Chrysanthemum Antonov
Autumn flowers are like the farewell summer greetings. Bright, beautiful, they amaze with a riot of colors and a variety of species. Chrysanthemum is considered to be one of the most popular ornamental plants blooming in autumn. The varieties that give large snow-white inflorescences are especially effective. This category includes the Antonov variety, which will be discussed later.
Creation history and description
The delicate Antonov flower belongs to the group of single-headed chrysanthemums. He was born in the middle of the nineteenth century thanks to the efforts of European breeders. Today, this variety of varietal crops is actively cultivated in the Netherlands.
This plant is called single-headed for a reason. Each stem of Antonov bears one magnificent flower: snow-white, lush, in the shape of a hemisphere. The maximum diameter of this natural miracle is 15 cm. The double flower is assembled from delicate, thin, but at the same time dense petals and has a greenish-yellowish center. The shoot, on which a white flower “cap” is formed, is strong, long (up to 90 cm in height), fleshy and very durable. It is prone to branching and is covered with leaves that are emerald in color, carved in shape and glossy shine. The colorful variety is also incredibly fragrant, which is generally unusual for chrysanthemums. The delicate fragrance of a luxurious white-haired beauty leaves no one indifferent. It is interesting that inhaling a wonderful smell is not only pleasant, but also useful: the plant releases essential oils into the air, which strengthen the nervous and immune systems when they enter the body.
Antonov has several flavors. Flower growers especially loved the following:
- Antonov Rainbow - strikes the observer with its rainbow color, which seems simply unreal.
- A. milka is famous for the presence on a high stem of a large single flower with long reed petals, most of which are white, and those in the middle are yellow with a greenish tint.
- A. satin - has single inflorescences, whose petals can be colored pink, lilac, purple, lemon or lime shade.
Chrysanthemum bloom begins only in August and lasts until November. However, if you grow the variety indoors and use additional artificial lighting, you can really make it give lush inflorescences up to three times a year. Antonov is a fairly winter-hardy plant, but it still needs shelter when cultivated in the northern regions.
Agrotechnical features
A culture with a truly royal appearance is recommended to be placed in an area where there is a lot of sunshine throughout the day. Partial shade and, especially, the shade negatively affect the growth, development and, most importantly, the flowering of an ornamental bush, delaying the appearance of flowers on it. The soil in which you are going to plant the chrysanthemum must be fertile. It is imperative to add compost and mineral fertilizers to the hole. Leave a distance of up to 60 cm between plants. The ideal time for planting is spring.
Moisten the soil under the flower 2-3 times a week. They take soft water for this. In addition to watering, weeding and loosening of the soil are regularly carried out. This also applies to dressings. Organic and mineral fertilizers are alternately applied to the soil under the Antonov bush. After watering, the land is mulched several times per season with dry grass or peat.
Chrysanthemum is susceptible to attacks by leaf nematodes and spider mites. Powdery mildew, gray mold and verticillosis may well arise from diseases on it. To protect the beauty from the appearance of these troubles, the distance between the crops should be observed, as well as preventive treatment with Bordeaux liquid and fungicide solution should be carried out.
Use cases
Attractive hybrid Antonov will become a royal decoration of the garden, flower garden, front garden. It will look great on flower beds. Antonov is also used for cutting, because in water shoots with flowers can stand up to 20 days in a row, retaining the original freshness and elasticity of the petals. They make luxurious bouquets and other floristic compositions.
the flower is gorgeous! where can you buy seedlings?