Content
Actinidia belongs to the genus of woody lianas. The plant is not yet so common in the gardens of Russian summer residents. Exotic liana is distinguished not only by decorative qualities, but also gives juicy, sweet fruits that benefit the human body. Plant care is of particular importance in the early stages of formation. Actinidia can be grown not only in the Moscow region, but also in Siberia.
Actinidia (Actinidia) is a representative of the Actinidia family from a subtropical climate. It is the southern origin of the vine that has long been an obstacle to its cultivation in Russia. Today there are varieties adapted to the climate of the Moscow region and even Siberia. Gardeners, of course, took advantage of this, and now actinidia is found in the dacha plots of Russians more and more often.
Description of the plant:
In each season, the leaves of the plant have their own color. In the spring they are of a noble bronze shade, closer to summer they turn green, during flowering, the tips of the leaves first turn white, and then turn crimson. Actinidia blooms in May or June (depending on the region). Thanks to the variety of species and varieties, everyone can choose a vine to decorate their garden, guided by their own preferences.
The homeland of actinidia kolomikt is the Far East. Here the plant can be found in the wild. Lignified thin shoots of liana reach a length of 7 m, they grow, climbing up the nearby trees. The gradual change in the color of the leaves of actinidia kolomikt during the season makes it very decorative. This species is considered the most winter-hardy; kolomikta can grow and bear fruit in all regions of Russia. Famous varieties of this actinidia:
The fruits of this species ripen in August. The berries can be sweet or slightly sour to taste.
As the name suggests, this type of actinidia is native to China. The shoots of the plant are very long (up to 8 m), the stems are reddish and slightly pubescent. The leaves of this vine are leathery, dense, up to 12 cm in size. The fruits grow up to 5 cm in length and also have pubescence. It was this type of actinidia that became the progenitor of the well-known culture - kiwi. Chinese actinidia was brought to New Zealand, where it was taken as a basis for breeding work.
Popular varieties of this species:
In Russia, actinidia kiwi is grown mainly in the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory, but frost-resistant varieties have already appeared that can withstand winter temperatures down to -30 ° C. New selection also has a shorter ripening period.
Argut actinidia is also called acute. Its trunk grows to 25–30 m and needs reliable support. Above it is covered with a gray-brown bark. Actinidia arguta looks very decorative; in the garden it is often planted near the gazebo. Gradually, the stems of the vines twine around the lattice walls, creating a green resting place, where it is cool even in the hottest weather. Acute actinidia easily tolerates frosts down to -30–40 ° C. It can be cultivated even in Siberia, cultivation is successful if both male and female plants are planted on the site. Only in this case will pollination occur and the fruits will be tied.
Popular varieties of this species:
The berries of actinidia arguta are very aromatic. They smell like apples, flowers and pineapple. The taste of the fruit contains notes of gooseberry, strawberry, kiwi.
The Moscow region, like other areas of the middle zone, has a temperate climate with warm summers and rather cold winters. The climatic conditions of Siberia are even more severe. Only varieties adapted to the local weather are suitable for planting here. Of all the species, cold winters are most tolerated by actinidia kolomikta, which can grow without shelter. Indoor cultivation is recommended for the Argut variety. It is the varieties of actinidia kolomikta that are most often cultivated in the conditions of the Moscow region and Siberia.
Actinidia "Leningradskaya" refers to a variety of kolomikta. The variety has an average ripening period, the fruits ripen by mid-August. The average weight of the berries is 4 g, the shape is cylindrical with a small depression at the base. Fruits are often green in color. They contain a large number of seed chambers.
The berries taste sweet with a slight sourness. The aroma is reminiscent of the smell of pineapple. The variety is considered large-fruited. Liana easily tolerates frost down to -40 ° C. At least 3-4 male and female specimens are planted on the site. A plant planted alone will not bear fruit.
Liana belongs to the late-ripening varieties. The oval berry tastes like a fig. The fruits are large, can reach a weight of 8 g. From above, the berries are covered with a reddish-greenish skin. The plant belongs to hybrids, perfectly tolerates wintering in the middle lane and to the north.
"Souvenir" is obtained by crossing the varieties of Argut and purple. The fruit has a sweetish candy smell and a red tint of pulp. The bush is powerful, with elongated leaves. Seedlings can be purchased in several nurseries near Moscow.
The variety belongs to the Kolomikt variety, is included in the State Register as recommended for planting in all regions. The size of the bush is medium. The vine has green shoots of medium thickness, covered with dark green smooth leaves. The variety has an average ripening period, requires planting several plants for cross-pollination.
Liana is almost not affected by diseases and pests, which is considered its advantage. Winter hardiness indicators are average. The fruits ripen in August. The average weight of the berries is 2.5 g, from above they are covered with a grayish-green skin. The pulp has a sweet and sour taste and delicate texture, it smells like apples.
The variety belongs to a variety of kolomikta, it is distinguished by its mid-early ripening period. The bush is of medium size, branching is moderate. Ripe shoots become reddish-brown. Leaves are smooth, up to 10 cm long, with a serrated edge.
The maximum weight of berries is 5.8 g. The fruits have an elongated cylindrical shape, their pulp is juicy, with a sweet and sour taste. Liana is not affected by diseases and pests. Ella is included in the State Register of Russia. The variety has good winter hardiness. The fruits are prone to shedding, therefore, they require timely collection.
A medium-ripening variety registered in the state register. Liana is distinguished by moderate growth rates and medium size. Shoots - curly, without pubescence. Leaves are medium in size, dark green, smooth. The variety is almost not damaged by frost.
"Coin" requires cross-pollination. The average weight of the berries is about 3 g. The fruits have an oval shape and olive color. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, there is a slight pineapple aroma. The variety is recommended for cultivation throughout Russia.
In the case of actinidia, planting and care in the Moscow region and Siberia will give a positive result if you choose the right place and seedlings, and then regularly remove attention to the plant. Young vines require special care. In one place, a plant can exist for more than 50 years; at middle age, a transplant is destructive for it.
You should initially select a sunny area, preferably with an orientation to the east. You can plant actinidia near the wall of the house, but the structure must be reliable in order to confidently withstand the considerable weight of the overgrown shoots in the future. Actinidia roots can damage the foundation, so it is planted at a distance of at least 60 cm from the wall of the house.
There must be several female plants per male. This rule can be neglected if the plant is planted solely for decorative purposes. When planting several seedlings, an interval of 1.5-1.8 m is observed. The soil should be light, loose, well-drained, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. If the site has clay soil, coarse sand is added when planting in the pit.
It is advisable to dig up the area allotted for actinidia several months before planting with the simultaneous introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers. This will be the key to the successful development of vines for many years to come. Actinidia is planted in the open ground of the middle strip in early April.
The planting pit is prepared in the fall, it should be 50x50x50 cm in size.
Before planting, a drainage layer of crushed stone, expanded clay, broken brick is laid on the bottom. Fertile soil is placed on top of the drainage with the addition of:
When planting several specimens in open ground, you can dig not individual holes, but a trench. An artificial hill is built on a flat area to prevent stagnation of water. The root collar of the bush should protrude several centimeters above the soil surface. After planting, the seedlings are abundantly watered and mulched with cut grass, sawdust or peat.
Actinidia care is reduced to the standards of agrotechnical measures. Need on time:
Loosening must be done carefully, since the root system of the vine is superficial. For the first year or two, the soil in the near-stem circle must be weeded out of weeds; an adult plant does not need weeding. Shelter for the winter is organized only for young seedlings.
Watering should not be too abundant, but regular, drought of a tropical guest is contraindicated. Mulching is carried out as the mulching material is destroyed. Mulch perfectly protects the roots from drying out, as it prevents moisture from evaporating too quickly. In the heat, the plant will like sprinkling irrigation.
From fertilizers it is better to give preference to organic matter. It is enough once a year to dig up the ground in the near-trunk circle, bringing in 2 buckets of humus. Chicken droppings can also be used, but the fertilizer should be weakly concentrated. An infusion of 500 g of droppings per 10 liters of water is preliminarily prepared. The resulting concentrate is diluted in a ratio of 1:10 before addition.
Before flowering, you can powder the ground under the liana wood ash and shed the soil well.Actinidia is pruned annually in spring and autumn, when there is no active movement of juices. Simultaneously with the removal of unnecessary and damaged shoots, the remaining stems are fixed on the support, giving them the necessary direction.
The correct selection of the variety of actinidia and the care of the seedlings after planting will certainly give the expected result. It will be possible not only to admire the lush green of the creeper, but also to collect healthy berries from it, saturated with vitamins and valuable minerals. An adult plant is practically no trouble.
TOPIC ARTICLES
and will be published shortly.