Mignonette
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Read about Mignonette in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Mignonette (Reseda odarata) is a branching, annual herb from northern Africa, which at first grows upright, but later becomes more or less decumbent and wide-spreading. The leaves are simple. The fragrant small yellow-and-white flowers are borne on spicate racemes which vary in size with different strains of seed. (Fig. 2372.) Although mignonette has been grown under glass for many years, it is only recently that growers have specialized with this crop for winter forcing. Careful selection of seed has resulted in greatly improved strains. Formerly the mignonette spikes were scattered and comparatively small: now large spikes of dense flowers are being produced. The sprays are very pleasing when arranged with carnations or other flowers having scanty foliage. The fragrance of the flowers adds to their popularity. The demand for mignonette has so increased the importance of the crop commercially that many florists are specializing in its cultivation. Mignonette will grow in almost any soil, but the large growers prefer a medium light, turfy loam. Pasture sod is excellent, and sod from a field which has been in grass for a considerable time is also good. William Nicholson of Framingham, Massachusetts, has been exceptionally successful in growing mignonette, and from his cultural notes have been compiled the following directions: In growing good mignonette, a well-prepared soil is of prime importance. The same kind of soil is used as for carnations, and is prepared by first plowing the sod-land after the grass has been cut, usually about the first of August. After plowing, the wheel-harrow is used, and then rye and Canadian white field peas are sown. The last of October or the first of November, a heavy top-dressing of cow- or horse-manure is applied. Cow-manure is preferable. This is plowed under and left until spring. As soon as it is possible to work the ground, the land is wheel-harrowed several times, and an application of manure is made. The soil is plowed again, well disked, and bone-meal applied, about one ton to the acre; the land is then ridged, and is ready for the benches. This method of preparation eliminates much hand work, and there is little danger of the soil becoming sour, as it frequently does if the compost method is practised. Most growers prefer to grow mignonette in raised benches about 5 inches deep. An inch of well-rotted stable-manure is placed on the bottom of the bench, and the remainder is filled with the composted loam. The surface of the soil is leveled carefully, and marked off in rows 6 by 8 inches apart. From six to ten seeds are dropped at the intersection of each row, and covered very lightly. A light watering with a fine sprinkler is then given the soil, to settle it around the seeds. Three sowings of seed are made each year,—in the first weeks of July, August, and September. Plants of the last sowing flower until the next July. After the seeds have germinated, and the seedlings have developed the third leaf, three strong plants are selected and the others removed. Seed for next season's crop is selected from the plants started in September. The plants which produce good foliage and compact flower spikes, with large individual flowers, are selected as the seed-bearing parents. Great care should be taken that the seedlings started in July receive sufficient air. The ventilators should be kept open day and night to keep the plants stocky and short-jointed. During bright weather, temporary shading is necessary in the middle of the day, until the seedlings get their second leaf, then full sunlight should be given. After the flower-spikes begin to appear, all side shoots should be removed from around the top of the stem. Three or four strong bottom side shoots are left for a second crop. In this way a succession of blooms may be obtained throughout the winter. As soon as the plants are well developed, a wire ring is placed about each plant. Later, wires with cross strings are used for supports, the same as are used for carnations. Mignonette is injured by over-watering, and great care should be taken that the soil be not too wet, especially when the plants are just started. As they develop, watering should be done only on bright mornings, for if water remains long on the foliage, the leaves become spotted. A night temperature of 45° to 48° best suits mignonette. On cloudy days the temperature should be kept at 55°, and on bright days it should never be allowed to go above 65°. When the plants have developed sufficiently so that flower-spikes are forming, they will require additional food. It is composed of one part sheep-manure and two parts of loam The two are thoroughly mixed and three large handfuls of the mixture are scattered about the plants in a row across a 3 foot bench. Instead of this top- dressing, they may be given a weak solution of liquid manure. A bushel of sheep- manure is put into a bag and suspended in a barrel of water for two or three days. The bag is then removed, and the plants watered with the liquid. Mignonette is grown in pots to a limited extent. There is some demand for it at Christmas and Easter, and some florists always have pot-plants in stock. It is more difficult to grow in pots than in beds, as it is necessary to have compact, stocky plants. This requires a great deal of care. The best method of culture is to fill 24-inch pots with finely sifted soil, which has been prepared the same as described for bench culture, and to sow the seed in this soil which has been prepared the same as described for bench culture, and to sow the seed in this soil. It should be remembered that the mignonette will not transplant; therefore, the seeds should be sown exactly where the plants are to grow. Several seeds should be sown in each pot to insure a perfect germination, and after this has taken place and the plants are well developed, all but one plant should be removed. The young plants should be kept as near the glass as possible to foster a stocky growth. Great care should be taken not to let the plants dry out, neither should they be over-watered. As soon as the soil is filled with the feeding-roots, the plants should be re-potted, and this re-potting should be done frequently, the plants never being allowed to become pot-bound. When, the plants are from 4 to 5 inches tall, they should be pinched, and the side shoots allowed to develop. When they have grown to a height of 6 or 7 inches, they should be staked and tied, and again pinched back to encourage branching. The large flower-spikes are not desired in pot-grown plants, but a larger number of smaller spikes. Pinching makes the plants much more symmetrical. When the plants are in flower, they should be in 7- or 8-inch pots. As a garden flower, the mignonette is by no means special but its delicate fragrance makes it popular. It requires a cool well -drained soil, and one which is moderately rich in decayed organic matter. It does not like the full sunlight, so should be given a spot which is shaded for part of the day. The seed should be sown late in April, in the North, and a second sowing may be made early in July, so that the season of bloom be extended until the time of severe frosts.
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Cultivation
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Mignonette. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Mignonette QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)