After a gloomy, overcast winter, the first flowers are blooming as the weather improves and the days lengthen, and a walk in the woods can bring out a whole host of colours. I'm sure many of you are thinking how nice it would be if these flowers were as beautiful in my garden. Our early wild flowers have been drastically reduced in some places as a result of similar thoughts, and are now protected. Fortunately for us, however, our local shops and nurseries have an ever-expanding range of flowers for those who want to bring spring into their homes.
There are a wide range of colours and scents to choose from, and most of them do not require much skill to survive. These plants not only thrive in the garden, but can also be planted together or on a balcony.
Hatchling snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The snowdrops belonging to the amarillis family are found in Hungary in 4 members, such as the gorgeous, the fold-leaved, the levantei and the hatchling snowdrops. Snowdrops are native and protected species in our country! Purchased from a controlled source, bulbs should be planted in the autumn so that they can become a decorative feature of your garden in the spring. It prefers partial shade and avoids overly compacted soil. Propagated from bulbs, it can form a carpet-like colony within a few years. Flowering is mainly from early February, but can last until the end of March, depending on the variety.
Crocus (Crocus sp.)
One of the most glorious plants in the spring garden is the saffron, also known as crocus. It is a bulbous plant which, planted in autumn, can flower in early spring (from February to April, depending on the variety). Its flowers come in a variety of colours, such as white, various shades of purple, and crimson.
It will look best in a sunny spot. It produces its leaves after flowering. Avoid overwatering, it likes loose soil. Tip. It is increasingly common to hide it in the grass. However, it is important to know that until the plant has retracted back into the ground, it is forbidden to cut the grass!
Spring Peat (Leucojum vernum)
It can easily be mistaken for a snowdrop. Unlike the snowdrop, this is not a bulbous plant, but has a bulb. It is most easily distinguished by its bracts. The pistil of the daisy has a broader flower and a green or yellowish spot at the tip of the leaf blade. In its natural habitat it occurs in deciduous woodland and wet meadows. They are now found in many gardens. It flowers slightly later than the snowdrops, around March, depending on the weather.
Winter graveyard (Eranthis hyemalis)
The yellow-flowering winter bush is a common sight in early spring, mainly in oak woods in our country. Its carpet-like spread is a striking phenomenon, but it is a protected plant!
Even under the snow, it has golden yellow flowers, very similar to those of the buttercup. There are two species in the wild in our country, but the most common is the winter cemetery.
Its tubers should be planted in August, in shady to semi-shady places, even as a border plant or under a bush. After flowering, it retreats.
There are also hybrids (Eranthis x tubergenii) from Dutch imports, which produce larger flowers later. These can only be propagated by tuber.
Tip: with snowdrops and crocuses, plants that bloom at about the same time, either in a flowerbed or in the grass, can make a wonderful display.
One of our best-known end-of-winter flowers, often referred to as primula. It's considered a perennial, but most people buy it only as a seasonal plant, saying „it won't last”. But with a little care, it can be a garden ornament for years in early spring.
The small plant with its large flowers allows a wide range of uses. Not only can it be planted in the garden, but it can also be planted together in a beautiful display in a container.
Several species are indigenous to our country, such as the mealy, the stalkless and the ray primrose. In shops and garden centres, the most commonly found are the stemless primulas, which come in a wide variety of colours and are pre-sprouted at the time of your choice. As it is a garden plant, it is not very tolerant of indoor conditions. It is best placed away from heaters, perhaps on a windowsill. After flowering, plant it out in a semi-shaded area. When planting, loosen the soil around it and add any acidic soil. It is water-hungry, so replenish water especially in summer.
In winter, it is worth covering the base with mulch:
Most of the flowers listed should be planted in the autumn, in the summer or late autumn, while they are still dormant. Plants bought at this time in late winter or early spring will be hard to transplant. To protect your freshly planted plants from mildew, water them with 1% Kelpak solution, or spray from a small spray bottle by mixing 1 cl in half a litre of water. A Kelpak bioactive substances in the plant's water quickly bring the plant out of its stressful state. Repeated every two weeks, it increases the root and bulb mass of the plants, ensuring abundant flowering next year.
Most of these plants are forest dwellers, and only thrive in the high humus soils they are used to. Increase the humus content of your soil with compost, mulch or BlackJak-irrigation at a dose of 2dl/10l. The higher humus content helps nutrients to remain in an absorbable form and also slows down soil drying.
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