Perennial flax: planting and care in open ground, growing from seeds, 6 best types

Have you seen how flax blooms? The spectacle is incredible, the field covered with blue splendor goes into the distance, merging with the sky on the horizon line. The decorative and beneficial properties of the plant have brought it great popularity. Today, flowering flax adorns the landscape, is used in cosmetology, and the seeds have a rejuvenating and healing effect on the human body. During flowering, flax crops look like a slightly rippling lake reflecting the azure sky.

Botanical description and beneficial properties of flax

Perennial flax belongs to the genus Flax and the Flax family. A herbaceous plant with vertical roots and shoots reaching a height of up to 80 cm. The bushes are decorated with green leaves 5 cm long and 3 mm wide, having a pointed shape and small denticles along the edges.

The flowers of perennial flax, 2-3 cm in diameter, have a white, blue color and are located on straight peduncles, attract attention. They consist of 5 petals, which fall every day and grow overnight, blooming only on sunny days before lunch.

Pleases with flowering from July to August. After which fruits appear, which are boxes up to 7 mm long, in which small, flattened, oil-coated seeds are formed.

Blooming flax not only decorates the landscape, but is actively used in medicine and cosmetology, since its seeds have a therapeutic effect and have a rejuvenating and healing effect on the human body:

increase the body’s resistance to the effects of all kinds of viruses and infections;
improve blood circulation and normalize blood pressure;
promote rapid digestion of food;
cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol plaques;
free the body from toxins, carcinogens and other dangerous substances;
help cope with depression and prolonged loss of strength.

The plant is also widely used in cooking; it is added as oil when baking and preparing various dishes.

Application of flax

The range of uses of flax is very wide. The plant and its components are used in the following industries:

textile;
food;
medicine;
cosmetology;
cooking.

Of course, the leading industry that uses flax is the textile industry. Lightweight, breathable linen clothing is popular and in demand all over the world. It is environmentally friendly and does not harm the skin, and in the hot season it is irreplaceable.

What you need to grow a plant

Gardeners are planning to decorate their local area or summer cottage with garden flowers, cold-resistant and quickly flowering crops. But not everyone has the opportunity and desire to grow flower seedlings for a long time. Perennial flax can be successfully grown by sowing seeds directly into open soil. At the same time, the plants will bloom for the next season. To enjoy earlier flowering, you can sow before winter.

After 4 years, flax needs to be rejuvenated, since its decorative qualities deteriorate with age..

Therefore, for cultivation you will need high-quality planting material, when choosing which you need to take into account the following parameters: the seeds must have a shiny surface and yellow-brown color, be heavy, oblong in appearance, with sharp ends.

Decorative linen in landscape design

Blooming throughout the summer with bright flowers, flax is an important component of the Moorish lawn. Planted in the company of cornflowers, daisies, bluebells, poppies, and cereals, flax will complement a flower garden in a natural or rustic style.

Flax is good when planted near large plants with dark textured foliage. Perennial low-growing flax is planted on an alpine hill, combined with cloves and bells, cereals; along the paths, in the foreground are flower beds. You should not combine linen with exquisite aristocratic flowers - roses, lilies, a wildflower is too simple for such a neighborhood.

Plant in landscape design

Deciding on the variety

Of all the species diversity, when creating landscape design, gardeners give preference to the following varieties.

Decorative

A perennial ornamental plant 50-60 cm high, it has thin shoots that become woody in autumn, and flowers 5-6 cm in diameter, colored blue.

Under favorable climatic conditions, flowering continues from May to October.

Large-flowered

Flax of this species grows 40-60 cm in height. The stems are thin, branched, and decorated with narrow leaves. The plant has beautiful flowers 5-6 cm in diameter. The color palette is varied. The species has earned popularity due to its white, pink, lilac, and purple shades of flowers.

It pleases with its flowering from the first days of June to September.

Ordinary

A tall, branched plant 40-60 cm high. The bush is decorated with five-petaled blue flowers, the diameter of which is 3-4 cm. A perennial of this species is resistant to frost and drought, and grows well in the sun.

Blooms throughout the summer.

perennial flax

The plant grows up to 50 cm. Its stems are covered with small alternate leaves. The small flowers of a delicate blue shade with a diameter of up to 2 cm attract attention.

Blooms in June-July.

Perennial Heavenly

When blooming, this flower is compared to heavenly azure. The plant has small blue flowers that cover woody shoots. Compact bush reaching 50 cm in height.

Red

A bright bush, whose height is up to 45-50 cm and width 15-20 cm, has gained popularity due to its narrow light green leaves and large saucer-shaped flowers with 5 petals. The main feature of this species is that the flowers are predominantly bright red. They are located at the top of the stem and are collected in an elegant inflorescence, the diameter of which is no more than 3 cm.

Exuberant flowering begins in early spring and continues until October.

Golden flax recipes

Due to their high nutritional value, flax seeds are very popular among healthy eating enthusiasts, vegetarians, and athletes.

I offer several of the most popular recipes:

Kissel

To prepare it you will need:

1 liter of water;
100 g pumpkin;
1 tbsp. l. starch;
1 tsp. flax seeds.

Grind the pumpkin in a blender. We dilute the starch in 0.5 cups of cold water. Then combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. After this, strain and let cool.

Kefir drink

Take half a glass of low-fat kefir and 1 teaspoon of flax seeds. You can add ginger or coriander. After the first week, increase the dosage of flax to 1 tbsp. l. In the third week, add another spoon.

After a three-week course, you should take a month's break. After this, the course can be repeated.

The drink is recommended for those who want to lose weight, as well as during high physical activity.

Vitamin salad

To prepare it you will need:

Avocado;
Cucumber;
Tomato;
Bell pepper;
1 tsp. flax seeds;
1 – 2 tbsp. l. olive oil;
Salt to taste.

Cut the vegetables into cubes, season with oil and sprinkle with flax seeds.

Cheese soup

Required ingredients:

200 g chicken breast;
100 g processed cheese;
50 g pasta;
3 small potatoes;
1 tbsp. l. flax seeds;
2 liters of water;
Salt to taste.

Cook the chicken broth, remove the breast. Add diced potatoes. 15 minutes after boiling, add pasta. Add grated cheese 5 minutes before readiness. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and add to the soup. Add flax seeds and salt.

Bon appetit!

Planting in open ground

The culture is not particularly demanding when it comes to growing conditions, but the further development and comfort of flower growth depends on proper planting.

Selecting a location

Perennial flax is unpretentious in terms of growth conditions and care, but heavy soil and lack of solar heat will negatively affect the abundance and duration of flowering. Therefore, when choosing a site, you need to give preference to the most illuminated place, protected from drafts. It is important to avoid planting the crop in wetlands.

If groundwater is located near the surface, then drainage is necessary to increase soil permeability and drainage of excess water.

The soil should be loose and nutritious. Loamy soil with increased thermal conductivity, water permeability, and natural ventilation is considered ideal for perennial flax. .

Seed preparation

One of the important stages in cultivating perennial flax is preparing the seeds for sowing. Since the full growth and development of the crop and its abundant flowering directly depend on the quality of the seed material. Therefore, before planting, to prevent various diseases, the seeds must be treated using fungicides.

Timing and technology of planting work

Favorable time for sowing is April, May. It is important that the soil warms up to a temperature of 10 degrees. You can plant perennial flax in the fall before the first frost, and the average daily temperature should be at least 20 degrees.

Sowing is not recommended in rainy, damp weather..

The planting technology includes distributing the seeds over the surface at a distance of 20-25 cm. Then they need to be sprinkled on top with a thin layer of soil and moistened with a spray bottle. Shoots will appear after 2 weeks.

Brown flax for weight loss

Many people consume brown flax seeds to lose weight. The fatty acids included in their composition are involved in the process of fat breakdown. Due to the fact that when consuming flax seeds, satiety quickly sets in, a person eats less food, as a result of which he does not gain extra pounds.

The simplest recipe for weight loss:

Take a pinch of flax seeds, grind them, pour two glasses of hot water and place in a warm place for 8 hours. You need to drink 100 g half an hour before meals 3 times a day, and be sure to adhere to the water regime and drink 1.5-2 liters of plain water per day. The tincture will help you lose weight by 2 kilograms in a month.

Flaxseed jelly is very healthy, it is filling and tasty. If you want to lose weight, instead of high-calorie foods for breakfast or dinner, you can eat jelly. It’s easy to prepare: cook berry jelly and during cooking add flax seeds in the proportion of 1 tablespoon per glass of jelly. When the seeds swell, the jelly will thicken.

The course of treatment is 10 days, then you should take a break for 10 days. To lose weight you will need 3-4 courses.

To lose weight, you can cook oatmeal. We take: 100 g of oatmeal, 50 g of candied fruits, 1 teaspoon of flax seeds. Mix all the ingredients, pour boiling water and leave to steam for 10 minutes. After this, the porridge is ready. It is recommended to use it in the morning after waking up.

How to sow flax in containers

Perennial flax seeds can be planted not only in open soil, but also in containers, but not for the purpose of growing seedlings, since this method is not effective. In this case, the container will be a permanent place for the development of perennial flax. And under favorable weather conditions, it can be taken outside, placing it in a well-lit area.

Which flax is healthier - white or brown?

White flax has the same qualities as brown, the only slight difference is in the composition.

Brown flax beneficial properties

Brown flax has many beneficial properties:

Strengthens the immune system;
Positively affects a person’s psycho-emotional state;
Prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
Removes excess cholesterol from the body;
Flax infusions are recommended for gastrointestinal diseases. They gently envelop the walls of the stomach and relieve pain. Warm decoctions are used for throat diseases, bronchitis and acute respiratory infections.

The simplest recipe for preparing a decoction: 1 tbsp. l. Pour flax seeds into two glasses of hot water and leave to brew for an hour. You need to drink it in small sips half an hour before meals. Due to its enveloping effect, the decoction will relieve inflammation and reduce pain.

The benefits of white flax

White flax has the same properties as brown flax, but it contains more polyphenols. Thanks to them, he is very popular among women.

Polyphenols are plant antioxidants that protect the body from premature aging, viruses and exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Thanks to the polyphenols and Omega-3 fatty acids contained in flax seeds, the correct water-oil balance of the skin is maintained. Flax seeds are beneficial for people with dry and sensitive skin, they help moisturize the skin and make it elastic.

Light seeds are rich in lignans - phytoestrogens that normalize hormonal levels. They have a beneficial effect on the nervous system during PMS and menopause, and reduce pain during menstruation.

White flax seeds contain more special phytoestrogens - lignans, so they are effective as a preventive measure for certain cancers.

Cultivation care

When growing, you need to create all the conditions for perennial flax for normal growth and abundant flowering, provide full care and attention, and then the results will exceed all expectations.

Watering

Perennial flax requires constant and moderate watering; the soil should be kept moist all the time. It is recommended to water the flowers with rainwater, and it is better to do this in the morning so that they have time to dry by the evening; shrubs that remain wet at night are susceptible to fungal diseases. The frequency of irrigation depends on the climate; generally, the plant should be moistened twice a week.

Weeding

Ornamental plants in a flower bed require regular weeding, which helps the gardener get rid of various weeds. This will create a beautiful and healthy appearance for the plantings and protect the perennial flax bushes from possible diseases and pest attacks.

Fertilizers

It is necessary to feed the crop 3 times per season: at planting, at the time of intensive growth and just before flowering. To do this, use complex mineral and organic fertilizers. You can use special mixtures for flowering ornamental species.

Do I need to cover it for the winter?

For the winter, perennial flax does not need shelter. But for better wintering, gardeners recommend covering the plant with spruce branches or fallen leaves.

Diseases and pests of flax: control and prevention

Perennial flax demonstrates disease resistance. Unless only a flax midge can take a fancy to it.

This problem cannot be solved with folk remedies, so it is recommended that if an insidious insect invades, you promptly treat the flowerbed using special chemicals.

Diseases and pests

The main pests that plague the crop: flax trips, butterflies, flax flea beetles. To combat them, special drugs are used. It is almost impossible to completely abandon the use of chemicals in the garden; in this regard, there are certain criteria. Means approved for use:

must not be poisonous;
must not pose a danger to bees;
should not be used in protected water areas;
must have a shelf life of no more than 21 days.

Chemical protection should only be used if there is a threat of pest invasion. All instructions for use must be followed. Before using chemicals, the exact disease or pest is identified. It should be noted that many gardeners and owners of small garden plots have already limited or even completely abandoned chemical protection products.

To reduce the occurrence of serious diseases, it is necessary to follow basic agronomic rules:

flax is grown in one area no more than once every 7 years;
proven seeds are used for sowing;
fertilize the soil in accordance with the recommendations;
They use selected varieties of flax that are resistant to diseases.

If excess nitrogen forms in the soil, resistance to disease decreases. A lack of potassium impairs the quality of fibers and increases the development of diseases in plants. Sufficient levels of zinc, boron, copper, and manganese in the soil help fight diseases.

How does a plant reproduce?

Perennial flax can be propagated using one of the following methods:

dividing the bush;
cuttings;
seeds.

The most common method of propagation is by seeds, since plants obtained in this way grow stronger and bloom more profusely.

Dividing the bush

When choosing this propagation method, you need to divide the bushes into parts in April or August after the flax has flowered, which are immediately planted in open ground, keeping a distance of 20 cm between them. In order for the plants to adapt faster and take root better, it is necessary to systematically water and protect from direct exposure to the sun.

Cuttings

This method of propagating perennial flax can be done from April to August. To do this, select powerful shoots, the length of which should be at least 20 cm, separate them from the bush and dig them into the ground at the level of the lower leaves. Shorten the upper part a little and put a glass cap on top. The cuttings will take root fully in the fall or with the onset of spring.

Seeds

Propagation by seeds can be carried out both in spring and autumn. To do this, scatter the seeds of perennial flax, keeping a distance of 5 cm between planting units. An alternative solution would be scatter sowing, which will allow you to make plantings that are dense and dense. Since flax has 100% germination, it is not recommended to thicken the crops. Young plant shoots are characterized by sensitivity and fragility and suffer from cold and wind, so care should be taken to provide shelter and protect the plantings in case of weather vagaries.

Perennial flax is considered a good option for garden fauna if the priority is winter hardiness, ease of care, and resistance to diseases and pests. In addition, the culture will add brightness to any compositional solutions and delight you with luxurious flowering throughout the summer season.

Contraindications

Despite the obvious benefits in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, flax seeds still have contraindications.

They are contraindicated:

If you are allergic to the product or have an individual intolerance;
For urolithiasis. Flax seeds have a diuretic effect and can provoke the movement of stones in the kidneys and bladder;
Exacerbation of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis;
In case of intestinal obstruction;
In the presence of cancer. Flax is useful for their prevention, but during illness it can provoke tumor growth.

Description

Linen fabric, description: the fabric is thin, dense with a rough matte surface. Has the ability to slightly accumulate static electricity and does not accumulate dust. It allows air to pass through well and has optimal vapor permeability. Linen fabric warms in cold weather and cools in hot weather - it demonstrates thermoregulatory properties.

Expert opinion

Alyona

Fabric expert and technologist Alena Khlebnikova is ready to answer your questions.

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The material shrinks and wrinkles a lot. Drapes well and keeps its shape. Linen has high abrasion resistance and tensile strength. Thick and coarse yarn obtained from tow at the primary stage is used in the manufacture of technical materials. Such fabrics have a heterogeneous texture, are stiffer and thicker.

Linen fabrics are 5 times stronger than cotton materials. Natural unpainted canvases are gray, beige, milky. In some cases, shades mean “linen color,” and the same concept is applied to other types of textiles. The fibers are difficult to dye.

What does linen look like?

Photo gallery of linen fabric

The similarity of the material to natural cotton makes it difficult to determine the composition. In order to distinguish between two types of fabric, you need to know what criteria are used to evaluate:

Unlike cotton fabrics, upon visual inspection, the surface of flax slightly shines. Cotton is matte;
according to tactile characteristics: linen fabric is harsh to the touch, when touched it gives a feeling of coolness;
color: unbleached materials have shades of ivory, beige, wood bark, various shades of light gray;
by fiber structure. A thread pulled from a fabric sample has a sharp tip. For cotton fabric it will be fluffy.

Compound

There are three main types based on composition:

pure flax (100%);
flax (92%);
semilen (at least 30%).

Natural material made from 100% flax has antiseptic properties. One of the popular types due to environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity.

To improve performance characteristics, other components are added to textiles. The standard 50/50 cotton/linen combination is classic. Viscose is also added as a component in various proportions.

Characteristics of mixed materials:

Half-len. In the classic version, it is a mixture of linen and cotton threads in equal percentages. Demonstrates the advantages of both types of yarn; the fabric is susceptible to dyeing, softer and less demanding to care for.
Mixed types with the addition of artificial raw materials - viscose yarn. They are distinguished by high aesthetics, drape lighter and softer.
Synthetic fibers in the composition make the fabric more elastic and stretchable. Reduces shrinkage and creasing. Makes it easier to care for. For example, lavsan is similar in appearance to natural linen, and at the same time the mixed material does not wrinkle and is easily smoothed out. The percentage of synthetic additives ranges from 33 to 60.

Belarusian flax differs in texture from domestically produced materials. This is due to the fact that up to 15% of the plant is cultivated in the country, the rest comes from Europe. For the same reason, the cost of linen from Belarusian factories is slightly higher than the price of Russian-made textiles.

Texture

The texture of flax is pronounced, and upon visual inspection it is visible even in the photo of the sample. In the production of fabric, predominantly plain weaving is used. For linen and interior textiles, finely patterned (matting) and jacquard methods are used. To increase wear resistance, a twill type of weaving is used.

Due to its texture, linen is often used for hardanger embroidery and hemstitching.

Types of linen fabrics

Several types of fabric are made from linen yarn. They differ in production methods, finishing and purpose.

In the manufacture of fabrics for technical purposes, threads obtained by dry spinning No. 5, 6 are used (beading, burlap, tarpaulin, etc.)

Natural

Natural linen is a fabric woven from threads of plant origin without the addition of other fibers. The most common samples: curtains, linen, clothing and interior fabrics. They have a significant drawback: they wrinkle easily and form creases that are difficult to smooth out.

Seamless

This group includes textiles with the most smooth and uniform structure. It's hard to tell by looking that it's natural linen. Sometimes metallized coating is applied to the front surface. The color palette of the subspecies is very diverse.

Polulen

The addition of natural, artificial and synthetic fibers simplifies the care of products made from this material. The most popular combination is linen and cotton. Their percentage is expressed in equal parts (50x50).

Combining with lavsan and viscose reduces shrinkage and makes the material wrinkle-resistant. These types are cheaper in cost than natural ones.

Technical

Linen with a rough texture and high density is called technical or terraced. Thick, heterogeneous fibers are used in its production. Such a fabric cannot be torn. To spin threads, the tow obtained at the initial stage of raw material processing is used.

Melange

To make melange types, weft and warp threads of different shades or dyed in different colors are used. This material looks impressive and noble.

Vischer

Visher linen is a mixed textile with cotton yarn. It is elastic, easy to care for, and is as durable as 100% fabric.

Rough dense

Rough, dense fabrics are characterized by increased wear resistance and low abrasion. May contain a small percentage of synthetic fibers.

With stretch

Relatively new types of fabric are linen and half-linen with the addition of elastane, their appearance is dictated by fashion. Stretch threads provide stretchability and optimal fit to the products.

Fine linen

This group includes several subtypes of textiles: cambric, damask and gauze. They are used in sewing linen items, light blouses and tunics. They are characterized by low density and smooth texture.

Thin linen

Subtype of auxiliary materials: trim and burlap. For production, threads of heterogeneous texture are used, most often with a 100% composition. The weaving method is simple (plain).