 18th century; the leaves of the plant are used to make medicines. Contraindications to the plant include diagnoses such as myocardial infarction and pericarditis, and do not use digitalis for angina pectoris and chronic lung diseases.

Use in landscape design

Tall varieties of foxglove are considered an excellent background for linear flower beds and mixborders, while low ones are used for decoration and creating paths and borders. Crops such as rose hips and rhododendron, geraniums and primroses, aquilegia and peonies are selected for company with digitalis.