Tsar's crown planting and care in the open field in the fall

The people call the royal crown decorative culture "inverted lilies" or "palm trees with bells". Among gardeners, the flower is called imperial hazel grouse. This plant has been a decoration of gardens since ancient times and today it can be seen in many summer cottages. With the arrival of spring, multi-colored red, yellow, orange lights decorate the backyards. Flower lovers are worried about the question of how to plant and care for a plant so that it pleases with its flowering?

To understand why the flower has such a name, it is worth getting acquainted with the biological and agrotechnical characteristics of the cultivation of the imperial hazel grouse.

In 1570, the name Coronaimperialis took place in botanical literature. According to the shape of the highly raised leaves, which resembled a crown, the flower may have given its name to the imperial crown. Translated from Latin - the royal crown. At the base of the flowers of the ornamental culture, drops of nectar appear and in European countries it is known as Mary's tears. In Britain, the flower is known as a widow's veil or dull tulips. The Tsar's crown in Russia is sometimes called the tree of paradise, but more often - hazel grouse, since the type of flower resembles a bird from the grouse family.

Legend of the flower.

Often more unusual plants are associated with legends that tell of their extravagant appearance. European countries have preserved the legend of the "royal crown" flower. It says that at the time when Jesus Christ was taken into custody in the Garden of Gethsemane after the betrayal of Judas, this plant grew there with soft blue bells directed to the sky. After the Lord went to pray without disciples, all the flowers surrounding him bowed their heads to the ground. Only the royal crown remained straight and proudly. When the Savior was arrested, he looked at this plant with such a sad look that the fritillaria felt ashamed. She turned purple and lowered her flowers to the ground, and from that moment she no longer lifts them.

Botanical description.

The royal crown flower belongs to the Liliaceae family and to the Fritillary genus. The plant can be seen in the Mediterranean, Central and Asia Minor, in the Afghan and Iranian highlands. Loves places where dry hot summers and humid springs prevail. The imperial hazel grouse has a bulbous root system and is a perennial crop. Its height reaches one and a half meters. A large onion consists of fleshy scales that have grown together. In the sinuses of some of them there are buds, developing, they turn into new bulbs. In the spring, a stem grows from them with elongated lanceolate or narrow-linear leaves. They are 20 cm long and 10 cm wide.

In the middle lane, the royal crown blooms in early May. At this time, its height is one meter or more. By early summer, flowering stops. The aboveground part of the plant dries up, and the root part "falls asleep" in order to wake up in autumn and grow roots for the next season. Then the flower falls asleep again. In this state, he will stay all winter.

Flowering plant.

Depending on the variety, the flower is endowed with different shades. Its petals can be yellow, orange, brown-red. The inflorescence usually consists of 6 bells, which are facing downward. Their length is 10 cm, and their width is 5. To date, varieties of a flower have been bred that have a two-row arrangement of buds. Orange and red-brown petals at the base from the outside, as well as along the midrib have burgundy "strokes". After the flowers open, it takes several days, and they diverge to the sides. In June, the flower turns into hexagonal fruits, the size of which is the same as that of flowers. Inside the capsules there are seeds that do not crumble even when ripe, since the capsules are directed upwards.

Planting material.

If someone you know grows fritillaria, he will definitely share the seeds of the plant. However, if this is not possible, flower bulbs can be bought at the store, as well as at breeding stations and flower exhibitions. However, before purchasing the royal crown, it is worth considering some points:

- do not try to buy bulbs of new varieties that are more expensive than usual ones, as you will end up with a classic imperial hazel grouse of yellow or orange color;

- you should be aware that plant bulbs can be of different sizes. You need to purchase at least 4 cm in diameter. Otherwise, they can ripen for several years, which means that flowering may not be seen for a long time. If you want to see the flowering of the culture in the very first year, you need to plant bulbs with a diameter of more than 6 cm;

- if you notice a hole in the center of the bulb, do not worry. This is not a defect, but simply the place of last year's peduncle;

- the peculiar specific smell of the bulb should not alert anyone. Thanks to him, the flower scares away rodents.

How to prepare a place?

Having purchased planting material, you need a suitable place where you can place a flower. The imperial hazel grouse does not require special costs, time and much care. The flower will grow in partial shade and in the sun. However, you should protect it from drafts. It is better if the soil is loose and fertile. The culture does not tolerate waterlogging. If the soil is heavy, good drainage will be needed. Experienced gardeners, in order to improve and loosen heavy soil, add rotted compost and river sand to the earthen composition. For each m2, you will need 10 or more additives.

Planting and caring for flowers.

In the middle lane, the bulbs of the royal crown are planted immediately after purchase in the store in September and October. If you have your own material or acquaintances gave it to you, the plant is placed in the soil after the formation of new roots in it. Before planting, the bulbs are placed in a manganese solution or treated with phytospirin. New roots are sprinkled with crushed charcoal or a stimulant for the formation of the root system. Adult bulbs, the diameter of which is 6 cm or more, are planted to a depth of 30 cm.For the rest, holes are made no more than 20 cm.Very small bulbs are placed in holes up to 10 cm.The optimal distance between plants is 30 cm.The plantings are covered with foliage or mulched. and leave to winter.

Planting a flower with seeds.

The royal crown plant is planted not only with bulbs. It can be grown using seeds. However, this method is more time consuming. Having planted a crop from seeds, flowering can be seen no earlier than 6 years later.Seed material of imperial hazel grouse is sown in an open place immediately after harvest. For this, furrows are made 10 cm wide and the seeds are placed 1 cm deep. Between the rows it is also necessary to leave a distance of 10-15 cm. With proper planting, seedlings can be seen next year with the onset of spring. Every year, seedlings will need to be fertilized with complex additives. When the plant is 2 years old, it will need to be dug up and dried every year.

Correct care.

The imperial hazel grouse is not picky and does not require special care. However, you need to know that the flower is able to develop rapidly in a short time. In order for fritillaria to please with its flowering every season, it is fertilized. The plant will accept any supplements other than concentrated foliar supplements. They can cause burns on the foliage. If you are not going to propagate the culture with seeds, then after the petals fall off, and the fruit pods begin to tie, they are removed. Then the bulb will get more nutrients. Growing the royal crown in the middle lane, it is better to cover it during the winter using pine or spruce branches, straw, reeds. The layer should be 30 cm or more. Plants are covered before winter, when the temperature drops to minus marks. You need to remove the shelter in early spring. If you follow the rules, then after the stem turns yellow, the royal crown is dug up every year. Although many growers are of the opinion that this procedure should be done every 4 years.

Like any other flower, the imperial hazel grouse requires special care. It is important to know the rules of planting, care and other nuances. Another name for this beautiful flower is the Tsar's crown. Although the names are very proud, nevertheless, the flower is unpretentious.

The imperial hazel grouse flower can be grown outdoors. The plant is bulbous, which means that you need to choose the right bulb for planting. The gardener himself chooses when to plant the bulb: in early spring or autumn, both types of planting are practiced.

Outwardly, it can be assumed that the "royal crown" flowers belong to the lily family. The large flowers are very similar to orange bells. Flowers always grow on long stems. The height of the flower stems of the royal crown can reach one and a half meters.

As soon as spring comes, hazel grouses are among the first to bloom in the open field. A rocky garden or alpine slide will always be decorated with these flowers. Even apart from other flowers, imperial hazel grouses look amazing.

Why does the imperial hazel grouse not bloom?

Also read: do-it-yourself flower bed in the country for beginners

At the beginning of summer, you can harvest hazel grouse bulbs for planting for the new year; you can dig up the bulbs after the hazel grouse have faded. As usual, the bulb should be inspected for damage. Planting material is processed with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is noteworthy that the mass of the bulb can reach up to one kilogram.

Only bulbs that do not have roots are suitable for planting in the ground. You can choose any sort of hazel grouse for your garden. Of course, when buying, you may not know the color of the future plant. But then, in the spring, it will be a real surprise.

When to dig up the bulbs of the royal crown

In the summer, after the flower has faded, you can dig up the bulb and cook it for the new season. This is usually done at the end of June. It is important to prevent root rotting.

Tsar's crown (hazel grouse) flower cultivation

Preparation for planting and disembarkation in the open ground of hazel grouse

Before planting the bulbs, you need to prepare a hole in two weeks. The pit is 30 centimeters deep and approximately 40 centimeters wide. The distance between the two holes should be 25 centimeters. Sand is laid out at the bottom, a peg is stuck. Then an onion is placed near the peg. Sprinkle the planting material with earth and fertilize it with compost.

After planting, the plant must be fertilized and watered, even in autumn. Watering is carried out until frost. The plant is frost resistant. To further protect the plant, you need to cover it with foliage.

The plant needs moisture and a lot of sun. The plant can grow anywhere.

Imperial hazel grouse: flowering photo

Flowers of the imperial hazel grouse, photo

Flowers "royal crown", flowering photo

It is enough just to follow the simple rules of planting in open ground, which we talked about today, and your flower beds will always be decorated with the flowering of imperial hazel grouses.

In the early spring months, amazing plants bloom in the gardens, similar to small trees. Large flowers of an unusual shape, collected in whorls, bloom at the tops. They resemble bells, painted in ruby ​​or sunny shades, as well as in the colors of the outgoing sunset that floods the evening sky. Above the flowers are elongated leaves of a rich green color. They are arranged in such a way that their collection resembles a royal crown. For this characteristic feature among the people, the flower received the name of the same name.

The imperial hazel grouse belongs to perennial bulbous plants and is the largest and most powerful species. The flower is very popular, many growers grow it in their summer cottages.... The hazel grouse is valued for its unpretentiousness in planting and maintenance, and for its excellent decorative properties. The "Tsar's crown" is planted as part of flower arrangements, is used in landscape design and is used to decorate luxurious flower beds.

Growing and caring

In our country, the majestic plant has been cultivated since the sixteenth century! People have long chosen the "cheerful" flower, which is now actively grown in many gardens. Caring for the imperial hazel grouse is considered quite unpretentious, although some complain that the process of digging out and storing the bulbs takes a lot of time and effort.

Choosing a material for planting

Imperial hazel grouse bulbs are prepared at the beginning of the summer months. To check the quality of the planting material, you need to know what the bulb looks like. It looks like a slightly flattened ball with a hole in the center that goes right through. Such a ball can weigh a whole kilogram!

How do you know how suitable the material is for growing the "royal crown"?

A suitable bulb for planting must be completely healthy. Take the ball in your hands and examine it carefully. The surface should be free of mold and rot. Soft spots, cracks and damage make the bulb unusable. But if you notice roots, you should not write off this material: the presence of roots is allowed. A dried shoot from last year should not be removed.

IMPORTANT! When buying bulbs, pay attention to the illustration on the packaging. If the imperial hazel grouse is depicted in purple, blue or pink, then this is probably a deception. Put this product back on the shelf. There are no hazel grouses of this color, the shades vary from red to orange-yellow.

How to plant imperial hazel grouse?

If you have your own imperial hazel grouse bulbs, plant them at the end of August, after the development of new roots. Place purchased planting material in the ground in the same period, shortly after purchase. It can be planted in early September, but this deadline is already deadline. Read more below.

How to plant an onion correctly?

So, you are already the proud owner of imperial hazel grouse bulbs suitable for planting. Now you need to learn everything about the correct planting so as not to harm the future "king of the garden". We begin preparing for planting in two weeks.

Growing from seeds

Grouse imperial can be grown from seeds. We collect the seed from the dried seed pods.We sow seeds in open ground in the same year, at the beginning of October. For future "fire bells" we select loose soil. It must be fertilized and moisturized. Do not forget to make a high-quality drainage system, especially if the soil in your area is swampy.

For the seeds, prepare pits that are eight to ten centimeters deep. From above, future plants are covered with mulch using humus or peat. If the small seeds survive the winter well, they will sprout small sprouts in the spring.

ATTENTION! Do not confuse the shoots of imperial hazel grouse with ordinary grass - they are very similar! Therefore, always remember exactly where your bulbs or seeds are planted.

Reproduction of a hazel grouse flower by sowing seeds is not popular with gardeners. Plants grown in this way begin to bloom only after seven to eight years! Agree, almost no one wants to wait so long.

Spring planting flowers

Planting the imperial hazel grouse in the open ground in the spring is also possible. How it's done? During the first two weeks of March, we plant the bulbs in large containers and keep them indoors. After the last frost, the sprouted bulbs with a strong stem are transferred to open ground.

You can find out which spring flowers bloom before everyone else here!

Choosing a landing site

At the initial stage, we choose a place in the garden where the "fire bell" will grow. It is advisable to find a site with light penumbra, so that later you do not wonder why the imperial hazel grouse did not bloom. In such a place, the plant will be provided with warmth and protected from the cold northern winds that blow through.

Tsarskaya Korona prefers loose and fertile soils rich in humus. If you do not have the opportunity to find just such a site, because the land is heavy in the country, be sure to equip a high-quality drainage system... Strong waterlogging has a detrimental effect on the plant. The drainage will protect the flora treasure from moisture. If this condition is neglected, you can not wait for the appearance of bright flower lights. Choose a location where groundwater and surface water do not stagnate.

The soil can be made looser by adding coarse river sand or humus, which serves as an excellent top dressing. For each square meter we add twelve kilograms of humus.

In the selected area, we dig holes to a depth of thirty centimeters. The hole should be about forty by forty centimeters in size. For small bulbs, prepare shallower pits - fifteen to twenty centimeters. We place the children at a depth of eight to ten centimeters.

REFERENCE! The following rule will help determine the final size of the hole: the hole should be three times larger than the bulb itself. Remember this principle, then you can never go wrong.

If you decide to make an imperial flower arrangement from a hazel grouse, then leave twenty-five to thirty centimeters of earth between the recesses. This is necessary for the comfortable development of the bulb and the provision of quality plant care. Prepared holes wait for planting for two weeks.

After the specified time has elapsed, pour some sand into the hole, forming a hill. We stick a stick in the center, around which we place the bulbs. We fertilize the soil, which was previously dug from the hole, with horn shavings or compost.

After we have placed the "king of the garden" bulbs in the sand, cover them with fertilized soil. Then we water the planting. Voila: the plant is planted, and when the time comes, dozens of orange-red lights will light up in the garden.

Take a note:

• Bulbs must be placed in the ground straight without tilting.
• The roots can be shortened slightly.
• If planted late, then strongly grown roots are left and carefully laid out at the bottom of the hole.

Planting and care in the open field

The bulb needs attention and care after planting.During the autumn with a little rain, the plant is independently watered until the winter cold begins. "Fire bell" tolerates winter frosts well, but it is advised to cover it before winter. For this purpose, use mulch (spruce branches, reeds, dry leaves, reeds, straw) or other materials such as agrofibre or film.

As a mulch, a material is taken that is not prone to caking and is air-permeable. How thick should the shelter be? The material is laid out with a layer of at least thirty centimeters.

During growth and development, the plant is watered. In dry seasons, special attention is paid to this process. The soil is carefully loosened, trying not to damage the roots, which come close to the surface of the earth in spring.

Each plant spends a lot of effort to leave behind offspring. So does the imperial hazel grouse: he takes care of the seed pods containing precious seeds, giving all his strength. If you are not going to get seeds from your hazel grouse, immediately after the petals fall off, remove the ovaries from the plant so that it saves resources... This will help the bulb: it will receive more nutrition and form stronger and healthier. This means that next year a powerful and beautiful "fire bell" will grow on your site.

Spring care or why hazel grouse does not bloom

With the arrival of spring, a reasonable question arises - how to care for the imperial hazel grouse, which begins to develop rapidly. An early flower starts growing immediately after the last snow cover disappears. At this time, the cover material is removed, which protected the plant from the winter cold. The plant is not harmed by the last frosty days, it tolerates temperatures up to minus five degrees.

If the sprouted hazel grouses are not opened in time, they will not begin to receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. Be sure to fulfill this condition, because everyone knows that light is a vital component necessary for the development of plants.... The covering material is removed carefully, trying not to damage the young sprouts and not touching the soil. "Tsar's crown" grows very quickly: after a couple of weeks, a stem stands on the site, ready to bloom.

Top dressing

The imperial hazel grouse needs proper feeding, only then will it dissolve the "royal" flowers. We feed the plant for the first time after the winter frosts leave, when spring has completely come into its own.... We mix a special solution, consisting of ten liters of humus, filled with water, to which we add one tablespoon of nitrophosphate and complex fertilizer for flowering crops. The resulting mixture is evenly applied to the ground.

The next time you fertilize should be after the beginning of flowering. You can use fertilizers containing potassium, and we also recommend feeding with wood ash. It crumbles in a small layer. The last time the fertilizer is applied is after the end of the flowering period. This will ensure you have healthy bulbs for the next season. The final dressing consists of potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

IMPORTANT! Before feeding the imperial hazel grouse in the spring, remember that you should not use foliar dressing: they provoke burns on the leaves.

When to dig up the bulbs

It is very profitable to have your own planting material, since the bulbs sold in specialized stores are not cheap. Prepare their material around the end of the first summer month. Towards the beginning of July, the beauty of hazel grouses withers and they stop growing. A period of bulbs digging begins.

We do not advise to hesitate with this procedure, because they can be destroyed by parasites.... During this time, they fall into a dormant period and become especially vulnerable. The bulbs must be dug up before the twentieth of August.

So what to do with the excavated planting material? The bulbs removed from the ground are carefully freed from the dried films and washed under a stream of warm running water. Then they are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for thirty minutes, after which they are sprinkled with wood ash. The bulbs are dried by placing them in a warm and dry room. Further storage is of great importance. Be sure to store the bulbs correctly, otherwise they will dry out or mold and damage the product.

The bulbs are stored in a dry place with good ventilation. Choose a room with a temperature not higher than thirty degrees, where good ventilation will be organized. Inspect the planting material periodically to take timely action if rot or mold is found. It is best to check the storage area every week.... We do not recommend discarding rotten bulbs right away: they can be saved.

We take a sharp knife, calcine and use it to cut out the damaged areas, and then sprinkle the cut points with fungicide. The bulbs are stored for a couple of months: from June to August.

Care for hazel grouses after flowering

The end of the first summer month came and the burning "fire bells" began to go out. The wilting of flowers is a sad sight, but there is no need to despair, because in a year the same bulbs will again light up the bright lanterns in your garden. If you want to give a plant a second life, provide it with proper care after flowering.

When the garden flower hazel grouse withers, flowers and stems dry up, gardeners carry out pruning. At the base of the plant, a piece of the stem is left five centimeters long.

Transfer

Experienced gardeners know when to transplant imperial hazel grouse and that a timely transplant is good for him. From the new soil, the plant receives a new portion of nutrients, taking everything from the ground to the maximum. The bulbs are dug out of the ground annually, but they are not looking for a new place for the imperial hazel grouse every year..

If you initially found a good place to grow the "royal crown", then you can leave it in the same place for another year or two. After this period of time, they are looking for another place for transplanting the imperial hazel grouse, observing the principles of crop rotation.

It is not for nothing that the imperial hazel grouse received such a name: the “fire bell” is truly a royal flower. It burns with bright lights in the middle of alpine hills, flower beds and flower beds. Grouse decorates flower arrangements that delight our eyes. The "royal crown" looks especially beautiful in combination with tulips and daffodils. Orange-red flowers will be the highlight of your garden landscaping!

Gardeners love the plant for its unpretentiousness and high decorative effect. Plant a majestic imperial flower in your garden!

Useful video

Some useful information to think about:

Most of our gardeners believe that the Tsar's crown flower, which is also called the imperial hazel grouse, so popular and growing in almost every summer cottage, has been decorating Russian gardens for a long time. The plant is really popular, and in the spring in the sun you can often see yellow, red and orange "palm trees with bells" or "inverted lilies" as this flower is popularly called. Despite this, many gardeners are asking questions about whether they planted the royal crown flower correctly, why it does not bloom, how to care for and water it, what and when to feed it. We will try to tell you more about this beautiful plant and the features of its planting and growing.

Why was it called that?

Before considering the biological and agrotechnical features of growing the imperial hazel grouse, let's figure out its names.For the first time in botanical literature, this plant is mentioned in 1570 under the name Corona imperialis (imperial crown) because of the upper, highly raised leaves, resembling a crown in shape, crowning bright bells. In Latin, the flower of the royal crown, the photo of which you see below, is called "fritillaria", which means "a cup for dice" or "chessboard". Similar names are associated with both color and shape of flowers in the form of inverted lilies. In most European countries, this plant is known as Mary's Tears, as large drops of nectar protrude at the base of its flowers. But the British call it dull tulips or a widow's veil. In Russia, the royal crown flower was sometimes called the tree of paradise, but most people know this plant as a hazel grouse because of its resemblance to this bird of the grouse family.

A flower in a legend

Plants that are unusual for any reason, including fritillaria, are usually surrounded by legends and traditions that explain their extravagant and unusual appearance. In European countries, a legend is spread about why the royal crown (flower) "looks" with its bells to the ground. According to her, this plant was in the Garden of Gethsemane during the arrest of Jesus Christ after the betrayal of Judas, while its bells were snow-white and rushed to the sky. When the Savior, leaving his disciples, went alone to pray, all the flowers around him bowed their heads to the ground itself, but only the royal crown remained standing straight and proudly. When Christ was taken into custody, his gaze fell on this plant. His gaze was filled with such sadness and sadness that the fritillaria could not stand it and, bowing its flowers, “overflowed” with shame. Since then, her bells are directed downward and are colored red.

Botanical description

Having dealt with the names and legend about the imperial hazel grouse, let's consider its biological features. It belongs to the Liliacea family, the Fritillaria genus. In natural conditions, the imperial hazel grouse grows in Asia Minor and Central Asia, the Mediterranean, in the Iranian and Afghan mountains and foothills. Prefers areas with good spring moisture and hot dry summers.

The royal crown flower is a perennial bulbous plant that can grow up to 1.5 meters. Its bulb is large and consists of several fused fleshy scales. Some of them carry buds in their sinuses, which, under favorable conditions, can develop into new baby bulbs. An aerial part grows from the bulb in the spring - a stem, with narrow-linear or elongated-lanceolate leaves up to 10 cm wide and up to 20 cm long. In the middle zone, by the beginning of May, under favorable weather conditions, the imperial hazel grouse grows up to 1-1.5 meters and blooms ... After flowering in May, at the very beginning of summer, the aerial part of this flower dries up, and the bulb "falls asleep". In late summer - early autumn, the bulb "wakes up", begins to grow roots and forms a shoot for the next year, after which it "falls asleep" again for the whole winter.

Flowering features

The color of the petals of hazel grouse, depending on the variety, can be orange, yellow, brownish-red. As a rule, there are six downward-facing bells in the inflorescence, the diameter of which can reach 10, and the length is 5 cm. Now there are varieties in which the buds are arranged not in one, but in two rows. Petals of orange and reddish-brown flowers along the midrib, as well as outside at the base, quite often have small "strokes" of a rich burgundy color. A few days after opening, the flowers begin to diverge to the sides. In the first summer month, the royal crown (flower) forms six-sided fruits, similar in size to flowers, - boxes filled with seeds.As the seed pods ripen, they crack, but the seeds do not crumble, as the fruits are directed upwards.

We buy planting material

If no one grows fritillaria among neighbors and friends, then buying the bulbs of this perennial will not be difficult. Today they are sold at a variety of flower exhibitions, specialized breeding stations, garden centers and shops. But before you buy your favorite variety, remember the following nuances:

1. Don't overpay for new and fantastically colored bulbs. The price is several times higher than that of the classic varieties, and as a result, an imperial hazel grouse of orange or yellow color will grow.
2. It is important to remember that the royal crown flower, the photo of which you see, can form bulbs of different sizes. But it's not worth buying those that are less than 4 cm in diameter, since ripening in our conditions can last for a long time, you simply will not see flowering in the next few years.
3. In the first year after planting, only planting material blooms, the diameter of which exceeds 6 cm; in all other cases, it will take several years to grow.
4. Many gardeners are confused by the hole in the center of the bulb. However, this is not a defect or a marriage, but a place from which last year's peduncle grew.
5. A rather sharp and specific smell emanating from the bulb is a normal phenomenon, as the plant protects itself from rodents.

Preparing a place

The planting material has been purchased, you need to choose a place where to plant it correctly so that the plant develops well and pleases with its flowering every year. In fact, "Tsarskaya Korona" is a flower, the cultivation of which will not bring many problems and special expenditures of time and effort. For the imperial hazel grouse, a place is suitable both in the sun and in partial shade, warm and protected from drafts. It is desirable that the soil is fertile and loose. If the site has heavy soils, then good drainage is necessary, since this plant does not tolerate excessive waterlogging. Experts recommend using river sand and rotted compost to loosen and improve heavy soils at the rate of 10-15 kg per square meter.

Flowers "Tsar's crown": planting and care

In the conditions of the middle lane, fritillaria bulbs are planted in September-October, immediately after purchase in the store. If you have your own planting material or obtained from other gardeners, then after new roots begin to form. Before planting the bulbs, it is advisable to treat with a solution of phytosporin or potassium permanganate. You can also sprinkle new roots with a root stimulant or crushed charcoal. It is very important to plant the bulbs deep enough:

• adults with a diameter of more than 6 cm - from 25 to 30 cm;
• those requiring growing - 15–20 cm;
• small children - 5-10 cm, depending on the size.

The distance between plantings should be at least 20, and preferably all 30 cm. All plantings should be mulched or covered with foliage on the eve of winter.

Planting seeds?

In addition to propagation by baby bulbs, it is possible to grow a flower from the "Tsar's Crown" seeds. Growing it in this way is quite long, the plants obtained in this way will bloom in six to seven years. The seeds of the imperial hazel grouse are recommended to be sown into the ground immediately after harvest, deepening them by one cm, into furrows about 10 cm wide, maintaining the same distance between the rows. If everything was done correctly, seedlings will appear next spring. Seedlings should be fed annually with complex fertilizers. From the age of two, the bulbs must be dug up annually and dried thoroughly.

How to take care of it properly?

Flower "Tsar's crown" does not require special care. It should only be remembered that this plant develops very quickly in a fairly short period of time; for a beautiful annual flowering of fritillaria, it must be fertilized. Almost any dressing is suitable for this flower, with the exception of concentrated foliar, which can cause foliage burns. If you do not plan to seed propagation of this plant, then immediately after the petals fall and the fruit-boxes are set, they should be removed so that the bulb accumulates nutrients.

In the middle lane, imperial hazel grouses are still better sheltered for the winter. For this, straw, spruce or pine spruce branches, reeds, laid in a layer of at least 30 cm, are suitable. Plants can only be sheltered after the onset of stable negative temperatures. In early spring, the shelter is removed.

By all the rules, the royal crown after the yellowing of the stem must be dug up annually. But the experience of many flower growers shows that plants do not particularly suffer from digging up every three to four years. This deviation from the rules does not affect the height of the plant and the quality of its flowering.