This refined yearly has delicate - look flowers but is very easy to grow .
Also called sexual love - in - a - mist , nigella is anannual flowernative to Europe . It has soft , airy leaf that frame its multilayered , indulgent naughty efflorescence . The flowers die off quickly but after the flower petal drop , the industrial plant still looks attractive thanks to its long - endure seed cod , which resemble tiny fairy lantern . Nigella act upon especially well in a bungalow garden design , where , if allow to reseed itself , it helps meet open spots .
From starting nigella from semen to pop varieties , here is what you need to know about this easy - to - grow flower .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Where to Plant Nigella
prefer a location in full Sunday with well - drained soil that is slightly acidic .
Mix nigella with other annuals in an loose cottage garden design or add it to a slashed flower garden with other bloom intended for dry out , such asstrawflowers , knight bachelor button , bells of Ireland , andglobe amaranth .
The plant is also used for edge or in aggregated plantings . single plant radiate as fillers in window boxes or containers .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
How and When to Plant Nigella
Because of its tenacious taproot , nigella does not transplant well and should be seeded like a shot in delicately textured soil in the garden , or in pots where it stay for its entire lifecycle .
In early spring , as soon as the priming coat is soft enough to be worked , sow the seeds . In meek climates , you could alsosow the seed in the fall for a spring bloom of youth . Sow seeds 2 to 3 column inch apart and cover thinly , as light is ask for germination . For an informal bungalow garden planting , programme seeds in a garden bed .
Germination takes 10 to 14 days at a temperature between 60 ° and 65 ° F . Thin young seedling to 4 to 5 inch apart before they get too crowded .
Credit: Nancy Rotenberg
Although the bloom period of nigella endure only a few weeks , successive plantings every three week insure a uninterrupted flush throughout the summer .
Nigella Care Tips
sexual love - in - a - mist is very easy to rise . Water nigella during ironical trance , fertilize it regularly , and deadhead faded blooms .
Light
Nigella needsfull sunto thrive , at least six to eight hour of sunlight daily .
Soil and Water
Nigella does not have specific soil requirements and does fine in average dirt with good drain . Theideal pHis between 6.0 to 7.0 . The plant tolerates ironic conditions but does best with about 1 inch of water weekly ; water system consequently in the absence of rainfall .
Temperature and Humidity
Because nigella is an annual , it grow inZones 2 to 11and performs well in almost any mood . It thrives in temperatures between 65 ° F and 72 ° F and languishes in extremely hot summer weather . The plant tolerates frost but wo n’t survive rough winters .
Fertilizer
Fertilization is normally unnecessary if you have plant nigella in filth amend with organic matter . If the soil is poor , add acomplete balanced slow - tone ending fertiliser , grant to product label directions , about once a calendar month to give the plants a quick nutrient cost increase .
Pruning
Pruning is not command , unless you do not value the self - sow nature of the plant ; in that case , deadheadthe flower as soon as the petals fall so they wo n’t take shape seminal fluid .
Allow some plants to form seed pods and cut and dry those for trade or dried arrangements .
Potting and Repotting Nigella
Grow nigella in container that are bass enough to suit the plant ’s taproot and have ample drainage holes . A one - gallon container usually works well .
recall that potted works postulate more frequent watering and fertilization than flora in garden soil .
As nigella is grow as an yearly and discarded at the end of the turn time of year , repotting is usually not require .
Credit: Nancy Rotenberg
Pests and Problems
Nigella is rarely affected by serious pests or diseases . You might findwhiteflies , thrip , and other cushy - bodied insects on the plants . Wash them away with a garden hose or control backbreaking infestations with insecticidal easy lay . Overwatering and inadequate drainage may have root decomposition .
How to Propagate Nigella
Nigella is best propagated from source , and it easy reseed . If you do n’t want the seedlings in that location , they are soft to pull but wo n’t transfer well . found the seed directly in the desired location in your garden , following the instructions under How and When to Plant Nigella above .
you’re able to save the ejaculate of your plant unless you are growing a nigella cultivar whose seminal fluid wo n’t produce plants true to typecast .
Types of Nigella
‘Mulberry Rose’ Nigella
' Mulberry Rose ' is a cultivar with flowers thatopen pinkand fade to full-bodied rose on 18 - inch tall plant .
‘Cambridge Blue’ Nigella
This cultivar hasdouble inscrutable dispirited flowers on 10 - inch tall industrial plant .
‘Persian Violet’ Nigella
' Persian Violet ' is an heirloom miscellanea with flower that start as blank with sky - puritanic edges and turn intodeep purpleas they mature .
Nigella Companion Plants
Evolvulus
If you love morning gloriole , tryevolvulus , its low - grow cousin with gorgeous sky - blue flowers . It is more earthbound and produces striking blue heyday all season long . In Zones 8 - 11 , this tropical plant life is a repeated ; far north , it ’s grown as an annual . Its spreading habit is complete for run out over baskets , window boxes , and other container . Evolvulus does best in deep , well - drained soil and has average watering needs .
Pentas
Pentasis a butterfly stroke magnet that blossom all summer long , even during the hottest conditions . Its large clusters of starryblooms appeal butterfliesand hummingbird by the XII . The plant excels in containers and in the ground — it even make a in force houseplant if you have enough light . It thrives in full sun and moist , well - drained filth . Pentas is mature as an yearly in most office of the country , but it ’s sturdy in Zones 10 - 11 .
Pansy
From midget , upbeat Johnny saltation - ups to the stunning 3 - column inch blooms of ' Majestic Giant',pansiesoffer a spectacular array of delightful plants for the natural spring garden . They do n’t bear in mind cold weather and even endure a little snow and ice . faggot are pretty when planted in masses in garden soil but are also beloved in pots and container . By summertime , pansies bloom less , and their foliage starts to embrown . At this time , you ’ll have to be tough , tear them out , and replant with warm - season annual .
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigella source fuel pod can bedried for role in arrangements . cut off the seed pods shortly after the petals drop and before the pods get on and tear . Gather stems into loose bundles and flow them upside down out of direct sunshine to dry .
Nigella damascenaandNigella sativaare both yearly blossoming plant life in the genusNigella . The source ofNigella sativaare intensely flavored and used as a spicery known as sinister cumin seed , dim caraway , or Kalonji .
update by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
