The best varieties of chokeberry

Chokeberry, or chokeberry, is a highly branching shrub that grows up to 2.5-3 meters in height. The historical homeland of the plant is North America.

The shrub came to Russia in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, when, thanks to the works of I.V. Michurin, hybridogenic plant species were obtained, which then spread to the regions of Central Russia, Siberia and the Far East.
Now chokeberry bushes can be found in almost every summer cottage. Aronia is photophilous, but not demanding on soils, resistant to pests, withstands low temperatures. The purpose of planting blackberries on the site is a decorative look and a harvest of berries. Aronia is perfect for creating hedges, as it looks spectacular both in the spring-summer period and in the fall. Jam and homemade wine are made from large black berries with a characteristic bluish bloom.

There are various plant varieties on sale, including:
Danish (Aron);
Swedish (Hugin);
Finnish (Viking, Hakkia, Karkhumyaki);
Polish (Egerta, Dabrowice);
Mixed origin (Nero, Black-eyed, Rubin).

The best black chokeberry varieties for the Moscow region are those that are characteristic of Central Russia. It is recommended to purchase chokeberry seedlings in nurseries that are located nearby. This is necessary so that the plant is initially maximally adapted to the climatic conditions of the area. In addition to the characteristics of the variety, it is important to find out the purpose of the planting material, since some varieties can be exclusively decorative.

In nurseries near Moscow, you can most often find chokeberry seedlings of the Viking, Hugin, Nero and Black-eyed varieties.

Chokeberry Viking

Aronia variety Viking is a small shrub with dark green leaves, serrated along the edges. The variety blooms in May, white flowers are combined in inflorescences of 10-20 pieces. Purple-black berries slightly less than 1 cm in diameter have a flat-round shape, ripen in autumn.
Planting of seedlings is carried out in the spring, provided that frosts are no longer expected. Before planting, the plants are stored at a temperature of 0 to +2 degrees Celsius. For planting a plant in the ground, a well-lit place is prepared, hidden from strong winds.Among the soils, the most suitable for the Viking variety are loams and sod-podzolic soils with a slightly acidic or neutral environment.

The best varieties of black chokeberry (chokeberry) for the Moscow region

When planting, it is important not to deepen the seedling: the root collar must be placed at the level of the ground surface, otherwise the plant will not grow or even die. Chokeberry of the Viking variety is demanding for watering, especially in dry summers. While maintaining constant heat without rain, chokeberry needs regular and abundant watering.
With formative pruning of chokeberry, old and weak branches must be removed every year, gardeners usually leave only about a dozen strong young branches. On old branches, a decrease in the quality of the fruit is observed, therefore, such pruning is necessary to preserve the external and taste qualities of the berries.
Before wintering, young plants in the Moscow region are covered with spruce branches, the root system is mulched with foliage. Mature plants can survive the winter without shelter.

Chokeberry Hugin

Chokeberry variety Khugin is a shrub up to 2 meters high with a characteristic rounded crown. The Swedish variety is similar in its agricultural technology requirements to the Finnish Viking.
The basic rules for planting the Hugin variety are the same:
Planting seedlings only after the last frost;
Preparing the soil in a sunny place, hidden from the winds;
The location of the bushes is 2-3 meters apart;
The need for watering with a lack of moisture;
Shelter of young plants before winter.
The leaves of the chokeberry variety Hugin are dark green and shiny. Flowering is shifted to June. White flowers form lush inflorescences. The black and red berries ripen in September and are larger than those of the Viking variety.
The plant is winter-hardy, suitable for areas of the Moscow region. One of the features is the intolerance of strong pruning. The bright red color of the leaves makes the Hugin variety popular due to its spectacular decorative appearance in the fall.

Aronia varieties Nero and Black-eyed

The Nero variety is grown both for obtaining berries and as a decoration for a garden plot. The shape of the crown resembles a vase, shoots begin to branch already at the base of the bush, the bush itself up to 2 meters high looks quite compact.
The flowering of chokeberry varieties Nero takes place in the spring, earlier than other varieties, the flowers are white with characteristic red stamens. The dark green leaves of the chokeberry Nero turn yellow by autumn. The variety is characterized by large berries with a high content of vitamin C and antioxidants. The variety is frost-resistant, tolerates partial shade well, is grown for the purpose of obtaining berries and as a landscape planting.
Black-eyed variety differs from others in reduced berry astringency. Aronia Black-eyed sun-loving, unpretentious, highly resistant to pests and diseases, frost-resistant. The variety blooms in May-June and is a honey plant. The berries ripen in September, have a rounded shape, reach 1 cm in diameter. It is recommended to plant seedlings of the Black-eyed variety in autumn.

The best varieties of black chokeberry (chokeberry) for the Moscow region

Chokeberry, or black chokeberry, once a year, in the fall, turns crimson, which draws attention to it as a decorative culture. In addition, chokeberry has a huge number of useful properties - the exact translation of the name of the plant from Greek sounds like "useful black fruit".

Cultivation history

Black chokeberry, known as black chokeberry or, in the common people, black chokeberry, in fact, has nothing in common with mountain ash, they are different genera of the same family. The whole physiognomic appearance, the composition of chemical elements and the requirements for the environment distinguish the black chokeberry from the common mountain ash. Aronia was separated into a separate genus already in 1935.

Black chokeberry, called black chokeberry, has nothing in common with mountain ash, except for similar fruits

Historically, the black chokeberry has grown along rivers and lakes in eastern North America, where at least 20 shrub species can be found. In Europe, chokeberry until the 19th century was bred as an ornamental culture, and only I.V. Michurin noticed the unpretentiousness of the chokeberry. He bred a subspecies of chokeberry - chokeberry Michurin, which was obtained as a result of crossing chokeberry and mountain ash proper.

Thanks to the breeding work of I.V. Michurin and the natural unpretentiousness of the chokeberry itself, the culture spread en masse to different parts of the world. Blackberry is successfully grown in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Baltic States and Belarus. On the territory of Russia, it is found in the undergrowth and forest edges, it is most widespread in the Volga region, the Central region and the North Caucasus, it is grown in the Urals, in Siberia. Cultivated on an industrial scale in Altai.

Chokeberry assortment

Black chokeberry is a fruit and berry crop that is popular all over the world, which is why the number of varieties is constantly increasing. So, at present, in addition to domestic varieties, there are varieties of Finnish, Polish, Danish and Swedish selections.

Black Pearl

Recommended variety for growing in all climatic zones. This is a tall shrub characterized by powerful shoots and up to 3 m in height. The crown diameter can reach 2 m. The bark of young shoots has a slight reddish tint, which disappears by the second year, being replaced by a dark gray color. The flowers are bisexual. The berries are large (one weighs up to 1.2 g), purple-black, covered with a grayish bloom. The fruit tastes sweet and sour, slightly astringent.

Chokeberry fruits of the Black Pearl variety are sweet and sour, slightly astringent in taste

Viking

Finnish variety. It stands out for its cherry-like leaves. In the autumn, they become yellow-burgundy. The inflorescences consist of twenty white-pink flowers that bloom in May. Fruits are anthracite in color, flat-round, no more than 1 cm in diameter, mass ripening occurs in early autumn. Aronia Viking is an extremely decorative variety that can serve as an element of landscape design.

The Viking variety has cherry-like leaves.

Nero

Large-fruited variety of German selection. Aronia Nero is compact, with a shrub size of up to 2 m, but it has a fast growth rate - an average annual growth rate of 0.3–0.5 m. Strong branching. Inflorescences are made of snow-white flowers with reddish stamens. Leaves turn red by autumn. Fruits weighing 1–1.2 g, are collected in denser than other varieties of clusters, blue-black. The taste is sweet, juicy. Mass ripening occurs in August - September. The variety is one of the most frost-resistant.

Aronia Nero is one of the most frost-resistant varieties

Black-eyed

Black-eyed Aronia is a melliferous, extremely unpretentious and frost-resistant variety, also remarkable for its resistance to various types of diseases. Fruits are round, up to 1 cm in diameter, ripen in early autumn, the least astringent of all varieties of chokeberries. The authorship is attributed to the breeder T. K. Poplavskaya.

The Black-eyed variety was presumably bred by the breeder T.K. Poplavskaya

Hugin

A variety of Swedish selection. The height of the bush is up to 2 m. By the end of the season, the leaves turn from dark green to bright scarlet. The berries are large, glossy, with a rich black skin. It is recommended to approach the pruning of the variety with caution so as not to lose its decorative effect.

Hugin - a variety of Swedish selection

Aron

Honey variety of Danish selection. Fruit diameter reaches 1 cm, mass ripening is observed in the second half of August - early September. Inflorescences of a variety of snow-white flowers with reddish stamens.

Aron is a melliferous variety bred in Denmark

Nadzey and Venisa

Varieties of Belarusian selection, included in the State Register of Belarus in 2008. The bushes are medium-sized, spreading, not requiring pollinating varieties.The beginning of fruiting is recorded from 3-4 years after planting. The average weight of one berry is 1.3 g. Fruits are slightly oval, collected in 18 pieces. Venisa and Nedzeya varieties are relatively resistant to diseases and insects.

Aronia Venisa does not require pollinating varieties

Landing

In general, the plant does not impose requirements on soil conditions, takes root well and bears fruit on almost all types of soils. The only exceptions are saline soils. The most lush flowering and abundant fruiting is observed on illuminated moist loamy soils with a neutral reaction. The root system of the blackberry is predominantly located no deeper than 0.6 m, therefore, groundwater does not have any effect on the culture.

Aronia is undemanding to the composition of the soil

Aronia grown as a tapeworm (a free-standing plant) should be planted taking into account its growth - 3 m from tree and shrub plantations and structures. When forming a hedge, seedlings are planted every 0.5 m.

Like any fruit and berry crop, the black chokeberry has two main planting dates: spring (until the last days of April) and autumn (from late September to early November).

1. Planting in the spring. A mixture of soil, buckets of humus, 0.3 kg of ash and 0.15 kg of superphosphate is placed in a previously prepared hole with dimensions of 0.5x0.5 m at 1/3 of the depth. Then a fertile substrate is poured to half the depth and 10 liters of water are poured out. The seedling is centered, the root system is evenly distributed along the bottom. When backfilling the seat, it is necessary to constantly monitor that the root collar of the bush is not too deeply buried in the ground (the maximum allowable value is 2 cm). 10 liters of water are poured into the compacted space near the trunk and 5–10 cm of mulching material is poured. A peg can be placed in the pit before planting to tie up the young shrub. It is recommended to shorten the shoots by 1/3, leaving 4-5 buds on each.
2. Autumn planting is not much different from spring planting. However, many gardeners prefer it, since the plant spends energy on survival, and not on the formation and maintenance of leaves, which guarantees active development in the next season.

More information about planting in our article: Planting chokeberry correctly.

Reproduction

The shrub reproduces both by the generative parts of the plant: by root suckers, green and lignified cuttings, by dividing the bush, by grafting, and by vegetative ones, that is, by seeds. The most commonly used method is seed and propagation by cuttings.

Seed propagation

Chokeberry seeds are extracted from ripe fruits by grinding them through a sieve. Then they are dipped in water to remove the remnants of the pulp.

The seeds for planting are extracted from the fruit of the chokeberry

Before planting, it is imperative to carry out pre-sowing seed preparation - stratification. To do this, the washed seeds are laid out in a container with calcined river sand (proportion 1: 3), after which they are placed in the vegetable box of the refrigerator. The sand in which the seeds are located must be constantly kept moist. The complexity of the method is that the seeds may hatch ahead of time, then the temperature of their content must be lowered to 0 ºC.

The planting process is carried out as follows:

1. Seeds are planted at the end of April in grooves 6–8 cm deep, after which they are sealed and covered with any mulching material.
2. After the emergence of two true leaves at the seedlings, they are thinned out, leaving 3 cm between the seedlings.
3. When the seedling has 4–5 leaves, the plantings are thinned so that at least 6 cm remains between the shoots.
4. The next spring, the last thinning is carried out, in which the distance between young plants should be about 10 cm.
5. By the fall of the second year, the plants are ready for transplantation to a permanent place.

In the process of cultivation, a bed with seedlings is regularly loosened, watered, and weeds are removed, which are the main competitors of young plantings in the fight for nutrients. Once (in the spring), future planting material is fertilized by pouring slurry.

Generative reproduction

Reproduction of a plant in a generative way (by parts of shoots, root suckers, whiskers, dividing a bush) is one of the keys to success. With generative reproduction, in most cases, all the characteristics of the mother plant are preserved, with seed propagation, this is extremely rare.

Propagation by cuttings can be carried out in two ways, depending on the type of cuttings harvested.

Table: requirements for planting chokeberry by cuttings

Root offspring

Black chokeberry is a culture that actively forms root suckers that can be used for plant propagation.

The root shoots are separated by a sharp shovel from the mother plant along with the root system. Shoots are cut so that 2-4 buds remain on them.

Caring for such planting material is not at all different from caring for any other seedlings: from time to time it is necessary to loosen the soil, maintain cleanliness in the trunk circle and carry out regular watering.

Layers

The procedure is carried out in the spring, while the soil under the plant is dug to a depth of about 15–20 cm. For reproduction, strong healthy shoots of the last year are selected, which are bent to the ground and fixed with hairpins. Pinch the top of the shoot. Care for future layers is the same as for an adult plant: weeding from weeds, timely watering.

To obtain layering, the shoots are bent to the ground and fixed with hairpins

When new shoots from the cuttings reach a length of 12 cm, they must be sprinkled with humus. The procedure is repeated several times as it grows. It is recommended to separate and replant the daughter plant next spring.

Dividing the bush

Black chokeberry is characterized by a superficial root system, the highest concentration of roots is observed at a depth of about 0.6 m in the near-stem circle. In April, the plant is dug up and divided so that each new plant has young roots and several new shoots. At the same time, it is recommended to remove age shoots, and the places where the roots and stems are cut must be treated with crushed coal.

Planting is carried out in pre-prepared pits, at the bottom of which a mixture of humus and superphosphate is laid. Each new specimen of chokeberry should be no closer than 2 m to another. In general, the procedures for planting and caring for divisions do not differ from caring for seedlings.

Graft

Chokeberry grafting is carried out in the spring, before the start of sap flow. Young rowan seedlings are used as a stock. On the scion at the cut with a sharp knife, a split is made. The graft shoot is cut in a wedge-shaped manner, after which the places of the cuts are aligned as closely as possible and tightly wrapped with elastic material.

Experts recommend wrapping the splice with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. After about 30 days, the film is removed.

Video: inoculation of chokeberry chokeberry

Care

As a fruit crop, chokeberry does not require special care: timely feeding to stimulate yield, competent pruning to prevent uncontrolled thickening of the crown, as well as preventive treatments against diseases and pests.

Fertilization

The key to a bountiful harvest is regular feeding. Aronia, growing on fertile soils, almost does not need fertilizers, it is enough to apply 50 g of ammonium nitrate in the spring and fill the trunk circle with a layer of organic fertilizer as a mulching material (manure, compost, or humus).

As a top dressing of chokeberry, ammonium nitrate is used in the spring.

Plants in poor soils need re-fertilization after spring feeding. So, at the beginning of summer, under each chokeberry bush, they bring:

1. A bucket of mullein solution in a 1: 5 ratio.
2. A bucket of 1:10 poultry manure solution.

In the autumn, after harvesting, the plant is fertilized with a mixture of 0.5 liters of wood ash and 100 g of superphosphate.

Pruning

Chokeberry is prone to thickening of the crown, which quickly reduces the yield. Without pruning, it stretches upward and expands in breadth, forming fruits only on peripheral shoots, which get at least a drop of light. Pruning of almost all fruit trees and shrubs is carried out in two main periods: in spring and in autumn.

Chokeberry pruning scheme

In the spring, young chokeberry seedlings are cut at a height of about 0.2 m. The next year, several of the strongest shoots are selected from the emerging shoots, they are leveled to the same height, and the remaining ones are removed. The procedure is repeated annually, until the number of branches reaches ten.

In order to prevent overconsolidation of the crown, thinning pruning is regularly carried out, they try to combine them with sanitary ones: all sick, weak or drying out, low-value shoots are removed on which fruits are not tied, as well as those that grow inside the crown.

Chokeberry pruning should be done annually.

It is believed that chokeberry fruiting occurs only on branches younger than 8 years old. Branches that have reached this age must be removed from the bush, cutting as close to the base as possible; instead of such a branch, it is worth leaving a couple of strong shoots from the root growth. It is recommended to carry out 2-3 such replacements annually, rejuvenating the bush. In addition, aging shrubs can be pruned to rejuvenate. The entire bush is cut to the base of the branches, that is, "planted on a stump." The next spring, from the emerging shoots, molding begins, like a young seedling.

Additional sanitary pruning is done after harvest. During it, all broken, shrunken or infected branches are removed. Cuts of large branches are recommended to be treated with garden pitch or crushed coal in order to prevent the penetration of infections into the organs of the plant.

Chokeberry shaping into one barrel

Black chokeberry is a plant that initially has the appearance of a bush, massively forming shoots at the roots. To make the chokeberry look like a small tree, all root shoots are removed, except for the strongest one. Several apical buds are left on top of this leader annually. After the stem reaches the desired height, the growth point at the top of the shoot is removed, which stimulates lateral branching. In the future, work is carried out to form the crown.

The formation of a stem is not recommended by many specialists, although the culture tolerates molding pruning well: such an event fundamentally contradicts the nature of the chokeberry itself.

Protection from pests and diseases

Aronia is considered to be extremely resistant to insect infestation. In addition, she is almost not susceptible to any diseases. However, climatic conditions, proximity to infected plants and illiterate agricultural techniques can lead the plant to a general weakening, which will also affect its immunity.

As a prophylaxis, the bushes are treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid before bud break, in the fall, repeated treatment with the same drug or 7% urea solution is permissible.

As a preventive measure, in spring and autumn, chokeberry is treated with Bordeaux liquid

In addition, in the fall, it is recommended to carefully cut out and immediately burn damaged and diseased shoots, peel off lichens and any growths from the bark, remove leaf litter and carrion from the trunk circle, and dig up the soil in the trunk circle. Weeding and weeding, and picking up construction and other debris can also significantly reduce the risk of plant disease in your garden.

Chokeberry pests

Many fruit and berry plants and shrubs in the garden are susceptible to insects, which pose a danger to chokeberry, and this significantly increases the risk. There are at least 20 species of insects and mites that can develop on the chokeberry.

Table: pests and control

Photo gallery: chokeberry pests

Diseases of chokeberry

Infection of a plant with any virus and colonization by insects are interrelated. A rare insect is able to settle on an unsuppressed, completely healthy specimen. In chokeberry, the following types of diseases are most often diagnosed:

1. Peripheral rot is a sign that accompanies the settlement of mushrooms. Severely affected plant specimens must be removed from the root and burned by treating the soil with fungicides. Only infected bushes are treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid and any fungicides.
2. Moniliosis - fruits affected by fruit rot soften, and then mummify and partially remain on the branches. Any fruit showing signs of disease must be destroyed. It is recommended to treat infected trees with solutions of Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.
3. Septoria - diseased leaves are covered in July with light brown spots with a dark border, the inner part of which "falls out" over time, forming through holes. At the end of the growing season, the fallen leaves are removed from the trunk circle and burned. At the beginning and end of the growing season, the soil under the plants and the chokeberry bushes themselves are treated with Bordeaux liquid.
4. Brown spot - the disease manifests itself in the form of small brown spots on the leaves, which form a whitish bloom on the underside. Severely damaged leaves dry out and fall off. At the first signs of the disease, it is recommended to treat the bushes with 1% Bordeaux liquid, and destroy the leaf litter.
5. Bacterial necrosis (bark cancer) - chokeberry is affected by necrosis much less frequently than stone fruits. It manifests itself in the form of areas of weeping and falling off the bark, which at the same time exudes an unpleasant odor. All affected areas must be cleaned 8-10 cm below the damaged tissue, disinfected, and treated with garden varnish. Severely affected bushes are cut and destroyed.
6. Rust is a fungal disease that is yellow spots, on the back of which (the underside of the leaf) spores are located. Affected branches are destroyed, as well as leaf litter at the end of the growing season, chokeberry bushes are treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid.
7. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects young shoots and leaves. It is a whitish bloom, which darkens by autumn. The disease spreads quickly in thickened plantings, humid warm weather contributes to the development. For treatment, spraying with a solution of colloidal sulfur is carried out.
8. Grebenshik is a thin, leathery, grayish-brown mushroom that is most often a sign of root rot. When the bodies of the fungus are found, the bushes are treated twice with solutions of Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate during the season.

Photo gallery: diseases of chokeberry

Features of growing in the regions

Observations of the chokeberry grown in different climatic zones show that it is most productive within the following boundaries:

• in the north - in Leningrad, Novgorod, Vladimir, Ivanovsk, Perm, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo regions, in Gorno-Altaysk;
• in the south, the area is limited to Kursk, Voronezh, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg.

Moscow suburbs

The process of growing black chokeberry in the Moscow region differs little from growing in the Central region. This area is located in climatic conditions where chokeberry shows the highest productivity. In addition, the climate in the region is much milder than the Siberian one. The danger can only be a snowless winter, since the roots of chokeberry begin to freeze out at temperatures as low as -11 ° C. Among gardeners near Moscow, the following varieties are most popular: Black-eyed, Nero, Dabrovice, Viking.

Siberia, Ural and Yakutia

The introduction of shrubs into the culture in the region was initially carried out by the M.A.Lisavenko Research Institute of Horticulture in Siberia.

Chokeberry can withstand temperatures as low as -30–35 ° C, which allows it to be grown in harsh Siberian conditions. In order to prevent freezing of shoots above the level of snow cover, it is recommended to bend them to the ground before winter (practiced in the regions of Petrozavodsk, Vologda, Perm, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Omsk and Barnaul). However, you should carefully monitor the application of nitrogen fertilizers, which will not allow the bushes to prepare for wintering in time, and, accordingly, will lead to freezing or death of the plant. Most often, chokeberry in this area is affected by brown spot. Mass ripening of fruits occurs in late August - early September.

Chokeberry is freely grown both in Altai and Siberia

Ukraine and Belarus

In Ukraine, the black chokeberry is cultivated in Donetsk, South-West and other regions. The culture successfully grows in Kazakhstan and almost throughout Belarus. Chokeberry grown in Ukraine is often diagnosed with infestation by pests that are not typical for other regions - a raspberry beetle, a scale insect, a May beetle. Fruit ripening occurs in September, harvesting may be delayed until early to mid-October. In Ukraine, some experts have noticed a tendency to use chokeberry in gardening courtyards.

In Belarus, the total area of ​​chokeberry plantations is more than 400 hectares. Local varieties of Venisa and Nadzey are considered the most resistant. Ripening of the crop begins in the second half of August.

Reviews

Exceptional decorativeness and indulgence to growing conditions distinguish the chokeberry as an excellent plant for creating seasonal accents of tree and shrub groups in the garden, as well as for use in hedges. The blackberry will be a decoration of the garden at any time of the year. In addition, the plant will delight its owners with delicious fruits.

Rate the article:

(0 votes, average: 0 out of 5)

Chokeberry grows in many of us, but not everyone knows that our "black chokeberry" was created through the long selection of I.V. Michurin from seedlings of a little decorative chokeberry, which grows mostly as a weed in North America along the banks of rivers and lakes, crossed with similar crops (possibly mountain ash). Subsequently, this new species was named after its creator I.V. Michurina - "Aronia Michurin".

Our Michurin chokeberry has spread widely not only in the territories of our country, but in the near and far abroad, has not bypassed Canada and the United States, where the wild chokeberry comes from.

Aronia Michurina In turn, the mountain ash has little in common with the black chokeberry, these are completely different species, united by the pink family. Chokeberry has been a member of the Aronia genus since 1935.

Chokeberry (Aronia mitschurinii) is a deciduous shrub, about 3 m high. The roots are shallow and have many small branched roots. The crown of an adult plant can reach 3 m in diameter. Differs in high decorativeness of both fruits and foliage, the autumn foliage of the chokeberry is especially beautiful, it plays with purple, red and orange colors. The flowers of the "blackberry" are bright white, fragrant, collected in corymbose inflorescences of 20 or more flowers.

Chokeberry flowers During the fruiting period, large black berries with a bluish bloom gather in "umbrellas" on the lush green foliage. The berries of black chokeberry are juicy, round, like a pea, the size of a pea. Unripe berries are red.The taste of black chokeberry berries is sweet with a tart twist.

Growing chokeberry

Chokeberry grows rapidly and begins to bear fruit from the age of 3. From mid-August to September, its fruits ripen.

Planting chokeberry

Chokeberry is used for planting hedges, ravines are strengthened with it, it can be planted in ordinary plantings, but single specimens in gardens look good too.

Chokeberry is undemanding to soils, will grow on dry sandy, even tolerate acidic soils. It will grow well on soils of normal acidity, it also likes moist loamy soils, but not heavy so that there are more flower buds of green shoots. It requires good lighting, otherwise it will bloom poorly and there will be few fruits.

Like most fruit and berry plants, it is best to plant in the fall. But if you plant it in early spring before bud break, it will also take root normally. Aronia Michurin can be transplanted even with blossoming leaves, unlike most plants. The root system of black chokeberry is located at a distance of 50 cm from the soil surface, so the close location of groundwater will not be a problem.

Chokeberry in the nursery.

After planting, water the seedling, near a bucket of water. Mulch the earth with humus, sawdust, dry soil. Once the seedling is planted, trim it back to 4 healthy buds (about 20 cm from the soil surface) to get a strong growth.

Reproduction of chokeberry

Chokeberry is a self-pollinated culture. The easiest way to propagate chokeberry is by root suckers. The root offspring of chokeberry can grow about 40 cm over the summer and have a good viable root system, so you can safely transplant them. But this does not exclude the possibility of propagating it by seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush, layering, grafting.

Chokeberry seedlings in the nursery.

For inoculation, they usually take a stock of mountain ash, but a pear or hawthorn is also suitable.

Chokeberry care

For the berries to be large and juicy, you need to water the chokeberry during the period of fruit formation and under the condition of a dry summer.

Chokeberry should not be "fed" with fertilizers, otherwise you will get dense foliage and large stems, but the yield will be worse and winter hardiness will decrease. If you introduced organic and mineral fertilizers into the pit during planting, then for 2 years you can not fertilize the plant. From the age of five, organic fertilizers and ammonium nitrate can be applied to the trunk circle.

Chokeberry pruning

As I said, after planting, do the first hard pruning. The next year, pruning will consist in the formation of skeletal branches in a young plant - there are about 12 of them.

Remove thickening shoots every year. You can shorten the shoots after the plant has finished blooming, thereby adjusting the shape of your chokeberry.

After 7 years old branches are cut out, leaving strong young ones, thus replacing old branches with young ones. When your "blackberry" has already crossed the ten-year mark, boldly cut it to ground level. This will rejuvenate the plant.

Chokeberry harvest and its application

Chokeberry berries ripen by the end of August, but it is better to collect them after the first frost. Carefully cut off the thyroid fruit with scissors, without removing the berries from their places. This way they will last longer - you can string them on a wire and hang them in a cool, dark place. Aronia berries can be dried, frozen, made from them compotes, fruit drinks, wine, mashed potatoes, jam.

Harvest chokeberry Chokeberry is very useful and has medicinal properties. They say that chokeberry contains almost the entire periodic table: a huge amount of all kinds of compounds, vitamins, minerals.

Chokeberry fruit juice especially helps people with hypertension. But if you have a stomach ulcer, problems with the duodenum or blood clotting instantly, chokeberry fruits can be dangerous for you.

Chokeberry varieties

There are many varieties of black chokeberry, but their problem with the image is that they are all extremely similar to each other in appearance and differ only in taste, fruiting timing and other properties. Breeders in many countries have been working to improve the properties of chokeberry.

Chokeberry is ripening Danes have bred the Aron variety, the Finns presented us with such varieties as Hakkiya, Viking, Belder, Karkhumaki, the Poles shared the varieties Kutno, Dabrovice, Egerta, Nova weight ", and many more varieties are of mixed origin:" Nero "," Black-eyed "," Rubina "," Erekta "and others. If you want to plant chokeberry, it is best to choose varieties from a local nursery, they will be most adapted to the conditions of your climatic zone.

Chokeberry is a fruit and medicinal plant. Its cultivation in garden plots became possible after Michurin's selection. You can grow a bush from seeds, by cuttings or dividing the root system. We will tell in the article about growing chokeberry from seeds in the country, when to plant, what kind of care is needed and the best varieties.

Growing rowan from seeds

Chokeberry is a self-pollinated plant. Even if only one bush grows in the garden, it will bloom and bear fruit. Growing a bush from seeds is the longest, but simplest. Seeds are squeezed out of ripe berries, dried and stored in a dark place. Seeds are sown in the ground in autumn (September to October) or spring.

Chokeberry berries ripen at the end of September.

Council number 1. For spring planting, seeds are stored in a basement in wet sand.

The seed planting process is as follows:

1. Seeds are evenly sown into the furrows made up to 8 cm deep.
2. The furrows are covered by 0.5 cm with earth, and a layer of sawdust is placed on top.
3. After the emergence of two leaves on the shoots, the seedlings are thinned out. The distance between the seedlings should not exceed 3 cm.The next thinning is done when five leaves grow, the distance between the bushes is 6 cm.

In total, three thinnings are made, the last one is done in the spring after a year. The soil must be loosened, watered and fertilized. For 1 sq. M. the site will require 5 kg of mullein solution.Read also the article: → "Fertilizing the soil with manure."

Reproduction of black mountain ash by cuttings

There are two types of cuttings for growing a bush:

• woody;
• green young stems.

In the first case, take annual shoots, which have formed more than two young branches. Cut the cuttings in autumn in September and plant them in the same period. Before winter, they have time to take root. We give the technology for preparing cuttings for planting in the table.

Parameters	Description
Shaft length	15-20 cm.
Slicing	The upper cut is made on the kidney obliquely at 45º, the lower one - 2 cm below the kidney.
Number of buds on the handle	5-6, cut off the extra ones.
Number of buds above ground	Two buds are left on top of the soil and two are buried in the ground.
Distance of planting cuttings in a row	10-15 cm.
Distance between rows with cuttings	60-70 cm.

Council number 2. Do not take perennial shoots for grafting, because they take root worse and there is a chance that the cutting will die.

After planting the seedlings, the soil around the stalk is pressed and mulched with peat. In order for the cuttings to take root better, the soil is loosened in the first month and does not allow dryness.If you grow rowan from green cuttings, then a good root system is formed in the seedling in a year. Cuttings are cut only from large bushes, up to three seedlings are obtained per year. The requirements for planting cuttings are given in the table.

Parameters	Description
Shaft length	10-15 cm.
Incisions	An incision is made above each kidney, in the lower part - up to three incisions above the kidney.
Number of leaves	Three upper leaves are left, the lower ones are cut off.
Number of kidneys	5-6.
Planting depth of cuttings	7-10 cm.
Distance of planting cuttings in a row	3-4 cm.
Distance to the top of the greenhouse	15-20 cm.

The root part of the cuttings is dipped in a growth stimulant solution for 12 hours, then planted in a greenhouse.

Sapling growing technology:

1. Within a month, the soil is watered abundantly from a watering can. The greenhouse must be closed.
2. The greenhouse is ventilated if the air temperature in it exceeds 25 degrees.
3. After a month, the film is opened for a day, and closed at night.
4. After 10 days, when the seedlings take root, the greenhouse is left open overnight. Then the bushes are transplanted into open ground.
5. After transplantation, the bushes are fertilized. Choose liquid nitrogen fertilizers or mullein infusion.

There are several ways to increase the survival rate of rowan seedlings. Hardening, top dressing and proper care are used, which consists in abundant watering, mulching and loosening the soil. To increase the survival rate, there are modern complex fertilizers.

In addition, they increase yields and disease resistance. When planting seedlings for the root system, growth stimulants are used. These are "Kornevin", "Epin", "Zircon" and others. It is enough to soak the root in the solution.When planting and during watering, a complex organic-mineral fertilizer of the BioMaster type is used. The survival rate in this case is from 70 to 100%.

Planting rowan seedlings in spring and autumn

Chokeberry is not whimsical to growing conditions. Sunny and shaded areas are suitable. As for the soil, the bush prefers sandy loam and loamy soils, but black soil or other fertile soils do not lead to an increase in yield. Saline soils are also not suitable.

Rowan loves moisture and neutral soil, grows well near the places of occurrence of groundwater, because the roots grow only 50 cm deep.The northern regions are more suitable for the chokeberry than the southern ones.The bush is planted in September, but the plant takes root in the spring and even in the summer.

For planting, choose healthy seedlings with a well-developed root system.

When buying a seedling, pay attention to the root. Its length is at least 25 cm, and the number of branches is at least three. Only living roots will take root in the ground, if for some reason the roots have become dry or sluggish, then they are kept in water for three days, and then planted in the ground.

Saplings are planted in cloudy weather or in the evening. Before that, a hole is dug 60x60x45 cm in size.Fertilizer is laid at the bottom, which consists of the following components:

• 10 kg of peat, compost or humus;
• 300 g of ash;
• 60 g of potassium sulfate;
• 150 g superphosphate.

On top of the fertilizers, 1/2 hole is covered with soil and poured with a bucket of water. The seedling is placed in the center, the root should be at a depth of 1.5 underground. Carefully, so as not to damage the root system, the pit is filled up, tamped around the stem and watered. From above, the soil is mulched with peat or sawdust. Layer thickness 5-10 cm.Spring planting is similar to autumn planting. Gardeners prefer to plant seedlings in the fall, in which case the earth will be compacted during the winter, and in the spring the bush will grow.

Caring for shrubs in the garden

Care consists of abundant watering, pruning and fertilizing. Work begins on the formation of the bush at the beginning of April:

1. Cut off dry and diseased branches, and also form the bush itself. Leave up to 20 shoots, remove the excess. The length of the branches should be up to 1 m from the root. Read also the article: → "Cutting trees and shrubs."
2. The lower part of the crown is treated with lime.
3. Nitrogen fertilizers or organic matter (humus or manure) are introduced.
4. They treat the bush for diseases. This is done before the formation of the kidneys. Apply Bordeaux mixture.

In May, weeds are removed that sprout around the bush.To renew the bush, some shoots are cut at the root, in which case the bush bears fruit and grows up to 20 years in one place. Rowan needs watering during the growing season and during the formation of fruits. 20-30 liters of water are poured over the bush. In dry summers, rowan is watered daily.

Rowan loves abundant watering. Water both the root and the entire bush.

Water is not poured at the root. Furrows are made around the bush at a distance of 30 cm from the crown and water is poured into them. After watering, the soil is loosened and weeded from weeds. In total, they do five loosening, one in the spring, and the rest in the summer. The latter is carried out after harvesting, then the soil is mulched.

For the winter, the bush is treated for pests, and the trunk is highlighted and covered with mulch. Five-year-old bushes do not need to be mulched. As for pruning, the first is done immediately after planting the seedling. 4 buds are left, about 20 cm high from the soil surface.

After a year, the branches are cut to form a bush. Leave 12 branches, make sure that the shoots do not thicken. Shoots are cut off at the root on seven-year-old bushes, instead of them young branches grow.

Fertilization and pest control

• In the summer, during flowering, potash is added. Complex preparations are selected, for example, "Kemira Universal" or "BioMaster".
• Fertilizers in granules are applied directly under the root, the soil is loosened and watered to dissolve the product.
• Liquid dressing is used during watering, as well as for spraying the entire bush.

If organic and mineral fertilizers are applied during planting, then the bush is not fertilized for two years so as not to overfeed it.

Chokeberry rarely gets sick, but in summer a lot of pests appear. Allocate spider and red mites, apple aphids. The bush is regularly examined and, in case of symptoms of the disease, the plant is treated with special compounds. Even folk remedies are used. For brown spots on the leaves, fungicides are used. For pests, insecticides such as Intavir are used.

Popular varieties of chokeberry

In Russia, two varieties of mountain ash are popular: Siberian and Michurin's chokeberry. They are adapted for growing in the northern regions of Russia. The following varieties of bushes have also proven themselves well:

1. Viking. The variety obtained as a result of Finnish selection, is distinguished by its yield and frost resistance. For planting seedlings, sunny areas are chosen, preference is given to loamy or sod-podzolic soils with a neutral environment. Berries are larger in size than black currant fruits.
2. Hugin. Suitable for the decoration of the site. The bush grows up to 2 m. The seedlings are placed at a distance of 3 m from each other. Despite the increased winter hardiness, the branches are cut with special care to prevent the death of the bush.
3. Nero. Suitable for growing in climatic regions with harsh winters, as well as in shaded areas. The fruits contain an increased amount of vitamins.
4. Black-eyed. Possesses increased resistance to diseases, mountain ash is not whimsical to care for. Loves sunny areas. The berries are not tart, unlike other varieties.
5. In nurseries near Moscow, you can also find varieties of Aron, Hakkia, Karkhumyaki, Rubin, Venis and Egert.

In the central regions of Russia, seedlings of the varieties Viking, Nero, Chernookaya and Khugin are grown.

Answers to frequently asked questions about planting, care and reproduction of chokeberry

Question number 1. When are seedlings transplanted?

When growing a bush from seeds in the second year of life, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. This is done in early spring. The bush must be fertilized and watered so that it takes root.

Question number 2. When to cut green cuttings from a bush?

Cut the cuttings in early summer in order to immediately plant them in cold greenhouses. In this case, we get a ready-made seedling before winter. Cut from the top or side branches of the bush. Cuttings are taken from all shoots in the fall.

Question number 3. When are cuttings transplanted from greenhouses?

If a seedling is planted before mid-summer, then by the end of August it is transplanted into open ground. Cuttings planted in autumn grow in a greenhouse until spring, and then they are planted in a garden plot.

Question number 4. What fertilizers are suitable for rowan seedlings?

It is better to alternate top dressing. Mineral and organic fertilizers are used. The plant responds well to nitrogen fertilization. 30 g of ammonium nitrate are diluted in a bucket of water. Mullein infusions are used as organic dressings, slurry is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 6. Peat, compost are also used, and wood ash is used to neutralize the soil. For 1 sq. M. you will need 400 g of the product. Read also the article: → "Features of soil fertilization with peat."

Question number 5. What are the ways of mountain ash propagation?

The bush is propagated by seeds, cuttings, branches (horizontal and vertical), grafting and root processes.

Errors of gardeners for growing rowan

Here are some common mistakes:

1. Planted cuttings must be mulched. Sawdust mixed with manure is used. If this is not done, the seedlings will freeze and not take root. Through a layer of mulch, the soil must be watered.
2. Seeds and cuttings are stored in wet sand in a cellar, otherwise they will die.
3. When planting bushes in sunny areas, the distance between plants should be more than 2 m. This will facilitate maintenance, and the bushes will grow large and branched.
4. Before planting, the seedling is inspected. It must have green bark, all dry and diseased roots are cut off, otherwise the plant will not take root.
5. Do not overfeed the plant with fertilizers, otherwise the foliage will grow thick, and the yield, along with winter hardiness, will decrease.

Rate the quality of the article. We want to be better for you: