Azarina (Asarina), or Maurandia (Maurandia) - beautifully flowering climbing perennial from the plantain or Norichnikov family. There are about 15 species of this plant. The homeland of asarin is considered to be Mexico, California and the middle part of the United States. Asarina is most commonly grown as an annual. Great for vertical landscaping. It can grow up to 4 m in length and climb up the support up to 1.5 m. Azarina perfectly decorates vertical structures in the garden and makes them more original and interesting. Despite the fact that asarina is not so easy to care for, it can be grown by observing a number of absolutely not complicated rules.
Description of the asarin plant
The stem of the plant is highly branching and can grow from 3 to 7 m, creeping and highly curly. Shoots and vines can catch on to the support thanks to the thin twisting petioles and hold on to it tightly. The leaves are bright green, can be bare and velvety, triangular and slightly rounded, pointed at the tip, and take on a heart-shaped shape towards the base. Flowers are axillary, tubular, solitary. Flowers can be purple, pink, purple, white or yellow. Bloom lasts from June to September. The seeds ripen in capsules, have a pointed shape.
Growing asarin from seeds
Sowing seeds
It is necessary to plant asarin seeds for seedlings even in winter. Since from planting to the beginning of flowering, at least twelve weeks must pass. If this is done later, the flowering period will be significantly shortened and will begin much later than expected. The soil for planting asarin seeds must be prepared in advance, it must include sand, peat, leafy earth and humus (all in equal amounts).
Before planting, the soil must be thoroughly calcined in the oven at full power for 10 minutes, and then poured with a manganese solution and let stand for about another day. This will completely rid the soil of all kinds of harmful bacteria that can cause a variety of diseases. After that, the soil should be spread evenly in the planting box and the seeds should be scattered over the surface, covered with well-calcined sand on top. And spray from a spray bottle. Seed boxes should be covered with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. It needs to be cleaned daily for about a couple of hours and the soil should be allowed to ventilate. The seeds should germinate within three weeks. If this does not happen, then the box must be removed to a cold place for a month, and then transferred again to a warm room for re-germination of seeds.
Seedling asarin
After the first shoots appear, the plastic wrap from the boxes must be removed immediately. When the seedlings have two real leaves, they need to be planted. It is best to use peat pots for this. Seedlings should be moved to a well-lit area and provided with regular, moderate watering. 2 weeks after transplanting, mineral fertilizers should be applied to the soil, best of all, complex. Then, after another 2 weeks, you need to add Agricola.What kind of fertilizer to choose will help to understand the seedling itself. For small and pale seedlings, nitrogen is needed, and if the growth is less than the norm, then phosphorus or potassium should be added.
Two weeks before the planned transplant in open ground, it is necessary to start and harden the seedlings. The boxes must be taken out into fresh air. Starting at ten minutes and gradually increasing the time daily.
Planting asarin in open ground
When is the best time to plant
The second decade of May is the best time for planting asarin seedlings in open ground. At this time, the soil was already warmed up enough, and the night frosts receded. Azarina is a thermophilic plant, so it should be planted in a sunny part of the garden, where there are no drafts and strong winds. But the plant is not better under the sun paladin, so at noon the asarin should be in blackout. The soil must be fertile, permeable and well-drained. A neutral loamy soil is most suitable.
How to plant correctly
The holes for planting asarin seedlings should be spaced from each other at a distance of at least 60 cm. Since the asarin is a climbing plant, it definitely needs support. Azarina will perfectly curl on metal mesh or wire, which must be fixed in an upright position. After the seedlings get used to the new place and get stronger, they need to be tied to a prepared support.
Caring for asarin in the garden
Watering
Azarina loves moisture very much. If the weather is too hot, it should be watered at least twice a day, in the morning and evening. Asarina also needs regular spraying. After each watering, be sure to loosen the soil around the plant and remove weeds as needed. In order for moisture to stay in the soil longer, you need to mulch the soil with a small layer of peat.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Fertilization is imperative for asarin to grow into a strong, strong and healthy plant with a long flowering period. As soon as the first flowers appear, it is necessary to start feeding the plant with complex fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. This fertilization should be repeated every 7-10 days. Organic fertilizers can also be applied; chicken manure is perfect for this.
In order for the plant to bloom more abundantly and longer, it is necessary to regularly remove dried leaves and inflorescences so that the bush does not waste its energy and nutrients on them.
Diseases and pests
Asarin seedlings can be attacked by fungal diseases such as black leg or root rot. The disease can affect seedlings from the period of emergence of exits until the formation of 2-3 true leaves. The root collar of infected seedlings becomes dark, after a few days the stem becomes soft and breaks, and the plant lays down on the soil. After the disease manifests itself, healthy seedlings must be urgently transplanted and treated with a solution of fungicides such as Fitosporin, Maxim and Baktofit. But charged seedlings cannot be saved; they must be urgently removed.
As for pests, aphids are very fond of sucking juice from asarin. She feasts on cell sap from all aerial parts of the plant. The flower loses its attractiveness, deforms and curls. Solutions of insecticides (Fufanon, Karbofos, Bankol, Aktellik, Akarin) help to get rid of this harmful insect. The treatment must be repeated several times with an interval of 7-10 days.
Types and varieties of asarin
The most common varieties and types of asarin:
Climbing Azarina (Asarina scandens) - a detailed description of this species was given above. The most popular varieties of this type:
- Bridges White - the flowers of this variety are white.
- Joan Lorraine is a variety with unusually beautiful flowers of a deep purple hue.
- Mystic Rose - the flowers of this variety are bright pink in color.
- Red Dragon - bloody or scarlet flowers.
- Sky Blue - unusual flowers with a blue color.
Azarina prostrate (Asarina procumbens = Antirrhinum asarina) - in natural nature, this type of asarin is found in the south-west of France and the north-east of Spain. The shoots are fleecy and grow horizontally. The leaves are triangular, jagged at the edges and light green in color. Flowers are tubular, about four centimeters long, pale yellow in color. The plant is quite cold-resistant and in October it can tolerate negative temperatures up to 15 degrees, but not for long.
Azarina antirrhiniflora (Asarina antirrhiniflora) - the plant will help to grow up to 2.5 m in length. The leaves are small in size and heart-shaped. The flowers are tubular, grow up to 3 cm and can be red, white, sky blue, light purple in color. The pharynx of the flowers is covered with spots. Flowering begins in early summer and lasts until the very autumn frosts.
Azarina Barclaiana - branchy shoots of liana can grow up to three meters, and sometimes more. The leaves are heart-shaped and pointed at the end. The flowers are bell-shaped, can be crimson, lilac or pink. Pharynx of light shades.
Azarina blushing (Asarina erubescens) - this species is creeping, the length of its shoots screams up to 4 m. They can rise to the top along the support by one and a half meters. The leaves are heart-shaped, velvety and long. Flowers are pale pink, tubular. The pharynx is white with spots.
Azarina purpusa (Asarina purpusii) - stems are thin, grow no more than 40 cm. Leaves are heart-shaped, pointed at the tip. Funnel-shaped feints, purple or carmine color.
Azarina wislizenii - this variety has unusual and interesting flowers of blue or light purple color. Large enough for asarin.
If you take proper care of asarina, it will become a real decoration of the garden and will delight the eye with its unusually beautiful flowers throughout the summer and even autumn.
