Doronicum, or goat, is an unpretentious and very attractive perennial flowering herb from the Astrov family, which appeared in culture in the middle of the 16th century. The flower can be found in the temperate climate of Eurasia and in North Africa, it feels great in the mountainous area at an altitude of more than 3.5 km above sea level. The culture is quite popular with florists and landscape designers. These sunny flowers are used for bouquets and various flower arrangements.
Description of the flower doronicum
Doronicum propagates easily by seeds. The perennial consists of a fibrous rhizome located close to the surface of the earth, straight and strong weakly branching stems from 30 cm to 1 m high. Its juicy light green leaves, like wrappers, are located throughout the stem. The surface of the stems and leaves is slightly pubescent. The culture blooms in early spring and in July-August with single yellow flowers similar to chamomile or small inflorescences. Seed fruits contain very small seeds.
Growing doronicum from seeds
Sowing seeds
Doronicum seeds can be sown directly into open ground in spring or autumn, but the seedling method of growing is considered the most effective and reliable. To obtain high-quality seedlings, it is recommended to use seeds harvested in the coming season, although they retain good germination for two years after collection.
Sowing seeds begins not earlier than the second half of April. The most suitable seeding container would be a cell tray. Each cell must be filled with prepared moist soil mixture and buried in 2-3 seeds. The substrate should consist of equal proportions of coarse river sand and peat. It is recommended to cover the entire container with plastic wrap or glass.
The covered planting boxes should be kept in a warm and bright room with diffused lighting without direct sunlight. After about 1-2 weeks, the first shoots should appear, after which it is necessary to immediately remove the glass or film from the tray.
Seedling doronicum
Young plants require moist soil, so it should be regularly moistened with a fine spray bottle. The substrate should not dry out. Condensation accumulating on the cover must be removed at all times with a paper or light cloth. For the full development of seedlings, do not forget about airing the crops.
After the emergence of seedlings, the level of illumination of the room must be increased, while continuing to protect young crops from direct sunlight. If there is a lack of natural light, you can use fluorescent lamps or other sources. The devices should be placed above the plants at a height of at least 25 cm.Conventional lamps cannot be used for these purposes, since they, when overheated, negatively affect the seedlings of doronicum.
Pruning of weak plants is carried out when they reach a height of more than 4 cm. Now only one, the strongest and strongest specimen should remain in each cell. The rest of the seedlings are recommended to be carefully cut to the level of the soil. To stimulate tillering, when three or four full-fledged leaves appear, pinching the top is carried out.
Hardening procedures begin approximately 2 weeks before planting in open ground. Every day, planting trays with seedlings should be taken out into the open air and left for several hours, not forgetting to build protection from cold drafts, sharp gusts of wind and natural precipitation. The duration of the walk should be increased daily.
Planting doronicum in open ground
When is it better to plant doronicum
The most favorable time is from May 15 to June 15. It is very important to take into account the climatic conditions of your region so that young crops are guaranteed not to be threatened by night frosts, and the soil is sufficiently warmed up in the sun.
The light-loving "sunny chamomile" perfectly tolerates shady growing conditions, but to maintain high decorativeness of flowers, it is necessary to plant seedlings on a semi-shaded land plot with loose and moderately moist soil. It is not recommended to place doronicum close to the trunks of mature trees. Deep digging of the soil (to a depth of about 25 cm) in the future flower garden is best done in the fall. During work, it is necessary to feed the land with rotted manure.
How to properly plant doronicum
The interval between the planting holes is at least 50 cm, since the doronicum has the peculiarity of growing very quickly in a short time. The size of the planting pit should be such that a seedling with an earthen clod can freely fit into it. The plant is placed in a hole, the root part is sprinkled with earth, the soil is compacted and slightly moistened.
Caring for doronicum in the garden
Watering
Since the root of the doronicum is close to the soil surface, it requires frequent watering in moderation. Irrigation water should be warm and settled. You can put a special container for irrigation water in a sunny area, and it will heat up during the day on its own. Excess and lack of moisture in the soil is equally undesirable for flowering perennials.
The soil
If the flower garden is not mulched, then you will have to regularly weed it from the emerging weeds. This process is best done by hand to avoid damaging the delicate and fragile flowers. You will also need to constantly loosen the soil so that the root part gets enough air. In the presence of a mulch layer of any organic matter (wood shavings, sawdust, grass cuttings), moisture evaporates more slowly and weeds do not grow. The soil remains light and loose for longer.
Fertilization
Doronicum must be fed twice: at the beginning of the growing season and before flowering. Liquid organic or mineral fertilizers can be used as fertilizers.
Pruning
Pruning of wilted inflorescences along with arrows should be carried out during the first flowering - in the spring and during the second - in the summer. Such a procedure, with its regularity and timeliness, will maintain the decorative and attractiveness of the flower garden or flower bed throughout all flowering days.
Wintering
Flowering perennial doronicums usually tolerate winter well; there is no need to use a shelter.
Reproduction of doronicum
Reproduction of doronicum by dividing the bush not only helps to increase the number of flowering plantations, but also rejuvenates adult crops. At the age of 3-4 years, the flower garden becomes less attractive. Its inflorescences decrease in diameter over the years, old shoots dry out.You can give the plant a second youth by dividing it into small parts - delenki. The procedure can be carried out from the beginning to the middle of autumn. An adult bush is removed from the ground, cut into several parts so that each has a strong and healthy root, and the cuttings are planted in a new place. If you divide the bush more often, then this will favorably affect the size of the flowering baskets.
Diseases and pests
Dangerous for doronicum - thrips, aphids, slugs. Sucking pests are destroyed by Akarin, Aktellik, Karbofos. Gastropods are fought with folk methods. Red ground pepper and mustard powder are scattered over the surface of the ground on a flower garden and left until the expected result.
Possible diseases are gray rot, powdery mildew, rust. Control measures - three times treatment of plants with Topaz or Fundazol.
Types and varieties of doronicum
Florists name more than 50 species of goat, but their exact number has not yet been established. This large family also has leaders in flower culture.
Doronicum austrian - bright yellow inflorescences, ovoid leaves, height - 70 cm.
Doronicum plantain - a tall plant with a height of about 1.5 m, large sun-colored flowers with a diameter of about 12 cm, blooms at the end of May. The best varieties are Miss Mason and Excelsium.
Doronicum oblong-leaved - short rhizome, single stem of reddish-purple hue, high peduncle and small, single pale yellow flowers. Grows in damp and stony soils.
Doronicum Turkestan - single, thickened and bare at the top of the stem, small flowers of a light yellow shade with a diameter of no more than 3 cm. Grows in Central Asia and Siberia.
Doronicum Altai - a straight or branched stem of a brown or purple shade with dense pubescence in the upper part, long peduncles, yellow baskets - inflorescences.
Doronicum Columns - long tuberous root part, bare peduncles, light yellow flowers with a diameter of about 6 cm, height - up to 80 cm. The best variety is Gold Ostrich.
Doronicum Caucasian - horizontal rhizome, light green leaves, single pale yellow flowers. Used for the background, as it significantly loses its attractiveness after the end of flowering. Popular varieties are Little Leo, Gold Dwarf, Spring Beauty.
Doronicum Clusa - undersized plant 10-30 cm high, short creeping rhizome, densely pubescent peduncle and single yellow flowers.
