Flax - grown at home. How does flax grow depending on the variety and when should you sow the seeds? When is flax sown?

Since ancient times, flax (Linum usitatissimum) has been grown in Rus', the use of which in the household was very diverse. Today you will hardly tug at flax to get yarn from it and weave it into cloth with your own hands. But this plant has both medicinal and decorative properties that the modern gardener should take note of. Wise ancestors said: “If you sow flax, you will reap gold.”

And it seems that these simple flowers accompanied man throughout his history. In any case, archaeologists claim that flax seeds and flaxseed oil were already known in the Bronze and Iron Ages. The ancient Egyptians cultivated flax to weave linen, and the Romans considered this plant a symbol of purity, light and fidelity.

What kind of flax is there?

Seed flax – annual flax family. It is not found growing wild, but is cultivated in various forms. For industrial purposes it is usually distinguished Dolguntsy– tall (from 90 to 150 cm) plants grown mainly for fiber; curls– low-growing (from 30 to 60 cm) varieties; mezheumki– medium-sized plants.

The flax we are used to is inconspicuous in appearance: it has a thin stalk on which are located numerous narrow leaves and small flowers of a soft blue or light blue hue, collected in loose umbrella-shaped inflorescences. But breeders have developed many varieties, including decorative ones - with rather large and expressive flowers.

How to grow flax

Flax is sown in spring; usually randomly. The crops are harrowed by embedding the seeds into the soil to a depth of 1.5–2 cm. When sowing in rows, the distance between them is about 20 cm.

Flax is not afraid of cold weather, young seedlings are resistant to frost down to -3° C, so it can already be sown in the end of April. After 1.5 - 2 months, flowers will appear, and then rounded seed pods. Flax seed, which is a medicinal raw material, ripens in July - September, depending on the variety and sowing time.

For planting, it is advisable to choose an area where the soil is well drained and fertilized. Despite its unpretentiousness, flax develops better on fertile soil. When the buds set and the first flowers appear, you need to make sure that the soil does not dry out - at this time the plant is very sensitive to moisture. In addition, you will only need to weed and loosen the crops once or twice a season.

Healing properties of flax

At home, flaxseed (whole or crushed) is most often prepared mucous decoctions and infusions, using them for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Crushed or ground into flour seeds are used for poultice or compresses; dry seeds, poured into a linen bag, are heated and applied to the sore lower back with radiculitis.

A decoction of seeds in folk medicine is used for various diseases of the kidneys and bladder; in dental practice it is used for stomatitis and inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa - as an enveloping agent.

Used and linseed oil- it is prescribed for disorders of fat metabolism, for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. It also has a mild laxative effect; used externally in the treatment of burns. The medical drug linetol is produced from flaxseed oil.

Beneficial properties of seeds lasts 3 – 4 years(if you store them in a dry place, away from moisture).

It is worth sowing flax simply because it is beautiful. Low varieties can be placed as a border in the apothecary garden or along garden paths; delicate flax flowers on graceful stems will look good in a mixborder.

Not known to many, since this plant gained its main popularity due to its economic and raw material value. But, despite this, the flower destroys all stereotypes that it is suitable only as a raw material, which is confirmed by its bright and graceful flowering. However, growing flax on a personal plot requires additional knowledge. Therefore, today we have to reveal all the secrets of proper cultivation of grandiflora flax at home.

Description

Flax grandiflora is an annual herbaceous plant, whose natural habitat is the northwestern region of Africa; in addition, it is widely represented in the wild in North America and southern Europe. The species is cultivated exclusively for decorative purposes, since its economic value is minimized.

Did you know?LEn grandiflora was discovered by the French botanist René Desfontaines. It was this scientist who first described this species in 1798.

The maximum height of flax reaches about 105 cm, but in most cases it ranges from 30 to 60 cm. The stem is purely erect and branched, quite well covered with sessile alternate leaves with a typical pointed end.

The shape of the leaf blade is broadly lanceolate or linear-lanceolate with a characteristic three-vein structure, and its length does not exceed 2.5 cm (on average from 1.5 to 2 cm).

The main pride of the decorative varieties of this species is the flowers of predominantly bright red shades. They are located at the top of the stem and are collected in an elegant inflorescence with a diameter of no more than 3 cm. The flowering period begins in early spring and lasts until the first half of October.
After this, a fruit-box with a diameter of about 5 mm appears on the plant, in which a large number of flattened brown seeds about 4 mm long ripen. Their quantity in 1 g is quite large and reaches 300 pieces.

Growing from seeds

One of the most popular ways to grow decorative flax is to propagate the plant by seedlings from pre-sprouted seeds, followed by planting it in a flower bed.

Did you know?Large-flowered flax seeds have a fairly high viability; their germination rate, even 5 years after storage, approaches 100%.

In order to obtain seedlings, the ideal period for sowing seed is mid-April. Large-flowered flax belongs to the group of plants, the cultivation of which from seeds is not particularly difficult, however, in order to obtain ideal seedlings, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the calendar sowing period.
Otherwise, the plants will have low suitability for planting outdoors.

The seeds do not require additional preparation before sowing, as they are characterized by high germination. For sowing, special garden containers for germination are used, but any free container is suitable for these purposes.

Sowing is done in light, loose substrates. The soil is packed into a container in a layer of no more than 10 cm (the optimal amount is 8 cm), after which it is abundantly moistened using a garden sprayer. After this, the seeds are evenly scattered over the soil area and covered with a layer of soil of about 1 cm.

To speed up the germination process, you can create light conditions; for this, the container must be covered with a plastic bag or film.

Important!Flax sprouts do not tolerate high humidity, so when germinating seeds under a film, the structure must be ventilated daily.

After 5-10 days, the first shoots appear, after which the plants can be freed from the polyethylene dome. After 2 true leaves appear on the seedlings, the plants can be transplanted into separate flowerpots. There is no need to delay the process, as flax grows quickly.
If you miss the optimal moment for diving, you will not be able to replant the plants without damaging the root system.

After reaching an average daily temperature of about +20 °C, the seedlings can be planted in the open soil of the flowerbed, which should be pre-prepared. To do this, for 1 sq. m of soil, about 4 kg or humus is added, 1 tbsp. l. and 1 tbsp. l. , after which everything needs to be thoroughly loosened.

Growing

Growing flax outdoors is the easiest way to cultivate this plant, since it does not require particularly complex agricultural practices or special equipment. Sowing seeds directly into open ground is carried out either at the end of autumn (for the winter) or at the beginning of May.
Before sowing, it is necessary to first prepare the soil based on the previously described technology (fertilization and plowing).

On prepared and leveled soil, dig longitudinal holes 5 cm deep and at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Seeds are sown abundantly into the prepared hole, after which they are covered with a small amount of soil and watered.

Important!In order to achieve long-term flowering in a large-flowered flax plot, you need to resort to a little trick, namely: periodically cut off the unripe bolls, which stimulates the plant to flower again.

After the first shoots appear, the beds need to be thinned out, and the distance from one plant to another should be within 8-10 cm.

Reproduction

Flax, like most non-perennial species, is propagated by seed, which ripens in fruit capsules. In this case, planting and caring for the plant are important. Flax can also be propagated vegetatively.

To do this, parts of the flower are soaked in special solutions that help them root effectively.

The method is mostly not popular, since flax is quite effective, and most importantly, it is instantly propagated by seeds.

Therefore, vegetative propagation is resorted to only in exceptional cases when it is not possible to preserve the cultivated plant in any other way.

Care

Large-flowered flax is a species whose planting and care in open ground is not particularly difficult even for an amateur gardener, since this species is quite unpretentious.
However, in order to grow a healthy flowering plant, you need to follow some recommendations for caring for it.

Did you know?Large-flowered flax was introduced into culture in 1820, after which in just a few decades this annual flower conquered almost all corners of modern Eurasia, right down to the harsh regions of the taiga.

Location for the flower

The flower primarily belongs to species that love open and bright places. Therefore, the ideal place for cultivating the plant in your own flowerbed would be a brightly lit area away from tall tree-like species.

However, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will negatively affect the appearance of the flower, so to achieve the best decorative value it must be provided with exclusively diffused light.
Large-flowered flax is also unpretentious in terms of soil, but the best option for it would be light soils, pre-fertilized with compost, as well as special fertilizer for flowering plants.

Linen gained its popularity through industrial use in the past. The areas of application were multifaceted; oil and flour were prepared from it, fabrics were made, and it was used in medicine. Today, the need to sow flax fields has passed, and amateur gardeners began to grow it for decorative purposes.

This annual plant belongs to the Flax family. Stems are erect, highly branched. The leaves are blue-green, lanceolate, pointed at the ends. The inflorescence is a corymb, the color depends on the species. The plant can reach 110 cm in height, but usually, in the conditions of our country, it does not grow above 60 cm. After flowering, it forms a fruit - a box with a large number of flattened seeds.

There are two main ways to grow flax. Like any annual plant, it reproduces by seeds, the difference lies in the time of sowing.

Sowing seedlings

This method is most optimal for a small number of plants grown. To do this, lay out good drainage from expanded clay at the bottom of the container, take light, fertile, loose soil (purchased soil can be used), place it on top, moisten it well, and sow. Cover it evenly with a layer of soil of about 1 cm. You can create a mini-greenhouse by covering the bowl with polyethylene or glass, and seedlings will appear faster (in 5-7 days), but daily ventilation is necessary.

As the seedlings grow and produce their first two leaves, they need to be planted in individual pots. There is no point in delaying this, because... growth proceeds very quickly, and later there is a possibility of damage to the root system.

Sowing in open ground

It is carried out in late autumn “before winter”, or vice versa, in early spring, when the snow has already melted and the soil is still saturated with moisture, but has already warmed up.

This option was used for growing flax on an industrial scale. To do this, grooves are made in the prepared soil, at a distance of 20 cm from each other, seeds are placed there, well moistened, and sprinkled with soil. It takes more time to sprout, but saves on picking.

It should be borne in mind that flax seeds have a very high germination rate, almost 100% even after 5 years, so the seedlings need to be thinned out, leaving a distance of at least 9 cm.

Flax can be propagated vegetatively; for this, parts of the plant are soaked in a special mixture that promotes the development of the root system and planted in the soil. Due to the low efficiency of this method, it is practically not used, with the exception of cases when it is impossible to preserve the plant in any other way.

Outdoor care

Caring for the plant is quite simple. For more magnificent flowering, flax is watered often, but little by little. If this is not possible, you don’t have to water it, it won’t die, it will bloom and produce seeds, but the flowering will not be so long and abundant. The plant does not have a dense crown, so timely removal of weeds is necessary, otherwise the decorative appearance will be spoiled. You should not loosen too close to the root; the root system of flax is quite weak and can be easily damaged.

Feeding is done 2 times. The first is during the period of active growth before the formation of buds, the second - during flowering. For this, it is recommended to use complex mineral fertilizers, such as ammophos, ammonium nitrate, etc.

Common types and varieties

Large-flowered flax has gained the greatest popularity among other varieties for its brightness, splendor and abundance of flowers.

Large-flowered flax (Linum grandiflorum) is a low spreading bush, up to 60 cm high. The leaves are small, shiny, concentrated at the ends of the shoots, while the stem at the base is almost bare. It blooms from June to September, subject to timely removal of faded buds. The diameter of the flower can reach 5 cm; they bloom only in good sunny weather. The plant is an annual, has many hybrids and varieties, usually differing in the color of the inflorescences. Let's look at some:

“Childhood” – pure white flowers;
“Illusion”, red, with a small eye, have a silky texture;
"Azure", sky blue, with a white eye;
"Diamond", white, silky petals;
“Blush” – pink, with a small eye;
“Happy Eyes” – white, with red eyes in the middle.

Common flax or seed flax (linum usitatissimum) is exactly the species that was grown in large quantities. It is a tall plant on a thin stem bearing a delicate, sky-blue, regular flower.

Perennial forms of flax are represented by the following varieties:

“Austrian” and “hard-haired”, very similar, bloom almost the entire growing season, height up to 60 cm;
“yellow” and “tauride” have yellow inflorescences;
“thin-leaved” and “perennial” have small white flowers with slightly visible dark veins.

Diseases and pests

Flax itself is very rarely a source of diseases, except in cases of violation of agricultural practices, or due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Excess moisture can cause root rot, and neighboring plants can infect it with fusarium and powdery mildew. Moreover, these diseases develop at lightning speed. If symptoms of one of the diseases appear, all plants should be treated with a fungicide, or wait until the plant blooms and burn it. You cannot collect seeds from a diseased specimen.

Use in garden design

This fragile, low plant is used to create alpine slides; different varieties of flax planted in separate groups against the green background of a lawn look great when creating flower beds. In combination with chamomile, cornflowers, calendula they are used for Moorish lawns.

Flax is an unpretentious plant; it is not difficult to grow it in your garden plot, and caring for it will not take much time.

For alpine slides, large flower beds, mixborders and individual group plantings, for cutting and arranging bouquets, large-flowered flax will be an amazing bright discovery for you. Growing from seeds is easy and has a high success rate.

Large-flowered flax: description

It has decorative flowers and belongs to the genus Flax of the Flax family. It reaches a height of up to 110 cm, but most often the growth is limited to 30-60 cm. The stem of flax is erect and branched. The leaves are sessile, alternate in arrangement, lanceolate in shape with pointed tips. Bright flowers form an inflorescence corymb, which has a fairly loose structure. The natural habitat is the northwestern part of the African continent (Algeria). Flax was introduced into culture in 1820, and since then it has been actively cultivated as an annual.

Grandiflora flax: cultivation

From small seeds, if desired, you can grow a beautiful perennial plant. Flax has an unpretentious character, is resistant to cold, and tolerates even mild frosts. It is preferable to choose sunny, well-lit areas for it. It will grow in any poor garden soil, but preferably without stagnant moisture. In Russia with cold climatic conditions, we recommend choosing large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds is very simple. Germination is almost 100%, and the plant spreads all the way to the taiga zone.

Before planting, the area must be dug up; it is recommended to add humus or compost (3-4 kg per 1 square meter). And also a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Then mix everything thoroughly and level it with a rake. It is best to water the soil well and leave it for a couple of days, and only then start planting. This can be done in two ways: seedlings or directly into the ground. Choose the one that suits you best.

Flax (red) large-flowered growing from seeds to seedlings

It is recommended to sow in mid-April, as the plant develops quite quickly. Use light soil that is permeable to air and moisture. Pour it into small boxes in an even layer of 5-8 cm and moisten with a spray bottle. Do not bury the seeds, but carefully scatter them over the surface, sprinkle a 1 cm layer of soil on top. It is best to make a small greenhouse and cover the box with polyethylene. Be careful with waterlogging - this is what grandiflora flax does not like. Growing from seeds (photo) is a fairly quick process, seedlings will appear in 7-10 days. As soon as the seedlings have the first pair of true leaves, they should be planted in separate pots with a diameter of about 7 cm and the same depth. Flax has a strong tap root system, so we recommend not delaying planting. The further you go, the more difficult it will be to separate the plants from each other without damaging them.

Sowing seeds in the ground

This method also has a right to exist and is simple. You can sow seeds in early spring (April-May) or late autumn, which is called before winter. Prepare the soil in advance using the method already mentioned above. Then make neat grooves at a distance of 10-15 cm, 4-5 cm deep. Spray them thoroughly with water. Do not press the seeds, but just spread them out in an even layer and sprinkle a small amount of soil on top. When seedlings appear, they must be thinned out; leave a distance between plants of 5-8 cm.

Basic rules for caring for flax

If you want, as they say, to plant a plant and forget it, then choose large-flowered flax (Rubrum). Growing from seeds with seedlings or directly in the ground will not cause any difficulties, and care is even easier.

Choose light soils without stagnant moisture and cold drafts.
The plant is heat tolerant, so additional watering will only be required in extremely dry summers.
During the season, fertilize 2-3 times with complex mineral fertilizers, and the plant will delight you with lush flowering.
Flowerbeds where flax grows need to be weeded, like any other.
After rain and watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil so that a crust does not form, especially on heavy soils.

What other “lazy” plants can be planted in the garden?

There is not always time to care for the garden and flower beds, but everyone wants to have their own fragrant corner on the site. Someone will say that this does not happen, and any plant requires attention. Of course, this is true, but the degree of care and its thoroughness differ. If you rarely visit the dacha, then not only large-flowered flax will suit you. Growing some other species from seeds will also come in handy. Pay attention to the openwork gypsophila. The perennial plant will cover the ground with an even carpet. You can also use an annual analogue - graceful gypsophila, it grows quickly and blooms luxuriantly.

Our traditional cornflower is simple and charming at the same time. Now many varieties have been bred not only with blue coloring, but also white, pink, and purple. In addition, the plant will delight you with a double wave of flowering - June and September.

We recommend choosing fragrant iberis or matthiola, toadflax, alyssum, which weaves everything into an even canvas, calendula (not only pleasant, but also useful), nasturtium for both horizontal and vertical gardening, and morning glory.

If you need an easy-to-care, but spectacular and unusual plant, look to the bright and cheerful large-flowered flax. Growing from seeds at home will help you get high-quality seedlings and plants that are stronger by the time they are planted in the ground.

It would seem - what could be useful in a plant that produces little green mass and is extremely difficult to care for? These species are not suitable for green manure. But flax is another matter. It has been noticed that it prevents the spread of weeds and effectively fights the Colorado potato beetle. Therefore, they try to place flax as green manure next to a potato field or plant it among potato tops.

The homeland of flax is India. There are annual and perennial varieties. Perennials should be updated once every three years. Annuals are grown for seeds and green manure plots.

Useful qualities

The plant is resistant to high temperatures, but for this it needs to be fed with complex fertilizers, preferably three-component ones, in order to maintain immunity. You can sow at temperatures from +2 degrees, since low temperatures also suit it, that is, it doesn’t matter when to sow flax as green manure. If the soil and humidity suit it, temperature fluctuations are not a problem.

Flax seeds are a well-known folk remedy for recovery after illnesses and operations. The seeds are especially valued by people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system.

Video: Briefly about flax

Natural fabric is made from flax fibers - very durable and hygroscopic. Cut shoots retain moisture well if used as mulch for berry bushes and young fruit tree seedlings. Only young shoots are suitable for green manure, since after flowering they become coarser and rot in the soil for a long time.

The most beneficial quality of flax is the presence of tannin alkaloid. Its smell repels the eternal pest of potatoes - the Colorado potato beetle. It is believed that carrots grow better in the presence of flax due to the same tannin.

Flax is an oilseed crop, but to produce 300 g of oil you need 1 kg of flaxseed, so you can squeeze out the contents of the seeds from your summer cottage only for your own needs. To do this, you will have to wait until the seeds ripen and collect them by shaking them out of the boxes.

There is a condition when to sow oilseed flax as green manure - when the soil moisture is maximum. This happens immediately after the snow melts. Seeds and young shoots absorb all the water from the site. If the plant does not have enough water in the spring, the seed yield, and therefore the oil, will be less.

Disadvantages of flax as green manure

The plant, although useful, requires care. The soils on which flax seedlings will sprout must be alkaline - there will be no harvest on acidic and heavy soils. Sandy ones are a little better, but additional mineral fertilizers are required, since the plant consumes the most nutrients before flowering - just when it needs to be cut and embedded in the ground. To maximize the value of green fertilizer, flax is fed with nitrogen and phosphorus.

It is better to plant seeds in sunny areas - they grow worse in the shade.

Seed consumption rate for planting

For greening purposes for 1 hundred square meters it is necessary to prepare about 300 g flaxseeds.

After uniform scattering, the ground is harrowed to cover the seeds with a layer of soil, since they do not like to germinate in sunlight. During the growing season, you need to monitor the crops, as they are often subject to fungal infection. To prevent the disease from spreading to neighboring beds, flax is sprayed with fungicides.

conclusions

Flax crops have proven themselves well as a means of combating the Colorado potato beetle and some other garden pests. You can also sow for beauty in an area that is not used in crop rotation. This helps control weeds.

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