Eshsholtsiya belongs to the Makov family, it includes several dozen different species. This plant was first found in North America, in its western part.
It is reminiscent of gold in color, which is why the Spaniards jokingly call eschsolzia a golden bowl. The plant is very beautiful and romantic, but it does not require special care and is increasingly gaining popularity in cultural breeding.
Description and Features
This is a herbaceous perennial bush that has a root in the form of a stem. The shoots are thin and numerous. Flowers resemble poppies, color from yellow to red and their shades, simple or double, depending on the variety.
Flowering from summer until winter. However, one bud lives only a few days, it is replaced by a larger number, an approximate coefficient of 1/2. The visiting card of this plant is not only delicate flowers, but also a white, gray plaque on the stems and leaves.
Type and varieties of eschscholzia
In nature and in gardens, both single species and inflorescences are found.
California
The most common. In addition, all the varieties under consideration are California varieties.
The plant is perennial, spreads on the ground. It has fairly strong stems, medium height, about 50 cm in height. Single buds, 8 cm in diameter.
| Grade | Description |
| Strawberry | Flowers with a semi-double structure are also common. Presented in a gradient of 2 colors, red-yellow. Perfectly takes root in rocky soil. |
| Peach sorbet | In this variety, the flowers are only semi-double, have a cream, beige color. The number of petals is large, reaching 12 pieces. The height of the stem is slightly less, 25 cm. |
| Carmining | Height is about 30 cm, flowers in diameter up to 8 cm. Has a ruby color of petals. |
| Apple blossom | Bright pink terry flowers. A distinctive feature is dense foliage, a large number of stems, buds. |
| Chiffon | As you know, hybrids take the best from their ancestors. The advantages of this variety are its record flowering. It begins in early May, and ends when frost sets in. The buds have a terry structure, their color is unique. It blooms in groups, while each flower has its own shade. |
| Ballerina mix | Hybrid. In its arsenal has ordinary and terry buds. Their shades range from light pink to orange. The flowers themselves are quite large, about 9 cm in diameter. The stems are medium, 40 cm. |
| Mikado | Shoots are medium, up to 40 cm in height. The buds are large, about 7 cm in diameter. Has straight petals. The color is represented by a gradient of orange and bright yellow. |
Growing escholia from seeds
The simplest and most effective way of reproduction is seed. Seeds can be stored for a long time, while they retain their properties.
Sowing dates, pros and cons
An excellent solution would be to plant seeds in the fall. This allows them to be stratified by 100%. Moreover, the weaker ones simply do not survive under such conditions, while flowering eschscholtus will be early. To do this, prepare special grooves, about 5 cm deep.
Seeds are sown by slightly pressing them into the soil. Mulch from loose humus is poured on top of them, its layer is not more than 2 cm in thickness. This is done to prevent freezing of the soil at the planting site, as this greatly inhibits the development of the root system.
Autumn sowing usually occurs in October. Mostly in dry weather, exclusively with the onset of frost.
Someone, on the contrary, prefers to plant seeds in the spring. However, for this they need to undergo some training before landing. They are placed in a special cotton bag, and it is already in the refrigerator on the lower shelf. They must be stored there for at least a month before disembarkation.
The technology of sowing escholzia at home
The plant does not tolerate transplantation at all, but this does not stop gardeners. Around the beginning of March, you can start growing eschscholia on the windowsill in your apartment, but not by the usual method. Only a peat tablet is used. This is done so as not to damage the root system of the plant during transplantation.
The tablet is placed in water so that it softens. Then, with the help of a toothpick, 2-3 seeds are placed in it. After which they are sprinkled with peat, and the surface is moistened.
It is recommended to cover the seedlings with a plastic film, the greenhouse effect will allow for faster germination of seeds. Upon the appearance of the first shoots, the film must be removed, and the seedlings themselves put in a cooler bright place.
15 days after the emergence of seedlings, you need to feed the plants with a special mineral mixture.
If necessary, transport the plant to the open ground, this is done with the tablet, it decomposes in the soil, and the root system is not injured in any way during transplantation.
About 3 weeks before transplanting seedlings into open soil, seedlings begin to harden.
Do this by exposing the container with the sprouts to open air for several hours. Hardening is necessary so that when transplanting into open ground, the plant does not die from the subzero temperature of the soil.
Outdoor planting of eschscholzia
Sandy soil is recommended for planting; it must be well drained.
Landing time
Transplant seedlings into the soil when the threat of frost has passed. Usually this is May-April.
However, it all depends on the region of landing.
Landing Features
Initially, you need to prepare small landing pits. Keep the distance between them at least 30 cm, this is due to the strong sprawl of the bushes. The seedling is immersed in a previously dug hole with a peat tablet, after which it is sprinkled with soil, then it is tamped. After that they watered. Flowering occurs after about a month.
Open Field Escherichia Care
This plant is unpretentious in nature, requires only top dressing, and timely watering. The latter must be carried out exclusively in the evening, before sunset. In this case, the water flow must be directed clearly under the root of the plant, so as not to affect the inflorescences, and not to damage them.
Mineral fertilizer with a predominance of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium is excellent for feeding. It contributes to the overall growth of the plant and an increase in the number of inflorescences.
Organics are highly discouraged; because of it, eschscholtia will die.
For air access to the roots, the soil needs to be loosened regularly, and also to destroy the dried buds in time.
Eschscholzia after flowering
At the end of flowering, the seeds are harvested and the plant is prepared for wintering.
Seed collection
In general, eschscholtia reproduces well through self-seeding, so that seed collection is not necessary. If in the future it is supposed to plant a plant in the same place, you can “let the process go by itself”. Next spring, several dozen beautiful flowers will delight the eye. However, if they are supposed to be planted in another place, it is necessary to put on special gauze bags on the flowers. Then, after 4 weeks, cut the seed capsules, and only then remove the seeds.
Gauze bags allow you to isolate seeds from the outside world, thereby preventing the emergence and development of various diseases. I dry it out and then send it to the refrigerator for storage.
Winter preparations
In the fall, cut off the remains of plants, make a thorough digging of the site. In the spring, strong stems will surely appear there, they are thinned out and fed. Just a month later, they will bloom.
Diseases and pests
Eschscholzia is highly resistant to various diseases, but does not have immunity from all diseases. The most common problem with this plant is root rot. It is provoked by excess moisture in the soil. This disease manifests itself as a wilting flower. The only way to find out for sure is to dig out the root. If it has a gray coating, then it is gray rot. The affected plant is removed, its neighbors are treated with a fungicidal solution, watering is temporarily stopped.
In the case of dry periods, the main problem is the spider mite. It manifests itself in a web of enveloping the leaves, and on the leaves themselves you can see small, running dots. Acaricides are great for treating.
Another common escholzia problem is aphids. However, it is easy to cope with it easily, it is necessary to spray the affected plant with cold water, and pollinate it and its neighboring plants with a fungicidal solution.
Mr. summer resident recommends: medicinal properties of eschscholzia
In fact, every plant in nature has a special purpose. This is also the case with this flower. The ancient Indians long ago studied the healing properties of eschscholtia. With the help of it, they relieved toothache, fought with lice. Even pollen was used, it was used to improve skin elasticity and restore its former attractiveness. Modern medicine uses the extract of this plant as one of the parts of multicomponent drugs. It is included in sedatives and painkillers. In addition, eschholtia-based medicines are 100% safe, which allows them to be used by all people, regardless of age or individual problems with the body.
Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that there is nothing ideal, and drugs based on eschscholtia also have side effects that can develop only if the dosage is exceeded. These include the development of allergies. It does not matter in what form the medicine was used. Possible decrease in effectiveness, which often leads to an increase in dosage. To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the doctor.
