The snowdrop, or galanthus (Galanthus), is a perennial flowering plant that belongs to the Amaryllis family. The genus has approximately 18 subspecies, including natural hybrid forms. Translated from Greek, it means "lacto-flowered", which corresponds to the color scale of the buds. In England it is customary to call a snowdrop "snow drop", and the Germans have a no less beautiful definition of a flower - "snow bell". The first shoots begin to appear in early spring.
Many representatives of this species are found in the Caucasus, and some of them are considered endangered inhabitants of the flora, which are mentioned in the Red Book. Individual varieties of snowdrop are cultivated for decorative purposes. For example, the mention of the double cultivar Flore Pleno dates back to 1731.
There are many legends about the origin of the flower. One story tells of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. To comfort them, God decided to create the first flowers from snowflakes. This is how snowdrops appeared.
Description of the snowdrop flower
Snowdrops are bulbous plants that grow and bloom quickly. The growing season may differ depending on the climatic conditions of the area. The diameter of the bulbs ranges from 2 to 3 cm.The surface is covered with scales. Within one year, new scales form on the bulbs, inside of which babies are formed. The leaf blades have a matte or glossy surface and are formed with the flowers. The color of the leaves is varied. The shape of the flower arrow is flattened. Near its base there is a bracts, consisting of 2 bracts. Outside, the perianth is white, the inside is spotty. The perianth consists of six interconnected leaves. Flowering is observed in early spring, when meadows and fields are still covered with snow. Snowdrop pollen attracts insects. When the buds wither, a lush seed pod opens up in their place.
Planting snowdrops in open ground
When is the best time to plant
It is recommended to plant snowdrop bulbs in late summer and early autumn. In regions where autumn heat is delayed for a long time, planting activities can be postponed until November. It is better to refuse to buy seedlings with open flowers, because such specimens will die soon. The bulb may survive, but after a year the plants will stop blooming and look weak. When choosing a material for planting, it is worth giving a choice in favor of denser and fleshy bulbs, which do not have a broken shell and lack roots. Otherwise, the bulbs must be planted immediately in the soil. Minor cuts will not affect the quality of the fit, which cannot be said about the integrity of the scales.Bulbs with obvious signs of deformation and bruises are best placed aside, otherwise they will quickly rot.
It is allowed to store the material for a month before planting it in open ground. Any clean bag of dry sawdust will do for this.
How to plant correctly
The optimal area for growing snowdrops is an open area or light partial shade falling from the crown of neighboring trees and shrubs. The plant prefers moist and loose soil, and dense and heavy loams will inhibit the growth and development of the flower. Planting depth can be adjusted. When the bulb is deeply submerged in the soil, an additional bulb appears on the peduncle. If the material is close to the top layer of the soil, the babies will multiply and grow faster on the mother bulb. The most favorable planting depth is about 5 cm. Primroses look much more attractive in groups.
Caring for snowdrops in the garden
Watering
Snowdrops are herbaceous perennials, picky to care for, that do not require watering, since they receive a sufficient amount of moisture by absorbing melt water. When winter is free of snow, and in spring there is little natural precipitation, it is advised to periodically water the area with plantings so that the snowdrops reach the desired height. Weeds won't be a problem. At this time, they are not so actively bothering plants.
Fertilization
Carrying out mineral fertilizing will only improve the development of primroses. You should not add fertilizers containing nitrogen to the soil, otherwise, instead of a beautiful flowering, only the volume of foliage will increase. High humidity causes fungal diseases. As a top dressing, it is better to use mineral fertilizers with an admixture of potassium and phosphorus. These components influence the formation of healthy bulbs and increase their resistance to cold. The presence of phosphorus activates the flowering process.
Transfer
Transplanting to a new place is organized only for five- or six-year-old plants. Some varieties grow safely in one place for many years. During the season, a couple of children are formed. After six years, the bulb is heavily overgrown with children. There are not enough nutrients, as a result, the flower gradually stops blooming. For this reason, they are engaged in transplanting and dividing the bulbs.
Reproduction of snowdrops
Before proceeding with the transplant, the snowdrop is carefully removed from the soil. The bulbs are cleaned from the ground and divided into parts. The sections of the cut are treated with carbon powder and placed back into the substrate. Snowdrops are grown using seeds. The flower also reproduces well by self-sowing. Flowering in such seedlings can be observed only in the fifth year of life.
When the flowers wither, the leaves begin to die off. It is not recommended to disrupt this process and tear off the foliage in advance. The plant will not have time to recuperate and grow primroses for the next year. The tissues of the leaves accumulate nutrients that provide normal conditions for wintering. Winter crops of snowdrops are covered in November with peat or humus.
Diseases and pests of snowdrops
Snowdrops are exposed to fungal and viral diseases from time to time. Signs of a viral infection are considered to be a change in the color of the leaf blades. Yellow stripes appear on them, the surface is covered with tubercles, and the tips are curled up. Sick crops are burned, otherwise the disease will spread to other plants. The site is treated with a saturated potassium permanganate solution.
Spotting and darkening of the leaves indicates the development of rust, a bluish bloom accompanies the appearance of gray rot. When the first traces of infection are found, the bushes of primroses are cut out and burned, and the soil is sprayed around with solutions of fungicides, when diluting which, it is imperative to follow the instructions. The formation of yellow spots is a clue that the plant has developed chlorosis.This disease occurs due to a lack of iron or insufficient drainage of the soil.
The most dangerous pests for primroses among insects are caterpillars and nematodes. The caterpillars eat the bulbs. They need to be destroyed before pupation occurs. Nematodes pose a more serious threat. This is the name for almost invisible worms that destroy plant tissue. The tips of diseased leaves are covered with yellow growths. Bulbs infected with nematodes darken on the inside. When the bulb is cut in half, it is easy to detect signs of illness. All snowdrop bulbs are dug up and washed in warm water, and then transplanted to another place.
In addition to insects, numerous rodents, namely moles and mice, cause harm to the flower. They eat the bulbs and damage the root system. Subsequently, the bulbs rot, and the plant dies. In diseased bulbs, decaying tissue is cut off, the places of the cuts are sprinkled with ash or crushed coal. To catch moles, poisonous baits are laid out in the garden.
Another type of pest is the ground slug. These mollusc-like insects prefer to breed in moist loams. To combat them, special drugs are used. For the purpose of prevention, during planting, the onion is covered with a thick layer of river sand from above, and the hole is filled with a prepared substrate.
Types and varieties of snowdrop
Consider several well-known cultivated species of snowdrops that can be found in the garden.
Alpine snowdrop - grows in the west of the Caucasus. Bulbs are small, rich green leaves with a bluish bloom. The height of the peduncle is approximately 6-9 cm. The flowers are white.
Snowdrop Caucasian - prefers the climatic conditions of the Central Transcaucasia. The plant has flat, wide leaves and white flowers with a pleasant aroma.
Snowdrop Bortkiewicz - got its name in honor of the famous scientist. The length of the bulb ranges from 3-4 cm. The color of the leaf blades is bright green. The peduncles are tall, and the petals are strewn with small green dots.
Snowdrop cilician - takes refuge in the mountainous regions of Asia Minor and looks like a herbaceous perennial with green leaves. The peduncle reaches a length of no more than 18 cm. The flowers are white with green spots.
Snowdrop Elvis - the area of distribution affects the southeast of Europe, Asia Minor and Ukraine and Moldova. This is a tall plant with long peduncles and wide leaf blades of a bluish hue. During flowering, the snowdrop has a sweetish aroma.
No less popular are such cultural forms as folded snowdrop, broad-leaved snowdrop, Ikarian snowdrop and snow-white snowdrop. They are able to decorate the garden area and create unique flower arrangements next to other decorative perennials.
