Characteristics of the nigella plant, rules for planting and caring for nigella in garden conditions, recommendations for reproduction, pest and disease control, interesting notes, species and varieties.
Nigella is found under a name similar to the etymology in Latin - Nigella. The plant is classified as belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. The area of growth in nature falls on Western European territories, the lands of the northern regions of the African continent and Western Asia. The genus includes about 25 varieties, of which 10-11 species can be found in the Russian open spaces, as well as in the countries bordering on them.
| Family name | Buttercup |
| Life span | Annual |
| Growth form | Herbaceous |
| Breeding method | Seminal |
| Dates of disembarkation in open ground | Throughout May |
| Landing rules | Seedlings are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm |
| Priming | Light, moderately moist, calcareous |
| Indicators of soil acidity, pH | 5-6 (alkaline) 6, 5-7 (neutral) |
| Lighting degree | An open area well lit by the sun |
| Irrigation mode | Moderate and regular |
| Special care rules | Avoid flooding or drying out the soil |
| Height indicators | 0.3-0.6 m |
| Inflorescences or type of flowers | Single flowers |
| Flower color | Blue, whitish-yellowish, deep blue, cream or pinkish, occasionally white and red |
| Flowering time | June to September |
| Decorative period | Spring-summer |
| Application in landscape design | Flower gardens and flower beds, mixborders, for decorating hedges and borders, in rockeries and stone gardens, in dry bouquets |
| USDA zone | 5–9 |
The genus got its name in Latin thanks to the word "nigellus", which came from the grammatical term "niger", which has a translation of "black". This is because the color of the seeds of the rich coal-sulfur color of the night. Hence the name in Russian came from - chernushka. Among the people, the following synonymous nicknames of the plant exist - wild fennel and a damsel in greenery, black cumin and a devil in the bushes, Italian coriander and nutmeg. Although Nigella has nothing to do with the above representatives of the flora. These nicknames speak not only of the properties of the plant, which people have been using for a long time in cooking and medicine, but also the beauty of its flowers. In English lands you can hear such a name as "kalindzhi" or "blessed seeds".
All varieties of nigella are characterized by a one-year growing period, while they have a herbaceous form. The height of the stems rarely exceeds 30-60 cm. The stems grow straight and have branching. Their color is rich herbaceous shade. The stems are covered with thin leaves with a double or triple pinnate dissection, which is a thinned lobe with linear contours. The leaf plates are arranged on the stems in the next order. Deciduous mass of pleasant grassy or grayish-green color scheme, somewhat reminiscent of loose female hair. Because of this, in Germany, the plant bears the nickname "simple-haired bride" or "bride with loose hair." If we leave the lyrics, then the outlines of the foliage resemble dill. Usually, under the flower, the leaves are collected in such a way that their tops rise above it.
When flowering on the stems, single flowers are revealed, painted in a pleasant heavenly, whitish-yellowish, deep blue, cream or pinkish shade. Occasionally there are specimens with white or red color of flowers. The sepals have petal-like outlines, there are five of them in the calyx. Corolla is composed of 5–8 petals, characterized by a two-lipped shape. In the process of evolution, the petals acquired the shape of nectaries. There are a large number of stamens in the flower; the number of pistils varies in the range of 1–5 pairs. In this case, the pistils are distinguished by a greater or lesser degree of intergrowth with each other.
Flowers are measured about 4 cm across. There are also terry forms of nigella, in which case the sepals are arranged in several rows. It blooms in full force in the middle of summer, and the first buds open in June. And although the life span of one flower is only a week, the whole flowering process stretches for 1–1.5 months, that is, until September.
The fruit of nigella is a multileaf, consisting of 5–8 leaflets. The fruit has a characteristic flattened or swollen shape that resembles a box. The seeds that fill it are egg-shaped and, as mentioned above, a rich black hue. Seed material is somewhat similar to onion seeds. Compound fruits after flowering are so interesting that they can be used to decorate bouquets of dried flowers.
The plant is not particularly pretentious and if you do not violate the rules of agricultural technology, then you can decorate the backyard with attractive flowering.
Growing nigella: planting and care in the open field
- Landing place. Since in nature black cumin grows in open spaces, then in the garden it is worth choosing a sunny location where the nigella will not only be warm, but also light. In shading, the plant will not bloom, besides, its growth will be difficult. It is advisable that the flower bed on which the nigella will be grown was previously planted with flowering plants that received sufficient organic fertilization. Nigella will not grow well if there are ground cover crops nearby.
- Soil for nigella. Although the plant is rather picky about the choice of soil, the best flowering and growth rates will be on a nutritious and light substrate. It should also have moderate moisture and low acidity. For nigella, you should choose a soil with an acidity index of pH 5-6 (alkaline) or 6, 5-7 (neutral). If the soil on the site is acidic, then it is recommended to liming it - before planting, dig it with the addition of slaked lime or dolomite flour.
- Landing nigella. Since the seedling method is often used when growing black cumin, young plants should be moved to the flower bed in the last week of April or at the beginning of May. The distance recommended for planting should be kept within 15–20 cm from each other. When planting in rows, the row spacing should not be less than 40–50 cm. Too dense planting of nigella will negatively affect the growth, flowering and ripening of multileafs. After the seedlings are placed in individual pits, and the soil is poured to the top, they are thoroughly watered, but not mulched, since such a layer will interfere with the full development of the plant.
- Watering when caring for black caraway seeds, it is carried out in moderation, but regularly, since this representative of the flora does not tolerate a too moist substrate, however, prolonged drought is harmful to it. After watering or rain, the soil should always be loosened so that its surface does not turn into a crust. If the area where black cumin is grown is characterized by cold snaps at the end of summer or prolonged rainy weather, then watering is not needed. However, to prevent fungal diseases, it is recommended to treat the bushes with fungicides (for example, Topaz) twice.
- Fertilizers for nigella, they are introduced carefully, since an overabundance will negatively affect not only further flowering, but also growth. Only when the flowering of Nigella begins, potassium-phosphorus preparations are introduced, for example, nitroammofomka or potassium monophosphate.
- Seed collection black cumin is carried out when the fruit pods are 2/3 ripe, the approximate time is the end of August or the beginning of September. To do this, the shoots with them are cut and tied into small bundles in order to continue drying in a shaded room with good ventilation. As the nigella fruit ripens, the leaflets will begin to unfold. The seeds are then easily poured onto the substituted paper or linen. The seed is then stored in paper bags in a cool and dry place. Seeds will not lose germination over a three-year period.
- The use of nigella in landscape design. Due to the low parameters of the height of the stems, the plant is usually planted for landscaping curbs or hedges. Such bushes will look good on flower beds and flower beds, you can fill the voids in rockeries and on alpine slides with plantings of black cumin. If it is decided on the site to organize a lawn in the Moorish style, then one cannot do without the "girl in green" plant. Most of all, representatives of flora such as flax, cornflowers or planting poppies will look advantageous next to nigella. Since dried fruit stems have rather decorative outlines, they will become an effective decoration for any bouquet of dried flowers.
See also the rules for planting the liverwort and care in open ground.
Recommendations for breeding nigella
To get new bushes of this interesting plant, you can sow seeds, while sowing is carried out directly into the ground (seedling method) or seedlings are grown with subsequent transplantation to a flower bed (seedling method).
Reproduction of nigella in a reckless way
Seeds of black cumin are sown on a prepared garden bed in spring or late autumn, as they say "before winter". When sowing in the spring, time is adjusted in the last week of April or early May. When sowing on a flower bed, the seed is covered by only 3-4 cm, and if sowing is carried out in rows, then the distance between them should not be closer than 35-40 cm.
After sowing, abundant watering is necessary and until the first shoots appear, cover the bed with plastic wrap, but it is better to use agrofibre, for example, Spunbond or Agreen. The latter two materials are breathable and will allow the seeds to develop normally, as well as protect against a sudden drop in temperature. When sowing in autumn, it is recommended to select the time in the last days of October. The seeds will lay back and germinate when the soil begins to warm up in the spring. If the seeds were located very densely, then thinning is performed in such a way that between the remaining specimens there is about 20 cm. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve lush flowering.
Reproduction of nigella by seedling method
It is recommended to sow seeds for growing seedlings with the arrival of spring. The seedling boxes are filled with garden soil or a substrate intended for seedlings. The seeds are planted in the soil to a depth of about 2.5–3 cm. When germinating, it is recommended to maintain the temperature within 18–20 degrees. After a couple of weeks, you can see the first sprouts of nigella. When a pair of real leaves unfold on them, the seedlings will be ready for a dive - transplanting in separate containers with the same soil.
Important
When diving, accuracy is required so that the root system of nigella seedlings does not injure.
So that later, when the plants will be transplanted to the flowerbed, the root system of the nigella is again not subjected to "strength tests". It is recommended to use peat-humus cups when diving. Then, when planting, you can install a container with a seedling in the hole without removing it. The growth rate of seedlings is quite high and by the end of spring they will gain strength and are ready for planting in a flower bed. The plants are planted at a distance of 15–20 cm from each other. Blossoming of such young black caraway seeds can be expected after 40-60 days from the moment of sowing.
Since the nutmeg flower is prone to self-seeding, young seedlings can be seen next to the mother plant in spring, which are also suitable for transplanting.
Controlling pests and diseases affecting nigella in the garden
Black cumin is a fairly hardy plant, but it can still suffer from lower temperatures and constantly waterlogged soil in rainy weather. In this case, defeat occurs powdery mildew. The leaves of the plant acquire a whitish coating, as if they were watered with a solution of lime. Growth stops and over time the blackberry bush will die. To combat a disease that is of fungal origin, it is recommended to remove all affected parts and then apply a fungicidal treatment. This can be Fundazol or Topaz. Spraying wild fennel bushes after that is required to be carried out 2-3 more times with a ten-day break in order to completely destroy all manifestations of the disease.
When the weather is rather dry in summer, spider mites or aphids can "attack" the nigella bushes, piercing the leaves and feeding on plant juices. In this case, the parts that are chosen by pests can be covered with a sticky bloom or honeydew, which is the products of their vital activity. If measures are not taken, then such a sticky coating can cause a new disease - sooty fungus. Therefore, if small bugs of black or green color are seen on the bushes of nigella, the leaves began to turn yellow and become covered with a thin cobweb, it is recommended to spray the rhinestone with insecticides - Aktara, Aktellik or Karbofos.
Interesting notes about the flower nigella
Due to the outlines of the bush, the plant, which resembles loose girlish hair, can bear such synonymous nicknames as the maiden in the forest, St. Catherine's flower, and thanks to the black color of small seeds, machok, Roman coriander.
Due to the fact that young foliage is filled with a large amount of nutrients, it is customary to introduce it into salads. The seeds taste very similar to that of pepper, and they also have a nutmeg aroma. Such properties of leaves and seeds did not go unnoticed; nigella is actively used in dishes of the East. If, for example, we talk about Turkey, then chernushki seeds are sprinkled there on baked goods in the same way as we have poppy seeds. In India, the seeds can be used in cooking, as an interesting seasoning that spices up fish, meat and salads. Because of the aroma, the seeds and foliage of black cumin is usually used for conservation, as well as for imparting a unique aroma to any drinks (for example, tea) or sweets (jelly or ice cream). It is recommended to store the seed material of the nutmeg flower in containers made of porcelain or glass, tightly closed with lids and placing in a dry, dark place.
In folk medicine, both leaves and seed material of nigella have been used for a long time. So on the territory of eastern countries, black cumin is called "blessed seed", while there is a belief that it will help to cope with any disease except death. To date, a positive effect has been proven when using wild fennel for various diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Since the seeds are saturated with the enzyme lipase and vitamin E, Nigella has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and pancreas. Particularly famous is the variety of Nigella damascena, in which the presence of vitamin C reaches 430 mg. The seeds were prescribed by folk healers for flatulence, intestinal upset, or indigestion.
Western medicine today has revealed the beneficial effect of the seeds of the black cumin plant on the metabolism. Doctors recommend taking them to treat rhinitis (runny nose) and throat problems. Also, nigella seeds will help eliminate headaches, remove stones from the kidneys and bladder.
Essential oil, which is actively used in the perfumery industry, is also valued.
Types and varieties of nigella
Spanish Nigella (Nigella hispanica)
in natural conditions, it grows in the southern regions of Spain (which is why the plant received the specific name), as well as in the north of the African continent. But at the same time, the variety easily tolerates frosts and is cold-resistant. Preference is given to a lime substrate, it cannot normally grow on acidic. The beginning of cultivation as a crop dates back to 1596.
Annual, characterized by erect stems, reaching a height of 0.6 m. They are covered with dark emerald foliage, which has a deep dissection. When blooming, the flowers open, the petals of which can be painted in snow-white, dark blue or pinkish, crimson, red or crimson color. The central part of the rim is decorated with deep red stamens. The diameter of the flower opening reaches a maximum of 6 cm. The ovary is the owner of the same bright red tone. A pleasant, faint aroma hovers alongside the plantings throughout the entire process. Flowering stretches from mid-summer to September.
After flowering in the Spanish nigella, the ovary is transformed into a fruit consisting of 5 leaflets, which are characterized by splicing almost to the very top. The outlines of the leaflets are bloated. Inside, a large number of small black seeds ripen. The surface of the seed is dull, the seed is ovoid. When counted, one gram contains about 320 seeds that do not lose their germination over a two-year period.
Nigella damascena
may occur under the name Nigella damask or Maidens in greenery … An annual, whose natural habitat falls on the territory of northern Africa, which includes the Libyan, Algerian and Tunisian lands, as well as Morocco. It is found in the west of Asia and in the Caucasian regions, in the southeastern and southeastern European regions. Prefers slopes with a dry substrate and weedy places, can be grown in gardens and often runs wild. It is cultivated all over the world because of its use as a spice.
The outlines of the straight stem are faceted, the color is with a slight purple tint, the surface is bare. The height of the branched stems ranges from 30-50 cm. The foliage is stiff, characterized by double or triple pinnate dissection, while forming lobes with linear bristly outlines. In the process of flowering, flowers open up, which can singly crown the stems or gather in an apical (cymoid) inflorescence. The buds of Nigella Damascus in them from the outside have a circular arrangement, and inside they go in a spiral - such inflorescences are called hemicyclic. Also, the inflorescences have the correct shape - actinomorphic. The inflorescences are characterized by the presence of a double perianth and veil, which is formed by means of five elongated upper leaves with a feathery dissection into thyroid-shaped segments.
The calyx of the flower consists of 5 sepals, which look like ovoid-oblong petals with a narrowed base and a pointed tip at the top. Their color is soft or deep blue or whitish. The corolla contains 5–8 petals, transformed into nectaries. Their shape is two-lipped, the size is not much inferior to sepals, there is an elongated marigold. The upper lip of the petal is shortened, with an ovoid shape, there is a notch at the top, the lower lip is twice the upper lip, also ovoid, divided in two. In this case, the obtained lobes have a bend back, and at the place of the bend there is a hairy tubercle. There are a large number of stamens in the corolla of Damascus nigella; their size exceeds the petals, but they are larger in length of the sepals. At the apex of the filaments, there are oblong anthers. Flowers can be simple or double-shaped. The flowering process falls on the period May-August.
After pollination of the flowers of Nigella Damascus, the fruits, represented by the multifoliate, ripen. It is composed of 3-5 leaflets in length reaching 1-1.5 cm. The fruit is formed with the remaining leaf plates of the bedspread. A multileaf with a smooth surface, swollen shape and elongated stems. When fully ripe, it is opened in the upper part along the median veins and abdominal sutures. The fruit is filled with numerous triangular seeds. The color of the seed is black, with transverse wrinkles. Maturation occurs at the end of summer.
Attention-grabbing varieties:
- Cambridge Blue characterized by delicate stems not exceeding 0.9 m. The shape of the flowers is semi-double, the color is delicate heavenly.
- Miss Jekyll Rose the stems of this variety of Nigella Damascus are erect, resembling arrows, not exceeding half a meter in height. Blossoming occurs with dark reddish-pinkish flowers. The variety is used in floristry for drawing up both dry bouquets and fresh flower arrangements.
- Persian Jewels represents a varietal mixture characterized by plants with snow-white, blue, pinkish and mauve petals.
- Dwarf Moody Blue characterized by dwarf size, the stems do not exceed the height of 15–20 cm. Flowers are bluish.
Regardless of the number of varieties of garden forms, the damask chernushka also has one, which is a small lumpy green bush of thin stems and leaves, not exceeding 15 cm. The flowers blooming on the stems are very small in size, and the ripening fruits have ugly horn-like outlines … Bears the name of the variety - Baby Blue (Baby Blue).
Sowing nigella (Nigella sativa)
An annual that is used as a medicinal crop. The height of its stems does not go beyond 30–70 cm. The deciduous mass is composed of finely dissected openwork leaf plates, somewhat similar to fennel foliage. It can have both simple and double-shaped flowers. Their color includes whitish, bluish or yellowish-green colors. Numerous seeds that ripen are black in color and are used in the east for various diseases.
Eastern Nigella (Nigella orientalis),
as the name implies, it grows in the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Prefers slopes in steppes, can be found in crops. The surface of the stems is bare with sharply defined edges. The leaves take on a double pinnately dissected shape. The number of lobes is characterized by a narrow-linear shape. The color of the sepals is yellow, their length is 15 cm, their contours are oblong. The size of nectary petals is half the size of sepals. After pollination, leaflets are formed, which are distinguished by a flat, flattened shape and a greenish-yellow tone. The seeds take on an ovoid shape.
Related article: Recommendations for planting and caring for lumbago in the open field
Video about growing nigella in the garden:
