Blue phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), also known as tansy, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the borage family (Boraginaceae). Her homeland is North America.
Phacelia grows up to 70-80 cm in height. The raised shoots are green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, covered with short hairs. Cutting the leaves strongly gives the plant a delicate appearance. Bell-shaped, purple or bluish-violet flowers form dense inflorescences at the tops of the shoots.The plant blooms for a long time (up to 5 weeks) and profusely. The fruit is a nut. The seeds retain their ability to germinate for 3-4 years.
Growing phacelia is of great importance in organic farming. Grown for green manure, it has a beneficial effect on the soil structure and its phytosanitary properties. It is also a valuable honey plant. Phacelia honey has a light yellowish color and a mild, pleasant aroma. It turns white after crystallization.
Contents:
The choice of the position depends on the purpose of phacelia sowing. If it will be used as a honey plant or decorative plant, choose a sunny place. In densely planted and shaded spots, the plant will stretch out and bloom less.
Phacelia does not have high requirements and grows well in any soil - clay, sandy, chernozem or peat. It is quite frost-resistant, tolerates drought and heat well. The root system is shallow and dislikes stagnant water. Therefore, it does not grow well in very wet areas. Rainy weather can significantly reduce and inhibit the germination of phacelia seeds. In sunny weather without rainfall, phacelia sprouts one week after sowing, in rainy weather - it lasts up to 10-14 days.
Phacelia is a good neighborhood for peas, beans and any legumes, sunflower and corn. Due to the fact that it is not related to any species of cultivated vegetables, it is a good companion and forecrop for all species. As a green fertilizer, it blends well with clover, and as a honey plant with alfalfa and buckwheat.
Phacelia seeds can be sown throughout the growing season.We start sowing right after the soil thaws. The minimum temperature for seed germination is + 3-4 ° C; optimal + 8-10 ° C. Sowing depth is 1-1.5 cm - deeper sowing reduces germination. Most often, phacelia is grown as a summer catch crop (sowing seeds at the turn of July and August) to be dug up in the fall.
If we want to use phacelia for green fertilizer in a vegetable garden, we can sow the seeds directly on the plots intended for growing vegetables. When the seedlings have grown a bit, you can make holes in the phacelia seedling carpet and plant a seedling of zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes or cabbage in them. For a week, the phacelia and the vegetables are grown together, with the phacelia protecting the vegetable seedlings from wind and sudden night-time temperature changes. After one week, when the vegetable seedlings are stronger, the phacelia can be cut and left in the beds between the vegetables as mulch and green fertilizer.
Phacelia, like other species sown for green manure, preserves moisture in the soil, prevents it from drying out, crusting, erosion and inhibits the growth of weeds. Importantly, phacelia is a minimally invasive and easy-to-control plant.
As a honey plant, phacelia should be sown three times per season: in early spring, 2-3 weeks after the first sowing and the third time after another 2-3 weeks from the last sowing. This way it blooms all summer long.
To suppress weeds, sow phacelia seeds at intervals of 25-30 cm. In the first two weeks of growth, only excess water or drought can harm seedlings.
If phacelia is sown for winter, calculate the sowing date so that the seeds do not have time to germinate before frost.
Phacelia is believed to produce phytoncides that inhibit the development of pathogenic microflora that causes fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. It is worth sowing phacelia both between vegetable beds and under fruit trees exposed to this dangerous disease.
Apart from useful bees, phacelia also attracts predatory species of insects, such as golden-eyed insects, which are natural enemies of aphids. The larvae of these useful insects also feed on bedbugs, whiteflies, spider mites and other plant pests.