Planting and caring for the imperial fritillary in open ground requires attention and knowledge, just like planting any other flower species. The imperial fritillary also has other names, such as "Tsar's Crown." However, the fact that these names all have royal ties doesn't affect the plant's fussiness.
The imperial fritillary is completely unpretentious when grown outdoors. Since it's a bulbous plant, the most important steps are choosing the right bulb, storing it over the winter, and planting it at the right time in late fall or early spring after all danger of frost has passed.
Interesting! Judging by the appearance of the flowers, one can assume that the hazel grouse belongs to family of lily plantsThe Imperial variety, most often grown in gardens, is distinguished by its large flowers, which are very similar in shape to bells. The flowers always open on long stems that reach a height of one and a half meters.
With the arrival of spring, fritillaries will be one of the first plants to appear in your garden. Therefore, they often adorn rock gardens or alpine hills. However, even when not part of a larger composition, growing alone, fritillaries will look simple, elegant, and magnificent.
How to choose bulbs
In early summer, you can harvest bulbs for planting next year. As is customary when selecting any bulbs, you'll need to inspect them, checking for a regular shape and the absence of mechanical damage. The bulbs of this plant are shaped like a sphere flattened on both sides. They have holes in the center and often weigh up to one kilogram!
It's important that the imperial fritillary bulb being prepared for planting is free of roots. The variety of cultivars allows for a wide range of color variations for the garden. However, you won't know the exact color when purchasing the bulb. However, the color of the buds will always be a pleasant surprise for the gardener during spring flowering.
When to plant
So, in the summer, when the hazel grouse has finished blooming, you will need to carefully dig up an onion and prepare it for planting next year. Digging can begin when the flower stem has already begun to gradually dry out. This process typically begins in late June.
Advice! There's no need to wait for the plant to dry out completely. Dig up the fritillary bulb around the end of June or beginning of July to prevent its roots from rotting.
If you buy bulbs (including those dug and harvested in time), you can plant them next year as early as late summer or early September. Reading reviews will highlight the key points for planting and caring for imperial fritillary in open ground.
Important points for proper landing:
- The hole for planting the bulb is prepared two weeks in advance;
- You should dig a hole up to 30 cm deep and about 40 cm wide;
- It is essential to leave a distance of 25 cm between each hole. This rule can be ignored if you have planned a group planting in advance;
- Before planting, pour some sand into the hole and stick a peg in the center;
- Now place the bulb on the sand near the peg and sprinkle with earth;
- The planting can be immediately fertilized with a small amount of compost;
Imperial Fritillary: Planting and Care in the Open Ground. This photo shows this amazing plant. But you can easily grow this very same flower in your own garden.
How to care for a bulb
Once you've planted the bulb, you'll need to provide it with the necessary growing conditions. The area where the bulb is located must be watered regularly, even in the fall. It's recommended to water the imperial fritillary planting area until the first frost. Pay attention to 2015 gardening calendar for the Moscow region.
Imperial fritillary is frost-resistant. However, you need to be careful not to let frost damage the roots of the young bulb. Therefore, covering it is advisable, although not necessary. Covering the planting area with spruce branches or leaves during the winter will suffice.
In spring, the first shoots appear. Moreover, of all the garden flowers, the imperial fritillary shows its greatest activity in spring. As soon as the shoots appear, the winter cover can be removed. Further growth requires plenty of sunlight; young shoots can withstand frosts as low as -5°C.
Imperial Fritillary: Planting and caring for it outdoors requires providing sufficient moisture and sunlight. This plant looks stunning in any garden and is simply stunning in its grandeur and splendor. Although the flowers are quite small, they are always striking in shape and color.