Content
Periwinkle Sicily is an evergreen perennial decorative culture that is used to create living carpets, flower beds, picturesque slopes and mixborders. The plant is very popular with both beginners and experienced gardeners, as it is unpretentious and highly resistant to various diseases, pests, severe weather conditions and low temperatures.
Botanical description
Periwinkle is a creeping shrub from the Kutrov family.
The Sicily variety is distinguished by erect stems and rather large flowers (up to 5 cm in diameter) of various shades
Periwinkle reaches 25 cm in height, while growing 1 m wide. The plant is perennial, it belongs to evergreen creeping dwarf shrubs.
Periwinkle Sicily has therapeutic potential because it contains an alkaloid that prevents cell division. The plant extract is included in various anticancer drugs and immunosuppressants. Thanks to glycosides, organic acids and valuable substances, periwinkle is used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, vegetative and hypertensive diseases.
Growing from seeds
Growing periwinkle Sicily from seed is considered a long process, since the bushes only grow by the third year. Seeds must be planted to a depth of 1.5 cm with an interval of 3.5-4 cm between plants.
Peat tablets are suitable for growing seedlings of periwinkle Sicily
They are poured with water, after swelling, from 2 to 3 seeds (in each) are embedded in them. For the germination of periwinkle Sicily, complete darkness is required, so the crops must be sheltered in the form of a black film and placed in a warm place with a temperature of +22 to +25 ° C.
After about a week, the periwinkle seedlings begin rooting. After that, you need to lower the temperature to +21 ° C. Otherwise, the seedlings will stretch out. When periwinkle shoots appear, they will need regular moderate watering and periodic feeding. A pick on individual containers is carried out after the appearance of four true leaves. Periwinkle seeds ripen for a long time, so they start cutting the resulting boll with the onset of late autumn.
How and when to plant in open ground
Periwinkle Sicily is sown both in the spring and shortly before the onset of winter. Podzimny sowing is carried out in such a way that the seeds do not have time to germinate before the onset of frost. If necessary, the plant can be planted in summer, but this should only be done in rainy or cloudy weather.
Site selection and preparation
Periwinkle Sicily is characterized by unpretentiousness to soil and lighting, but prefers loamy soil, enriched with humus, and moderately moist. Drained loose fertile soils with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction are considered optimal for the culture. Soil pH values should vary between 6-7. For Sicily, both the plain and the slope are suitable. Periwinkle gets along well next to apple, pear and cherry. Very badly tolerates the neighborhood with a walnut. Direct sunlight is detrimental to the plant, so it is worth choosing a shaded area.
Planting stages
Before planting, the soil is loosened, after which peat, sand, vermiculite or perlite are added to it. The seedlings will interfere with the prepared holes, after which they are sprinkled with soil, tamped and watered. A distance of 25 to 30 cm is maintained between the cuttings. The Sicily variety is transplanted in the period of early spring, when the plant has practically no difficulties with rooting.
Care
In the case of growing in an open area, periwinkle Sicily practically does not require regular care. With an average rainfall, the plant can not be watered. In summer, the petals and leaves of the plant are covered with dust. Get rid of it with water and a spray bottle. An adult plant is watered no more than once a week, the procedure is carried out only after the topsoil has completely dried out.
For watering, you can use a watering can made from a plastic canister or bottle
Weeds do not pose a serious threat to the crop, however, it is recommended to periodically clean the area near the periwinkle. The plant needs balanced feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers. Compost, leafy soil and humus are best suited for it. Caring for periwinkle Sicily involves removing dried flowers and oversized shoots.
Diseases and pests
Periwinkle Sicily is resistant to various diseases and pests. The presence of dry patches indicates a scab lesion. A sign of damage by hemiptera insects is round or oval brown spots, as well as the presence of a cheesy plaque of a milky hue. To get rid of the scale insect, systemic insecticides are used. You can eliminate insects by hand using soapy water and a cotton swab.
Aphids are able to destroy the periwinkle Sicily very quickly. Insects deprive the shoots of vital sap, releasing toxic enzymes when they eat the plant, which leads to yellowing and dropping of the leaves. The crop can be affected by rust, sooty fungus, gray mold, downy mildew, gray mold, and powdery mildew. Some areas are affected by bacterial or fungal infections.
If spots or white bloom appear on the leaves, it is worth spraying the plant with Bordeaux liquid (made from copper sulfate and quicklime) or with a special fungicide
Pruning
Periwinkle Sicily has a high growth rate, so it needs periodic pruning. Otherwise, it will capture a large area and interfere with neighboring plants. Pruning is done during early spring. This procedure allows the formation of a good crown and promotes the formation of buds. When the flowering period is over, the periwinkle Sicily needs a haircut. The plant gets rid of creeping branches-stems, which can later be used for reproduction.
Preparing for winter
The Sicily variety is highly resistant to negative temperatures. However, before the onset of winter, young seedlings are recommended to make a shelter in the form of a deciduous pillow or spruce branches.
Reproduction
The most common breeding method for the Sicilian periwinkle is by cuttings. Cuttings are prepared in the spring by partial pruning of the bush. The use of branches left after cutting is allowed. The propagation algorithm is as follows:
- The best pruning of branches with a length of 10 to 15 cm is selected, on which there are no damages and various formations.
- The upper leaves need pruning (by one third), the lower ones are completely disposed of.
- Prepare shallow trenches, which are filled with compost and fertilizers. Seedlings are immersed in them and sprinkled with soil.
- The first watering is carried out only after the topsoil becomes dry.
After four weeks, the cuttings take root, and then they need to be transplanted to a new place. Wells are pre-prepared at intervals of 25-30 cm from each other. The bottom of each pit is covered with sod soil, humus and peat.In the case of propagation by layering, cutting off shoots is not practiced. They are simply covered with soil, leaving the top open.
Photo in landscape design
Periwinkle Sicily can be used in landscape design.
The culture is used to decorate open areas, create living carpets and control weeds, which are easily clogged with rapidly growing shrubs.
You can limit the perimeter of the flower bed with seedlings or decorate the slopes.
Periwinkle can be used as an independent decorative culture.
Sicily goes well with irises, forget-me-nots and primroses, which allows them to be grown in the same flower bed.
Periwinkle is often planted on alpine slides.
The Sicily variety allows you to create a lively carpet that is distinguished by brightness and density
Conclusion
Periwinkle Sicily is a popular culture that has not only decorative qualities, but also pronounced therapeutic properties. For many European peoples, the plant was considered magical and protected people from all kinds of misfortunes and hardships. Due to its unpretentiousness to external conditions, excellent immunity and resistance to diseases and parasites, the Sicily variety is in demand among both beginners and experienced gardeners.
