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Hosta Patriot is a perennial herbaceous crop, which is valued for its high decorative qualities. At the same time, the plant retains an attractive appearance throughout the season. This hybrid form is distinguished by a contrasting shade of leaves, therefore it stands out noticeably against the background of other species. But to achieve maximum decorativeness, it is necessary to follow some rules of agricultural technology.
Description of Hosta Patriot
This hosta is characterized by a domed spreading bush (curtain). The plant has basal, petiolate leaves that fall and form a rosette 70 cm high and up to 100 cm in diameter. Wide oval-heart-shaped plates with a corrugated surface. The length of the leaves is 13 cm, and the width is about 9 cm.
Hybrid host “Patriot” belongs to the category of variegated. The main color of its leaves is dark green, but there is a wide white border along the edges of the plates. The root system of the plant consists of thickened branched and fibrous-cord-like processes.
The flowering period occurs in mid-July or early August. At this time, the plant forms strong peduncles up to 1 m high, which confidently rise above the leaves. The flowers of the “Patriot” are fragrant, funnel-shaped, large, about 6 cm in diameter. Often they grow one-sided, collected in racemose inflorescences. The color of the petals is a soft lavender.
“Patriot” is recommended to be grown in partial shade
This hosta is characterized by great strength of growth. A sprawling bush is formed after three years.
This species has a high level of frost resistance. The plant does not suffer from low temperatures down to -34 degrees. Therefore, it is suitable for cultivation in the central and northern regions of the country.
Application in landscape design
Hosta “Patriot” looks great in a single, group planting, as well as when creating large compositions. Her tall bush can act as a tapeworm against a green lawn and in combination with conifers. It can also be planted along the edge of ponds, garden paths, near fountains and statues.
Khosta is designed to decorate personal plots
When combined with other types of culture, it is necessary to select varieties with the same bush height and flowering period. When creating a multi-level flower bed, “Patriot” can be an excellent backdrop for undersized varieties of blue and green.
To emphasize the beauty of the leaves of this perennial, it is necessary to select companions with other shades for it. In this case, geykhera, goryanka is excellent.
If you need to create a vertical accent, then the Patriot host is recommended to be grown with tall phlox, daylilies and foxglove. Its beauty will be emphasized by a combination with plants with both small leaves – budra, lysimachia, periwinkle, and carved ones – ferns, anemones, astilba, peonies. This perennial also looks great in composition with cereals: miscanthus, reed grass, lightning.
In combination with roses in one flower bed of the host “Patriot” will be able to beautifully disguise the bare branches below.
An original solution could be a “multi-layered” border
Breeding methods
You can get young seedlings of the Patriot hosta by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. In the first method, sowing should be carried out in June directly into the ground. The seed method allows you to get full-fledged bushes of the host “Patriot” for the fifth year.
The second method involves propagation by leaf cuttings. To do this, use the young shoots of the hosts, tearing them off with a “heel”. Rooting should be carried out in a moist substrate. The favorable period for grafting “Patriot” is May-June.
The third method is the simplest and most affordable. The division of the bush is recommended in the spring, when new shoots appear, or in early autumn. The mother liquor should be divided into several parts, each of which should have a growing point and a well-developed root process. Therefore, seedlings quickly take root in a new place and grow.
The division of the bush can be carried out 1 time in 4 years
Patriot hosta landing algorithm
This perennial is long-lived and in one place it can grow for 20 years or more. It is recommended to grow hosta “Patriot” in partial shade, since under direct sunlight burns form on the leaves of the plant, and in deep shade the decorative effect of the plant is lost. The optimal time for planting is the first half of May or the end of August-beginning of September.
Hosta prefers to grow on loams with low levels of acidity. It is also possible to grow in clay soil, but then lay a drainage layer 10 cm thick in the hole.
The site for planting should be dug up in 2 weeks. Then prepare planting pits with a depth and width of 50 cm. At the same time, fill each with a nutrient mixture of turf, humus, leafy soil and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. Plants should be placed at a distance of 70 cm from each other.
The Patriot hosta sapling should also be prepared before planting. To do this, it is necessary to inspect the roots and remove all damaged and rotten areas.
Landing algorithm:
- Make a small mound in the center of the hole.
- Put a seedling on it and straighten the roots of the plant.
- Sprinkle them with earth so that the root neck is flush with the soil surface.
- Compact the ground at the base.
- Liberally pour.
Sandy soil is not suitable for growing hosta “Patriot”
Growing rules
Hosta “Patriot” is an unpretentious perennial, but in order to obtain maximum decorativeness, some rules must be observed.
This hosta belongs to the category of moisture-loving crops. Therefore, she needs to ensure regular watering, in the absence of rain – 2 times a week. After each moistening, loosen the soil at the base so that air can freely penetrate to the roots. During hot periods, a 3 cm thick layer of mulch should be laid on the soil surface.
Seedlings should be fed from the third year if humus was added to the soil during planting. In the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, the plant should be fertilized with organic matter twice at intervals of 2-3 weeks. For this, chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10 is suitable. In the absence, you can use mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content: urea, ammonium nitrate at the rate of 30 g per 1 bucket of water.
In June and July, wood ash should be poured under the Patriot host bush with embedding in the substrate. This will enhance the variegation of the plant. If necessary, it can be replaced by adding superphosphate (40 g) and potassium sulfide (30 g) to a bucket of water.
Preparation for winter
The Fortuna Patriot hosta doesn’t need much winterization, but there are still some things that need to be done. They need to start after flowering. During this period, flower stalks at the base should be completely removed so that the plant does not expend energy on the formation of seeds.
In autumn, when the leaves of the hosta turn yellow, the aerial part should be pruned. It is also recommended during this period to mulch the soil at the base with humus or peat so that the root system does not freeze. From above you need to cover with spruce branches, brushwood or branches. This will help trap snow and protect the plant in severe frosts.
Diseases and pests
Host “Patriot” has a high natural immunity. But if the growing conditions do not match, it is significantly weakened.
Possible problems:
- Phyllostictosis. The disease is manifested by rusty-brown spots on the leaves, which leads to a loss of decorative effect. In this case, it is recommended to remove the affected parts of the plant and treat the bush with the fungicide “Fitosporin-M”, “Skor”.
- Slugs. These pests feed on hosta leaves. A sign of their vital activity are large holes in the leaf plates. To scare away slugs, it is necessary to pour broken shells, wood ash or sharp gravel at the base of the bush. In case of a mass defeat, install traps filled with beer next to the plant.
Conclusion
Hosta Patriot is a hybrid form of culture that amazes with the beauty of its leaves. And the unpretentiousness of this perennial only contributes to the growth of its popularity among flower growers. With the help of “Patriot” you can make bright accents in the garden and give volume to even a small area. At the same time, the plant retains its decorative effect all season long, without requiring special care.
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