Irga planting and care in the open field in siberia

A low tree or shrub with tasty, sweet and sour berries, unpretentious irga. Planting and caring for this plant does not require unnecessary time and mental costs. It can grow in any corner of the garden, vegetable garden, or just in the yard.

My mother persuaded me to plant the irga, for which I am very grateful to her. There is no more unpretentious shrub in my garden. And the berries !!! It is not possible to walk past a bush and not eat a handful.

In the spring it is pleasant to admire its flowering, in the summer to collect delicious berries, in the fall it is beautiful with its rich purple leaves. In addition, this shrub is very suitable for our Siberian climate with steep frosts over 40 and dry summers. The plant even withstood the lingering spring frosts, which fell just at the time of flowering.

Irga - description

Irga is the same shrub that not only pleases the kids with tasty and very healthy berries, but also decorates the site with its presence all year round.

In the spring, when the buds are just beginning to burst and the tips of delicate leaves appear, it stands in silver. Then, when its flowers bloom, it looks like a cloud of white-pink color. In summer, it is strewn with purple berries, which darken and turn purple by autumn. In autumn, this is a real extravaganza of colors, the leaves are colored from bright scarlet to dark red.

In the wild, shrubs can be found on forest edges. A little more than 20 species of irgi have been cultivated. A very common shrub in North America. There it is often used in landscape design.

The plant is an excellent honey plant, in addition, I have never met such an unpretentious tree. She is able to endure any misfortunes of natural disasters and still continues to bloom and bear fruit. On it, many gardeners graft dwarf varieties of apple or pear trees.

On average, a bush can live safely for about 50-70 years. An old irga is a whole tree with massive branches.

Planting irgi When to plant irgu

There is always a lot of controversy, but like most shrubs and trees, irgu can be planted in autumn and spring. In the spring, you need to have time before bud break, at the same time, so that the soil is more or less warmed up.

In autumn, planting is carried out in mid-September, before winter the shrub has time to take root.

Pick-up location

As I said, the shrub is unpretentious. He doesn't care what kind of soil he grows on. But on scanty, infertile soils, the root system grows strongly in the irgi. Therefore, it is still better to choose light sandy loam soil or black soil.

Like most fruit and berry bushes, irga loves sunny places. It can grow in the shade, but then its shoots are strongly stretched, and the yield decreases.

Irga reacts little to the acidity level. But if it is planted on fertile soils, then the yield will be higher.

You can not plant a shrub on swampy soils or with a close occurrence of groundwater, the roots of the irgi go up to three meters deep and proximity to water can be detrimental to the tree.

Before planting, digging is required with the introduction of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the planting is scheduled for autumn, then the place will have to be prepared in spring.

How to plant an irgu

It is better to choose a seedling of one or two years. For planting, we prepare a hole 50 x 80 cm, I bring in half a bucket of humus mixed with a glass of wood ash, and conveniently arrange the roots, fill it with earth on top, lightly tamping it. Please note that the seedling needs to be buried 7-8 cm lower than it grew in the same place. So a young seedling will give new shoots next year.

The principle of planting a shrub is similar to all others that are found in our gardens. It won't be too difficult even for a novice gardener.

After planting, the seedling must be watered abundantly and mulched with humus or peat. In order for the plant to take root better, you need to cut off the shoot, leaving 5 strong buds on it.

Irga Irga care - growing

The shrub, although unpretentious, still responds to care and attention. You don't need a lot of berries.

• Feed in time for better growth and fruiting.
• Water in a severe drought, its roots are deep and they have enough moisture.
• Weed out the near-stem circle sometimes.
• Loosen up so that the roots breathe easier and new shoots appear.

Top dressing and fertilizers for irgi

In the first three years of a young seedling's life, it has enough trace elements that you introduced before planting. But then, in the fourth year, it will be necessary to apply both mineral fertilizers and organic matter.

Mineral fertilizers are applied before watering. The granules are simply scattered under the trunk circle, stepping back from the trunk by twenty centimeters. We bring in one-time, that is, once a year, three hundred grams of superphosphate and two hundred grams of any potassium fertilizer that does not contain chlorine. After application, you need to loosen the soil and water it very abundantly.

Irga needs to be fed with organic matter every two weeks from spring to the end of July. You can alternate mullein infusion, diluted 1 in 10, with chicken manure infusion, diluted 1 in 15.

Fertilizing with organic matter, on the contrary, is carried out after watering or rain, in moist soil.

How to transplant irgu

Before choosing a place for planting a bush, think carefully about everything, because irge needs to grow in this place for a long time. It is very difficult to replant it, the roots grow in depth, more than two meters, and in breadth.

If it already happened that the shrub needs to be transplanted, due to redevelopment of the site or construction, choose a new place just as carefully. A pit for an adult irgi needs to be dug out large so that the entire clod of earth with roots can be accommodated. The width should be more than a meter and the depth should be about 70 cm.

In order to transplant an adult bush, you need to deliberately dig a hole under it. First, dig around the soil with a shovel more than a meter in diameter, then pry it with a shovel and use a lever to pull it out of the ground, the longest lateral roots can be cut off, they will quickly grow in a new place.

Preparing for winter

By winter, the irgi undergoes standard preparation, like most fruit and berry plants:

• Sanitary pruning
• Thinning
• Top dressing
• Watering
• Loosening

In the area around the bush, it will be necessary to put things in order, take out all the foliage and debris so that pests do not remain there for the winter.

Irga does not need shelter for the winter, even in our harsh Siberian climate, it winters perfectly.

Pruning irgi

In the first year, in the fall, it is necessary to prune all young shoots. Leave 3-5 strong shoots for the next autumn.Then, every autumn, old, weak or diseased shoots should be removed from the shrub. For good development, it is enough to leave 10-12 shoots. You can also adjust the height of the bush to make it easier to pick berries.

If you constantly cut the shoots so that the shrub does not grow up, many young shoots will appear, this will increase the yield and you will not have problems with harvesting it.

Irga is shade-tolerant, withstands frosts of more than 40 degrees (checked by me). It is drought-resistant, its roots go deep into the ground up to 2 meters and from there they draw out moisture.

There are practically no diseases and pests in irgi, so the shrub is not processed by anything, which means that the harvest is environmentally friendly.

In the fall, I feed with a mixture of 1 bucket of compost, a glass of wood ash and 20 grams of superphosphate. During the season, I feed the bush with organic matter, mullein infusion or bird droppings, always combining it with watering.

As you can see, the bush does not cause much trouble. For some, he generally lives, which is called "by himself." Irgi makes an excellent hedge.

In pursuit of exotic trees and shrubs, capricious, requiring increased attention, gardeners lose sight of unpretentious plants, many of which are no less useful and decorative. Planting irgi and caring for it is so unassuming, and the bush itself is interesting and unusual, that you never cease to wonder how it could have ended up in the outskirts of our gardens.

Unusual berry - something between hawthorn and garden blueberry

Cinderella of the garden kingdom

Irga common belongs to the group of deciduous shrubs that grow in the Northern Hemisphere - in Canada, the USA, the temperate zone of Europe, including Russia, the Caucasus, Crimea, Siberia. The closest known relatives in the Yablonevye tribe are mountain ash (a varietal culture is often grafted onto it), chokeberry, apple tree, medlar, hawthorn.

The cultivation of irgi in Europe began in the 16th century, but it received true recognition in the 19th century in the USA and Canada, which became centers of industrial cultivation and selection of fruit crops.

Note! Most of the large-fruited varieties with improved fruit taste belong to the Canadian breeding school. We have on sale varieties Honiwood (berries ø18 mm), Northline with pear-shaped fruits, especially frost-resistant Pambina, super early Slate, etc.

The plant occupies an intermediate position between trees and shrubs. Low-growing forms (up to 2.5 m) are often cultivated in the form of a bush, but there are also multi-stemmed trees reaching a height of 4–6 m. The leaves are simple in shape, rounded, dark green in summer and painted with bright crimson in autumn. Irga blooms profusely, with white or creamy fluffy brushes, on the shoots of last year's growth, turning into a gentle and slender bride for several weeks.

The further transformation of Cinderella into a princess occurs with the appearance of the fruits. They are often called berries, but these are miniature apples, shaped like a hawthorn or black cotoneaster. During the fruiting period of the irgi, its plantings are covered with multi-colored earrings - first cream with a pink barrel, and then turning into more saturated shades - red, purple-purple, dark purple. Fruits are sweet-sweet, of pleasant taste, collected in bunches of 7-15 pieces, in large-fruited varieties they reach 18 mm in diameter.

It is interesting! In different regions, the shrub can be found under different names. The word irga has a Mongolian or Kalmyk origin, in Russia it is cinnamon, bushmula, wine berry, the British have a June berry, a shade bush, and the Americans have a saskatoon.

Irga Lamarca is distinguished by special grace

5 unusual properties of Irga ordinary

In botany, the specific name of plants is often supplemented with the definition of common (s). Irga is no exception, although the shrub belongs rather to the category of unusual crops. We have counted at least five such characteristics.

1. This is one of the most hardy fruit crops. The cultivation of irgi is possible even in regions where apple and pear trees do not grow, and cherries bear fruit every other time. It withstands low temperatures with a mark of -50⁰ С, withering winter winds, recurrent spring frosts, arid climate of the steppe regions.
2. The shrub is striking in its unpretentiousness to soils. It will grow on sandy loam, stony soils, fertile chernozems and depleted loams. Thanks to its powerful root system, which goes to a depth of 2-3 m, it is not afraid of drying out or temporary stagnation of moisture.
3. The plant, by and large, does not need care, gardeners follow the irga, cutting and feeding it in spring and autumn, not because it is needed for the growing season, but in order to increase productivity and decorativeness. "Leaving" into the forest, the shrub is able to live up to 60–70 years.
4. The healing properties of irgi are legendary. In terms of its multivitamin composition, it is close to sea buckthorn, contains a large amount of flavonoids that strengthen the cardiovascular system, has pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
5. And, finally, often we may not even be aware of the biological presence of irgi in the garden. The fact is that it is one of the most reliable rootstocks for dwarf forms of pears and apple trees.

Of the minuses, which, however, speak of the vitality of the plant, abundant and uncontrolled growth should be noted. In this, it is similar to sea buckthorn, therefore, a shrub is grown on the periphery of the site or as a hedge.

Multivitamin composition of medicinal berries

Growing irgi in a personal plot

In order for the cultivation of irgi in an amateur garden to be successful and bring a tangible harvest, it is necessary to choose the right variety, determine the required number of plants, the planting site, ensure a good start of the seedling, at least occasionally feed fruit plantations. But first things first.

Hardy and productive varieties

More than a dozen plant species are found in culture. Here are some of them.

• Irga Kanadskaya is a tall species that has become the basis of many large-fruited varieties (Thyssen, Smokey, Pambina, Forestburg).
• Spikelet I. is an early hardy medium-sized species with small bluish-black fruits.
• I. alder is a variety that can grow and bear fruit in the shade.
• I. ordinary or Korinka - undersized, drought-resistant species, suitable for southern regions.
• I. Lamarck is characterized by increased decorativeness, it is often used to decorate the landscape.

In order for the berries to be enough for summer consumption and winter harvesting, at least 3-4 bushes are planted.

Decorative and productive variety Smokey

Choosing the right place

When deciding where to plant an irga on the site, you need to remember the following. First, choose a well-lit area. The plant easily tolerates any inconvenience except shading. Here it will stretch, significantly reduce productivity, reduce resistance to fungal infections, pests.

Secondly, you need to remove the shrub from the beds and flower beds, otherwise you will be tortured to fight with root shoots, which will come out in the most inappropriate places.

Thirdly, remember that, due to the deep roots, it is highly undesirable to transplant an irgi. She needs to choose a place that is permanent.

Landing features

It is possible to plant irgi seedlings in autumn and spring. In the latter case, it is important to do this as early as possible, before the start of sap flow and budding.

The planting pit is prepared standard for fruit shrubs - 60x60 around the perimeter and a depth of at least half a meter. To give a good start to a 1-2-year-old seedling and ensure growth for the next 2-3 years, it is filled with humus (10-12 kg), wood ash (glass), superphosphate (200-300 g). All this is thoroughly mixed with garden soil, a mound is made at the bottom of the hole, along the "slopes" of which the roots of the seedling are straightened. When planting, the root collar is deepened by 5–7 cm - this will give an increase in zero shoots in spring for the formation of a bush.After planting, the soil is compacted, abundantly watered and mulched with dry soil or peat. In order for the seedling to take root better, cut off its aerial part, leaving no more than 4-5 buds on each shoot.

Advice! If you are planting several bushes, leave a distance of 1–1.5 m between them. This will provide a feeding area and even illumination of the crown.

Annual seedlings in a pot, prepared for planting in open ground

Irga care

The main care for the irga falls in the spring and autumn. In the spring, the plant is fed and pruned. How is it done? Remove all frozen, dried, broken branches, cut the crown, removing the shoots growing inward. This restrains the growth of the shrub upwards, stimulates the formation of lateral branches, on which the harvest will be tied in a year. Root shoots are thinned out in autumn. When the optimal number of main stems is formed (up to 15 in a bush), rejuvenating pruning begins. Remove 1–2 of the oldest branches, and leave young stems instead.

Top dressing

If the soil is well filled during planting, top dressing begins no earlier than 3-4 years of vegetation. When choosing how to feed irga in spring, give preference to organic fertilizers with a prevailing nitrogen content. It can be humus for digging (5-6 kg / m²), watering with a solution of mullein (1:10), bird droppings (1:20). Do not forget that you need to apply concentrated organic matter on wet soil - after rain or watering.

In autumn, the shrub is fed with mineral fertilizers - superphosphate (200 g per bush), wood ash (1 glass). Fertilizers are applied dry, and then watered abundantly.

Nuances of fruiting

There is no unequivocal answer to the question of when the irga begins to bear fruit after planting. Species forms planted at the age of 2 years will give the first fruits in 3-4 years, and will bear fruit in full force in a couple of years. But there are also more early ripening representatives. Thus, annual seedlings of the Honiwood and Rainbow varieties begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting.

The shrub is characterized by an extended period of fruit ripening, from June to August. Early varieties of Northline, Slate, Martin are distinguished by amicable ripening in June.

The standard yield per bush is 3-4 kg, for large-fruited varieties - up to 7.5 kg of berries

Transplanting an adult plant

As we have already said, transplanting an adult irgi bush is undesirable. If you do have to do this, pay attention to the following points. The optimal transplant time is autumn, a month and a half before the start of frost. In order for the plant to take root, it is necessary to keep the taproot at least 70 cm long, the lateral ones 1–1.2 m long. Based on this, calculate the size of the earthen coma. As in the case of planting a seedling, the soil in the near-trunk zone is compacted, watered, mulched.

What is Irga sick with?

With proper agricultural technology, the culture is resistant to most fungal diseases and garden pests. Let us briefly dwell on the diseases and pests of irgi and measures to combat them.

• Moniliniosis affects the fruits of irgi - they become covered with brown rot with a white bloom of sporulation. The mummified berries are to be destroyed, and the plant itself is sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (3%) in the spring of next year.
• The symptom of cytosporosis is the drying out of young branches. The fungus clogs the vessels of the shoots, preventing them from supplying moisture and nutrients. Control measure - cutting and burning the affected growth, spring treatment of the bushes with antifungal drugs, thinning the crown for better ventilation and lighting.
• Phylostictosis is found in the form of rusty spots on the leaves. To destroy the infection, the plant is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid (1%), a fungicide solution.
• With a large defeat of garden plants by apple aphids (green), it can also move to the irga. To prevent this from happening, you need to remove excess root growth in a timely manner. With a high density of aphid colonization, insecticides are used.
• The moth caterpillars and leafworms pose a threat to the young foliage of the irgi and flower buds. If pests are detected, the plantings are treated with insecticides (Decis Profi, Confidor, Calypso).

The use of berry bushes for decorative purposes

Well-groomed, neatly trimmed bushes or irgi trees are recommended by designers to decorate the site. The plant is decorative in all seasons. In the spring it blooms beautifully and profusely, in the summer it retains its pure dark green foliage, colored with earrings of the original fruits, in the fall it glows crimson, even in winter slender trees with a branched crown look graceful.

Many are afraid of root growth and do not know what to plant next to the irga. It can be other berry bushes - gooseberries, currants, raspberries.

I. spiky is ideal for hedges. It quickly forms picturesque and impassable thickets.

For solo plantings, I. Lamarque or the Canadian Rainbow variety is suitable. In autumn, like a real rainbow, it shimmers with red, orange and purple hues.

Slender trees, dressed in autumn crimson

There are plants to overcome stereotypes, fears and prejudices for the sake of. Irga is one of them.

Moscow, Russia, on the site since 11.01.2017

Irga is rarely given the best place in the garden. Most often, it decorates the backyards of the site, which is due to the unpretentiousness of the plant, which does not require much attention. Planting in the open field and caring for the irga will not be difficult. The bush berries have medicinal properties. The high decorativeness of the trees allows you to decorate the site with them.

Description of a plant in nature

In autumn, irgi leaves acquire a bright color.

Irga is a short tree or shrub belonging to the genus Amelanchier, which determined the second name of this plant - amelanchier. The people are often referred to as korinka. Translated from Latin, Amelanchier - bringing honey, which emphasizes the usefulness of irgi fruits for human health. In Great Britain it is called the June berry, in the USA it is called saskatoon or shady bush.

The plant is deciduous, in the wild it mainly grows on stony soils, open areas of the forest, forest-steppe. Differs in endurance and frost resistance, feels good in the tundra zone. It is successfully grown on garden plots in any region of Russia, and is valued as an ornamental and fruit-bearing tree.

Useful properties of berries and bark

Irga is one of those amazing plants in which everything is useful - from bark to fruits. It contains many vitamins, antioxidants, organic acids, tannins, trace elements. The plant contains a large amount of carotene, pectins, fiber.

Europeans exploring America added irgi berries to venison and bison dishes

Effect on the body:

• has an anti-inflammatory effect;
• promotes weight loss;
• enhances immunity;
• prevents blood clots;
• removes salts of heavy metals;
• thins the blood;
• cleans the walls of blood vessels.

Decoctions and infusions are prepared from the bark, the berries are consumed fresh or processed into juice. Medicines based on irgi leaves help to get rid of viral and infectious diseases, diarrhea, pancreatitis. Decoctions have antimicrobial effects and are used in the treatment of wounds and pressure sores.

Popular varieties of garden irgi for open ground (with photo)

In the wild, there are up to 25 species of irgi, but no more than 10 are grown in garden plots. In Russia, several varieties of this plant are most popular.

Spicate

A tree that grows up to 5 m tall. The crown is spreading, with large oval leaves that can reach 50 mm in length. Specialists of VNIIS them. IV Michurin tried to improve the taste properties of the fruits of this variety, but all attempts were unsuccessful. Spikelet berries are useful, but they have a more mediocre taste among other varieties of this plant.Therefore, it has not found wide distribution and grows mainly in the wild.

The life cycle of spiked irga is more than thirty years.

Blood red

A distinctive feature of the variety is slightly flattened fruits. The berries have a pronounced sweet and sour taste, are loved by children and adults, and are suitable for conservation. The fruit contains a lot of juice, which contains a significant amount of pectin, due to which it does not curdle. On the basis of this plant, varieties such as Holland and Success were bred.

Blood-red irga - the shortest species

Canadian

The variety is distinguished by large fruits with good taste. When ripe, the berries have a brown-red color, ripe fruits turn dark blue. The tree tolerates frost worse than other members of the family, it is recommended for growing in the middle lane and warm climatic zones. On the basis of this species, the Honiwood variety was bred, the berries of which are sweet, reminiscent of honey in taste.

When the buds begin to bloom, the tree becomes covered with silvery-white frost.

Alder-leaved

Sprawling shrub reaching 4 meters in height. The berries of this plant are considered the most delicious among all the other varieties of irgi. In addition, the fruits are large and juicy, with an average weight of 1 g. The berries contain a large amount of anthocyanins, which makes the juice a natural dye. The plant is cold-resistant, unpretentious, feels good in the harsh conditions of Siberia and the Far East.

Alder-leaved irga helps with vitamin deficiency and is useful for the prevention of cancer

Lamarck

Irga Lamarca is in many ways similar to the Canadian one, but differs from it in the larger size of the leaves: up to 9 cm in length, up to 4 cm in width. The tree is highly decorative, traditionally decorates gardens and parks in Europe. It blooms in mid-spring and bears fruit in late summer. The average yield is 6–7 kg per bush. Differs in unpretentiousness and high winter hardiness.

The berries of the species have a purple-black color with a blue tint.

Smokey

Canadian variety, which is a tall, multi-stemmed bush with a spreading crown. It is high yielding, with delicious sweet and sour fruits. The berries are large, reaching 14–16 mm in diameter. The color of ripe fruits is dark blue. The shrub is hardy, frost-resistant. The plant begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.

The fruits reach maturity at the end of July.

Where to grow irgu

In nature, irga is common in the Caucasus and Crimea. In the European part of Russia it is rare, in the Asian part it is successfully grown by gardeners. Due to its winter hardiness, it grows in almost every garden plot in regions with a harsh climate. It bears fruit stably where apple, pear and other garden crops do not survive. For this reason, the game is often called the northern raisins.

There are no obstacles to growing this tree in the Moscow region, the Urals, Siberia and Kazakhstan. Irga feels good in any region of Russia. It is one of the few plants that successfully tolerates temperatures as low as -7 ° C during the flowering period.

In the middle of the twentieth century, gardeners of the Moscow region and other regions of the European part of Russia were carried away by the cultivation of irgi. She gained popularity thanks to information about her healing properties and quite tasty fruits. The enthusiasm of gardeners did not last long and today the shrub is rare.

Landing

Planting irgi in open ground is a simple process. This unpretentious plant will take root in the most depleted soils. But under unfavorable conditions, it will not give the desired yield. The decorative effect of the tree will also suffer. In order to get the full benefit from the plant, they follow the rules for planting irgi and provide proper care.

A tree planted in loose, organic-rich soil will yield a good harvest

Seat selection

Many gardeners allocate not the best site for this tree. The irgi has a powerful root system, which gives a lot of growth every year. Young shoots have to be removed regularly and in a timely manner.A berry planted in a well-lit place grows less.

The fact that this plant is a long-liver should also be taken into account. It will grow and bear fruit for at least 60 years, reaching a height of 7–8 m. Such powerful trees have a corresponding root system. It will inevitably take away the lion's share of the moisture and nutrients contained in the soil. Other nearby plants will need to be fed more frequently.

Reference! The best neighbors for irgi are cherry, plum, sea buckthorn and chokeberry.

Soil preparation

Acidic soil is undesirable for irgi. The soil is dug up before planting the plant, at the same time adding lime at the rate of 300-500 g per 1 m2. If the soil is soddy-podzolic, add 400-500 g of wood ash and lime, mixed in equal parts.

To feed a young plant, a substrate is prepared from several ingredients:

• 200-300 g superphosphate;
• 150 g of potassium salt;
• 10-15 kg of humus.

And also for planting you will need a mixture prepared in equal proportions from rotted compost and sand.

Layout scheme

Irga can be grown not only as a fruit tree, but also as a hedge. From this plant, it turns out to be impassable, dense and high. For this purpose, proceed as follows:

• planting is carried out, departing from the border of the site 150-180 cm;
• leave a distance between plants -50–70 cm;
• they form a crown annually, shortening the annual growth by 10–20 cm.

When planting next to other plants, the distance between adjacent seedlings should be 4 m, and the row spacing should be 2 m wide.

Landing times and rules

According to the recommendations of VNIIR (St. Petersburg), the optimal periods for planting are early May and the second half of September.

Practice has shown that generally accepted deadlines are optimal, but not mandatory. Irga can be planted throughout the warm season. She quickly takes root and grows.

The planting depth of a seedling depends on whether it is grafted or not. In the first case, it is important that the root collar is at ground level. Unvaccinated young growth should be deepened by 5–8 cm.

The procedure for carrying out planting works:

1. A bayonet shovel is used to cut off the fertile soil layer.
2. They dig a hole 50x50 cm, 30-40 cm deep.
3. The prepared substrate is placed on the bottom.
4. The cut turf is combined with a mixture of sand and compost.
5. Set the seedling to the desired depth.
6. Fill the pit with a mixture of turf, compost and sand.
7. They compact the soil.
8. Sprinkle with 1-2 buckets of water.

To retain moisture, the trunk circle is mulched by laying peat or humus around the seedling.

Important! The branches of the plant are shortened after planting, leaving only 4–5 well-formed buds.

Video: planting irgi in the ground

Care

The berry quickly responds to the creation of favorable conditions for it, becomes decorative, grows well. When planting in the open field, care for the irga is not a problem. In the first years of growth, attention should be paid to the formation of the bush. Every spring, all branches are cut, leaving 2-3 strong shoots. In this way, a dense bush with a beautiful crown is obtained.

Watering

Irga tolerates not only frosts well. This plant is quite drought-resistant, which is important when growing in regions with hot climates. This is largely due to its developed root system, which is able to penetrate into deep layers and extract water there. Irga is enough to water once every two weeks. 1-2 buckets of water are poured under the root for a young plant and 3-4 for an adult.

Top dressing

Irga is fed 3-4 years after planting. Starting from this time, every 2-3 years, the soil around the plant is fertilized with organic matter (manure, bird droppings) at the rate of 8-10 kg per 1 m2. To do this, a trench 20-30 cm deep is dug along the crown circumference on the ground, fertilizer is placed in it and covered with previously removed soil.

Top dressing:

• in spring - 20–30 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m2 or liquid manure (1 part of manure and 5–6 parts of water);
• in autumn - 40 g of superphosphate and 20-30 g of potassium salt per 1 m2.

Important! Top dressing is combined with watering and carried out in those years when organic matter is not introduced.

Pruning

Irga is a tall plant, which makes harvesting difficult. Therefore, it is recommended to restrain the growth of the tree to a height of 2.5–3 m. This task is performed by annual pruning. Two techniques are used:

• cut off old shoots and leave young ones that appear annually at the base of the bush;
• a plant aged from 7 years is rejuvenated by cutting off perennial shoots to the level of two-year-old wood.

Advice! When pruning, the branches are shortened so that the upper bud faces the outside of the bush.

Pest and disease control

Irga is highly resistant to diseases and pests. The most common are three types of diseases, which are eliminated by spraying the plant with appropriate drugs.

Gray rot

Botrytis cinerea fungus causes gray mold

The first signs of this disease are brown spots on the leaves. Soon, a grayish fluffy mass - mold - forms in these places. The reason for the development of the disease is excessive moisture. The first step is to change the watering schedule. If this does not help, the plant is transplanted to an area with a lower occurrence of groundwater. To combat the disease, use:

• spraying with 3% Bordeaux mixture;
• treatment with "Oxyhom" at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water;
• spraying with Topaz solution (2 ml per 10 l of water).

Tuberculariosis

Reproduction of the fungus Tubercularia vulgaris leads to the death of the bark

The first signs of the disease cannot be overlooked: the leaves rapidly acquire a brown color, dry up and fall off. Soon, red seals form on the branches. All affected parts of the plant are cut and burned outside the site. The crown is treated with 3% Bordeaux mixture or 5% copper sulfate.

Phyllostic spotting

Leaves affected by infection dry out quickly and begin to fall off.

Leaves are the first to react to this disease. Brown spots appear on them, rapidly increasing in size. Branches with such foliage are cut and the fallen leaves are collected. They are taken out of the site, burned. The plant is thoroughly sprayed with a 3% Bordeaux mixture.

Irga most often suffers from the invasion of the Irgovaya moth and the seed-eater. The first infect the leaves of the tree, the second - the fruits. To get rid of harmful insects, use:

• "Karbofos" (60 g per 3 liters of water);
• "Actellik" (1 ampoule for 2 liters of water);
• "Fufanon" (5 ml for 5 liters of water).

Preparing for winter

Preparing irgi for winter is no different from a similar procedure for other berry crops, with the only difference that it is not required to bend the branches to the ground and cover them. In the fall, the foliage around the bush is removed and burned. The plant does not need shelter, as it even tolerates Siberian frosts well.

Reproduction

Irga is propagated by root shoots, seeds, green cuttings or layering. The easiest and most popular way is the first.

Root shoots

Old bushes do not grow well

Irga annually gives dense root growth. One- or two-year-old shoots can be used to plant a new plant. The optimum seedling diameter is 7–8 mm. The shoot is carefully dug up and its root system is separated from the mother. They are planted in a new place in accordance with the rules for planting irgi.

Green cuttings

Lignified cuttings root poorly

In mid-July, the shoot of this year is cut into cuttings 15–20 cm long. They are immersed in a Heteroauxin solution prepared at the rate of 75 mg per 100 g of water. It is important to correctly install the cuttings in the container with the preparation. The kidneys on them should be directed upwards, not downwards. After 24 hours, the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. The optimal pattern is 7x4 cm. Water regularly in moderation, keeping the soil moist. They are planted in a permanent place next spring.

Seeds

A shrub grown from seed can be transplanted to the main site after three years

Irgi seeds are bought in the nursery or harvested on their own from the fruits.Sowing is carried out in open ground.

1. Prepare the place in advance, loosen the soil and moisten it.
2. Seeds are planted to a depth of 15–20 mm, sprinkled with soil and watered.
3. Cover the planting site with a layer of mulch.

Seedlings will appear next season. They can be dug up and transplanted to a new location. Under favorable conditions, seeds can germinate in the fall. Young shoots should be regularly watered and covered with a layer of mulch for the winter. In the spring, the plants are planted or grown until the next season.

Layers

The optimal period for this breeding method is mid-spring - early summer. They choose a strong shoot of the last year, bend it to the ground and sprinkle it with soil in one place. For greater confidence in success, they are fastened to the soil with a bracket. After the emergence of young shoots, they wait until they grow up to a height of 10–15 cm. Add more earth to the rooting site. In the fall, the shoot will be ready for transplanting, but it is carried out only next spring.

Irga is one of the few garden plants that does not require close attention. Those who have experience in growing it respond like this: planted and forgot. With proper care, this plant will delight you with its yield and tasty healthy berries.

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Irga occurs as a deciduous shrub or small tree.

This is an unpretentious plant. Genus Yablonev, Rosaceae family.

The Latin name is Amelanchier, which means honey.

Preparing for planting irgi in open ground

Before planting irga, they choose a suitable place, remove weeds, prepare the soil. Determined over time of planting. Prepare seedlings with a powerful root system.
Planting and caring for an irga in the open field is feasible for novice summer residents.

Landing dates

Autumn planting of fruit and berry crops is considered preferable:

• a large selection of seedlings;
• less need for watering;
• saving time for necessary spring work;
• minor injuries during planting (plant at rest).

Planting irgi in the fall will be successful if you follow the rules and timing of planting. By this time, the seedling should have shed its foliage, but before frost there is enough time for rooting (2-3 weeks).

The disadvantages of planting in the fall include:

• severe winter with freezing of the soil (roots may suffer);
• the appearance of rodents;
• strong winds;
• not enough snow.

In northern Russia and Siberia, irga should be planted in the spring due to early frosts in the fall. Bushes that are at rest can be planted in soil that is beginning to thaw. With the onset of warmth, the irga will begin to dissolve the buds, which will prevent them from freezing.

Choosing a place on the site

Irga is an unpretentious plant, it will take root anywhere. But there will be no recoil from an unkempt tree.
The plot in the country is prepared in advance by removing the weeds.
When choosing a suitable place, it should be borne in mind that it is a long-liver, requiring space as it grows (3-4 m).
Irga does not like swampy places, he will die if groundwater passes close to the surface.
Choose a place with sufficient lighting, without a close occurrence of groundwater.
Penumbra is enough for her, it will take root at the fence, shed.

Advice! Do not plant irga at the parking lot: falling berries will stain your car.

Soil preparation

Irga grows well on sandy loam and loamy soils.

To plant successfully, you need to prepare the soil:

• mix the top layer of soil with humus (1-2 buckets);
• add mineral fertilizers (superphosphate: 300-500 g; potassium salt: 150-200 g);
• transfer the resulting mixture to the planting pit.

Selection and preparation of planting material

You need to choose frost-resistant varieties, their yield is much higher, the fruits are tastier. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the climate of the region and their own possibilities in providing care.
High survival rate in one- and two-year-old seedlings.

They must be chosen with healthy roots, without rotten and dried out areas. The bark on the trunk must be undamaged, the color must correspond to the variety.

Nurseries supply seedlings in large containers with a closed root system that will not be damaged by transplanting. This is the best variant. Such an irga will quickly take root.
Saplings are not limited in terms of planting, they spend the entire growing season.

Step-by-step landing instructions

Landing includes the following steps:

1. dig a hole with a diameter and depth of 60-70 cm;
2. fold the selected soil side by side;
3. lay drainage on the bottom of the pit (small stones, broken brick, slate);
4. mix the selected soil with compost or humus (1 bucket), 300 g of superphosphate, 200 g of potash fertilizers;
5. fold part of the resulting mixture with a mound in a pit;
6. set the seedling on a mound, spreading the roots;
7. sprinkle with the remaining mixture, without closing the root collar, tamp;
8. pour out 1 bucket of water;
9. wait for the water to be absorbed, add earth to the surface level;
10. to mulch the near-trunk circle;
11. cut the bush, leaving up to four buds on each shoot.

Planting of several bushes is carried out in a checkerboard pattern with a distance between them up to 1.5 m.

Outdoor care for irga

Growing irgi will not take much time. The culture is extremely unpretentious.
The presence of a strong root system makes it possible to do without watering and fertilizing, be content with poor soil.

The main principles of irga care:

• choose the right landing site;
• form a crown;
• timely fertilize;
• carry out trimming;
• remove weeds.

Watering rules

Irga is drought-resistant. Watering is needed in hot weather and when there is no rain.
Enough 2 buckets of water per bush 2 times a month.

Irga, newly planted, requires regular weekly watering (1 bucket per bush). When the growth reaches 15 cm, they switch to the mode of an adult plant.

Fertilizer selection and rules

The trunk circle is dug up once a year, simultaneously with the application of fertilizers:

• humus (1 bucket);
• superphosphate (300 g);
• potash fertilizers without chlorine (200 g).

Then watered.

Top dressing with liquid organic matter is carried out from spring to mid-summer. Use the infusion of chicken manure, diluted with water 1:15, or infusion of mullein - 1:10.

Attention! Mineral fertilizers are applied before watering, organic fertilizers - after watering or rain.

Pruning irgi

The bush grows very quickly, to maintain a decorative appearance, the irgi is periodically pruned.
After planting, the plant is formed in the form of a bush - then it will bear fruit abundantly. You need to cut a tall irga for the convenience of harvesting, it is shortened by ¼ of the length.

Periodically removing weak shoots, leaving only strong 2-3-year-olds, they achieve the formation of a bush with 10-15 powerful branches, different in age.

If you do not prune, the yield drops, since the berries are formed only at the tops of the branches.
At one time, you should not remove more than three branches or shoots, otherwise the plant will have to recover for a long time.
Slices are treated with garden pitch.
All trimmed material and dry foliage are removed from under the bushes.

Trimming time

Spring pruning is carried out before the plant wakes up (before the buds swell) to avoid injury. It is best to do this in the evening or on cooler days.

Spring pruning:

• increases productivity;
• accelerates the ripening of berries;
• removes thickening of bushes;
• simplifies sanitization;
• rejuvenates old plants.

Sanitary pruning is carried out a little later, when it is possible to clearly determine which branches have not overwintered, i.e. after the leaves bloom.

Autumn pruning is done after leaf fall. It is designed for the same purposes as the spring, but frees up time in the spring for more important work, which is important for novice gardeners.

Pruning methods

After examining all the plants and identifying sick, broken and damaged branches, they proceed to sanitary pruning.
It includes the removal of overgrowth (fat shoots) and branches growing inward.
Thin, crooked and weak branches are cut almost flush with the ground, leaving stumps.

Numerous shoots from the roots thicken the shrub and lead to weakening.
They fight with offspring, cutting them off and using them for planting.

Rejuvenating pruning of an adult bush is carried out once every 3-4 years, it helps to increase yields.
Formative pruning creates the correct crown of the tree and bush, makes the main branches strong.

Crown formation

The formation of the crown of the irgi is usually carried out in early spring, before the start of sap flow.
This procedure is important for young plants.
At the same time, dry, broken branches and dense shoots are removed.

At the age of 8-10 years, vertically growing branches are shortened (by a quarter of the length), which restrains the growth of the tree in height. Save 10-15 of the strongest shoots that do not interfere with each other, the rest are removed to a hemp.

Preparing for winter

In autumn, Irga needs:

• thinning;
• sanitary pruning;
• top dressing;
• digging a trunk circle.

The loose leaves are removed and burned.

Irga is resistant to frost (up to -50 ° C), shelter for the winter not only in the Moscow region, but also in the northern regions of Russia is not needed.

Diseases and pests of irgi

Resistant irga occasionally becomes susceptible to disease. Diseases, their signs and methods of control are given in the table:

Diseases	Signs	Methods and means of struggle
Gray rot (fungal disease)	The appearance of sprawling spots on the leaves, which gradually turn yellow, become covered with gray fluffy mold and fall off	The reason is excess moisture, it must be eliminated; if it is impossible, move to another place. Treatment and prevention: spraying with Bordeaux liquid
Tuberculariosis (fungal disease)	The leaves turn brown, dry up and fall; then the branches dry out, with the appearance of red tubercles	Cut off diseased branches, burn them; spray with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate. Prevention: carry out treatment in the spring
Phyllostic spotting (fungal disease)	The appearance of brown spots on the leaves, their wilting	Burn the leaves; before and after flowering spraying with Bordeaux liquid

Irgi has a lot of pests:

Pests	How to get rid of
Irrig seed eaters	Processing "Karbofos" or "Fufanon"
Speckled moth
Moth (caterpillar)	Manual collection; insecticide treatment, use of trapping belts
Leafworm (caterpillar)
Apple moth	Chlorophos and entobacterin treatment

Reasons and methods of transplant

Sometimes you need to transplant a bush to another place - if it is not placed correctly, the start of construction, or for other reasons.

Transplanting an adult plant

Transplanting an adult Irga is difficult. She does not like this procedure, the older, the worse she tolerates.
For better rooting in a new place, it is dug out with a lump, which is wrapped in burlap or foil and tied.

Place a flat support and transfer to a new location. Then they are carefully lowered into the pit, freeing from the strapping. Cover the roots with earth, as when planting.

Several plants with a good root system can be obtained from the main adult shrub by dividing it. They do this in the spring, before the buds have blossomed, or in the fall, after the foliage has fallen off. After transplanting, it is necessary to compact the soil, water it abundantly and mulch.

Features of fruiting

Irga refers to seed crops such as apple, pear, quince, mountain ash, hawthorn, although more often its fruits are called berries. It is a monoecious and self-pollinating plant, although cross-pollination is also present.

All species are distinguished by early maturity and self-fertility. The difference in varieties comes down to the shape of the berries, their size, taste, ripening and yield.
The beginning of fruiting depends on the way the plant is obtained.

Irga, obtained by shoots and root suckers, gives berries in the third year.

Plants grown from seeds - for the fourth to fifth season. The fruits are formed on last year's increments.
An adult plant has mixed buds. Leaves, shoots and flowers develop from them.

Reproduction of irgi

Reproduction of irgi is possible by seed and vegetative methods.

By dividing the bush

You can get several plants with suitable roots for transplanting by dividing an adult bush. First, it is thinned out, removing old branches and shortening the young by one third.

Then they dig up the irga, trying to preserve the powerful roots as much as possible (up to 2 m in depth and in diameter). The soil is carefully removed from the dug out bush and divided into several parts so that each one has two viable shoots.

Such a transplant is carried out in early spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed, or in late autumn after leaf fall, two weeks before frost. This is used when it is necessary to transplant the irgi to another place.

Layers

For these purposes, two-year strong shoots are used.

The procedure is carried out in early spring:

• choose suitable shoots;
• dig the earth under them;
• having drawn grooves, they are laid in them;
• pinch the tops;
• instill;
• after the emergence of young shoots from the buds up to 10 cm long, sprinkle with earth up to half;
• when the length of the shoots reaches 15 cm, the soil is poured up to half.

In the fall or next spring, rooted cuttings can be transplanted.

Green cuttings

For breeding irgi with green cuttings:

1. cuttings up to 15 cm long are cut from an adult plant;
2. remove the leaves, leaving the top two;
3. the means for the formation of roots are placed in the solution (the period of maintenance in the solution according to the instructions for the means);
4. cuttings are removed, washed with water;
5. planted in a greenhouse, laying them with a slope;
6. sprinkle with a layer of sand;
7. watered by spraying water and keeping the soil moist;
8. after 3 weeks, airing begins, first during the day, and then at night;
9. transplant seedlings to the garden bed, adding a little mineral fertilizers.

The next autumn they are transplanted to a permanent place.

The method is considered the simplest.

By grafting cuttings

Inoculation with cuttings is carried out in the spring, when the juices begin to move.

A stock is chosen, the tree on which the irgi stalk will be grafted. You can be vaccinated on a different variety, but mountain ash is more often used because of its great compatibility with irga.
The stalk in the lower part is sharpened with a wedge and inserted into the incision in the rootstock bark. Press firmly and fix with a special material or film to avoid displacement.

The method is difficult due to poor survival rate; it is usually used by experienced gardeners and breeders to obtain varietal plants.

Seed propagation

For seed propagation, ripe fruit seeds are used.
They are planted immediately into the ground, deepening the seeds by 2 cm, watered and mulched.

During the winter, natural stratification takes place, young shoots will appear in the spring. Sometimes the seeds sprout in the fall, then they are covered with dry leaves for the winter.

They take care of the undergrowth by removing weeds. Three-year-old plants are ready-made planting material.
This method does not preserve varietal characteristics, preserving only specific ones.

Types of irgi

The species of irgi differ little from each other, they are associated with adaptation to the growing region and origin.

Irga is more common in North America and European countries.

Canadian breeding has significantly expanded the list of bred varieties.
It is worth appreciating the beneficial properties of irgi. The culture has a strong phytoncidal effect. Berries contain many vitamins and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the body.

Irga "oval", or "ordinary" (Amelanchier ovalis)

Deciduous shrub up to 3 m high, with a round crown, tap root system.
It grows on any soil, prefers soil with a high lime content, requires almost no watering, is resistant to dry weather, frost-resistant. Not afraid of the winds.
Does not take root by cuttings.

Reproduces:

• seeds (germination rate is low, up to 30%);
• dividing the bush;
• undergrowth.

Pruning and decorative pruning of branches tolerates well.
Sweet and juicy fruits (up to 10 mm) ripen in July-August.
Planting time: early spring, mid-autumn.

Irga "Canadian" (Amelanchier canadensis)

Shrub up to 12 m high, decorative:

• reddish color of the shoots;
• snow-white large inflorescences in the form of brushes;
• dark purple shade of berries;
• the leaves are crimson in the fall.

From an adult plant (5 years old), up to six kilograms of useful berries are obtained. Ripening time: second half of July - early August.
Does not require watering, winter hardy, does not need shelter.

It reproduces in all known ways. Best of all by cuttings and root suckers.
Irga canadian tolerates pruning and decorative "haircut" well. It grows in the polluted air of cities.
Planting in early spring or before winter.
Possesses valuable dense wood used in the creation of interior items.

Irga "lamarca" (Amelanchier lamarckii)

A hybrid of "Canadian" and "smooth" irgi. A bush 60-70 cm high, with a beautiful umbrella-shaped crown, with amber-red leaves. In autumn - with orange, tasty blue-black berries, shaped like apples.

Grown as an ornamental and berry culture.
Grows on any soil, hardy.
Propagated by cuttings.
Planting in early spring, late autumn.

Irga "alder-leaved" (Amelanchier alnifolia)

The variety is moisture-loving, unlike the others. Requires regular watering, loves moist soils (not swampy), frost-resistant. Height up to 9 m. Young shoots are lowered down.

Abundant harvests (up to 10 kg), large fruits (10-15 mm). It is used as a fruit crop. Propagated best by root suckers.
It takes root well in the city.
Planting time is early spring and autumn.

Irga "spiky" (Amelanchier spirata)

The bush is 50-70 cm high. It is distinguished by the presence of a whitish felt cannon on young leaves, on the upper part of the ovary and pedicel; the autumn foliage does not change color.
Not afraid of drought, frost-resistant (up to -50 ° C), does not require shelter for the winter.
Reproduction:

• seeds;
• undergrowth;
• dividing the bush;
• cuttings.

Planting in early spring, late autumn.

Although planting and caring for a squirrel outdoors is straightforward, the crop is unfamiliar to most gardeners. Its unpretentiousness, beneficial properties of dark purple fruits and beauty should not be overlooked.