Tagetes

The genus Velvets (Tagetes) unites about fifty herbaceous annual and perennial species, of which nowadays almost exclusively hybrids are grown with terry flowers-inflorescences (diameter up to 15 cm). Inflorescences of velvets are large, simple and terry. The latter are nail-shaped, transitional and chrazintemous in shape. Painted in shades from lemon yellow to orange and mahogany; petals are fringed. Leaves are usually dark green in color, glossy deeply dissected. From velvets of thin-leaved (Tagetes tenuifolia), dwarf (20-25 cm in height) varieties were obtained by hybridization and selection, which are usually used in flowerbeds. Such a species as velvet-bearing (T. sarmentosa) is able to grow up to 3 m in height. It is used in trellis; characterized by prolonged flowering (even until November, if the weather is good). Abundant and long flowering is also characterized by varieties and hybrids of erect velvets (T. erecta), which are distinguished by an unpleasant smell when tearing off a leaf or cutting flowers. Another most common species is deflected velvets (T. patula). Velvets, which grow more than 40-50 cm in height, are successfully used as flowers for cutting. Velvet planting is also useful in that it helps fight nematodes (roundworms) in the soil; they do not tolerate the smell of these plants.

The genus Velvets (Tagetes) unites about fifty herbaceous annual and perennial species, of which nowadays almost exclusively hybrids are grown with terry flowers-inflorescences (diameter up to 15 cm). Inflorescences of velvets are large, simple and terry. The latter are nail-shaped, transitional and chrazintemous in shape.

Painted in shades from lemon yellow to orange and mahogany; petals are fringed. Leaves are usually dark green in color, glossy deeply dissected.

From velvets of thin-leaved (Tagetes tenuifolia), dwarf (20-25 cm in height) varieties were obtained by hybridization and selection, which are usually used in flowerbeds.

Such a species as velvet-bearing (T. sarmentosa) is able to grow up to 3 m in height. It is used in trellis; characterized by prolonged flowering (even until November, if the weather is good).

Abundant and long flowering is also characterized by varieties and hybrids of erect velvets (T. erecta), which are distinguished by an unpleasant smell when tearing off a leaf or cutting flowers.

Another most common species is deflected velvets (T. patula).

Velvets, which grow more than 40-50 cm in height, are successfully used as flowers for cutting.

Velvet planting is also useful in that it helps fight nematodes (roundworms) in the soil; they do not tolerate the smell of these plants.

Cultivation

They grow mainly annual varieties from seeds or purchased seedlings. Velvets can be cultivated in pots, bowls, crates and flower beds on balconies or in the garden, separately or together with other annual plants, as well as planted with flower beds and curbs. Velvets are plants that are not demanding on nutrition. When planting on flower beds, it is enough to feed 2 times per season (1 g of complete mineral fertilizer per bucket of water or in solid form at the rate of 10-20 g/m2).

They grow mainly annual varieties from seeds or purchased seedlings. Velvets can be cultivated in pots, bowls, crates and flower beds on balconies or in the garden, separately or together with other annual plants, as well as planted with flower beds and curbs. Velvets are plants that are not demanding on nutrition. When planting on flower beds, it is enough to feed 2 times per season (1 g of complete mineral fertilizer per bucket of water or in solid form at the rate of 10-20 g/m2).

Location

In order for velvets to develop well, they should be planted in the open sun. If the illumination is insufficient, the plants stretch in length, bloom sparsely, and the flowers lose gloss.

Temperature

The optimal air temperature for velvets is 18-26 °C, but these plants tolerate lower temperatures (up to 8-10 °C). And at a higher temperature compared to the optimal, they do not have problems: plants withstand the summer heat well.

The optimal air temperature for velvets is 18-26 °C, but these plants tolerate lower temperatures (up to 8-10 °C).

And at a higher temperature compared to the optimal, they do not have problems: plants withstand the summer heat well.

Watering

Moderate even in the hottest periods. Avoid stagnation of water. It is recommended to water plants in the morning with not too cold water.

Reproduction

To ensure early flowering, starting in March, seeds are sown in boxes under the glass, slightly deepening the seeds. But in this case, after the appearance of seedlings, you should provide plants with artificial lighting - the corresponding lamp - for 8 hours a day. Seedlings are kept at temperature 18 °C. About a month after sowing, seedlings from the box are transplanted into cups, pots or flower trees filled with well-drained, not overwetted and not fertilized soil. Before planting velvets for a permanent place of planting in open ground, you need to wait for the end of the cold (the best month is May). The land on the flower bed should not be too fertile, then the plants will not grow and in this case are less susceptible to rot and are characterized by abundant flowering. Make sure that individual seedlings have only one strong stem, not too elongated, without yellow leaves at the base.

Diseases

It happens that flowers rot, affected by gray rot (pathogen - Botrytis cinerea). If this happens in the summer, you need to follow the watering: watering in the morning in such a way that the soil dries in the evening - or treat the plants with the appropriate anti-rot drug. If the fungus affects annual species in the fall, then the plants should simply be discarded. But Phytophthora cyptogea initiates rotting of the root neck. In addition, the fungus Fusarium oxyporum is quite common on velvets, causing rapid wilting of the plant. To avoid disease, seeds are recommended to be sown in specially prepared sterilized soil. As for plants for flowerbeds, be careful with watering; if there are signs of defeat, then the next year plant velvets in another place. Treatment with fungicides is ineffective.

It happens that flowers rot, affected by gray rot (pathogen - Botrytis cinerea). If this happens in the summer, you need to follow the watering: watering in the morning in such a way that the soil dries in the evening - or treat the plants with the appropriate anti-rot drug. If the fungus affects annual species in the fall, then the plants should simply be discarded. But Phytophthora cyptogea initiates rotting of the root neck. In addition, the fungus Fusarium oxyporum is quite common on velvets, causing rapid wilting of the plant.

To avoid disease, seeds are recommended to be sown in specially prepared sterilized soil. As for plants for flowerbeds, be careful with watering; if there are signs of defeat, then the next year plant velvets in another place. Treatment with fungicides is ineffective.

Acquisition

Seeds can be purchased from flower shops or companies that specialize in the production of varietal seed material. From plant seeds collected from flowerbeds, smaller and less ornamental flowers are usually obtained than from purchased ones, so the former are not recommended.

Seeds can be purchased from flower shops or companies that specialize in the production of varietal seed material.

From plant seeds collected from flowerbeds, smaller and less ornamental flowers are usually obtained than from purchased ones, so the former are not recommended.