Daffodils are considered attractive flowers that come in a variety of varieties. The flowering period occurs in early spring, when other plants are just beginning to awaken. Having planted a terry daffodil of the Sir Winston Churchill variety in the garden, you can admire it for many years.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Narcissus Sir Winston Churchill was first recorded in 1946. The homeland of this variety is the Netherlands. The originator is Speelman and Sons. In 1998, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded the flower a prestigious award. The plant belongs to the “Terry” class.
Flowering begins in early April and lasts about a month. This variety is distinguished by creamy white petals with an orangish tint, a red center with aster-shaped flowers and a double split crown.
Peduncles grow up to 40-65 cm. The diameter of the flowers is large - up to 6 cm. The flowers are round, with additional petals and a terry tube. Each stem produces 4 flowers. The leaves are blue-green, straight.
The flower won the hearts of flower growers with its pleasant and delicate aroma, extraordinary and bright appearance. The plant will decorate any flower bed or border and fit perfectly into any landscape design. Cut flowers retain their freshness for a long time.
Sir Winston Churchill selection history
In 1922, Winston Churchill acquired a small estate in Chartwell. The castle had an excellent location and beautiful scenery. The main advantage of the estate was its picturesque garden. Churchill's wife chose the flowers for the garden.
Among the many plants in the garden were peonies, lilies, fuchsias, catmints, panstemons, azaleas and daffodils. The garden was also amazing for its home to butterflies, which Winston was fascinated by. According to one version, it was because of this hobby that the daffodil variety was named after the politician. Daffodils are loved not only by people, but also by bees and butterflies due to their bright colors and pleasant aroma.
Growing
You can extend the flowering period of daffodils in open soil not only with the help of early and late varieties, but also by regulating their flowering by planting dates. The main condition for a good harvest is the selection of a comfortable site. Daffodils prefer shady lawns with well-drained, slightly alkaline and nutritious soil. The plant should be transplanted to another place after 5-7 years.
Landing dates
The planting time depends on the climatic season. You can plant bulbs in open soil from mid-August to early November. It is not advisable to plant flowers after the end of October - the bulbs will not grow well or freeze. Flowering of plants of the same variety, planted in the middle of the specified period, will last from 10 to 15 days. By planting the bulbs earlier, you can admire their blooms for a whole month.
Soil preparation
The soil should be drained and dug up in advance. The digging depth should be 30-35 cm. If the soil is heavy clay, you need to fertilize it with sand, peat; light soil is fertilized with turf soil or humus. It is best to prepare the soil in early June. Bulbs should be stored in a cool, drafty room at 18-20OC. Before planting, they should be dusted with TMTD (tetramethylthiuram disulfide).
Planting scheme
The holes should be made standard, 10-15 cm deep. If the soil is heavy, the soil should be planted smaller; if the soil is light, holes should be dug 20-23 cm deep. The bulbs should be 10 cm apart. Rows should be made at a distance of 25-30 cm. After two weeks The top layers of soil need to be leveled and sprinkled with leaves.
Rules of care
Daffodils do not require meticulous care, but in order for them to delight with their flowering for many years, you need to provide them with the necessary conditions.
Loosening and weeding
In March, the insulation is removed from the flowers. Next, they require systematic loosening, weeding, fertilizing and watering. The soil is loosened after each watering, rain or fertilizing, weeds are weeded and weeds are removed.
Watering
For better growth, it is important to ensure sufficient soil moisture. After flowering, the plant needs abundant watering. Rhizomes should be filled completely, 1.5-2 buckets of water per 1 m2.
Protection from pests and diseases
Narcissus Sir Winston Churchill often suffers from fusarium, sclerotial rot and viral diseases. The following pests should be highlighted:
- root nematode;
- stem and bulb nematode;
- large daffodil fly;
- small bulb fly.
Before the flowering period, preventive measures against fungal infections should be carried out using chemical fungicides. The fungus can be recognized by spotting, plaque or rot. With a viral infection, heterogeneous spots and striations appear. Antiviral drugs are used for treatment.
Daffodils suffer from beetles, mites, larvae, beetles, mole crickets and wireworms, which feed on stems, bulbs, buds and leaves. Chemical insecticides help in pest control.
Preparing for winter
Having planted a flower in mid-September, you should cover it with a 10 cm layer of dry leaves. Late planting prevents the bulbs from taking root and reduces the chances of their survival at low temperatures.
Top dressing
The growth and development of the bulbs will be ensured by fertilizing with nitrogen and potassium. At the beginning of the growing season, when the leaves sprout, nitrogen fertilizers will be required. When flower stalks appear, potassium preparations are needed. The third feeding should be done when the bud appears with complex fertilizers.The last time the plants are fed is during flowering with phosphorus-potassium elements.
Reproduction
There are several methods of reproduction:
- vegetative - with the help of bulbs and children;
- freshly collected wet seeds in the summer-autumn period.
Seeds are sown in a pot, box or open soil. You need to plant it shallowly, 20-25 cm deep. For the first few years, the seeds cannot be taken out to form a good, strong bulb. In the third year, the plant can be transplanted to another area. These daffodils will bloom after 5-6 years, for small-flowered varieties - after 2-3 years.
Application in landscape design
Daffodils are used to decorate the lawn, multi-colored beds, mixed flower beds, borders or rockeries. This composition looks very impressive, bright and unusual. There are three ways to plant a plant on the lawn:
- cut a piece of turf, plant a group of bulbs;
- scatter the bulbs across the lawn, remove the turf underneath them and bury them.
The second method allows you to achieve a more natural and picturesque lawn. Daffodils of the Small-crown variety are best suited for such planting. Plants of Terry, Large-crowned and Tacetaceous varieties are unsuitable.
Curtains are considered one of the popular design solutions. These are large flower beds planted near decorative structures or along the path. In addition to daffodils, curtains combine various flowers such as hyacinths, daisies, forget-me-nots, tulips, crocuses and pansies.
Reviews
The Sir Winston Churchill variety of daffodils is collecting a lot of positive reviews among experienced flower growers.
Alena, 30 years old.
I love this variety, its flowers are a little smaller than the single flowers, but they look absolutely lovely on the lawn. I have 18 varieties, but this is the one that delights me and my family.I like the double petals and the good ability to reproduce.
Christina, 40 years old.
Recently I became interested in flowers and decided to plant daffodils. I liked the Winston Churchill variety and chose it because of its bright, unusual colors. I planted it and will wait for it to bloom.
Lyudmila, 54 years old.
I ordered these for my mom’s garden beds, she loves such cute flowers. We imprisoned her together, now we are waiting for the results.
