Nigella damask growing from seeds at home. Growing nigella

Any suburban area is full of flowers of different types and shades. Among the plants familiar to us in a flower bed you can find nigella, the flowers of which have a wide range of colors.

The plant culture is also known under the name "chernushka", which is associated with the black seeds formed in its fruits. Flowers are eye-catching unusual shapes And pleasant colors.

Description and application of nigella

The nigella flower is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the Ranunculaceae family.

Under natural conditions, it grows in Western Europe, North Africa and Western Asia; several species grow freely in certain regions of Russia.

From the Latin language, the name of the plant means "black", which corresponds to the color of the seeds of nigella. Among the people, the flower received the following names: black cumin, blooming fennel, nutmeg flower, kalindzhi, Italian coriander, seidan. It should be noted that biologically nigella has nothing to do with these types of crops.

The average height of the nigella ranges from 30-70 cm. The branched stems grow straight. The leaves are pinnately dissected and arranged alternately on the stems. In some species, leaf plates look like an openwork fabric and can rise above the flower. Bisexual flowers reach a diameter of 4-4.5 cm. Petal-shaped cups consist of five sepals; in terry varieties, they can be arranged in several rows. Two-lipped petals in the amount of 5-8 pieces are blue, blue, red, white or yellow. The fruits are flattened or swollen multi-leaflets, in which coal-black ovoid seeds are formed.

In landscape design, nigella is often used as the main element of a flower bed, flowerbed or alpine slide. Often it decorates the space next to the hedge and borders. A popular type for the execution of an idea is usually damask nigella.

A large number of species and varieties of nigella allows the use of its seeds in cooking as a spice for first and second courses, in the preparation of bakery products, marinades and preserves. The leaves of the plant have a tonic and strengthening effect on the human body, so they are added to summer salads, which also use other greens. Dill, parsley, chervil, basil and coriander go well with nigella.

Tea based on flower seeds will help normalize metabolism, remove harmful substances and acquire an attractive figure. Some parts of Nigella are used in conventional and folk medicine due to the rich composition of useful substances, but before using drugs, you should consult a doctor, as there are contraindications to the use of this plant.

There are more than 20 types of nigella in the world and even more varieties that are often combined when building a flower garden. In horticulture, the following types of this plant culture have become famous:

Nigella damask, or black damask. This type is considered the most popular. It is also called "the lady in the green". The plant, which is highly decorative and unpretentious in care, boasts not only beautiful flowers, but also attractive leaves. Freely Damascene nigella grows in Asia Minor and Western Asia, the Mediterranean, the Crimea and the Caucasus. Branched stems grow up to 35-50 cm. Leaf plates are characterized by a pinnately dissected form. Flowers can be double or single. The color of the petals is white, blue and blue. Directly under the flowers are openwork leaves, forming a kind of lace coverlet.

To decorate a summer cottage, flower growers usually choose such varieties of damask nigella: Albina(large flowers of white, pink, blue or blue color), Baby Blue(small flowers of a light shade), Dwarf Moody Blue(blue) Cambridge Blue(double blue flowers) Miss Jekyll Rose(dark red-pink shade) and Persian Jewels(mixture of white, blue, pink and purple flowers).

Nigella orientalis. This variety is widespread in Asia, but rarely used in our region, because it does not seem to be an attractive plant. On small yellow flowers there are few petals that are bent downwards. A large number of long green stamens are directed upwards. Branched shoots on a straight stem covered with truncated leaves. The flower is sometimes used in flower arrangements, but is usually grown for cutting and dry bouquets.
Nigella spanish. A less well-known species among garden nigella, which grows in southern Spain and northern Africa, reaches a height of 0.5-0.6 m. Deeply divided dark green leaves grow on the stems. The diameter of dark blue flowers is 5-6 cm. There are varieties with white, pink and crimson colors. Flowers with a slight odor attract attention with bright stamens and red ovaries. The flowering of the plant begins in July and lasts until September.
Nigella sativa. This species is commonly grown for medicinal purposes. The annual reaches a height of 40-70 cm. The plant has a long stem that does not have side shoots. Single or double flowers can be white, pink, blue or yellow-green. Lacy, finely dissected foliage is similar to fennel leaves. The seeds of the plant have a strong spicy smell, so they are often added as a seasoning to various dishes. This variety has established itself as an effective choleretic and gastric remedy.

Growing a flower from seed

Nigella can only be propagated by seed. Seed material can be purchased at a specialized store. If you are already growing a flower in your garden, then you can get seeds from it.

Full maturation of all fruits that form after the end of flowering nigella is not required. The stems with boxes can be cut off when there are still some flowers left on the plant.

Cut flowers are collected in bunches, laid out on paper or cloth and left in a dry room that must be well ventilated.

When the fruits are completely dry, they are opened and black seeds are taken out of them. The material can be stored for 2 years, so the cultivation of nigella can be postponed until spring.

Seeds can be immediately planted in open ground or grown at home for seedlings.

Planting seeds in open ground

In open ground, seeds are sown in the spring season or for the winter.

A suitable spring month for planting a plant would be April or May. A sunny area with loose soil with low acidity is suitable for a flower.

Before sowing, the earth should be loosened and rid of weeds and excess grass.
Experienced gardeners are advised to add potassium salt or other mineral fertilizer to the soil.
Seeds are buried at a depth of 1.5-2 cm.
The soil surface is leveled, the planted material is moderately watered with warm water.
If the spring frosts have not yet passed, the nigella should be covered with a film. With favorable weather, the first sprouts will appear in 2-3 weeks.

The winter period does not affect the germination of nigella in any way. Seeds should be planted in November. The plant has a high degree of cold resistance, but for reliability, the first shoots should be covered with protective material so that they successfully endure the cold winter.

Nigella does not tolerate transplanting well, so it should be planted immediately in a permanent place. To prolong the flowering period of the plant, the seed material must be sown several times during the spring month.

Growing seeds for seedlings

For seedlings, seeds are sown in March or April.. Grow the plant in a box or greenhouse. Seeds are placed in the soil at a depth of 2.5-3 cm. The first shoots can be expected in 2-3 weeks.

Since the material cannot be transplanted into open ground during the growing season, seedlings should be dived into special containers made from humus and peat, with which they are transplanted into the ground.

Plants are transplanted to the garden plot in May. For them, you should choose a well-lit and ventilated place where the seedlings can continue their rapid and active growth.

To obtain light soil with an alkaline reaction, lime is added to the soil.
A layer of drainage and a small amount of sand are poured onto the bottom of the dug holes.
Since the leaves of Nigella are thin and numerous, containers with seedlings should be placed at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. The distance between the rows should be about 0.5 m, otherwise future bushes will often need to be thinned out.
Seedlings are placed in holes, fall asleep and moistened with a solution of potassium permanganate.

All types of nigella grow and develop well even in regions with a harsh climate. But to increase the decorativeness of the flower, proper care should be taken.

Nigella does not like drought, so it needs regular watering. Lack of nutrients can lead to poor flowering, loss of attractive appearance and drying of the plant in the future. Water the flower should be moderate, since excess moisture can lead to various flower diseases.

Since the soil in which the nigella grows cannot be mulched, it will be necessary to regularly loosen the earth and clear it of weeds. Loosening and weeding procedures are carried out with watering.

Nigella should be fed carefully, because an excess of nutrition often leads to poor health of the plant. For the whole season, top dressing is applied to the soil only once. You can feed the flower with complex mineral fertilizers. Products containing potassium and phosphorus should be added at the beginning of flowering nigella. It is impossible to introduce organic matter and fertilizers containing nitrogen into the soil, since this plant culture does not tolerate such substances.

Nigella will thrive if planted in soil that has grown organically fed plants.

Diseases and pests

Nigella is rarely affected by diseases and pests., but in cool and rainy weather, powdery mildew may appear on it. In this case, the flower must be treated with a fungicide several times with an interval of 7-10 days.

Nigella can be treated with special means for preventive purposes to reduce the chances of powdery mildew.

Nigella is very popular due to its wide range of applications. A simple care and easy cultivation of the plant allows you to use it in decorating gardens and areas near the house or cottage. A flower arrangement using blackies will always look advantageous.

Flowers on the plot create a feeling of comfort, holiday. But to create a beautiful flower garden, you need to know how to properly grow plants, their flowering period, stem height and flower color. It is this knowledge that helps to create a real flower idyll on the plot, which will delight with its riot of colors for the whole summer.

Secrets of growing nigella
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Nigella is a fairly popular and unpretentious plant, characterized by good flowering, variability in the color of the petals, and a wide area of growth. This flower has dozens of names that are associated not only with the appearance, but also with the seeds. Black cumin, nigella - the most famous and common names, since after flowering black seeds are formed that have a spicy taste and aroma.

Nigella or Nigella - seeds

The seeds of the plant are used in folk medicine, in the form of spices, in perfumery and many other industries. In some countries, nigella is grown not as an ornamental plant, but as a source of useful raw materials - seeds.

nigella plant

Nigella is an annual plant that propagates through seeds. To obtain seed material, you should not wait for the full maturation of all the boxes that form after the flower blooms. Cut the stems with boxes when no more than 1/3 of the flowers remain on the plant. After cutting the stems, you need to form bouquets from them, which should be placed in a dry and well-ventilated place. After drying, seeds are taken out of the boxes, which can be used for 2 years.

Nigella seeds

Nigella seed pods

Planting Nigella Seeds

There are two ways to grow flowers - in open ground and seedlings. You can plant seeds in open ground for winter and spring.

Wintering seed material in the ground will not affect the germination of the plant. Seeds should be immersed at least 2 cm into the soil. In spring, it is desirable to protect the first shoots of nigella from soil frosts with a film.

The process of sowing seeds of nigella in the furrows

In spring, nigella is planted in open ground in April. Under favorable weather conditions, the first shoots appear after a few weeks. After the emergence of sprouts, care must also be taken to ensure that young plants do not die due to frost on the soil.

Planting a nigella

For growing seedlings, nigella seeds are sown in late March, early April. For germinating seedlings, you can use boxes, a greenhouse. Seeds are buried in the ground to a depth of 2-3 cm, the first shoots appear in 15-20 days. Since the plant does not tolerate picking very well during the active growing season, it is advisable to transplant the seedlings that have just appeared into special glasses with soil, which in the future will simply be placed in open ground.

Nigella seedling

When the dived seedlings grow up, you can transplant to a permanent place. It is advisable to choose well-lit and ventilated places, otherwise the nigella will slow down the vegetation very quickly in the shade. Due to the large number of thin leaves in an adult plant, pots with seedlings should be planted at a distance of 20-25 cm. There should be at least 40 cm between rows, otherwise lush plants will have to be constantly thinned out.

Nigella prefers light soils with an alkaline reaction. It is recommended that before planting seedlings or sowing seeds, deoxidize the earth by adding lime or dolomite flour to the soil.

It's important to know! Do not plant nigella with ground cover plants (moss) or mulch the ground at the roots. This will affect the flowering and growth of the crop.

Video - Planting nigella in open ground

Nigella care

Despite the fact that these flowers thrive in the wild, Nigella needs constant care. Young plants need to be weeded periodically so that the weeds do not drown out the flowers.

Nigella needs to be weeded

After weeding, the ground around the roots should be constantly loosened. Nigella is a drought-resistant plant, but the lack of moisture can affect flowering and growth, especially during the budding period. Excess moisture can also adversely affect flowers and cause various diseases.

Nigella blooms luxuriantly in a flower bed

Nigella is very easy to overfeed, so you should not use mineral fertilizers for top dressing. The best way to provide the plant with all the necessary substances is to apply organic fertilizers to the soil in spring or before winter. Some flower growers practice the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers during the budding period, but this must be done with extreme caution.

Nigella also feels good on those lands where crops grew that were fertilized with organic matter. Nigella blooms for 2 months, about 25 days after transplanting into open ground. During the flowering period, attention should be paid to the condition of the plants, as the nigella can get sick with powdery mildew or spider mites. A fungicide should be used to prevent diseases or treat plants.

The rest of the pests are not afraid of nigella, as this plant emits a rather pungent odor that repels insects.

Plant pests and diseases

Variety of blackberries. table

Nigella spanish	A plant of this species has a rather high stem - up to 60 cm. The leaves are dark green, dissected. The flowers are not too large, up to 6 cm in diameter, when fully opened, the petals are bent down. The color of the petals can be white, raspberry, pink. Flowers practically do not smell. The area of growth is the south of Spain and North Africa. The plant is quite cold-resistant, but at the same time light and heat-loving. After flowering, a red box with seeds forms in place of the flower.
Nigella orientalis	This plant variety is common in Asia. It is distinguished by a large and straight stem, on which branched lateral shoots are formed. The leaves are strongly truncated, long. Flowers do not differ in beauty due to the almost complete absence of petals. On the receptacle, many stamens are formed that protrude upwards. The petals are strongly bent down.
Nigella damask	This type of nigella is most commonly grown as a spice. The plant has a straight stem 30-40 cm, without additional shoots. The leaves are green, strongly truncated, thin, similar to coniferous needles. The stem ends with a not too large flower, with pronounced sepals. The petals of this type of nigella are terry, the stamens are large, multi-colored. After flowering, a box with black seeds is formed.
Nigella "Cambridge Blue"	A beautiful plant, characterized by large flowers, with blue or blue petals. Most often used to decorate flower beds, alpine slides. Stem height up to 90 cm, leaves strongly truncated, lacy.
Nigella "Miss Jekyll Rose"	This type of nigella is distinguished by straight shoots, up to half a meter high. The flowers are large, the petals are painted in all shades of red and purple. After flowering, the sepals form a red-colored box with seeds. Most often used in floristry for the design of flower arrangements.
Nigella "Persian Jewels"	A very beautiful variety of nigella, characterized by large flowers, the petals of which are painted in pink, red and white. Inside the flower, green and long stamens are clearly visible, on which seeds ripen. The stem of the plant is not too high - up to 45 cm, it is distinguished by a large number of thin leaves that look like a lacy cloud. Often used to decorate borders, alpine slides.
Nigella "Dwarf Moody Blue"	This is a dwarf species of nigella. The height of the stem does not exceed 25 cm, the flowers are rather small, the petals are painted in blue and blue. Because of the very small and strongly truncated leaves that form a real cloud, this variety is called "blue fog". Used to decorate flower beds, borders.
Nigella "Baby Blue"	Nigella "Baby Blue" The stems are strongly curved, up to 20 cm high, forming a ball of truncated lacy leaves. The flowers are small, without fragrance, with a rather faded color of the petals. Not the most beautiful representative of the nigella.
Nigella sativa	This plant is grown to produce seeds that are actively used in medicine, perfumery, and spice preparation. The stem of the nigella of this species is quite high - up to 70 cm, without side shoots. The leaves are thin, cut, similar to lace. The flowers are not too large, the petals are painted in white, pink or yellow. The stamens are well developed. Seeds of sowing nigella have a spicy aroma.

The use of nigella, its beneficial properties

Nigella sowing can be used not only for decorating household plots and making bouquets. Its spicy seeds, the aroma and taste of which is similar to strawberries, have long been used to prepare various dishes as spices, to create recipes for traditional medicine, and for perfume compositions. The leaves of the plant have a spicy flavor and are used to make salad dressings with other spices and herbs. It is also worth noting the tonic effect of a decoction of nigella leaves for the human body.

Nigella is used in cooking as a spice.

Black seeds ripening in boxes contain a whole range of useful vitamins and elements. Nigella seed decoction can be used as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain reliever. Natural medicine can be used for problems with the stomach, intestines.

The use of spices in cooking

In the East, it is believed that black cumin slows down the aging process, strengthens memory, and normalizes blood pressure. Nigella seeds are actively used in the fight against excess weight, as the decoction normalizes metabolic processes and speeds up metabolism.

Nigella seeds, also called black cumin, are used to make oil, which is successfully used in pharmacology and cosmetology.

Video - All about the benefits of black cumin oil

The herbaceous plant nigella (Nigella), also called nigella, is directly related to the buttercup family. This genus unites more than 20 species of various plants. Under natural conditions, they can be found in Western Asia, Western Europe and North Africa. The Latin name comes from the word "niger", which translates as "black". And the plant got its name due to the fact that its seeds are painted in jet black. At first, nigella ended up in the North Caucasus and Turkey, and from there it got to India, and from it to European countries. In England, this plant is called blessed seeds, black cumin, nutmeg, kalindzhi, flowering fennel, black sesame, and Italian coriander, but nigella has nothing to do with any of the plants mentioned.

Nigella features

Nigella is an annual herbaceous plant with branched shoots and reaching a height of 0.3–0.6 m. Alternate lacy leaf plates can be palmately or pinnately dissected. The upper leaves rise above the plant, resembling an openwork bedspread. The diameter of single bisexual flowers is about 4 centimeters, they have 5 sepals, outwardly resembling petals. Flowers can be white, blue or yellow. If the flowers are terry, then their sepals are placed in 2, 3 or 4 rows. The petals of the flowers have turned into nectaries. The fruit is a box of swollen or flattened shape, which consists of 5 leaflets. Inside the fruit are ovoid matte black seeds.

Nigella is considered an essential element of landscape design. Such plants are planted along borders and hedges, rockeries, flower beds and alpine slides are decorated with them, and nigella is also used as an element of flower arrangements.

Growing nigella from seeds

Sowing

This plant can only be propagated by seeds. It is recommended to sow them in open soil in May or before winter, while deepening them into the soil by 20 mm. The seedlings that appeared are quite cold-resistant, but all the same, for the first time, experienced gardeners recommend covering them. Seedlings react extremely negatively to transplantation, in connection with this, seeds should be sown immediately to a permanent place.

Seedling

Sowing for seedlings is carried out in March or April in a greenhouse, while the seeds are buried in the substrate by only 20 mm. The first seedlings should appear 14-20 days after sowing. When the first pair of true leaves begins to develop, the seedlings will need to dive into individual peat-humus pots. It will be necessary to plant the grown seedlings directly in these pots.

Planting nigella in open ground

What time to plant

Nigella seedlings grow relatively quickly, and in May it can be planted in the garden in a permanent place. A site for such a plant should be chosen well-lit and open, the fact is that in a shady place it grows and develops much worse. Also, when choosing a place for planting nigella, it should be noted that it does not fit the neighborhood with ground cover plants. Suitable soil should be dry, loose, light, nutritious, neutral or calcareous. Acidic soil is not suitable for planting.

How to drop off

Seedlings should be planted directly in peat-humus pots, while between the bushes a distance of 15 to 20 centimeters must be observed, and the row spacing should be from 45 to 50 centimeters. If the nigella is planted too densely, then this will negatively affect flowering, and the seeds will not have time to ripen. When the seedlings are planted in open soil, they must be well watered. It is not necessary to cover the surface of the site with a layer of mulch, since nigella reacts negatively to mulching. Flowering begins approximately 40–45 days after seedlings appear, and its duration is approximately 8 weeks.

Nigella care in the garden

When caring for nigella, it is necessary to systematically loosen the surface of the site, while removing weeds, as this plant reacts negatively to mulch. As for soil moisture, it should be remembered that frequent and rare watering can harm such a flower. In this regard, it is recommended to develop a special irrigation regime for nigella. When feeding this flower, one must remember that it is quite easy to overfeed it, so one should also be very careful here. In this regard, experienced gardeners advise planting nigella in the area where the predecessors fed with organic fertilizers were grown. In this case, until the middle of the period of active growth, such flowers can not be fed at all. During flowering, the plant should be fertilized with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.

Nigella reproduction

Such a plant can only be propagated by seedless seedlings or seedlings. Sowing seeds in open ground can be done in spring or before winter. How to grow nigella from seeds is described in detail above. Self-sowing is also considered a way of breeding nigella.

Diseases and pests

If the weather is damp and cool for a relatively long time, then the risk that the nigella will become infected with powdery mildew increases. In order to save the plants, it is recommended to carry out 2 or 3 treatments of the bushes with a fungicide with breaks between sessions of 7–10 days. If a long dry period is observed in the summer, and the nigella are not watered in a timely manner, then spider mites can settle on them, which suck the plant juice from the leaves. In order to get rid of spider mites, it is necessary to treat plants with insectoacaricides, for example: Aktellik, Kleschevit, Agravertin, Akarin or Fitoverm. However, you should not be afraid, because with proper care and cultivation, nigella is quite resistant to both diseases and harmful insects. And the seeds of such a flower have a very pleasant smell that can scare away pests.

Nigella after flowering

The signal for the beginning of the collection of nigella seeds is the ripening of about 2/3 of the boxes, this time, as a rule, falls on the last days of August or September. Mature boxes are cut along with the shoots, and then tied into bunches, which are laid out in a dry, ventilated room to dry. When the boxes dry, shake out the seeds from them, which remain viable for 2 years. These seeds can be sown immediately after harvest before winter or do it in the spring.

Types and varieties of nigella with photos and names

Nigella Damascus (Nigella damasceana)

Among gardeners of middle latitudes, this species, also called the "lady in the green", is most popular. The fact is that such a plant has beautiful not only flowers, but also leaf plates. Under natural conditions, such flowers can be found in the Near East and Asia Minor, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus and in the Mediterranean. The height of branched shoots can reach up to 0.3-0.5 meters. Leaf blades are thrice or twice pinnately dissected. The color of double or simple flowers can be blue, white or blue. The flowers seem to be surrounded by a spectacular "veil", consisting of openwork leaves, located on the shoots directly under the flowers. There are a large number of varieties of this type of nigella, but it should be remembered that not all of them are highly decorative. For example, the Baby Blue variety is more like a green lump, reaching a height of 15 centimeters and having tiny flowers and ugly horned fruits. The most decorative varieties include:

Cambridge Blue. Delicate stems in height can reach 0.9 m, the color of semi-double flowers is blue.
Miss Jekyll Rose. Very straight stems in height reach half a meter. The color of the flowers is dark pink-red. This variety was created specifically for florists who use it to make dry or fresh flower arrangements.
Persian Jewels. This variety mixture includes plants with flowers of blue, lilac-pink, white or pink color.
Dwarf Moody Blue. The height of such a dwarf plant can reach up to 15–20 centimeters. The color of the flowers is blue.

Nigella sativa (Nigella sativa)

This species is cultivated as a medicinal plant. The height of such an annual plant can vary from 0.3 to 0.7 meters. White, blue or yellow-green flowers can be double or simple, they look very impressive against the background of finely dissected lacy leaf plates, outwardly similar to fennel foliage. The black seeds of this type of nigella have a very strong spicy smell, which is why they have been used for many hundreds of years as a seasoning for a variety of dishes. Choleretic and stomach remedies are also prepared from such seeds. This species includes such names as: black cumin, black sesame and flowering fennel. And in the Koran it is written about him: “In black cumin, healing from all diseases.”

Spanish nigella (Nigella hispanica)

This species is not so well known. The homeland of such an annual is the north of Africa and the south of Spain. In height, the bush can reach 0.6 meters. Deeply divided leaf plates are painted in dark green. The diameter of dark blue flowers is about 6 centimeters, they have a slight smell and stamens of a bright color. The light red ovaries of this species are also quite spectacular. Flowering is observed in June-September.

Eastern Nigella (Nigella orientalis)

This type is not very popular. They decorate flower beds, and also such flowers are grown for cutting and for making dry bouquets. This annual plant has small flowers and showy seedlings.

Nigella properties

Nigella sowing (nigella medicinal) is used not only to decorate the garden plot. The seeds of this type of nigella have a strawberry smell and a sharp peppery taste, so they are widely used in cooking as a spice. For example, such seeds are added during baking to baking and bread, to marinades during the manufacture of canned vegetables, and they are also used in powder form during the preparation of soups. The leaves of this plant are eaten like greens, the fact is that they have a tonic and tonic effect. In the summer, these leaves are used to make salad along with coriander, dill, basil, parsley and chervil.

Such a plant has not only a pleasant taste, but it is also very useful. So, in the seeds of medicinal nigella there are carotene, essential oils, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, and also the lipase enzyme. Due to this, they have a laxative, antispasmodic, antifungal, antioxidant, bronchodilator, antiviral, anthelmintic, diuretic, analgesic, antiulcer, antibacterial, antiallergenic, antitumor, immunostimulating and choleretic effect. They are recommended for use with high blood pressure, dysbacteriosis, periodontal disease, pyelonephritis, flatulence and disorders of the digestive tract, hormonal disorders, vegetovascular dystonia, cystitis and poor appetite. Such seeds are able to strengthen memory, improve the functioning of the liver and pancreas, and also contribute to the fact that the aging process in the body slows down. These seeds, along with certain medicines, treat diseases such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, epilepsy, asthma, malignant tumors and drug addiction. Tea prepared from such seeds helps to speed up metabolic processes in the body and cleanses it of toxins and toxins, and it also helps to get rid of excess weight.

A few fairly well-known folk remedies from nigella sowing:

Nigella seed tincture. Seeds must be combined with vodka in a ratio of 1:5. The resulting mixture is removed in a dark place for 7 days. Then the tincture will only have to be filtered and put on the shelf of the refrigerator for storage. For diseases of the respiratory tract, drink this tincture of 10-15 drops.
Tea. 200 mg of freshly boiled water must be combined with 1 gram of nigella seeds. Let it brew for 15 minutes. Such tea should be drunk during the day in small portions, while it will have a laxative, tonic, diuretic and choleretic effect on the body. To achieve an anthelmintic effect, during the day you need to drink at least 2 liters of such a remedy, at the same time you need to eat spicy food (herring, onions, etc.). These seeds differ in that they have almost the same pungency as black pepper, but at the same time they do not irritate the digestive tract.
Delicious tortillas with seeds. You will need 1 kg of flour, from which you need to make dough on water. 1.5 large spoons of nigella seeds are poured into it and everything mixes well. The dough should stand for 40 to 50 minutes, then saps are formed from it, which are rolled into cakes. They are baked in the oven, and then coated with butter while still hot.

Nigella seeds are also widely used in the fight against moths. Seeds are poured into small bags of gauze or fabric, which are tightly sewn up. The bags are then placed on the shelves in the closet. Interestingly, the aroma of these seeds can scare away not only moths, but also mosquitoes, as well as snakes.

However, nigella has a number of contraindications; funds from such a flower should not be used:

pregnant women (especially in the later stages);
patients with active thrombophlebitis;
with cholelithiasis;
with ischemic heart disease;
with acute gastritis with high acidity.

Still, such funds should be completely excluded for people with transplanted organs. The fact is that they strengthen the immune system, and this can lead to rejection of the implanted organ.

Nigella damask is a plant of the Ranunculaceae family. The people called the flower nigella for its decorative appearance and coal-colored seeds. It is a distant relative of the buttercup flower. This plant is native to Southern Europe and North Africa. There are about twenty types of nigella, the most famous are Damascus and Spanish. In some countries, the plant is grown only for the purpose of obtaining valuable raw materials - seeds.

Main characteristics

Black cumin or nigella flowers (photo can be seen below) are excellent honey plants with a highly branched stem of a lilac hue and small openwork leaves of bright green color, similar to dill.
There are blue, white, red and blue flowers, which are formed from five identical sepals. There are also terry, their inflorescence consists of several layers of sepals. The plant reaches a height of 60-90 cm, and also grows in breadth, thanks to which you can create beautiful forms of shrubs by pruning. The plant blooms for about two months. Nigella fruits resemble a swollen or flattened box, which contains a huge amount of black seeds with a pleasant aroma and spicy taste.

Varieties

There are several types of nigella, which have their own characteristics:

Sowing. This variety is used to produce seeds with a spicy aroma for use in cooking, perfumery and medicine. The flowers of this species are medium-sized, the petals are white, yellow or pink. The leaves are very thin and resemble a lace fabric. The stem is long, without side shoots.
Spanish nigella flower. This species is found naturally in North Africa and southern Spain. The plant freely withstands cold, but prefers light and heat. The flowers are medium-sized, no more than 6 cm in diameter. Fully opened petals are bent down. Their color scheme is diverse, there are white, pink and crimson colors. On a tall stem are dissected leaves of a dark green hue.
Eastern. Distributed in Asia. The flowers are ugly, there are practically no petals on them, and a small number of those available are strongly bent down. Many long stamens are directed upwards. On a straight stem with lateral branched shoots, long, truncated leaves.

Nigella damask is commonly grown in gardens and flower beds. Its most popular varieties are as follows:

Baby blue is a nondescript plant with small faded flowers. The stems are low, curved, reaching a height of no more than 20 cm.
Nigella flowers Dwarf Moody Blue is a dwarf variety of Damascene Nigella. The leaves are smallish, truncated and, as it were, form a cloud, so another name is blue fog. The height of the stem is about 25 cm. Small blue or blue flowers.
Persian dzhuelz - variety mixture of Damascus nigella. Large flowers of white, red and pink color. Long green stamens are located in the very middle of the flower. The leaves are very thin, there are many of them and form a lacy air cloud on a low stem.
Miss Jekyll Rose. The flowers are very large and endowed with all shades of purple and red colors. Box with red seeds. The stem is straight, not more than 50 cm.
Cambridge blue is a beautiful plant with large bluish-blue flowers. On a high, about a meter in height, stalk are thin green lacy leaves. This species is most often used in landscape design.
Albina. This variety will be described in more detail later in the article.

Flower nigella Damascus (Albina): description

This variety is an annual herbaceous plant with a thin, smooth stem that does not have additional shoots, no more than 50 cm long. Very thin leaves of a rich green hue resemble a needle of a coniferous tree. Large flowers are mostly double, but there are also simple ones with multi-colored sepals: pink, white, blue, blue, which are pronounced. Large stamens. After flowering, they form a box with black long seeds. Flowering time - July-August.

Nigella flower: planting and care

Chernushka is easy to grow. There are a number of rules, adhering to which, it is possible to easily obtain luxurious shrubs. Choose a sunny site for planting. A place where shade prevails for most of the day is not suitable for the plant, the abundance of flowering will decrease. Alkaline soil is best, in rare cases with a neutral composition. You should choose fertile land with drainage capacity, and which will perfectly pass air.

Nigella Damascus flowers can be planted in the ground with seeds or seedlings. Seedlings are grown in peat cups or special tablets, otherwise it will be difficult to adapt the nigella after planting in a permanent place. Seeds are sown in mid-spring or before winter, and seedlings are recommended to be transplanted in early May. Before planting nigella in open ground, lime or dolomite flour is added to it. After planting, it begins to bloom in 25 days.

Watering

Nigella flowers (Albina variety and other varieties) have become quite popular because of the simplicity and speed of caring for the plant. The main rule to follow is balance in everything. For example, excess moisture and nutrients adversely affect the well-being of the plant. Abundant watering can cause the development of diseases. Water the plant should be regularly, moderately, avoid drought. At the same time, due to a lack of fertilizers and moisture, the plant blooms poorly and loses its attractiveness, and over time it can dry out.

top dressing

The nigella flower (Albina, a photo of which can be seen in the article, and other varieties) needs regular weeding and loosening of the soil, which is done very carefully, since these plants practically do not tolerate damage to the root system.

In addition, nigella does not tolerate mulching. Top dressing is recommended to be applied only once, at the beginning of flowering. Suitable complex mineral fertilizers. The flower does not tolerate fresh organic and nitrogen fertilizing well.

reproduction

To obtain seeds for the purpose of breeding nigella, do not wait for the full maturation of the boxes. They begin to cut the stems when about 1/3 of the flowers remain on the plant.
The cut parts of the plant are dried in a well-ventilated and dry room. Dried seeds have good germination for up to two years. Growing methods are as follows:

In open ground, seeds are planted in spring and late autumn. Seeds easily tolerate winter conditions. In early spring, emerging seedlings should be covered with plastic wrap to protect them from spring frosts. In April, the planting of seeds begins. In good sunny weather shoots appear quite quickly.
To obtain seedlings, seed material is planted in the first days of spring (late March or early April). Seeds are sown at a shallow depth, no more than 3 cm, and lightly sprinkled with earth. Seedlings appear after three weeks. Plants do not tolerate picking, so it is advisable to transplant them into ready-made soil cups, so that later they can be transplanted with them to a permanent place in the garden. The distance between plants should be at least 25 cm, and between rows about 40 cm.

The plant prefers soils with an alkaline pH. Nigel flowers at the roots should not be disturbed, as this will negatively affect growth and flowering.

Diseases and pests

Due to the presence of a spicy aroma, the plant is practically not visited by all kinds of pests. Very rarely, a flower is attacked by single spider mites. They can easily cope with insecticidal preparations, which should be sprayed on the plant.

The most common disease is powdery mildew, which affects the flower during rainy times. For treatment and prevention, a solution of a fungicidal agent is used.

Use in landscape design

Nigella is very actively planted in flower beds along with poppies, cornflowers, verbena, as it does not create difficulties during planting and care. Nigella flowers (photo below) can be used to create a Moorish lawn in order to fill the free space between perennials in flower beds.
In single plantings, flowers of different colors will look great, for example, ranging from pale blue to bright blue. And also looks good nigella with daisies. In addition, this plant is used to decorate country-style plots. It is better not to plant nigella near ground cover plants.

Areas of use

Nigella flowers are not only decoration for borders, flower beds, but also single plantings. Nigella has a variety of uses:

For the formation of bouquets. Flowers stay fresh for a long time.
To create dry compositions and winter bouquets.
The seeds of the plant repel insects, so they are used to protect clothing from moths.
Young nigella leaves are added to light snacks, such as salads.
The seeds are dried and widely used in cooking. In another way, they are also called zira. Due to their spicy taste, they are used in canning vegetables, added to pastries, used in the preparation of first and second courses. To improve the taste, zira should be lightly crushed and fried in oil, and then added to any dish. Store the seeds in a dry dark place in a tightly closed container.

The use of nigella in medicine

The healing properties of the oil made from the seeds of the plant are used to treat skin diseases, and as an adjuvant, it is prescribed in the treatment of cancer and diabetes. The oil is a natural biostimulant, and the absence of side effects increases its value. A decoction of seeds has been widely used for women's pain during menstruation, as well as in the treatment of gynecological pathologies. In addition, the seeds contribute to the production of milk, so the decoction is recommended for nursing mothers. As a symptomatic remedy, the decoction is useful for kidney stones, bronchial asthma and poor sleep. The tincture of the seeds is excellent for bronchial spasms and improves respiratory activity. Nigella in the form of an elixir is used as a choleretic and gastric remedy.

In Muslim countries, this plant is considered a panacea for all ailments and is called a universal medicine. Muslims use this flower to treat any disease.

The Damascus nigella flower, the photo that can be seen in the article, is an unpretentious plant that has good flowering. Its seeds can be used in cooking, as well as for the treatment of many diseases. By following the simple rules for the care and maintenance of nigella, you will ensure that it will delight you for many years.

Nigella, or as it is also called, Nigella conquers with its unpretentiousness. It is grown outdoors and is not afraid of light frosts. Delicate flowers appear soon after planting, while the care of the nigella is elementary.

Description of nigella and its varieties

Nigella is considered to be home to two continents at once - the southern part of Europe and Africa. It belongs to the famous buttercup family. About 20 species of this annual plant are known in nature, but only two of them are used in horticulture - Damascus And spanish nigella.

Damascus nigella

Nigella is a herbaceous bushy plant. The stems are strongly branched, erect, up to 50 cm high. The leaves are gray-green or pale green in color, needle-like. Outwardly, the leaves of nigella are similar to dill sprigs, the same openwork and torn. On the stem, the leaves are arranged alternately, and converge upwards. The upper leaves rise above the flower, as if covering it. The flowers are white, blue, yellow or pink. Nigella flowers can have a double or simple structure, and resemble stars in shape. The size of the flowers is average, up to 4 cm. The fruits are a swollen or flattened box.

Nigella blooms 40 days after sowing seeds. The flowering period is about one and a half months. Not afraid of light frosts.

The photo shows the most popular varieties of nigella, which delight with their beauty.

spanish nigella

Reproduction and planting nigella

Nigella propagates by seeds. For self-collection of seeds, matured boxes are cut along with the stems and dried. For cutting into seeds, a period is selected when more than half of all the bolls are already ripe. Dry the stems in the shade, tying them upside down. Coal-black seeds are extracted from the dried pods. In shape and color, nigella seeds are similar to onion seeds, which are also popularly called Nigella.

Nigella seeds are sown in open ground in May. Seedings are able to endure short-term small frosts, but for early shoots, it is better to cover the sown area with a film. It is recommended to keep a distance of at least 45 cm between rows of crops. If the seedlings are too thick, they are thinned out, leaving about 20 cm between plants.

Nigella seeds

You can grow nigella seedlings at home. For this, the seeds are sown in early March. After the appearance of several pairs of true leaves, the seedlings dive, placing each plant in a separate pot.

Advice. Nigella seeds germinate well in open ground. Shoots appear quickly and amicably. Therefore, growing seedlings at home is not justified.

Sometimes self-seeding of nigella seeds is possible. If the winter turned out to be warm and with heavy snowfalls, in the spring self-sown seeds will give friendly shoots.

When choosing a place to plant, it is worth remembering that nigella is a photophilous plant and does not tolerate shading. Nigella does not grow in acidic soils. Therefore, before planting nigella in acidified areas in the fall, it is worth liming.

Nigella Care

Nigella care is extremely simple and comes down to watering and weeding.

If the predecessors of this annual plant were flowers or vegetables that were generously fed with organic fertilizers, nigella does not need to be fed at all. But if the soil is very scarce, it is worth fertilizing nigella with mineral fertilizers for ornamental plants several times a season.

Nigella does not require special conditions: enough watering and loosening the soil

Like all ornamental flowering plants, nigella likes moderate regular watering. The plant reacts quickly to drought or flooding of the site and soon dies.

Weeding nigella must be carried out very carefully, as it does not tolerate damage to the roots. After watering or rain, the ground around the bushes is loosened to provide air access to the roots. It is important to remove weeds from the flower garden in time, preventing their rapid growth.

Advice. Loosening the soil around the nigella can be done with improvised means, such as a fork. So only the topmost layer of soil is loosened, and the roots remain intact.

In the garden, nigella is not affected by diseases. It is extremely rare that attacks on a spider mite flower are possible, which must be dealt with in time. Nigella has a strong spicy aroma, which is its main weapon in the fight against diseases and pests.

Advice. To prevent the invasion of the spider mite, planting nigella can be treated with potato infusion. To obtain an infusion, infuse 600-700 g of dry potato tops for several hours in 10 liters of warm water. If the tops are still green, its amount is increased by 2-3 times.

Nigella's place in landscape design

Looking at the photo, you immediately understand that nigella will become that spark that will light up the garden and transform it. Designers use nigella everywhere:

Nigella will fit perfectly into a flower bed of any style

in rockeries and "dry" gardens;
on alpine slides in combination with petunias and perennials;
as decorative borders;
on work, flower beds and flower beds, both in single and mixed plantings.

The tenderness and airiness of nigella flowers wins the hearts of phytographers and designers. Self-planting nigella of different shades of the same color is very popular. So the flower looks self-sufficient, gently shimmering with shades.

When creating a "rustic" style of landscape design, nigella becomes simply indispensable. In this style, nigella becomes a partner of perennials.

Nigella looks great in monoposadki

Nigella's neighbors in a flower bed can be cornflower, anemone, lobelia, verbena, petunia.

Important! Nigella does not tolerate the neighborhood with ground cover plants.

Nigella retains its decorative effect even after it has faded. Dried stems with seed pods are used to decorate dry bouquets, and as an addition to living ones.

Application of nigella

The value of nigella lies not only in its decorative effect. The spicy aroma and pungent taste of the seeds of this plant are widely used in cooking. It is worth noting that since ancient times, nigella has been grown primarily as a valuable spice, and only then as an ornamental plant. Nigella sprigs are added to salads and soups. Pounded seeds are added to dough and sauces.

Nigella is used in cooking and folk medicine

In folk medicine, nigella is known for its tonic and antidepressant properties. It improves vision and memory. Nigella seeds are used as a diuretic, anthelmintic and cholagogue. Recent studies by scientists have shown that nigella is a powerful immunostimulant and an antibiotic that is stronger than many known antibacterial agents.

It would seem that nigella landing and care is extremely simple, but what result can be achieved. The versatility of this plant will not leave indifferent even the most zealous skeptic, and the flowers grown on their site will delight with the airy tenderness of touching flowers.

Using nigella: video

Nigella: photo

Nigella is a genus of annual herbaceous plants belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. The people call this flower differently: “wild fennel”, “nutmeg flower”, “girl in green”, “Italian coriander”, “black cumin”, but more often “nigella” for coal-black seeds. All these names indicate not only the delicate beauty of the flower, but also the beneficial properties of the seeds, which have long been used in cooking, perfumery, and medicine.

About 25 species of nigella are known, distributed in North Africa, Western Asia and Europe. Of these, only 10-11 species are found in Eastern Europe. Flower growers mainly grow two types:

Nigella spanish (Nigella hispanica) - a rapidly growing plant with fragrant dark blue flowers, attracting flower growers with an abundance of bright stamens and a red ovary, which after flowering turns into a large fruit;
Nigella damask ( Nigella damascena) - a plant up to 35-45 cm high with unusual white, blue and sky-blue flowers surrounded by decorative pinnately dissected leaves.

JLPC

Application and beneficial properties of nigella

In medicine, the seeds and leaves of the plant are used. Young leaves contain many useful substances, so they are added to fresh salads. The seeds have a nutmeg smell and a peppery taste. These properties are mainly used in oriental cuisine.

In Turkey, bakery products are sprinkled with nigella instead of the well-known poppy. In Indian cuisine, seeds are widely used as seasonings. They give salads, fish, meat dishes a special piquant taste. Nigella is flavored with ice cream, tea, jelly, and is also used for home canning. Seeds are stored in a dry dark place in tightly closed porcelain or glass containers.

In eastern countries, nigella is called the “blessed seed” and they are sure that it will cure any disease, except, of course, death. Currently, this flower is considered an effective elixir for numerous diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

In addition, nigella is a very popular ornamental flowering garden plant, which is often used to decorate borders, flower beds, flower beds, Mauritanian lawns. The flower looks especially advantageous among flowering perennials and annuals (poppy, flax, cornflowers). Florists use the plant for cutting and creating exquisite dry bouquets.

Nigella: description

Nigella is a low (30-60 cm) plant with straight branched stems, gray-green leaves, very similar to dill leaves, only slightly denser, and rather large, solitary, simple or double flowers of blue, blue, white, rarely red color.

Mass flowering of nigella begins in July. Each flower blooms for about a week, and the flowering itself lasts 1-1.5 months.

wildfeuer

The fruit is a five-leaf with black seeds resembling onion seeds. Non-flowering nigella is also decorative. Its openwork lush greenery with bright seed boxes is ideal for forming winter bouquets.

Secrets of growing nigella

Nigella prefers an open, sunny location. It grows and blooms poorly in the shade. Does not tolerate neighborhood with ground cover plants. Not picky about the ground. Grows well on nutritious light soils. Mulching is best not to use, it negatively affects the development of the plant.

Watering nigella-chernushka should be moderate. She does not like excessive dampness, as well as long periods of drought. Feed the flower should be carefully, as it does not tolerate excess of any fertilizer. It is advisable to choose a site for planting the one on which flowers were previously grown, well fertilized with organic matter.

Nigella plant is cold-resistant and easily tolerates short-term spring frosts. It is rarely damaged by pests and practically does not get sick.

Nigella is an ideal plant for the garden, the care of which consists only in systematic watering and weeding.

Nigella reproduction

Nigella is propagated only by seeds, which are harvested at the time of ripening 2/3 of the boxes. The branches are cut, tied into small bundles and dried in a dry, well-ventilated area until the leaflets are fully opened. Seed germination persists for 3 years. Seeds can be sown in early spring directly in garden soil or in seedling boxes.

When sowing on a garden bed, the seeds of nigella are planted to a small (3-4 cm) depth, watered abundantly and covered with agrofiber until germination.

Rob Hille

Nigella seeds are sown for seedlings in March, planting to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. The first shoots hatch in a couple of weeks. Seedlings quickly gain strength and by May they can already be planted in garden soil with an interval of 15-20 cm. Young plants will bloom in 40 days.

Nigella is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the buttercup family. There are about two dozen species in the genus, but only two of them are grown: Spanish and Damascus.

Otherwise, this flower is called Chernushka, although the name is not particularly justified. Nigella, rather, can be associated with something tender, light, thin. In the photo, this plant resembles primroses - just as fragile and elegant. Flowers are often compared to small magical stars.

Nigella flowers have a diameter of 4 cm, and the color is blue, purple, yellow or white. Interestingly, even dried flowers are popular in floral design.

The plant reaches a height of 40 cm, its leaves have a gray-green tint and resemble dill branches (filamentous).

Planting a plant

The flower prefers open, sunny areas. Soils should be light, nutritious. If earlier flowers or other plants fertilized with organic means grew on this soil, this is an ideal option.

It is better not to plant nigella near ground cover plants.

The landing of the nigella occurs as follows:

A distance of 20 cm remains between the bushes, and between rows it will reach 45 cm.
In the hole at the bottom there must be drainage, covered with a handful of sand.
Next comes the actual planting and falling asleep with earth.

At the end, the place where the flower will grow should be irrigated with a light solution of potassium permanganate.
For several days, landing can be covered for the night, but this action is not strictly required.
Two months after sowing, the nigella blooms, it also blooms for about two months.

By the way, nigella is not always grown only in flower beds, it is often used as a spice plant. The collected seeds are stored in a dark place, in a porcelain container. Before use, they are crushed and slightly fried in vegetable oil. They are added to pastries or traditional Indian dishes.

plant care

Nigella is really unpretentious flower. In fact, he only needs regular moderate watering, constant weeding and loosening, rare feeding and prevention of pest attacks.

By the way, loosening should be careful so as not to affect the root system of the flower. That is, you can use a regular fork - a delicate tool.

Nigella is not particularly afraid of pests, the characteristic spicy smell repels them. But a spider mite can still infect a flower, so a two-stage treatment with infusion of potato tops will not be superfluous. You need to do it with an interval of 10 days. If you suddenly forgot about such top dressing, this does not mean that the tick will still hit the plant - there is a chance, but the smell of the flower is its best weapon.

Plant propagation

The seeds of nigella serve as the subject of reproduction of this plant. You need to collect them during the ripening period of two-thirds of the boxes. The twigs are cut, tied into small bundles and dried until leaflets open. Nigella seeds can remain viable for three years.

Nigella seeds in cooking (video)

Seeds are sown in early spring in ordinary garden soil or in seedling boxes.

Nigella: combination with other plants

In the photo you can see beautiful flower ensembles, one of the participants of which is nigella. No matter how good this flower is in single plantings, its combination with the following plants looks very beautiful and bright, and this:

cornflower;
petunia;
lobelia;
gypsophila;
anemone;
nivyanik;
verbena.

Incredibly beautiful floral ensembles are obtained if you use transitional colors of the same range, for example, lilac: from the palest to the most saturated. A photo of such a merger is striking in its captured natural beauty.

Nigella in landscape design

For designers, nigella is one of the favorite plants of its kind, and all thanks to its high decorativeness and unpretentiousness.

In dry gardens and rockeries, this flower will be appropriate.
It will decorate any flower bed, will not get lost even in a colorful flower arrangement, and in single plantings it will be a self-sufficient, bright, active flower.
Growing nigella along the curbs is popular: it turns out a bright and unobtrusive pattern, a light roadside frame.
Nigella on the Alpine hill also looks great, especially surrounded by petunias and cornflowers.
Touching stars of a flowering plant near artificial reservoirs and decorative fountains are also often used - and all because it is inherent in lightness, airiness, accuracy, and the colors of nigella are very bright and truly summer.

What a nigella doesn't like

First of all, on the eve of planting the plant, the gardener should know. The flower does not like:

abundance of moisture, lack of moisture (the reaction will be quick and pronounced, so regular moderate watering is required);
dense plantings (otherwise you will not have to know about violent flowering);
acidic soils;
high doses of nitrogen fertilizers;
shading.

But light frosts are not terrible for nigella, she tolerates them well.

Nigella in the garden (video)

A beautiful cute flower, both in the photo and in life is equally beautiful, can decorate both a modest flower bed and a bright alpine hill. Growing it is a pleasure, this plant will not require any special skills or frequent feeding. Damascus nigella has more and more fans due to the external simplicity and brightness of the plant, as well as its good compatibility with a number of other common flowers.

A plant that does not require special care and grows well in open soil. Almost immediately after planting, nigella pleases its owners with delicate inflorescences of pastel shades. The flower first appeared in Africa and southern Europe. Since that time, many varieties of this plant have become known, which are successfully grown all over the world. The most popular are the Spanish and Damascene varieties. The topic of this article is nigella: planting and care in open ground. From it you will learn how to grow this plant in your summer cottage.

Nigella: planting and care in the open field

How to plant nigella in open ground?

Nigella is a bush-shaped plant with stems that stand upright and have many branches. The bush itself can reach half a meter in height. The foliage of nigella resembles dill in its shape, has a shade of pale green. The inflorescence itself can be white - blue or pink, and in shape resemble stars with a terry petal structure. The flowers are small, up to four centimeters in diameter. Nigella even has fruits that are a bit like a flattened box.

In order to properly sow nigella in open ground, you need to follow a number of rules:

Seeds that can be collected independently are suitable for planting, by selecting black seeds from ripe black seed pods.
The best time for sowing nigella is considered to be May. Although this crop tolerates light spring frosts, it makes sense to cover the seedlings with a small piece of polyethylene.
Do not forget that nigella grows well in places well lit by the sun, so you should not plant it in the shade.
Nigella prefers neutral soil, but on acidic soil, it will grow rather poorly.
If the soil in the area is acidic in composition, it is imperative to fertilize it with lime before planting the seeds of nigella.
Seeds should be sown at a distance of twenty centimeters from each other, about forty centimeters of free space should be left between the rows.

Before planting in open ground, it makes sense to grow nigella seedlings. For this purpose, the seeds need to be planted in the ground as early as March. First, all the seeds must be placed in one pot, and after the leaves appear, it is necessary to plant them in different containers in order to give them space to grow and develop. But this method of cultivation is impractical, because the seeds of this plant germinate well in open ground.

Care for nigella - what is important not to forget?

Caring for a nigella is quite simple:

Watering should be moderate. This plant does not like excessive soil moisture, as well as regular. If the plant does not receive water for a long time, or, conversely, is flooded with water too much, it may die.
Weeding this culture must be done carefully enough to prevent damage to the root system. Be sure to loosen the soil after watering to ensure oxygen access to the roots.
In the event that the nigella is planted on the soil on which vegetables previously grew, which were fed in a timely manner with minerals, then it will produce good inflorescences and will not need additional feeding. In the event that the soil on which the nigella grows is rather poor in its mineral composition, it makes sense to carry out the process of applying fertilizers several times, which are created specifically for ornamental plants.

So nigella, landing and leaving in open ground behind which does not require much effort, will decorate any flower bed, making it tender and touching.

See also video: