Black-eyed Susan Planting Methods and Care Tips Explained
Black-eyed Susan, full name: Rudbeckia hirta L., Asteraceae, Rudbeckia genus, annual or biennial herbaceous plant. The flower center is raised and purple-brown, while the ray florets around the edge are golden yellow. The flowering period runs from early summer until frost. Cultivated varieties have ray flowers in tung brown and chestnut brown, with double and semi-double types. The flower center may be olive green, known as the "Irish Eyes", and there are tetraploids with flower heads up to 15 cm in diameter; besides yellow, flower colors include red in various seasons and bicolor. Native to the eastern United States. Cold hardiness is not strong; in central China it can still be sown in autumn and overwinter in the open field. It can also be used as a cut flower.
Sowing time]: Black-eyed Susan is generally sown in spring and autumn. March in spring and September in autumn are the best sowing times for natural growth.
Black-eyed Susan planting methods
Soil: Black-eyed Susan is highly adaptable and has no special requirements for soil, but it is suitable for cultivation in well-drained, breathable, loose and fertile sandy loam. Black-eyed Susan is often grown in the ground.
Temperature: The suitable germination temperature for Black-eyed Susan is 21°C-30°C, and it can be sown at this temperature in spring, summer and autumn. The suitable growing temperature for Black-eyed Susan is 10°C-30°C; during the day it should not exceed 26°C, and at night it should remain at 10-15°C. Only at suitable temperatures can Black-eyed Susan continue to grow and bloom without going dormant.
Light: Black-eyed Susan likes a growing environment with plenty of sunlight, and during its growth period it should receive sufficient light; however, summer light is intense, so Black-eyed Susan should be shaded and cooled to prevent dormancy caused by high temperatures. In winter, because temperatures are low and sunlight is scarce, in order to prevent insufficient light and low temperatures from affecting growth, it should be placed indoors in a sunny spot for care, and attention should be paid to keeping it warm.
Water and fertilizer: Black-eyed Susan is not strict about fertilizer and water requirements. Generally, when growth is good, it only needs appropriate additional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as topdressing; when watering Black-eyed Susan, the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet should be followed, so that the flowers are more beautiful.
Pruning: When the leaves of Black-eyed Susan grow too densely, the old leaves and diseased leaves on the outer layer of the plant should be removed promptly to improve its light and ventilation conditions, thereby reducing the occurrence of pests and diseases and the consumption of nutrients, and also better favoring the development and growth of new leaves and flower buds, increasing its yield.
Pests and diseases: During cultivation of Black-eyed Susan, attention should be paid to drainage and ventilation, so as to prevent poor drainage from causing root rot in Black-eyed Susan.