Agricultural techniques for Nigella damascena, gladioli, and dahlias in the garden

Nigella damascena is characterized by a long flowering period and high ornamental value. Its bushes, reaching up to 50 cm in height, are covered with single or double flowers in white, blue, lilac, and azure shades against a backdrop of intricate, pinnately dissected leaves. The crop propagates by seed and thrives best in loose, fertile soil. During the growing season, it is sufficient to carry out one or two top dressings with organic fertilizers — manure slurry or poultry manure.

Gladiolus, also known as the sword lily, forms straight, sword-shaped leaves and spike-shaped inflorescences of funnel-shaped flowers in various shades. In practice, flower growers most often cultivate the Elegia, Paul Rubens, Picardy, Aurora, and Pobeda cultivars. The crop is propagated by seed, cormels, and corms, with a preference for loamy or sandy loam soil. To obtain high-quality flowers, it is important to strictly observe the regulations for soil preparation and planting material.

• Nigella planting scheme — 25x25 cm
• Formalin solution concentration — 1:100
• Corm treatment time — 1–2 hours
• Gladiolus planting depth — about 6 cm
• Interval between top dressings — 10–15 days

1. Before planting gladioli, apply 2–3 kg of humus or well-rotted manure to the soil, as well as 400 g of superphosphate or bone meal.
2. Keep the corms for 1–2 hours in a disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate or formalin (1:100).
3. Rinse the planting material with clean water and dry thoroughly.
4. Plant the corms into the soil at a depth of about 6 cm, leaving a distance of 6 cm between them and 30 cm between rows.

After planting, gladioli require careful maintenance: regular weeding, irrigation, and soil loosening. For preparing nutrient solutions, superphosphate and potassium salt are primarily used. Fertilizer application should be fractional, ensuring a technological break of 10–15 days between top dressings.

Technology for growing dahlias on a plot

The dahlia is a tall (up to 250 cm) perennial plant of the Asteraceae family with a hollow stem and large double flowers. The crop propagates by seed, cuttings, and root tubers, requiring well-fertilized soil for abundant flowering. All existing cultivars are conventionally divided into three main groups:

• Decorative: form large double inflorescences of various shades; the Marianna, Za mir, and Lakhta cultivars are popular.
• Chrysanthemum-like and cactus-like: have double inflorescences made of long tubular petals; in cactus-like, the ends of the petals are pointed or widened, while in chrysanthemum-like, they are strongly curved (Vecher na reyde and Belaya dama cultivars).
• Ball: characterized by dense ball-shaped inflorescences made of tubular petals widening towards the top; the Farfor and Krasny shar cultivars are common.

Dahlias are demanding regarding the nutritional regime; therefore, before planting, the soil must be heavily enriched with mineral and organic fertilizers. Bushes are planted strictly in a staggered arrangement, maintaining the optimal feeding area for each plant. Immediately after planting, the soil in the root zone is mulched with peat or humus.

• Manure application per hole — 4 kg
• Superphosphate dose — 40 g/m²
• Ammonium sulfate dose — 8 g/m²
• Ash application rate — 8 g/m²
• Feeding area per bush — 125x125 cm

Since dahlias are short-day plants, the start of their flowering can be accelerated artificially. To do this, the time the bushes are exposed to sunlight is limited during the afternoon hours. It is sufficient to use simple opaque covers to stimulate earlier bud formation.

During the growing season, dahlias are provided with frequent but moderate irrigation, as well as systematic soil loosening. Over the season, 2–3 weedings should be carried out. Additionally, 1–2 top dressings are performed, alternating between mineral and organic fertilizers.