Irga is a deciduous shrub of the apple genus with berries rich in vitamins. Irga, planting and caring for which does not cause any particular difficulties, enjoys well-deserved popularity among summer residents and gardeners.
The plant has excellent decorative properties. Berries have not only a wonderful sweet and sour taste, but also have many healing properties.
plant variety
At proper fit and the care of the Canadian shadberry photo can confirm the beauty of the plant and the ability to bear a lot.
The fruits of the Canadian shadberry are large in size, beautifully colored, juicy, with a high degree of palatability. Irga Canadian begins to bloom in May, bear fruit in mid-summer, the leaves change color in September. In early October, they begin to fall off.
Selecting a landing site
Due to its unpretentiousness, the irga does not get the best places in the garden. Planted in shady areas, the plant begins to reach for the sun's rays, which leads to its enhanced growth. The shrub begins to resemble a tree, on which all the largest and most ripe berries are at the top to the delight of the flocking birds.
Transplanting an adult plant presents great difficulties due to the developed root system, which goes several meters deep.
It is quite possible for a shrub to find a sunny or slightly shaded area. Despite the fact that the irga is unpretentious to the soil, it is desirable that it be fertile. Then the roots of the plant will be able to receive good nutrition, and not scatter the root shoots far.
When planting a row of shrubs, a sufficient distance between them should be observed. Irga is fast growing plant. With a close planting, the foliage of neighboring shrubs will begin to shade each other, which leads to a decrease in the number of fruits. For the root system will not suffice nutrients and she will have to scatter her branches far away. This will lead to the fact that the place near the bushes will become unsuitable for planting other plants.
The distance between irgi bushes and other plantings should be in the range of 2 to 5 meters.
If desired, use irgi bushes as hedge you can plant bushes in a checkerboard pattern.
Landing
In nature, there are about two dozen species of irgi. In the Moscow region, planting and leaving the Canadian irga gives the best results. The shrub begins to bloom in May. The color of the leaves varies from white to purple-red. The fruits are large and juicy.
Irgu can be planted in spring and autumn. Autumn planting is considered more preferable. During this period, the soil will gain a lot of nutrients. There will be enough time for the plant to take root.
A seedling for planting should be 1-2 years old.
Planting and care of shadberry in the Moscow region, due to the characteristics of the soil, requires preparatory work:
- The area intended for planting should be cleared of weeds.
- Apply fertilizers to the upper soil layer: organic - 3-4 kg, superphosphate - 0.5 kg, potassium salt - 200 g. Ash is an excellent potash fertilizer.
- Dig a layer of soil onto the “bayonet of a shovel”, to a depth of 20-22 cm.
- If the soil is acidic, lime should be added.
- Dig a landing hole 50-80 cm wide, 30-40 cm deep.
Landing:
- Lower the seedling into the dug hole so that the entire root system is below ground level.
- Dig a seedling, slightly inclined from the sunny side, dug into the ground and carefully tamp.
- Water generously.
- When the soil settles, add earth so that the landing site is level with the surface.
- Cover the top layer with mulch.
- shorten upper part escape, making sure that a sufficient number of well-developed buds remain.
Planting irgi in the open field and caring for it in spring and autumn practically do not differ. If a harsh winter is coming, then autumn planting it is better to leave a shortened part on the surface. This will also protect the plant from strong gusts of wind. The landing site can be covered with spruce branches from above.
Planting irgi in the spring has its advantages:
- the plant is no longer afraid of cold and frost - the possibility of its death becomes minimal;
- at this time, gardening is already more often visited by summer residents, who can provide the plant with care and, if necessary, assistance in time;
- watering will be carried out regularly;
- if there are visible signs of illness, action will be taken.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, it should be given the necessary attention.
Cultivation and care
Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, you can not completely leave it unattended. Growing irgi and caring for it can be reduced to the following points:
- top dressing;
- weeding;
- loosening the soil;
- watering;
- pruning;
- pest control.
Top dressing should be made in the summer. It should have a liquid consistency. Feeding should be done closer to night time. The effect will be better if it is done after heavy rain or full watering.
Can be used for feeding organic fertilizers such as bird droppings. Under each bush contribute 4-6 kg. good fertilizer is compost and ash. Mowed grass can be used. It must be filled with water in a suitable container, closed from light and kept for a week.
After planting under a bush, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, and potassium sulfate should be regularly applied.
When the bush begins to bear fruit, branches that are not yet strong may not withstand the weight of the crop and break off. To prevent this from happening, you should make a strapping suitable materials. Over time, the branches will become thicker, and the need for tying will disappear.
The bush should be formed from strong root shoots. Weak ones should be cut out so that they do not take strength from more strongly fruitful ones. In autumn, after harvesting, the soil around the bush should be dug up. In this case, the depth should not be too large so as not to damage the root system.
The root system of the irgi goes deep, where it finds for itself required amount moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to water it only during severe drought.
Birds are big fans of irgi berries. If action is not taken, then they will get the best harvest, because the first and most large berries appear on the upper branches.
Despite the fact that irga is resistant to adverse effects external environment She may not always be able to handle garden pests and get sick. Proper planting and care of the irga include pest control.
The main pests are:
- fruit rot;
- mole;
- irgovy seed-eater;
- hawthorn;
- leaflet;
- wrinkled bog.
For pest control will help: thinning the bush, timely harvesting, moderate watering. To destroy harmful caterpillars and beetles, irgi bushes should be sprayed with specially designed products before the appearance of berries or after harvesting.
Diseases that irgi bushes are susceptible to:
- Tuberculosis. The leaves begin to turn brown, dry out and fall off. Then the branches are subjected to drying out, on which reddish tubercles appear. Affected branches must be cut. spray bush blue vitriol. In the spring, spraying can be done as a preventive measure.
- Rust. Leaves turn brown and wilt. The plant is treated with Bordeaux liquid.
- Gray rot. Yellowed leaves covered with mold gray color. The reason is most often an excess of moisture, so you need to reduce watering.
- Moth infestation. This pest is fought with the use of karbofos.
In order not to spread pests around the garden plot, cut diseased branches and fallen leaves should be burned next to the bush.
How to cut the irgu in the spring
Pruning irgi in the spring is a must-have event for caring for it.
A few years after planting, rejuvenation of the bush should begin:
- thinning;
- pruning of elongated branches, giving the bush the correct shape;
- cutting of stems.
Proper fit and care for irga will give good harvest berries with powerful medicinal properties.
When thinning, all weak branches and bent inward are cut out. It helps to survive and become stronger and healthier. They get more air and sunlight. Only strong shoots should remain, which will form a rich harvest.
Irgu (Amelanchier) the Rosaceae family is known by different names: “cinnamon”, “wine cherry”, “raisin”, “shura” (with an accent on the last syllable, the Belarusian name that migrated to us) and “cherry”. The overgrown bush of irgi over time takes up a lot of space, which is so lacking in small areas. But you forget about it when you see how beautiful flowering bush. And irgi berries are so tasty and sweet! And there are so many.
Most of these berries, which both people and birds get, fall on paving slabs, staining it with ink stains. Many are annoyed by abundant growth, which has to be cut regularly. But Irgu is still loved. Few people decide on the final destruction of its bushes. They prefer to transplant them over the fence, to the delight of the neighbors. Or they form it by turning the “wine cherry” into a green ball (especially the Canadian irgu), a cone (alder-leaved irgu) or other figures. A good option is to create hedges and screens from bushes.
Pros and cons of irgi
Is it worth it to strictly follow all those recommendations for growing shadberry that can be found on the Internet and numerous printed publications? Do not know. I just give the irga the opportunity to live and bear fruit. Of course, only on my terms. And she shows amazing vitality. It does not dry out in dry summers and does not freeze in frosty winters. Occasionally, I remember that it's time to fertilize the bushes or you need to extend the end of the hose to them.
But I never forget about the secateurs and huge garden shears. These tools of labor allow not only to restrain the growth of shadberry, but also to give shape to bushes docked in a row. I have a lot of requirements for Irga: it should bloom beautifully in spring, give a lot of berries in summer and have bright foliage in autumn. You can not worry about endurance in frosty winters.
Irga gives a lot of shoots. It's useless to fight her. At root growth Gets out even in hard-to-reach places. It's great if the bush grows on the lawn. Then a lawn mower will help to restrain the growth of basal shoots. Irgu is often planted in the far corner of the site. Considering that young bushes need sufficient lighting.
The advantages of irgi are its durability, ease of formation and ease of propagation (by seeds, root offspring, cuttings, layering and dividing the bush). V Lately irgu more and more often began to be grafted onto the mountain ash.
Irga care in spring
Irga blooms in spring, about 10-14 days after bud break and the appearance of young leaves, which at first are soft silvery and slightly pubescent. White or pinkish flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. They are fragrant, as most of trees and shrubs blooming in spring. The honey plant feeds many insects.
In areas near Moscow, round-leaved and spiky irga are most often found, although there are many more species. Some of them are more or less fruitful. It is worth noting the decorativeness of the Canadian irgi, which has a natural rounded shape with thin drooping branches. This view looks amazing, especially during the flowering period. Irgu canadian can be grown not only as a bush, but also as a tree: high at home and lower in culture.
Irga canadian (Amelanchier Canadensis) - a fairly large shrub (more than 6 m high) or a tall tree with a wide oval crown. This species has thin and drooping shoots with ovate leaves up to 10 cm long, abundant flowering(up to 12 white flowers in drooping racemes) and dark purple sweet berries with a bluish coating.
Irga round-leaved (Amelanchier rotundifolia) without pruning grows up to three meters. It is found in the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and the Caucasus. There are many of them in Crimea. Shrub height up to 2.5 meters. Its leaves are oval (ovoid) in shape and have serrated edges. In young leaves, the lower part is pubescent. As the leaf grows, the pubescence disappears. Shoots are upright. Flowers (having long narrow petals, divorced to the sides) are collected in a brush.
Irga spiky (Amelanchier spicata) is a shrub up to six meters high. It gives a lot of root shoots. The ovate leaves have a white-tomentose pubescence when blooming. White or pinkish fragrant flowers are collected in short dense brushes.
There is large-fruited varieties, which we owe to Canadian breeders. It is worth looking in nurseries or among amateurs for the large-fruited varieties Thyssen, Altaglow, Pembina, Forestburg, Honeywood and Smokey.
Irga care in summer
In many countries (in Western Europe four centuries ago) irgu was grown because of the berries. They made wine from them. In America and Canada in early XIX centuries, huge gardens with bushes and trees of irgi were familiar, from the berries of which they made delicious wines. Echoes of the glorious history of this culture have survived to this day. For example, one of the popular names of irgi is motivated - “wine cherry”. Nowadays, wines and tinctures from shadberry berries are rarely prepared.
It so happened that plants that require constant care and attention are always given the best place in the garden, and unpretentious modest bushes always leave a place in the backyard, because they absolutely do not care where to grow. Similar situation very often develops with irga, but meanwhile this berry is not only a bottomless storehouse of vitamins, but also a wonderful ornamental shrub able to decorate any area. And all this is combined with ease of care, cultivation and reproduction. You will learn how to choose the right place for planting, which variety of irgi to choose and much more, including photos of the varieties of this berry, from this article.
Varieties and varieties of irgi
Most of all, irga has become widespread in Europe and North America. Only in Canada last years breeders have bred many new varieties of shadberry. In our regions, they are not yet available, but there are several species that are considered the most suitable both as an ornamental and as a berry crop.
Landing irgi
Irga is considered a long-liver, because a shrub grows for about 70 years, and its trunks eventually become like trees. You can choose absolutely any place for landing, because the irga is unpretentious and can grow with any shading, it is not afraid of winds and drought. If you have sunny place for a shrub, it will fit perfectly, because in this case the branches do not have to reach up in search of sunlight. But even if such a place was not found: the irga will easily endure it. This berry is also not demanding on the soil. The main thing is that the place should not be swampy. But it is worth remembering that the more fertile the soil, the healthier your plant and the higher the yield.
Advice. Gardeners are advised not to plant the game near the parking lot, because falling dark berries can leave marks on the car. In addition, they leave traces on the paths of light stone.
The site for irgi can be prepared in advance by clearing it of weeds. Before planting, the site is dug up with the addition of phosphate and potash fertilizers. For 1 sq. m accounts for up to 40 g of each type of fertilizer.
Blooming shadberry
Seedlings aged one or two years are suitable for planting. If you plan to plant several bushes, it is recommended to plant them in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of up to one and a half meters from each other. A layer of earth dug out of a hole must be mixed with sand and compost, adhering to a ratio of 3: 1: 1. At the bottom of the pit, you need to add a little humus, potash and phosphate fertilizers. The seedling is sprinkled with the previously made mixture and watered abundantly. When the soil absorbs moisture, you need to add earth, leveling the hole to the level of the surrounding surface, and mulch the soil on top. After the bush must be cut so that no more than 4 buds remain on each shoot.
plant care
Many gardeners claim that after planting the irgi, you can not remember about it until the very time when you need to harvest. But it will still be nice if the shrub gets minimal attention from you. It consists in regular watering. Sometimes the plant requires pruning so that a beautiful ornamental shrub does not lose its visual appeal. Yes, and the rejuvenation of the bush is beneficial to the crop. From time to time it is necessary to weed weeds if they appear near the bush.
Advice. Irga has a very developed root system, therefore, experts recommend watering it only in drought, using a sprayer, at the same time washing off the dust from the leaves.
Fertilizer and top dressing
The first fertilizers for irge begin to be given when the shrub reaches 5 years. Once a year, the trunk circle must be dug up with fertilizers. Necessary:
- superphosphate - 300 g;
- potash fertilizers without chlorine - 200 g;
- humus - 1 bucket.
An unpretentious plant sometimes needs to be fed
In addition, from spring to mid-summer, you can feed the game with liquid organic matter. Chicken manure diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10 is well suited. One bush needs about 5 liters of solution.
Advice. Liquid fertilizers are best applied in the evening, after watering the shrub abundantly. Dry fertilizers are dug up along with the trunk circle, after which the plant is watered.
Irgi reproduction
Irga propagates both by seeds and vegetatively, but it must be remembered that when propagated by seeds, only species characteristics remain, while varietal characteristics are lost.
- At propagation by seeds it is enough to extract them from a ripe berry and immediately plant them in the ground. It is not worth placing seeds deeper than 2 cm. Also, be sure to water them well and leave a layer of mulch on top. In winter, the seeds will undergo a natural stratification and young shoots will appear in the spring. By the way, shoots may appear in the same autumn. Within two years it is necessary to remove weeds around the shoots, and in the third year the plants can be transferred to the main habitat.
Irgi seeds
- Another way to reproduce is green cuttings. To do this, cuttings up to 15 cm long are cut from an adult bush, on which all leaves are removed, except for the top two. The lower cut must be placed in a root-forming solution for the period specified in the instructions for the product, after which the cuttings should be washed cold water and plant in a greenhouse at an angle. Sprinkle a small layer of sand on top. The distance between the dome of the greenhouse and the tops of the cuttings should be at least 20 cm. When watering the cuttings, make sure that water does not pour onto the root part, but splashes. The temperature in the greenhouse must be kept at 25 degrees and periodically ventilated. The soil is also best kept slightly moist. After three weeks, the cuttings will already take root enough, and it will be possible to open the greenhouse during the day, and after some time, when the shoots get stronger, and at night. At this time, the cuttings can be transplanted to a small bed and make a little mineral fertilizer. Already next autumn, young plants will be ready for transplanting to a permanent habitat.
The easiest way to propagate irgi is green cuttings.
- Another way to breed irgi is layering. To do this, choose strong young shoots up to two years. Dipping is best in early spring. First you need to dig the ground under the selected shoots, draw grooves in it and lay the shoots in them. The tops need to be pinched. When the young shoots reach 10 cm from the buds of dug branches, fill them with earth to half. After a couple of weeks, the shoots will lengthen by another 15 cm, cover them halfway with earth again. Already in the fall, you can transplant rooted layering to the place you need, or you can do it next spring.
Diseases and pests of irgi
Irga has a fairly strong immune system, but still gets sick from time to time tuberculosis. With this disease, the leaves of the plant first turn brown, after which they begin to dry out and fall off. Following the leaves, the branches are also subject to drying out, on which small red tubercles appear. If symptoms are detected, it is necessary to cut off the diseased branches and burn them, and spray the plant with Bordeaux liquid or blue vitriol. In order to prevent, you can spray the shrub in the spring.
rust damage
In addition to tuberculosis, it can sometimes be found on the irga phyllostic spotting. It is also manifested by wilting of the leaves, on which brown spots appear. The leaves must be burned, and the plant must be treated with Bordeaux liquid before flowering and after.
The third most common disease gray rot . It manifests itself in the appearance of spots on the leaves, which spread, the leaves begin to turn yellow, and then become covered with a fluffy gray mold and fall off. The cause of this disease is most often an excess of moisture, therefore, first of all, eliminate the cause, if possible, if not, transplant the irga to a less humid place. For treatment and prevention, as in the first two cases, Bordeaux liquid can be used.
moth foxglove
Irga, planting and caring for which will not bring you extra hassle and will not take a lot of time, not only decorate your site, but also reward you with a mass of tasty and healthy fruits.
Growing irgi: video
Irga at their summer cottage: photo
It often happens that capricious plants that require constant care and attention are given increased attention, and the unpretentious are treated rather carelessly. It is this culture that is the irga. You can usually see her somewhere in the backyard. personal plot. But not everyone knows that irga is a unique ornamental plant that is valued in many countries. In May, it pleases the eye with a chic flowering, very similar to the flowering of bird cherry, and in September, the irga dresses in an elegant red-yellow crown. In this article, you will learn a lot of interesting things about the irga shrub: planting and care, reproduction, cultivation, and other useful facts.
Important! There is little acid in the berries of irgi, so they can be safely eaten by people with high acidity.
Irga: plant description
Irga has many names, so its description is quite interesting. In England, this shrub is called shadbush, which means "shadow bush"; juneberry - June berry or serviceberry - useful berry. Irga received the name currant-tree (cinnamon) because of its resemblance to small grapes. In Russia, irga is called a baby or wine berry. In North America - saskatoon (Saskatoon). The Provencal name of this plant is amelanche, which literally means "to bring honey."
The genus irgi belongs to the Rosaceae family. It includes 18 species (according to some sources - 25), most of which grow in North America. Irga is often found on forest edges, sunny rocky slopes, in clearings. In the vastness of Russia, the round-leaved irga mainly grows, the homeland of which is considered the Caucasus and Crimea. In Ukraine, about 10 species of this plant are known: shadberry, canadian shadberry, blood-red shadberry and others. They often grow in conditions wildlife. The culture spreads thanks to birds, so the irgu can often be found at the edge of the forest.
The plant is not afraid of drought and wind, feels great on any soil, except for swampy areas, it is not afraid of severe frosts. The survivability of the irgi is explained simply: the roots of the plant make their way two meters deep and diverge within a radius of two and a half meters. For this reason, the irga is not afraid of shade, polluted air, it is not afraid of diseases and pests, the culture quickly grows and tolerates pruning well. Among its relatives, irga is a long-liver - many bushes reach the age of 70 years or more. And most importantly, it is a honey plant.
But if you want the irga to grow on the site, not only planting and care are important, but also knowledge about side effects from this plant. There are few of them. The spiked shadberry has a strong root growth, so it will have to be removed all the time. And it is also undesirable to plant an irgu near the parking lot - light-colored cars can suffer from stains that will leave fallen berries.
Did you know? The fruits of the shadberry are so tasty that you literally have to "beat off" the harvest - the birds peck at the ripe berries at lightning speed.
Soil preparation and site selection for shrubs
The plant is absolutely unpretentious to external conditions. But since the irga is a fruitful berry bush, it loves indirect sunlight. Best Harvest can be harvested if the irga is planted on sandy loamy soddy-podzolic and loamy fertile soils.
Irga is not afraid of shade and lack of moisture, so you can safely provide her with a territory along the fence. Irgu is planted in the same way as other berry bushes, for example, currants or gooseberries. Seedlings are lowered into the ground in autumn or spring 8 cm deeper than they grew before. This is done in order to grow a large number of root shoots. Optimally comfortable and beautiful option- plant irgu as a hedge.
How to plant an irgu
It is recommended to plant 1-3 shadberry plants in the garden. Under each shrub, 16m² of fertile loamy soil and 9m² of sandy loam soil should be allocated. For seedlings prepare holes 80 cm wide and 40 cm deep. After planting, the bushes are watered, humus or peat is placed on the surface of the soil, it is desirable to shorten the ground part of the bush to 10 cm so that 4-5 developed buds remain above the soil level. This photo will tell you about what kind of buds the irgi has, which bloom at the end of April.
Did you know? Irga is so unpretentious that for any natural conditions bears fruit very well.
Do I need to water the irgu
Irgi shrubs take root remarkably after planting and do not require special care, they grow and bear fruit. But with sufficient and regular watering, the number of fruits increases markedly. Moist soil better protects the roots and allows the shrub to always be healthy and strong.
Features of feeding irgi
V summer time Irgu is being fed liquid mixtures, which consist of water and ammonium nitrate at the rate of 50 g per bush or 5 liters of a 10% solution of bird droppings. It is best to feed the plant in the evening after heavy watering or rain.
How to prune a plant
It is best to form an irgu in the form of a multi-stemmed bush from powerful basal shoots, and remove the weak ones.
The first pruning of the shrub is carried out during planting, no more than six healthy buds are left on a young plant. From them then shoots grow. Until the age of three, you need to save all the shoots, and then leave no more than three of the annual growth. Be sure to keep strong and healthy branches. Each year, the shrub should have about 15 branches from different increments. If their growth worsens, then once every 4 years it is worth doing a rejuvenating pruning. But such a procedure can only be done with bushes that have already reached the age of ten.
To make it convenient for you to harvest, shorten the branches to the desired height. After pruning, the irga grows on its own with root shoots.
Features of care in the first years of life
In the first year after planting, the irga grows well, cultivation and care are carried out without any special features. The main thing that is required is in early spring, before the buds swell and blossom, you need to cut off all the vertically growing branches of the shrub, reducing their height by a quarter.
Pruning and shaping an adult bush
A properly formed bush of irgi gives many times more fruits than a plant that has not been pruned and shaped. If the irgu is grown as decorative ornament garden, her crown also needs a "stylish hairstyle". Most of all, this procedure is needed for mature branches. It is important to prune the plant correctly so as not to do more harm than good.
The main task is to rejuvenate the irgu. There are two types of this processing: thinning and shortening. When thinning, weak, sick and branches growing deep into the crown are removed entirely. Thinning should be done every year. During shortening, only the top of the shoot is removed, and several buds remain intact. Thus, it is possible to change the appearance of the crown, it becomes thicker and wider due to young shoots.
If you want to fill the void in the center of the crown, you need to remove the shoot, leaving only the extreme bud, which is directed into the bush. Later, a vertical shoot will grow from this bud. Shorten the irga several times: at the first treatment, during the procedure for the formation of a young crown, as well as when the plant goes up strongly and it becomes difficult to harvest.
Important! Irgi fruits contain B vitamins, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, pectin and beta-sitosterol, which is an effective cholesterol antagonist.
Remove branches older than six years without regret. They will quickly be replaced by powerful basal shoots. For irgi grown for decorative purposes, the crown is formed based on the task. For example, if they want to get a hedge from a plant, shortening of the branches is carried out both in height and in width.
Irga shrub pruning is done in the spring before the buds swell or in the fall, when the leaves fall.
How to propagate irgu
There are several ways to breed irgi:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- division of the bush.
cuttings
They like to grow irgu by cuttings experienced gardeners because it requires certain knowledge and experience. Cuttings from last year's growth are cut in the fall, and then stored for planting until spring, buried in sand or earth. For the stock, two-year-old mountain ash is used. When spring awakening comes, the cuttings are dug up, the roots are washed and the trunks are cut: above and below the kidney. The lower end of the shadberry seedling is made sharp and inserted into the cut of the rootstock. This place is tightly wrapped with plastic wrap. After grafting, the plants are placed in a greenhouse until they grow together. Irgi shrubs can serve as a stock for apple and pear trees. This plant transmits fruit trees early flowering and frost resistance.
plant grafting
In June or July, cuttings are cut from the tops of shoots of five-year-old shrubs. In length, they should be no more than 15 cm. It is necessary to remove the lower leaves from each cutting, leaving a few upper ones. Blanks with lower cuts are placed for 12 hours in a root-forming agent, after which the roots are washed in clean water. After that, you can plant the irgu in clean soil in a cool greenhouse. They do this at an angle and at a distance of 4 cm. From above, the soil is sprinkled with a layer of sand 10 cm thick. Ideally, the cuttings should be 20 cm below the ceiling of the greenhouse.
After planting the cuttings, water them so that the water splashes. The temperature inside the greenhouse should not exceed 25°C. To do this, from time to time you need to remove the top of the greenhouse and ventilate the cuttings. Watch the soil - it should be moist. After the cuttings take root, you need to remove the dome of the greenhouse during the day, and after they get stronger, you should not put on the dome even at night.
After three weeks, the cuttings will have developed a strong root system and are ready to be transplanted into a temporary bed. Here they need to be fertilized with manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 8, or ammonium nitrate dissolved in a bucket of water. Caring for cuttings is no different from caring for an adult shrub, and next autumn they are transplanted to a permanent habitat.
For this method of reproduction, one-year strong shoots or two-year branches with powerful growths are suitable. Drop them in in the spring, as soon as the sun warms the soil a little. The top layer under the bushes from which the taps will be taken must be dug up, sprinkled with fertilizers and leveled. After that, furrow the soil and fix shoots that grow low in the furrows. The tops need to be pinched. When shoots 12 cm in height grow from the buds, they must be half covered with humus. When the shoots grow another 15 cm, the procedure should be repeated. Layers that have taken root are planted next fall in a permanent place. 
Growing irgi from seeds
This is the best, but at the same time the longest way to grow shadberry. Seeds can be bought or harvested from ripe fruits. They are not dried, mixed with sand and stored in a cold place (basement, refrigerator) until sowing. If the seeds are pre-prepared, they will sprout better. Place them between cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide and wrap everything in polyethylene film. Store in this state for 4 months.
Irga is a berry shrub, but it is not found in every garden. Planting and caring for the irga is not particularly difficult, but requires certain rules to be followed. The article discusses the features of planting and growing shrubs, as well as methods of its reproduction.
Spreading
Most of all, irga has become popular in Europe and North America. Only in Canada in recent years, breeders have bred many new varieties of shadberry. They have not yet appeared on the territory of Russia, but there are several varieties that are considered the most suitable not only in terms of berries, but also as an ornamental crop.
Kinds
In nature, there are about 25 species of shadberry, but only a few varieties are grown, and not all of them produce high-quality berries. Often shrubs are planted solely to decorate a garden or a personal plot.
The shrub reaches a height of about three meters. It is characterized by a wide crown, forming thin branches. Initially, they are gray in color, but as they mature, the plants turn brown. Pinkish-white buds bloom for 10 days. At this time, the shrub has an unusual appearance.
The species of irgi is able to grow for 15 years, taking root in one place. The advantages include endurance, resistance to cold, drought and winds. Fruiting occurs 4 years after planting in open ground.
Ornamental plant - grows as a bush or small tree. In the spring, white or pale pink flowers appear on the irga. The advantages of this species include increased resistance to pests and diseases, resistance to frost. The plant is able to endure even frosts at a temperature of -50 degrees, for which it is especially appreciated by the inhabitants of the north of Russia.
The berries are small, weighing about 5-8 g. As they ripen, the peel changes from a pale green hue to raspberry, then to dark blue or black. The plant has a well-developed, shallow root system. The height of the tree does not exceed five meters. The leaves are matte, ovoid, green. The taste of the fruit is good, sweetish, but cloying.
The blood-red irga is a shrub, the height reaches no more than three meters. Its fruits ripen late, have a flattened shape.
Berries taste mediocre, they are not eaten by birds, due to the minimum content of seeds. The berries weigh no more than 8 g. The pulp of the fruit is light, like the juice. Up to 5 kg of berries are obtained from one bush.
This is a six-meter shrub or tree up to 10-12 meters high. There are a lot of leaves when blooming, which gives splendor to the plant, making it silvery. The plant is especially decorative at the time of flowering, completely covered with tassels of white flowers. There are few fruits, but they are tasty and large, contain many acids and sugars.
This species is characterized by good winter hardiness, but in severe winters it can freeze slightly. Landing is carried out in the spring or before winter. Effective way propagation is considered cuttings. The plant is easy to care for, it practically does not need watering and is easy to trim.
V middle lane shrub grows in height, reaching 2-4 meters. At the end of May, white flowers form on it, then small berries are tied, the weight of which does not exceed 2 g. There can be up to 14 berries in the brush. The harvest ripens amicably, it is harvested several times. Berries have an excellent taste, contain acids and sugars in equal proportions.
Alder-leaved irga - moisture-loving plant. Found on the banks of rivers, streams, on wet slopes, but will not grow in swampy areas. The plant is recommended to be planted in spring or autumn. Two methods of propagation are used - from seeds and cuttings. Irga needs regular watering. Withstands winter. Fruiting occurs 5 years after planting.
Irga Lamarck is a decorative species cultivated in gardens and parks in Europe. It is rare in Russia, although the variety is considered very cold-resistant and pleases with its appearance throughout the season. It grows in oak and birch forests with acidic soils, also on peat bogs.
The size of the shrub is high, the leaves, fruits and flowers are large. The leaves are 4-9 cm long, oval in shape and copper-purple in color in both spring and autumn. The flowers are collected in a drooping brush. Berries are dark blue. From one bush get from 5 to 7 kg of berries.
Choice of location and soil
Irga is a fruitful berry shrub, it needs indirect sunlight. The best crop is harvested from plants planted on sandy loamy soddy-podzolic and loamy fertile soils.
The plant is not afraid of shaded areas and lack of moisture, due to which it is permissible to land on the territory along the fence. Irgu is also planted in the same way as other berry bushes, such as gooseberries or currants.
In spring- autumn period seedlings are inserted 8 cm deeper than they grew before. This is necessary for the growth of more basal shoots. Many gardeners choose the most convenient way for them - planting irgi as a hedge. So the area is changing.
Landing
For planting, it is recommended to give preference to frost-resistant species and varieties characterized by high yield delicious berries. If the irga is ornamental plant, the yield in this case does not matter. In the first place should be the age of the seedlings. It is believed that one- and two-year-old plants take root faster.
When choosing a seedling, gardeners pay attention to a healthy root system: there should be no signs of drying and rot. It is equally important to inspect the trunk of the seedling so that it is well developed and there are no damages on the bark.
Nurseries offer seedlings with a closed root system grown in large containers. For landing it is better to choose them. Such a plant will not have to spend time to restore the root system damaged during transplantation, it will take root faster and begin to grow. Container seedlings have no restrictions on the timing of planting - it is allowed to plant during the entire growing season.
Irga is a long-lived plant, therefore the place for it is selected carefully, taking into account the size, as well as the requirements for growing conditions.
The choice of location is based on the following rules:
- The site should be well lit - this will contribute to good yields.
- The value of soil acidity should not exceed 6.5-7.
- Irgi is planted on soils with a low level of standing groundwater.
- The mechanical composition of the soil should be light (sandy loam or loose loam with a high content of humus).
All weeds are removed from the selected area. It is better if the soil in the previous season was kept under "black" fallow. Optimally sow it legumes- they improve fertility. Before digging for each square meter contribute up to 10 kilos of rotted compost or humus, 40 grams of phosphorus and potash fertilizers.
Irgu is planted in the ground in early spring or late autumn. At spring planting make sure that the kidneys do not swell. When planting in the autumn, the tree should already shed its leaves, but in order to have another 3 weeks before frost, this is the time required for rooting. Each seedling needs an area of \u200b\u200bup to 4 squares, so the distance between them should be about two meters. When forming a hedge, seedlings are planted at a distance of up to a meter from each other.
Planting procedure:
- Dig a hole 60x60 in size, discarding the top fertile layer in a separate pile.
- For a hedge, dig a trench measuring 40x30 cm.
- Mix the top layer with a bucket of humus, adding 200 g of potassium salt or 1 kg of ash, as well as 300 g of superphosphate.
- Pour the prepared mixture into the bottom of the pit with a mound.
- Install the seedling, carefully straightening its roots. If there are damages, they are removed.
- Cover the root system with soil so that the root collar remains just above the level of the pit.
- Pour a bucket of water under the bush, mulch the soil with humus.
The video below will serve as an example of landing an irgi:
If damage to the root system is noticed during planting, it is necessary to shorten the stem of the seedling by cutting it into 4-5 buds.
Growing features
There are some requirements regarding the care of plants. The growth and development of plants, as well as productivity, depend on their implementation.
Watering
Irgi shrubs take root well after planting and do not need special care. Plants grow and bear fruit, but with regular and abundant watering, the number of fruits will become noticeably larger. Moist soil better protects the roots and allows the shrub to always be healthy and strong.
top dressing
When the tree turns 4-5 years old, annually 300 g of superphosphate, 200 g potash fertilizer without chlorine, several buckets of humus. Be sure to retreat 20-30 cm from the root collar. From spring to mid-summer, the irgu is fed with liquid organic matter - 5 liters of a 10% solution of chicken manure for each bush.
It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizers at night after heavy watering or rain, and scatter dry fertilizers over trunk circle, stepping back 30 cm from the bush, planting them in the soil, and then watering the site. As it grows, the amount of fertilizer increases.
pruning
Although the irga tolerates pruning without complications, this procedure is carried out only if necessary. To do this less often, follow some recommendations:
- plant a plant in a well-lit area so that the rays of the sun penetrate into the very thick of the bush;
- cut only low varieties of shadberry, since tall bushes cannot be cut when fully grown even when using a ladder;
- pruning is done 1-2 years after planting the bush;
- the procedure is carried out in early spring before the start of sap flow.
The first years of growth of the shadberry leave only a few of the strongest zero shoots from the root shoots, the rest are removed. When the shrub has enough trunks, the two oldest are removed annually, and the same amount is left in return from the root growth - this contributes to the annual rejuvenation of the plant without reducing yields.
In young plants, all vertical shoots are shortened by a quarter of last year's growth. In other years, side branches are cut to stimulate the growth of the crown in breadth, otherwise it will be difficult to remove ripe berries from branches that have grown upwards in the future. Slices on annual shoots processing is not necessary, but on adult branches it is necessary to process them garden pitch(but not in cold weather).
In addition to pruning to form a crown, a sanitary procedure is also carried out. To do this, remove broken, dry and thickening shoots of the plant, that is, branches growing inside the bush. Be sure to fight with root shoots. To rejuvenate an old shrub, it is cut, as they say, "under the stump."
Irga in autumn
In the autumn period, after the end of fruiting, they carry out sanitary and thinning pruning of the shadberry, if necessary, apply fertilizer by digging the site and getting rid of the fallen leaves. These are all procedures that are carried out for a plant at the end of the growing season. Irga hibernates without shelter, which is facilitated by increased resistance to frost.
reproduction
There are several ways to reproduce irgi. These include cuttings, grafting, growing from seeds, dividing the bush. Irgu is also propagated by layering. Each method has its own characteristics and negative points.
cuttings
Propagation by green cuttings in irgi is carried out successfully and with little or no difficulty. The effectiveness of the method lies in the possibility of rooting 95% of cut shoots. Green cuttings are cut during the intensive growth of shoots - this is the period from the end of June to July 10. Cuttings are cut from the top of 5-6 year old branches. The length of the cuttings should be at least 12-15 cm. The lower leaves are removed from them, leaving only two pairs of upper leaves.
Next, it is necessary to process the lower cut of the cutting in the root former and plant it obliquely at a distance of 5 cm from each other. Plant cuttings in greenhouses, where the correct humidity regime is observed - at the level of 70-80%. The cutting takes root in 3-4 weeks. After that, the films are removed so that the plant grows in the open. Water the plants regularly and fertilize. The plants are transplanted in the spring of the following year.
Graft
In the first or second summer month, cuttings are cut from 5-year-old shrubs from the top of 5-6 year old branches. The length of the cuttings should be no more than 15 cm. The lower leaves are removed from them, leaving a few upper ones. Place the cuttings for 12 hours in the root former, then rinse the roots in clean water. The plant is ready for planting in clean soil in a cool greenhouse. This is done at an inclination at a distance of 4 cm. The soil is sprinkled on top with a layer of sand 10 cm thick. It is better that the cuttings are 20 cm below the greenhouse ceiling.
After planting the cuttings, they are carefully watered. In the greenhouse, the temperature is optimally set to 25 degrees. To do this, sometimes they remove the top of the greenhouse and ventilate the cuttings. It is important to keep the soil moist. After the rooting of the cuttings, the film is removed during the day, and after complete strengthening, the plants are no longer covered.
After 20-25 days, the cuttings will have a strong root system, which will allow them to be transplanted to a temporary bed, where they are fertilized with manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:8. Care for cuttings is the same as for adult plants. The following autumn, the plants are transplanted to a permanent site.
Reproduction by layering
This method requires taking well-developed branches of a one- or two-year-old plant. Layering is desirable to do in early spring. Near the bush, the soil is furrowed, where the layering is laid. Stacked shoots fix metal staples, and the tops of the shoots are made shorter. After the buds of the allotted branches of green shoots grow from the buds (to a height of 10-12 cm), sprinkle them with earth to half the height, repeat the procedure after 3 weeks. In autumn, transplant to a permanent place.
Growing from seed
This method is considered the best for reproduction. But its disadvantage is the duration of the procedure. Seeds are bought in specialized stores or collected independently from ripe berries. Seeds must not be dried, mixed with sand, or stored in a cold room before sowing. If you pre-prepare the seeds, the seedlings will be fast. They are placed between cotton wool soaked in hydrogen peroxide and wrapped in plastic wrap. So store for 4 months.
In spring, seeds are sown under the film at a distance of 20 cm from each other. Shoots will appear in 14-20 days. It is allowed to sow seeds in beds prepared in advance in the fall. So after sowing in open ground, the seeds will sprout in the spring.
The division of the bush
This method is used only in an extremely rare case, if there is a need to transplant a bush from one site to another. The best time for the procedure is considered to be early spring, before the buds swell or autumn, a month before frost.
The bush is removed from the ground, cut. After removing the old branches, and gently shaking the earth from the roots, the rhizome is divided into several parts. Sometimes an ax is used. Each part is checked - it must have a healthy aerial part, consisting of at least two shoots, and a well-developed root system. It is recommended to remove old roots, trim the rest. Next, parts of the bush are planted in prepared pits.
Diseases, pests and prevention
Irga is a plant that is characterized by good health. But sometimes shrubs are exposed to some diseases and pests:
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Fighting methods The ripening of the fruits of irgi occurs non-simultaneously on the brush, which brings a lot of inconvenience during harvesting, but at the same time gives an extraordinary color. Starting with the largest fruits at the base of the inflorescence-brush, they successively change their hue from red to dark purple. Harvested several times as the berries ripen. Fruits for fresh consumption are stored for several days at room temperature. When stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 0 degrees, the shelf life is significantly increased. This video will tell you how to harvest only a ripe crop of irgi:
Beneficial featuresIrgi contains sugars (glucose and fructose), some organic acids. When the berries ripen, they large quantities vitamin C accumulates. Also, the fruits are rich in vitamins A, B, B2, carotene, mineral salts, tannins, trace elements - manganese, copper, iodine, iron, cobalt. Irgu is used for cooking house wine, candied fruit, jam, jelly, preserves, compote, marshmallows. Berries are allowed to freeze, preserve, dry. Juice can be easily squeezed out a week after picking the berries. Irgu is often used as a substitute for raisins. The valuable substances that make up the composition make the plant medicinal. Juice helps prevent blood clots. Berries are prescribed for the prevention of ulcers as a fixing agent. The fruits are used to relieve inflammation in the oral cavity, to treat inflamed gums, and for eye diseases. Irgi berries are no less useful for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Irga - unique plant, which has many useful properties. With its proper planting, cultivation and care, it will be possible to get a healthy plant, pleasing not only with tasty and juicy berries, but also attractive appearance, which allows you to decorate the garden or area near the house. |