Digitalis. Growing it up is for busy people

There are no ugly flowers, but among the bright variety that attracts the attention of wholly and entirely individuals, there are also more modest ones, which should be looked at, and only then they fascinate their own, at first glance, unpretentious and modest appearance. It is to this that the digitalis is a herbaceous perennial plant, numbering in its natural variety about 25 species, ten of which are used in cultural cultivation. The birthplace of digitalis - North Africa, Europe and West Asia.

This is a rather unpretentious light-loving plant, successfully carrying a shadow, drought-resistant, cold-resistant. It prefers to grow on wet, well-warmed areas and, although not demanding, in principle, to the foxes of the fox - the cultivation will be more successful on a nutrient-rich, loose loamy soil with neutral acidity.

The plant's name is due to the structure of the flower, in the likeness of a thimble, such bells that are called in Russia and throat, and wolf foxglove, wood bells, and even a wineglass, besides their decorativeness during flowering, also have medicinal properties. But to apply the plant for medicinal purposes should be very skillfully and with the observance of the exact dosage, since the digitalis is a poisonous flower!

The plant has a wide range of iridescent colors with a variation of all shades, from white to raspberry, as well as from cream tones to tan. Especially popular in ornamental floriculture is the foxglove purple, which in favorable light differs from its relatives (with a less vivid color) and is able to conquer the heart literally at the first glance at its pyramidal shape, decorative inflorescences with the presence of numerous flowers of crimson, pink, cream, white, Having dark purple inclusions located on the inner side of the corolla. The species is grown as a biennial, within two years from July to September the abundant flowering continues.

How to grow digitalis?

• First of all, prepare the soil as follows: dig at a depth of 25-30 cm, make humus, in the case when the soil has an increased acidity - lime is introduced;
• The reproduction of digitalis is carried out with the help of seeds sown in cold greenhouses in May, not burying them in the ground, they are only slightly covered with sand, since they are very small;
• The emerging shoots are covered from direct sunlight, watering very carefully;
• Further seedlings - a young foxglove, the cultivation of which continues with a subsequent dive on special beds, with the onset of August - is determined to a permanent place, observing at the landing a distance of 30 x 40 cm;
• For the winter formed radical rosettes, having rough light-green broad leaves, are covered with branches;
• Strong erect stalks grow the next year and reach a height of 1.2 to 1.5 meters. Inflorescences of spicate form are formed in the upper part of each of the stems. After the end of flowering, which began in July and lasts until September, the plant dies.

In addition to reproduction by seeds, adult digitalis, cultivated in other ways, can be divided into several smaller bushes. It is also possible to multiply self-sowing, which, if not needed, is easily weeded out, since the root system of this plant is not buried, but is practically on the surface.

Digitalis can be grown as a perennial plant if the groundwater is not close to the surface and good drainage is provided, otherwise only as a biennial.

Digitalis (growing it) is an occupation for people who want to decorate their site with ever-flowering plants, but do not have excess time for it.