How to plant, grow and care for mallow, whether it is necessary to prune for the winter

Brief botanical description

Typically, mallow flowers are single-row, semi-double and double varieties are the result of selection. Photo: zemeljka.ru

1. Name . Mallow (Malva), in the scientific world is called a rose stem; in addition, in every corner of the planet this flower has its own folk names, only in Russia there are more than 10 of them. Where mallow came from is not known for certain; mentions of it are found in ancient Greece, Egypt and in the writings of the Mayan Indians.
2. What does it refer to ? Mallows are one of the varieties of rose stems, united and bred into a separate malvaceae family. According to data from various sources, the family contains from 30 to 60 varieties.
3. Height . As befits a rose, mallows have 1 straight stem, the height of which, depending on the variety, ranges from 30 cm to 2 meters. The leaves of the mallow are round, large near the ground, and higher up the trunk the leaf size decreases.
4. Bloom . The flowers are large, they can be single-rowed, semi-double or double, the colors vary. The pedicels are short, so the flowers seem to cling to the central trunk; the diameter ranges from 6 to 12 cm. The flowering period of mallow is from July to October.
5. Reproduction . After flowering, boxes about 3 cm in size with seeds are formed on the peduncle, which eventually burst and the rose self-seeds. Mallow reproduces only by seeds, from which seedlings are grown or planted directly in open ground. The root system is trunk and can go deep up to 3 m.

Growing mallow through seedlings

This method is quite popular, as it allows you to plan future flower planting on the site much more efficiently. Mallow seedlings can be sown in mid-to-late winter or in March-April. For planting, you can use individual containers or common containers, which are best covered with glass or polyethylene on top until the seeds germinate.

At a temperature of about 20-23 degrees, seedlings should appear in about 2 weeks. Then, when they get stronger, they will need to be thinned out so that the distance between the sprouts is at least 2 cm. You can also save all the mallow seedlings. To do this, you need to wait until the plants have 2-3 leaves, and then plant the young seedlings in separate pots.

Mallow shoots

Mallow is planted in a permanent place with the onset of stable heat. This period occurs mainly at the end of May or the beginning of summer. Before planting, young plants are gradually hardened off in the fresh air. When growing perennial mallow, strengthened seedlings are often placed in a permanent place not at the beginning of the warm season, but towards the end of summer.

Common varieties

What to look for when growing mallow

Although mallow is a fairly easy-to-care flower, some rules must still be followed when growing it. There are a few points you need to pay attention to:

• soil moisture - these flowers do not tolerate heavy watering, as well as excessively moist soil. Therefore, you need to water the plants moderately, and for planting them, choose high places with not too heavy and dense soils;
• choice of location - you should avoid shaded areas, since in poor lighting the mallow lags behind in growth and somewhat loses the decorative color of the flowers. In addition, it is better to place these flowers in places not blown by strong winds;

Protect mallow from excess moisture

• protection from freezing - the mallow must be covered for the winter so that its root system does not die from severe frosts during the cold period.

Attention!
Mallow tolerates transplantation very poorly. To reduce damage to its root system, it is better to immediately sow flowers for seedlings in separate peat pots, which do not require removing the plants before planting. When moving in open soil from one place to another, the mallow needs to be replanted with a large lump of earth so that the damage to its roots is minimal. Perennial mallow does not require any special care, but for all its unpretentiousness it is very beautiful. These spectacular flowers, which are distinguished by their bright and varied colors, are able to decorate any area and hide particularly unsightly places on it behind their decorative effect.

Mallow care

In the video, a specialist shows step by step how and when to plant mallow seedlings, when to transplant the seedlings to a new place, what to do in a rainy summer and whether it is necessary to prune the mallow.

When and how to collect perennial mallow seeds

Mallow flowers are cross-pollinated. When you collect seeds from a plant of one color, you can get hybrid seeds with other colors and shades. It will be a pleasant surprise every time.

A simple way to tell whether the seeds are ripe or not is to open the dry seed pods. As soon as we notice this, we perform a few more simple manipulations to accurately determine it. You need to rub the box in your hands. If it is dry, breaks easily, and the seeds easily fall out of it onto your palm, then the time has come.

Photo: Dry boxes and seeds of mallow.

Place the collected seeds in a dry, ventilated room and dry at a temperature of 25 degrees. The process takes approximately 7 – 10 days if there is no strong humidity in the atmosphere. If the weather is humid, we dry it longer.

We clean the seeds from the remains of the box. Seed germination persists for 2 – 3 years. But only freshly harvested seeds have 100% germination. We store the dried seeds for storage or sow them in the ground before winter.

How to store mallow seeds:

• The collected seeds should be placed in paper or fabric bags.
• Storage temperature: from + 8 to +12 degrees.
• The place is dark and dry.

Diseases and pests

The healing properties of mallow

Mallow has long been known in folk medicine. The beneficial properties of mallow have been studied by healers in many countries. For example, an infusion of mallow flowers and leaves treats inflammation of the stomach and intestinal disorders. Hot baths with steamed leaves or flowers of mallow (wood mallow) help relieve swelling of the spleen. The wild mallow herb is a constant component of breast collections.

Lavatera: planting and caring - a relative of mallow

In the form of lotions and compresses, a decoction of mallow flowers is used for skin diseases to relieve itching and to heal wounds (obviously, due to the mucus contained in mallow). Mallow is also used in medical cosmetology to restore the epidermis and prevent pustular rashes. Preference in folk medicine is given to mallow flowers, since they contain higher levels of sugars, vitamin C and carotene than the leaves. The main thing is that preparations from mallow do not give unwanted side effects and have no contraindications.

Beneficial properties of mallow:

• expectorant;
• emollient;
• reparative;
• enveloping;
• anti-inflammatory;
• restorative.

Mallow tea for coughs: pour 2 teaspoons of finely chopped flowers (or leaves) into a glass of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes, strain, drink 2-3 cups a day. You can add honey, but then the tea should be no warmer than 40 ºC.

… Every year in May, Kyoto’s Kamigamo Temple and the city host the Aoi Matsuri festival, dedicated to mallow. People put on bright clothes and walk through the streets of the city dancing and singing. This holiday is many centuries old...

The May rain is endless... The hollyhocks are reaching somewhere, Looking for the path of the sun. Basho

Reviews from flower growers

Yolya

I sowed before winter. Mallow reproduces by self-sowing. Last year it came up and I planted it. And now it’s in buds

Source: www.forumhouse.ru

Cat N

Yes, hollyhocks are two years old. But... Those that we sow in the summer bloom the next year. I noticed that at the base of the flowering specimens a small bush is formed, which also blooms the next year.

Source: forum.tvoysad.ru

Planting and care

Site selection and soil preparation

The area should be sunny enough; the plant can withstand even direct sunlight. Shadow has a detrimental effect on the flowering and development of garden plants. Lowlands and swampy areas are absolutely not suitable.

The soil is preferably dry, light, without close occurrence of underground and groundwater. Heavy clay soil is absolutely not suitable. The reaction is neutral or slightly acidic.

Landing requirements

Produced in spring or autumn. The depth of the hole is from 4 to 12 cm. The optimal distance between planting holes is 25 cm. At this distance, the bushes will not intertwine and interfere with each other. If planting is carried out in the autumn, then the procedure should be completed 4-5 weeks before the onset of frosty days. This period is enough to adapt the planting material. Spring planting begins immediately after the snow melts.

Loosening is carried out after each watering, at the same time all weeds are removed

Fighting them is an important care requirement

Loosening is carried out shallow, very carefully. To avoid damage to the fragile root system

Regular mulching is recommended. Experienced gardeners use it instead of loosening so as not to damage the tubers.

To avoid damage to the fragile root system. Regular mulching is recommended. Experienced gardeners use it instead of loosening so as not to damage the tubers.

Watering and fertilizing

Watering is required moderate but systematic. Garden plantings especially need it in hot, dry summers. Under no circumstances should you flood the bush. This can cause rotting of the root system. Watering is carried out if the top layer of soil is completely dry from previous moisture. If there is sufficient natural precipitation, it is not required at all.

The plant responds gratefully to regular fertilization. During the season, you need to add fertilizer to the soil three times: containing phosphorus and potassium in the autumn and summer periods; nitrogen in the spring season

Particular attention should be paid to yellowing of the leaves. In this case, the latter are added additionally

Do not over-fertilize the holes. An excess of nutrients leads to poor flowering. Periodically you should add soil to the tubers. They are located close to the surface and part of the soil is washed away by rain streams.

Pests and diseases

Despite its unpretentiousness and resilience, the cheerful feather is often attacked by all kinds of pests. The striped click beetle and mole cricket living in the ground negatively affect the leaves. Rodents chew through roots. Tubers suffer from snails.

To combat them, gardeners use special chemicals - insecticides. No individual predisposition to diseases has been identified, but a representative of the flora can become infected from neighboring crops. Excessive moisture or close proximity of groundwater leads to rotting of the root system.

To help the deer tongue, the affected fragments of the ground part are removed, and the bush is sprayed with a fungicide.

Pruning and preparation for winter

Systematic removal of faded and dried inflorescences is required. This promotes the active growth of new shoots, lush and long-lasting flowering. In the fall, the corollas are trimmed to prevent self-seeding throughout the garden plot.

The candle endures mild winters. The green dweller will not tolerate abnormal frosts and a winter with little snow; reliable shelter must be provided. At the end of autumn, after the leaves have fallen, the inflorescences are cut off. The root zone must be mulched with a thick layer of peat, spruce branches or fallen leaves. Straw is not used; rodents spend the winter in it, which can cause damage to the root system.

What to remember

1. Flowering time . Perennial varieties of stock roses bloom a year after planting, but if you use seedlings, you can get flowering by the fall of the first year.
2. Bush height . Depending on the variety, the height of the bushes ranges from 60 cm to 2 meters.
3. Types of flowers . In the malvaceae family, single-row buds predominate, but semi-double and double varieties are often found in hybrid varieties.
4. Bud colors . The most difficult color to obtain is pure black or white; all other tones and halftones are presented in a wide range.

Place for planting mallow

Perennial mallow does not take root well after transplantation. This is due to the fact that its powerful root system can be damaged during this process. In this regard, we plant the mallow in a permanent place with the expectation that it will grow there for many years. Mallow loves illuminated areas. If there is a lack of sunlight, it does not bloom lushly. To plant flowers, you need summer cottages protected from gusty winds and drafts. If this requirement is not met, the mallows suffer from the wind. They not only damage the delicate petals of the flowers, but also the tall peduncles may break.

Required soil

Mallow grows well in flowerbeds with loose, light soil. We allocate fertile soils for it, although, subject to constant fertilizing, the flowers successfully develop on depleted soils. The soil on the site must be well drained so that powerful roots do not become soaked. Loamy soils are ideal for rose holly.

Preparing a site for perennials

Before sowing flower seeds in flower beds or planting seedlings, we deeply dig up the selected area. If there is a lack of nutrients in the soil, we fertilize it by adding compost or rotted manure. To increase the drainage properties of the soil, add coarse river sand to it.

The timing of planting perennial mallow is dictated by the method of its cultivation. We carry out planting using the following methods.

Instructions for growing from seeds

How to prepare?

If it is not possible to collect seeds, you can buy them in the store by choosing a variety. It should also be taken into account that many varieties of primroses require preliminary exposure to cold when sowing seeds, which is the key to successful germination. To do this, they are kept in the refrigerator for a month.

There is also a faster option for temperature preparation. Five times, in a single course, place for two hours in the cold and for two hours in the heat. To activate germination, you can carry out a biostimulating procedure by holding the seeds in aloe juice for twenty minutes before sowing.

Before sowing, it is necessary to slightly dry the seed material by spreading it over an absorbent paper or sponge surface.

Material options for sowing seeds:

• an even layer of snow is laid out on the substrate layer and the seeds are distributed on top;
• distribute seeds over the surface of moistened soil;
• small-seeded primroses, such as Siebolda and Auriculum, are sown on a small layer of vermiculite and sprayed with a spray bottle;
• into peat tablets.

Landing

Important! It is easier to distribute the seeds using a thin, non-flexible wire or toothpick.

1. If the seeds are small, then there should be no more than five seeds per square centimeter.
2. Large seeds are placed a centimeter apart from each other.
3. There should be no more than two seeds per peat tablet.

In the final part, the seeds are slightly pressed and sprayed with soft, settled water. Next, the container is covered with a transparent film-lid, making a greenhouse.

Watering

The drying substrate is regularly moistened by spraying. When sprouts appear, you can water them with a syringe without a needle. If there is a tray and drainage holes in the container, then it is better to water from below.

Growing

The greenhouse must be regularly ventilated to avoid condensation, since excess moisture will cause the seedlings to rot. When the seedlings grow a couple of leaves, they are dropped into the soil mixture. Soil requirements for planting: nutritious, loose, air-light soil.

It should include turf soil, peat, and universal soil. 30% or 50% crushed sphagnum with sand and perlite will provide the necessary breathability, looseness and moisture susceptibility.

Disinfection: the mixture is calcined for half an hour in the oven. 24 hours before sowing, moisten the soil.

After this, the seedlings begin to be fed with mineral compounds, once every ten days. As the seedlings develop, the soil is added. When the sprouts become stronger and develop, the weak ones are removed, and the strong ones are planted in separate pots.

Primrose is ready for transplanting into open ground after it reaches a size of 10-20 cm.

More information about growing primrose from seeds can be found here.

Mallow after flowering

Preparing mallow for winter

After flowering, faded inflorescences are removed, and when the plant begins to turn yellow and wither, its stems are also cut off. An area with perennial or biennial mallow is mulched with compost or humus, using 3-4 kg of humus or compost for each m². With the onset of cold weather, the area is covered with straw, dry leaves or spruce branches.

After flowering, annual mallow is disposed of, completely clearing the area of ​​its plant debris.