Echinacea a flower that amazingly combines exquisite beauty and unique healing properties. This plant has long been firmly established in our flower beds and flower beds.

A little about the plant

Echinacea is native to South America. It has been known there since time immemorial. The Indians, the indigenous inhabitants of those places, gave it a romantic name - “ Evening sun" Quite an accurate name. Especially in relation to the most common type among us - “ Echinacea purpurea" Sometimes there is another name for it - “ Rudbeckia purpurea" It is believed that Carl Linnaeus himself called it this way, who described it and placed it in the genus Rudbeckia. But over time, this decision was revised, and Echinacea was separated into a completely separate genus of the Asteraceae family. Unlike the Indian name, the translation of the name of this plant from Greek into our native language is less romantic. Echinacea ( Echinacea) – prickly. This is a rather tall flower, often reaching a height of 1.5 meters. It blooms profusely and for a long time with beautiful large flowers, leaving behind a considerable amount of seeds in the achene fruit. This fruit is bristling with seeds - spines, which give the name to the flower. In addition to Echinacea purpurea, other varieties have been bred that are different in color: pink-orange (Muskmelon variety), yellow (Cleopatra variety), dark red (Zonnelach variety), orange (Julia variety), golden (Passion Flute variety).

Growing Echinacea from Seeds

Note! When propagated by seeds, the varietal characteristics of the plant are not preserved. This is how you can propagate mainly “Echinacea purpurea”. For varietal and hybrid plants, propagation by dividing the bush is used.

As mentioned, after flowering, Echinacea leaves a large number of seeds So they should be used for reproduction. This can be done by sowing them directly in open ground or growing seedlings.

Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in the spring, when the ground has warmed up sufficiently. The most acceptable temperature for their germination is within +12-13 degrees. The seeds can simply be scattered over the surface of the ground and covered with a thin layer of soil. You can first cull the seeds. To do this, they must be placed in a glass with warm water for a couple of days. Those seeds that sink to the bottom will be suitable for sowing.

But this method, although easy, also has a drawback. In capricious spring weather, tender echinacea sprouts are easily damaged and do not survive. It is much safer to grow seedlings.

Growing Echinacea seedlings

Sowing of seeds is carried out at the end of February - March. Selected seeds are sown in containers with light soil to a depth of no more than 0.5 centimeters. After sowing, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle and covered transparent material to create greenhouse conditions and placed in a warm place for germination. It will take a long time to wait for echinacea shoots to appear. Sometimes the wait lasts 40–45 days. During this time, check the soil moisture and ventilate the container. After emergence, caring for Echinacea seedlings is the same as. When the seedlings are strong enough and the weather is warm, the seedlings can be planted in open ground.

Note! Echinacea grown from seeds gains strength in the first year and does not bloom. This year she will only be able to grow a leaf rosette 20 centimeters high. Flowering will occur next year.

Propagation of Echinacea by dividing the bush

Only mature, fairly dense plant bushes, approximately 4-5 years old, are suitable for division. The division is carried out both in spring (April) and autumn (October). When digging up a bush, you should be careful not to damage it. root system. The bush must first be watered abundantly, this will make it easier to remove. The roots, cleared of soil, are carefully cut into the required number of sections. Each of them must have three to four renewal buds.

Planting Echinacea in open ground

Plants grown from seeds are planted in the spring, but divided bushes can be planted in both spring and autumn.

For planting, choose a well-lit place with fertile soil. Echinacea does not like acidic soil. If necessary, deoxidize it. It is ideal to put it into the ground, but you can also do it normally. Also avoid planting in sandy soil and areas with stagnant water that are too wet.

To plant Echinacea seedlings, make small holes about 5 centimeters deep. But basically this depth will depend on the size of your seedlings and their root system. Maintain a distance of 30 centimeters between seedlings in group planting. Approximately the same scheme is maintained for planting part of an echinacea bush. Just make the planting hole slightly larger than the size of the plant’s root system. It is advisable to pour a small amount into the bottom of the holes. In this case, make the size of the planting hole for Echinacea taking into account this additive.

Caring for Echinacea

Watering

Echinacea loves frequent and abundant watering. If the summer is not rainy, then it is advisable to water daily. You should not water the plant during the heat of the day. The most favorable time for this is after sunset.

Top dressing

You can start fertilizing Echinacea only in the second year of life, when it reaches its flowering period. Fertilizers are applied twice. The first time - before flowering, in the spring and the second time - at the end of the flowering period. You can also use ready-made mineral fertilizers, but fertilizing with a mixture of ash (ash) and well-rotted manure is most preferable.

Pruning and seed collection

After the plant has bloomed, all faded flowers must be removed along with a small section of the stem. But if you plan to collect seeds, then they need to be given a little time to ripen. You can determine the maturity of Echinacea seeds by the shade of the seed head. Ripe seeds usually have a dark, almost black tint.

Important! Echinacea seeds quickly lose their viability. Therefore, there is no point in storing them for a long time.

Wintering

In most regions, this flower survives winter without special labor. But if your winters are cold, then you should take care of covering your echinacea for the winter. This is especially critical for plants in their first year of life. Before frost, adult plants are pruned, the root collar is sprinkled with compost or sawdust, and the soil around the roots is mulched with sawdust, fallen leaves, peat, etc. If the winter is expected to be harsh, it is advisable to cover the plant with spruce branches.

Medicinal properties of Echinacea

What makes this plant especially valuable is its antiviral and antiseptic properties. The elements contained in echinacea counteract the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and infections. It is used in the treatment and prevention of influenza, sore throat, colds and upper respiratory tract diseases. Used as an antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic agent. Echinacea successfully fights various fungal diseases, heals wounds and ulcers, and strengthens overall immunity. And that's not all beneficial features Echinacea.

What’s great is that almost all parts of the plant are suitable for preparing medicinal tinctures, decoctions, etc.

Echinacea decoction

This simple remedy relieves joint pain, swelling, improves vision, and is used in the treatment of stomach ulcers. After taking this decoction, your mood improves.

Preparing the decoction

For one glass of boiling water, take a teaspoon of crushed echinacea leaves. Moreover, you can use both fresh and dried leaves. The leaves poured with boiling water should be kept in a water bath for half an hour. After filtering and cooling, the decoction is ready for use.

Taking a decoction

The usual course of taking it lasts 10 days. It consists of taking 30 milliliters of decoction three times a day after meals. If you need to take several such courses, then a one-week break between them is required.

Echinacea infusion

It is recommended if available excess weight, signs of the onset of obesity. Used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, herpes. But its main and most common purpose is to strengthen the body’s overall immunity.

Preparing the infusion

The infusion should be prepared in an airtight, well-sealed container. For half a liter, take a tablespoon of echinacea (dried or fresh parts). A thermos is best suited for preparing echinacea infusion. If you prepare the infusion in the evening, it will be ready in the morning.

Taking the infusion

Take the infusion for 10 days (if there are no individual recommendations), three times a day before meals (25-30 minutes), 100 milliliters at a time. After completing one course there must be a break of at least 5 days. After three courses in a row, a break of at least a month.

Important! Despite all their naturalness, Echinacea preparations may have contraindications. This is both an individual intolerance to the components of the drug and an allergic reaction to them. Echinacea is also contraindicated for a number of diseases. Before you start taking it, consult your doctor!

How to grow echinacea and its benefits (video)

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For a long time now, Echinacea has reliably settled on many garden plots. Flower lovers value it not only for its beauty, but also for the healing properties it possesses. It is believed not the best remedy to improve immunity, treat various inflammatory processes, such as decoctions or tinctures of Echinacea.

Description of perennial plant

Echinacea is native to North America. This perennial from the family Asteraceae or Asteraceae. It is a tall perennial, growing up to 1.5 m in height. The stem is rough. Echinacea leaves can be basal or stem. The basal ones are wide, oval-shaped, with jagged edges and located on long petioles. But the stem leaves are sessile, lancet-shaped, arranged one after another.

Echinacea inflorescences are baskets consisting of marginal reed flowers of pink, red, white, as well as median tubular flowers that are red-brown or dark red in color. Flowering is long - more than 2 months. The fruit is presented in the form of a tetrahedral achene.

How to grow Echinacea at home?

Echinacea can be propagated in two ways - generatively, that is, by seeds and vegetatively, by dividing the bush. The first method is used to obtain species Echinacea, but hybrid varieties best grown vegetatively.

Echinacea can be grown from seeds both in open ground and through seedlings.

Growing Echinacea with seeds in open ground

Echinacea seeds can be sown in open ground in spring or autumn. However, it should be remembered that the seed coat is very hard, which makes it difficult for sprouts to germinate. To soften the shell, it will take quite long time, which is why autumn sowing is considered the most favorable. Flower growers who constantly grow Echinacea were able to verify this: seeds that fell into the ground in the fall germinate perfectly by self-sowing in the spring.

Growing Echinacea seedlings at home

The site for growing Echinacea should be light, with fertile, deeply cultivated neutral or slightly alkaline soil. It is also necessary to take into account that too wet or light sandy soil is not suitable for Echinacea. If the soil on the site is acidic, you need to add chalk or lime to the soil.

The germination period of seeds varies: it all depends on how light their shell was. So, the seeds can “hatch” either after 15-20 days or after a month or more.

In the first year of growth, Echinacea will not bloom. Over the summer, it will only have time to form a rosette of leaves 15-20 cm high. But in order for the plant to bloom in the same year, it will need to be grown through seedlings.

How to grow Echinacea seedlings?

1. Growing Echinacea seedlings consists of the following steps: Preparing the soil for sowing seeds.
2. Echinacea is a picky plant; it accepts any soil that is offered to it. However, in order for the plant to be comfortable, it is necessary that it grows and develops in light, moisture-absorbing and breathable soil. Before sowing seeds, the soil must be disinfected. To do this, it must be taken out into the cold for 10-15 days, then spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seedlings from various types of fungal diseases. Seed preparation, sowing time. To soften the seed shell, they must be kept for a certain time in a solution of a plant growth stimulator, for example, in Epin, or simply in water. To do this, the seeds are laid out on a cotton cloth or paper towel, wrapped, moistened and placed on a saucer. The fabric (napkin) must be constantly damp, and there must be air access to the seeds, so additionally wrap them in plastic bag
3. , as some do, is not recommended. Sowing is carried out in early February. Any container is suitable for growing seedlings: seedling boxes, plastic containers, tall but narrow pots. The container must have drainage holes and place pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom so that the water does not stagnate.
4. Sowing seeds. Since Echinacea seeds do not germinate smoothly, seedlings must be planted as soon as the seeds begin to “hatch”. Sowing is carried out as follows: a groove is made in the soil 7-10 mm deep, sprouted seeds are placed in it, carefully sprinkled with a thin layer of sand or soil, and moistened with a spray bottle. The container is covered with glass or film and transferred to a bright place. Optimal temperature for seedling germination is 13-15°C, but if the room is more heat, it will not harm the seedlings.
5. Caring for seedlings. As soon as sprouts appear from the ground, the glass (film) is removed from the seedling container. Now the main condition for the full development of seedlings is light and moderate but regular watering.

When and how to plant Echinacea seedlings in a permanent place?

Since Echinacea sprouts are very tender, plant them on permanent place They should be planted only when the threat of frost has passed. The distance between seedlings should be at least 30 cm. The composition of the soil is the same as for sowing seeds in open ground. Each seedling is carefully removed from the seedling container along with a lump of earth and placed in a hole corresponding to the size of the root system of the seedling. After planting, the planted young plants are watered with water at room temperature, and the bed is mulched.

Caring for Echinacea

• Moderate but regular watering.
• If the soil is not fertilized, in the second year in the spring, feed Echinacea with saltpeter or mullein, and during the budding phase - with fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus, but on the condition that the plant will not be used in medicinal purposes.
• Make sure that no faded flowers remain, otherwise the flowering will not be abundant and long.
• Before the attack winter frosts, cut off the entire above-ground part, hill up the remaining part.

Echinacea is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Translated from Greek, the name means “prickly, like a hedgehog.”

This is due to the shape of the inflorescence: the core consists of numerous tubular flowers (like a hedgehog), framed by brightly colored petals, like a daisy. Echinacea was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and was assigned to the genus Rudbenkia, but about 40 years later it was separated into its own genus.

Botanical description

The plant is rhizomatous. Its height is 1-1.5 m. The stem is erect, rough. The basal leaves are wide, oval-shaped with serrated edges, attached to long petioles. The stem leaves are almost sessile or sessile, lanceolate in shape, arranged alternately.

The inflorescences-baskets (characteristic of Compositae) are large. The marginal reed inflorescences (petals) are painted white, pink, and red. The core has a dark red, red-brown color. The fruit is a tetrahedral achene. It blooms from about mid-summer to the end of September.

Growing Echinacea from Seeds

Generative (seed) propagation applies to varietal plants(hybrids do not retain varietal characteristics when seed propagation).

Sowing in open ground

• Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in early spring or late autumn.
• Dig up the soil, level the bed, make shallow furrows (seed placement depth 1-2 cm) at a distance of 20-25 cm, sow the seeds sparsely, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil, water.
• The first shoots are thinned to a distance of 7-8 cm, then - 10-15, and finally the bushes are left at a distance of 25-30 cm for low-growing varieties and 40-50 cm for powerful plants. excess plants can simply be transplanted to a new location as seedlings.
• In the first year, Echinacea grows its root system, and flowering will occur in the next season.

Sowing seedlings at home

Echinacea from seeds at home photo of seedlings

To obtain ready-made seedlings spring planting it is necessary to grow seedlings.

Please note that the seeds have a hard shell, so before planting they should be soaked in warm water, or better yet, as a growth stimulator. Even in this case, germination takes about 1 month.

• Sowing Echinacea seeds for seedlings at the end of February. Sow in wooden boxes, containers or individual cups - at your discretion.
• The soil should be light, permeable to water and air.
• Deepen the seeds by 5-10 mm.
• The distance between the seeds is 5-7 cm.
• Moisten the crops, cover with film, place in a bright place, maintain the air temperature at 13-15 ºC.
• When shoots appear, remove the film. Maintain moderate soil moisture.
• In early May, start hardening by leaving it outside for a couple of hours, and gradually increase the time to a full day.
• Plant stronger plants in open ground in May, when the soil is already warmed up and the threat of return frosts has passed.

Planting Echinacea in open ground

Grows best in areas with full sun.

The soil requires fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Light sandy soils or too wet soils are absolutely not suitable. If the soil is acidic, apply garden lime.

• For seedlings, dig holes about 5 cm deep, for cuttings - slightly larger than the size of the root system.
• Maintain a distance of about 30 cm between plantings. Place a small amount of compost at the bottom of the planting hole.

If you purchased a large seedling in a container, dig a hole about 40 cm deep. Fill a third of it with a mixture of garden soil, compost, and sand in equal proportions. Pass the fathoms along with the earthen lump. The root collar should remain at the same level as when growing in a container.

How to care for echinacea in the garden

• Water your echinacea deeply and often. Do this better in the evening.
• Remove weeds regularly and loosen the soil periodically.
• From the second year of life, start feeding. Twice a season (in early spring and after flowering), apply organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer.
• If there is no need to collect seeds, cut off the faded inflorescences with a piece of stem to the first green leaf.

Propagation of Echinacea by dividing the bush

Most often, the plant is propagated by dividing the bush (this way the varietal characteristics are preserved). You can divide an Echinacea bush that is 4-5 years old. Carry out the procedure in spring (April) or autumn. Carefully dig up the bush, divide it into parts so that each contains 3-4 growth buds, and plant them.

Diseases and pests of Echinacea

If the summer is rainy with temperature fluctuations, damage is possible powdery mildew: shoots and leaves become covered with a whitish coating. This can also happen from excess nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to treat with Bordeaux mixture or colloidal sulfur.

Cercospora blight, septoria blight - dangerous fungal diseases, manifested by various spots on the leaves. The plant becomes weak and may die. Remove affected areas and treat with fungicide.

In case of defeat viral diseases Leaves turn yellow and dry, flower stalks become deformed. Affected plants must be removed from the area and burned; treat the growth area with a strong solution of manganese.

Pests: bedbugs, slobbering pennies, slugs. Collect gastropods by hand and use traps. Treating with an insecticide will help get rid of insects.

Collecting seeds

Seed ripening is uneven. When the center of the core darkens, these seeds can be collected. Carefully remove them (it is better to wear a rag glove), clean them from any remaining inflorescences and dry them. Seeds quickly lose their viability.

Overwintering Echinacea

Echinacea is frost-resistant. Young plants and, if a cold, snowless winter is expected, should be covered for the winter. At the end of October, cut off the stems, mulch the root collar with compost, and cover with dry leaves and spruce branches on top.

Types and varieties of Echinacea with photos and names

There are only 9 species of Echinacea in the natural environment. Mostly, Echinacea purpurea is cultivated with developed varieties and hybrids, and less commonly, Echinacea strange.

Echinacea purpurea

The height of the plant is about 1 m. The stems are erect. The basal leaves are wide, oval in shape, attached to long petioles; stem - oblong, sessile. The reed flowers are about 4 cm long, have a purple-pink color, and the core is red-brown.

Varieties:

Granatstem - the height of the plant reaches 1.3 m. The reed flowers have two-toothed tops, are painted purple, the core Brown. Inflorescence diameter – 13 cm.

Zonnenlach - reaches a height of 1.4, the diameter of the basket is 10 cm. The tops of the reed inflorescences are divided into 3 teeth, the color is dark red, the core is brown.

Echinacea purpurea terry variety Cranberry Cupcake photo

Cranberry Cupcake – very interesting variety. The core is massive, lush, consists of hundreds of small tongues, the color is dark pink, the petals are painted light purple.

The King - the stem rises 2 m. The massive inflorescence reaches a diameter of 15 cm. The color is red-pink.

White Swan - white inflorescences.

Indiaca - color range from soft pink to light brown.

Echinacea purpurea variety Magnus Echinacea Purpurea ‘Magnus’ photo

Magnus – plant height is 1 m. Very popular variety. The core is light brown in color, the petals are pale pink.

Ruby star is an echinacea 70-80 cm high, basket diameter is about 14 cm. The core is brown, the petals are crimson.

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset

A series of hybrids bred by Richard Skol. They are notable for their large inflorescences. The reed inflorescences are curved, can have the color of mango, mustard, strawberry, peach, and exude a wonderful aroma. Henna colored core.

Popular varieties:

Julia (from the Kisses of Butterflies series) - reaches a height of 45 cm. The flowers are bright orange.

Cleopatra - the diameter of the inflorescence is 7.5 cm. The petals are sunny yellow.

Evening Glow – the core is cone-shaped, dark in color. Reed flowers are yellow in color with an orange stripe and a pinkish tint.

Musk Melon - the color corresponds to the name. Reed flowers are arranged in 2 rows, have a pink-orange hue, the core is shaggy, of a darker shade.

Passion Flute - reed inflorescences are curled into a tube, colored golden yellow, the core has a greenish-mustard tint.

Terry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry photo

Double Scoop Cranberry is a striking cranberry-colored coneflower.

Echinacea strange Echinacea paradoxa

It is notable for the bright yellow color of its long, bent down petals. The plant forms powerful bushes and is hardy in dry summer conditions.

Echinacea in landscape design

The plant can be planted in spring and autumn. Echinacea is propagated by dividing the bush, but cultivation from seeds has also been successfully used. When can you plant them?

Soil preparation

Seeds for seedlings are planted in late February or early March. The soil should be loose and nutritious. It should be disinfected before planting. To do this, the bag of soil can be exposed to frost for a day or spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Some gardeners bake the soil in the oven.

Preparing and sowing seeds

Pay attention to the expiration date of the seeds. It should not be more than 1 year old, otherwise germination will be worse.

Before planting, the seeds need to be soaked in water or a special solution, a growth stimulant. This will speed up germination. Place a damp cloth on a plate and place the seeds. To prevent moisture from evaporating, cover them. The seeds hatch unevenly. It is better to immediately plant some of the sprouted seeds rather than wait for the rest to hatch.

Pour soil into the seedling container and make furrows 0.5-1 cm deep. Place the seeds at a distance of 2 cm from each other. Leave 3 cm between grooves.

Cover the container with plastic wrap, a special transparent lid or glass, and place it in a warm place. This will create a greenhouse effect. The room temperature should be +13…+15 °C.

Seeds germinate for quite a long time, sometimes a whole month. The soil should be moist, it is better to spray it.

Many gardeners prefer to pick seedlings. After the appearance of two or three leaves, each plant is planted in a separate cup. Such seedlings take root faster in open ground.

Seedling care

When shoots appear, remove the cover from the container and place the seedlings in a lighted place. Thickened rows should be thinned out, leaving the strongest shoots.

The soil must be loosened periodically. Water regularly. The strengthened sprouts are ready for planting.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Seedlings are planted on open areas in May, when the earth warms up.

The soil needs to be prepared. It should be loose and fertile with a neutral reaction. If the soil is sandy, then add humus to it, and if it is acidic, then add lime.

Echinacea loves illuminated areas; in the shade it may not even bloom.

Before planting seedlings, you need to make holes up to 5 cm deep and at a distance of 30 cm from each other. At the bottom of each depression you need to put compost and a little ash. Place the sprout in the hole and sprinkle. The seedlings need to be watered immediately.

When transplanting from cups, the depth of the hole should be the same as the height of the cup.

Planting seeds in open ground

When propagating echinacea from seeds, planting in open ground is carried out in late spring. To do this, make shallow furrows. It is better to choose large seeds, they have a higher germination rate. The furrows are sealed with a thin layer of garden soil.

Seeds germinate at a temperature of +13 °C.

Caring for plants in open ground

Echinacea – unpretentious plant. It should be watered moderately. On hot days, one watering in the morning or evening will be enough. We feed the plant before and after flowering. Well-rotted compost will do.

In the first year there may not be any flowering. Don’t be upset; in the second year, Echinacea will definitely bloom.

Important! If you are growing echinacea as medicine, then mineral fertilizers cannot be used.

When the center of the flower darkens, you can collect the seeds. We carefully cut off the boxes and shake out the seeds onto a sheet of paper. If you do not need seeds, then it is better to pick off the faded flowers.

It is very important to remove weeds on time. At proper care The plant will not be afraid of diseases and pests.

Echinacea is a cold-resistant crop, but in severe frosts it can freeze. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to cut off all its stems at the end of October and mulch the root collar with compost. Cover the bush with dry leaves or spruce branches. In winter, additional snow covers the plantings.

Echinacea is a resilient, long-lasting and very showy perennial.

This is what Echinacea purpurea looks like.

There are five types herbaceous plants called Echinacea. In floriculture, the most widespread is Echinacea purpurea - a tall perennial with basal leaves, an erect green stem and a height of more than a meter, with crimson or purple spots.

Echinacea grows well in the central regions of European Russia, blooms well in southern region, but only on a lower peduncle. It is planted in flower beds; large specimens look good
against the background, in groups on the lawn. In addition, this is a wonderful cut crop, which highly decorative combined with long (up to two months) flowering

Growing Echinacea from Seeds

There are two ways to grow echinacea from seeds:

• Planting seeds in open ground
• Growing through seedlings

Let's consider both of these options.

How to grow echinacea from seeds in open ground

Seeds are sown in the ground both in spring and autumn, but it must be taken into account that the seed shell is very hard and it takes quite a long time to soften it. This is why spring sowing is not always successful. The first shoots may appear in two weeks or six. Many gardeners stop watering their Echinacea plantings after 3-4 weeks, deciding that the seeds will no longer sprout.

But echinacea itself tells us when it’s best to plant it. Anyone who has been growing echinacea for more than one year knows well how easily it propagates by self-sowing. Seeds that fall from flowers in the fall sprout abundantly in the spring. Therefore, planting them in the ground is much easier and more expedient in late autumn, then in the spring you will get numerous shoots.

But in any case, in the first summer the plant will form only a rosette of leaves, and will bloom only the next year. To admire Echinacea flowers in the year of planting, you will have to grow it through seedlings.

Video about planting echinacea in late autumn:

Growing Echinacea through seedlings

Soil preparation. The easiest way is to buy ready-made soil at a flower shop, but since Echinacea is not a picky plant, you can prepare it yourself. No special soil composition is required, the main thing is that the soil is light, moisture-absorbing and breathable.

And it will not be superfluous to disinfect the soil, and not only own production, but also a store. To do this, keep the bag of soil in the cold for ten days or spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing dates. Echinacea seeds begin to be sown in mid-February.

We grow echinacea from seeds.

Seed preparation. Since the seed shell is hard, it is advisable to soak them in a solution that stimulates germination, or at least in plain water. To do this, wrap the seeds in a napkin, place them on a saucer and moisten the napkin regularly. Many people now use it for these purposes. toilet paper, paper is also suitable for this, the main thing is that the seeds are wet all the time and have access to air.

Sowing seeds. When the seeds begin to hatch, it’s time to start sowing. Unfortunately, there will most likely not be friendly germination, so start planting when at least some of the seeds hatch.

To grow Echinacea seedlings, wooden boxes, all kinds of bowls or cups are used. Make grooves or depressions 5-10 mm deep in the ground, place the seeds in them and sprinkle with a thin layer of earth or sand. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle, cover the box with film and place it in a bright place.

Temperature for germination. Echinacea seeds germinate at a temperature of 13 - 15 degrees, but also room temperature It’s also quite comfortable for them.

Caring for seedlings. Care consists only of moistening the soil in the seedling box and, of course, do not forget to remove the film when shoots appear.

Watch an educational video about growing echinacea from seeds:

Planting Echinacea in the ground

When to plant. Like most flowers, Echinacea is planted in the garden when the threat of frost has passed, usually in late May.

Landing place. Echinacea is recommended to be planted in the sun, but based on my own experience, I can say that it feels great in partial shade. Even in partial shade, the color of flowers is richer and brighter. Of course, these flowers cannot be planted in the shade; there the flowers will be small and may even disappear.

The soil. Echinacea can grow in almost any soil. If the soil is very sandy, then add a little good soil or humus when planting.

Planting Echinacea. The grown seedlings are planted in flowerbeds at a distance of 30 cm, the holes are not deep, 10 - 15 cm. If you bought already grown plants, then larger planting holes are prepared, focusing on the size of the roots. After planting, water the seedlings and mulch the soil.

Planting Echinacea in the ground, video:

Caring for Echinacea

Echinacea attracts attention with its exquisite appearance, their medicinal properties, but this plant has one more important advantage - echinacea is easy to grow, its care is minimal. This unpretentious flower easily tolerates drought, temperature changes and other vagaries of nature.

Watering. Watering is required regular and moderate.

Feeding. On rich soils it can grow without fertilizing. On poor soils, feed in spring. nitrogen fertilizers(urea, saltpeter, mullein), before flowering with potassium and phosphorus (superphosphate, any complex fertilizer)

If you grow echinacea for medicinal purposes, then any fertilizing mineral fertilizers must be excluded!

Trimming. To encourage flowering, remove spent flowers.

Dividing the bush. Echinacea can grow in one place for no more than 4 - 5 years. After this period, the bush must be dug up, divided into several parts and planted. Echinacea reproduces in the same way.

Preparing for winter. All autumn aboveground part plants must be cut to the ground. Echinacea tolerates winter cold well, but nevertheless, it would not be a bad idea to hill up and cover the root zone with mulch.

Echinacea in the garden, video:

How to collect seeds

If you want to grow this majestic flower in your garden, you can collect the seeds and grow Echinacea from your own seeds the following year.

To do this, select a well-ripened head and cut it off along with part of the stem. Then wrap the head in a cloth bag or paper bag to collect the crumbled seeds. Hang the cut stem upside down. Collect all the seeds that have fallen into the bag and dry on paper for another 10-15 days. Then pour them into glass jar and put it in the refrigerator. The seeds can be stored there for a whole year.

It is believed that seeds can only be collected from ordinary varieties of Echinacea, and terry varieties They reproduce only vegetatively. This is not entirely true. From some varieties of terry echinacea, it is sometimes possible to collect seeds and grow flowers exactly like their parents, but only in the first generation. So don't be afraid to experiment.

Diseases and pests

Echinacea is a disease and pest resistant plant. If any problems appear, they are usually associated with improper care.

At high humidity soil, Echinacea can be affected by viral or fungal diseases caused by spores of the genus Cercospora and Septoria. The disease manifests itself in the form of spots on the leaves and leads to weakening and even death of plants.

When growing echinacea, it is important not to over-moisten the soil; it is excess moisture that leads to the development of diseases and also attracts insect pests. But this does not always depend on the person - summer can be cold and rainy, which will cause the appearance. This disease must be dealt with in the same way as with other similar diseases - remove infected parts of plants, monitor soil moisture, and treat the area with insecticides.

Pests of Echinacea are bugs and slobbering pennies.

Beneficial properties of Echinacea:

Echinacea varieties

Echinacea "White Swan" Flower diameter up to 10 cm. Bush up to 80 cm high. Flowering: from August to frost
Echinacea "Mama Mia" Flower diameter 10 cm. Bush 60 - 80 cm high. Bush width 50 cm. Flowering June - September.
Echinacea "Green Line" Flower diameter 8 - 9 cm. Bush 60 - 70 cm high. Width 40 - 50 cm. Flowering: June - September.
Echinacea "Katarina" Flower diameter 7 - 8 cm. Bush 60 cm high. Flowering time: June - October.
Echinacea "Aloha" Bush height 90 cm. Width 50cm. Flowering: June August.
Echinacea "Butterfly Kiss" Flower diameter 7 - 8 cm. The height of the bush is 30 - 40 cm. Width 40 cm. Flowering: June - September.
Echinacea "Supreme Cantaloupe"