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Hosta Golden Meadows has very beautiful, large leaves that decorate the garden well in single and group plantings. This is an unpretentious plant that tolerates even the most severe winters down to -40 degrees. In the care of the host is not capricious, so even a beginner can cope with its cultivation.
Description of hosta Golden Meadows
Golden Meadows is distinguished by unusual wrinkled leaves of a rounded, as if twisted shape. They have a very peculiar color: the center of the leaf is bright golden, and already in the middle of summer it becomes more muted, creamy, and then acquires a yellow-green hue.
Along the edges, the leaves of Golden Meadows are painted in soft green and bluish hues – they harmonize well with the central part. The leaves are quite large in size: 20 cm long, 10 cm wide. They are located on dense cuttings, forming a large basal rosette.
Golden Meadows is distinguished by beautiful leaves with a pleasant yellow-green-blue color.
Bush of small height – up to 50-60 cm, not very sprawling. It begins to bloom in the second half of summer, the flowers are not large, pendulous, white shades. They are formed in small inflorescences, and the flower stalks rise 10-15 cm above the main part of the bush.
Golden Meadows prefers to grow in moderately shaded areas. If there are many cloudy days in the region, it is better to plant in an open area. In the south, stable shading (from trees or shrubs) is preferable.
In terms of winter hardiness, the Golden Meadows host is one of the most hardy. It can withstand even very harsh winters down to -40 degrees, so it is classified as a 4th winter hardiness zone. Cultivation is allowed in all regions of Our Country, including:
- Central part;
- The Urals;
- Southern Siberia;
- Far East.
Golden Meadows blooms in late July and early August
Application in landscape design
Golden Meadows is distinguished by really unusual, large leaves with an interesting color. Therefore, it can be used:
- in single plantings (a row of several seedlings of the same age);
- in mixborders;
- in rock gardens;
- in landings along the tracks for their design;
- on rocky beds;
- on the coast of small reservoirs.
This species, like other varieties of hosta, goes well with a wide variety of plants. Bushes look favorably in compositions with such crops:
- other types of hostas, especially higher ones (for example, Blue Mammoth, Jade Cascade, Dino, Empress Wu);
- undersized varieties of daylily;
- astilba;
- maidenhair stop;
- rhododendron;
- forget-me-not;
- purple periwinkle;
- coniferous plants (juniper, thuja, dwarf fir, elfin cedar and others).
Golden Meadows looks good in group plantings with other hosts
Reproduction Methods Hosta Golden Meadows
You can breed a hosta at home. To do this, it is desirable to work with relatively mature plants (3-5 years). The main breeding methods are:
- dividing the bush;
- growing from seed;
- cuttings.
The simplest of them is the division of the bush. You can breed a host in this way at any warm time of the year – for example, in spring, summer or autumn (a month before the first frost). The sequence of actions is as follows:
- With a sharp shovel, dig the ground within a radius of 35 cm from the center of the host (diameter, respectively, 70 cm).
- Cut the ground along with the bush.
- Gently untangle the root hairs, if necessary, wash off the ground from them.
- Cut with a knife into several sections (each of them should have 2-3 sprouts).
- Transplant into soil with a similar composition and approximately the same depth at which the mother plant grows.
Landing algorithm
The optimal planting time is the second half of spring. At this time, the snow melts completely in all regions, and the risk of return frosts is minimal. In the middle lane, you can plant a hosta at the end of April, and in the south – at the beginning of the month. In the Urals and in Southern Siberia – the beginning of May.
When choosing a place, pay attention to the following factors:
- decorative: Golden Meadows should be visible from different points of the garden;
- shading – the bush prefers to grow in partial shade, which is easy to provide with neighboring trees or shrubs;
- relative protection from winds;
- lack of stagnant water (better hills, not lowlands).
Hosta Golden Meadows is best grown in light shade.
Golden Meadows prefers light loams with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH = 6,5-7,0). It will take root even on depleted soils, including sandy and clay. But in this case, it will need to be fertilized regularly.
The algorithm of actions during landing is as follows:
- Previously, the site is dug up and a bucket of humus and complex mineral fertilizer are applied per square meter. It is not necessary to do this – humus with fertilizer can also be applied during planting.
- Next, they dig several holes of small diameter and depth up to 30 cm. It is important that the rhizomes fit freely. The interval between them is from 50 cm.
- Prepare the soil: you can take the same amount of rotted manure and compost soil, add half the peat and 2-3 pinches of sand. If the soil is known to be very acidic, add a glass of wood ash.
- Drain the soil with small stones 5-7 cm.
- Cover with half of the soil and water thoroughly.
- Place the seedling in the center and sprinkle it with earth on top and tamp (but not too hard). The root neck should not remain on the surface – it goes to a depth of 4-5 cm.
- Water and mulch again – for example, with peat, hay or sawdust.
Growing rules
Like other types of hostas, Golden Meadows does not need special care. She does not need abundant watering or constant feeding. Water should be added only in cases where there has been no rain for a long time or there is a drought. The soil should not be too dry and even more so crack. But you shouldn’t over-moisturize it either.
As for fertilizers for hosta Golden Meadows, they can be applied a maximum of 3 times per season:
- In early April, any nitrogen fertilizers are added for the active growth of green mass – for example, ammonium nitrate can be used.
- At the end of July, when flowering begins, potassium sulfate and superphosphates are added. An alternative option is a complex fertilizer.
- At the end of August, after the end of flowering, a similar composition is added. And after that, you no longer need to feed – the host should have time to prepare for the winter.
Even a minimal amount of fertilizer is enough for Golden Meadows Hosta to produce large, attractive leaves.
Also, 2-3 times per season, you can loosen the soil in the trunk circle. Hostas like light soil with plenty of oxygen to the roots. It is advisable to keep a layer of mulch throughout the hot season – it retains moisture in the soil and blocks the growth of weeds.
Preparation for winter
Hosta Golden Meadows does not need special preparation for winter. There is no need to apply any fertilizer in autumn – the last time they are added at the end of August. However, minimal care must be provided:
- Remove wilted flower stalks by cutting them under the base. It is better to have time to do this a month before the first frost.
- Carry out additional pruning, removing old shoots. It is not necessary to do this in the fall – many gardeners carry out a similar procedure at the beginning of the next season.
- It is also not necessary to cover the host for the winter, but it is better to mulch with compost. If there is concern, young seedlings can be covered with hay or straw.
Since Golden Meadows is highly winter hardy, it does not need special shelter.
Diseases and pests
Golden Meadows is resistant not only to frost, but also to pests and diseases. Its strong, tough leaves are inaccessible even to slugs, which often infect other species.
However, the black weevil sometimes parasitizes this host, causing the leaves to turn yellow and wilt. If rounded yellow spots appear on their surface, this indicates a viral infection. In both cases, diseased shoots are completely cut off and burned. And if this does not help, you will have to destroy the entire bush so as not to infect neighboring plants.
Conclusion
Hosta Golden Meadows is very easy to grow – in fact, it only needs to be watered enough to keep the soil from drying out. Since it is a very winter-hardy plant, it can be grown anywhere. It is from the hosts that beginner gardeners should start decorating their garden.
