BIOFYT

There are over 300 varieties of carnation. Cultivated and wild varieties of carnations, scented and unscented carnations, tall and short, some creeping and some erect, ideal for cut flower. More well-known varieties are the common carnation, the Chinese carnation, the poet’s carnation, while a special mention deserves to be made of the wild carnation. Common carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus): The carnation we remember traditionally decorating our grandparents’ yards. It has grey-green foliage and a wide variety of flower colors such as white, pink, purple, orange and red. There is a wide range of varieties of the common carnation to choose from both in height, from 20 cm to 70 cm and configuration from upright branches to lateral ones. Poets’ carnation (Dianthus barbatus): Dianthus barbatus is a low-growing herbaceous plant that reaches a height of 20-25 cm and produces many small flowers with distinctive fringe-like split petals. The flowers are white, pink or red, while some are bi-colored. They usually live for 1-2 years but multiply easily as the seed falls from the flowers. Chinese carnation (Dianthus chinensis): The Chinese carnation is a native plant of the mountains of southern Europe that reaches a height of 30-70 cm. Its flowers are presented in a dense cluster of up to 30 flowers together at the top of the stems, they are 2-3 cm in diameter with five petals which display characteristic serrated edges. We find them in various colors such as white, pink, red, purple and various designs.

Is there a balcony or courtyard without a basil? I do not think! Even in the windows of the houses, we place small pots of basil to give us its rich aroma. Basil is undoubtedly the most popular aromatic plant in Mediterranean cuisine. Especially the broad-leaf varieties of basil, are a key ingredient in salads, sauces and many cooking recipes. We plant basil in a pot, so we can cut its leaves fresh whenever we need them! We avoid the southern exposure which has a lot of sunshine and very high temperatures. Strong midday sun rays in the summer season will cause severe burns to basil foliage. During the winter season, we will need to protect the basil from strong north winds and frost. If the place where we have the basil is exposed, we should use a special anti-wind protection fabric.