What are the best peaches to grow in central Russia?

The trees with velvety and very juicy fruits, which are known as peaches, belong to the pink family and belong to the subgenus of almonds. Outwardly, they differ very little from other plants of this class. However, they have one but significant difference. These are their fruits.

Distribution history

It is impossible to reliably say where this culture originates, although, according to one version, the birthplace of the peach is the Celestial Empire. Wild varieties also grew in India. Then the Persians began to grow peach trees, and later the plant was brought to Europe - in particular, Italy. And gradually the ubiquitous spread of culture began throughout the Eurasian continent.

The peach tree was also cultivated in North America, where these fruits were more used to make drinks, including alcoholic ones. The cultivation of peaches in Russia began in the sixteenth century. True, this garden tree could be found only in the southern regions.

Where do peaches grow?

In Russia, the planting of this culture is concentrated mainly in the south of our country - in Dagestan, Krasnodar Territory, etc. To increase frost resistance in some regions, it is grafted on apricot. One of the most frost-resistant varieties for the Russian regions is Krasnoshchekiy. However, in the Voronezh region, “Golden Summer” or “Stepnyak Rossoshansky” are growing quite well.

Summer temperatures are not as important for a peach tree as winter temperatures, but the duration of fruit ripening depends on them. Russian regions, where the temperature does not drop below 24 ° C from June to September, are most suitable for growing this crop. At the same time, in winter, the temperature should not drop below ten degrees of frost: although the plant tolerates extreme periods, it definitely dies in cold weather of -25 ° C.

In recent years, thanks to the emergence of new, fairly frost-resistant varieties, this crop began to be grown even in such a region as the middle zone of Russia. And now, through the efforts of breeders, you can not only buy, but even grow a juicy and tasty peach yourself in the gardens of these regions.

In central Russia

The photo of this fruit is immediately associated with the hot summer. But not everyone knows that today even residents of the Moscow region can feast on their own grown peach. In the northern regions of our country, these trees are planted mainly by amateur gardeners. At the same time, when growing this culture, special options for shelter from frost are used in a particularly cold winter period. For many enthusiasts, a peach in central Russia almost every year gives an excellent harvest, delighting with delicate and fragrant fruits in rather harsh conditions.

Due to the fact that the selection of this fruit both in our country and abroad is very intensive, the cultivar renewal is much more intensive than that of other stone fruits. At the same time, experts strive to obtain not only frost-resistant varieties, but also those with increased fruit quality, suitable for transportation, as well as for storage and processing. However, the main problems that characterize the cultivation of peaches in central Russia are their adaptability to frost and resistance to major diseases such as curliness, powdery mildew and others.Judging by the assurances of experts, very hardy varieties of a plant such as a peach will be developed in the near future.

In central Russia, a photo of this tree looks more like a bush. And this is understandable: a similar cultivation technology, judging by the reviews, gives excellent results.

Peculiarities

Growing a peach in central Russia is not an easy task. Many are aware of the finicky nature of this culture. Therefore, many amateur gardeners, after long unsuccessful attempts and reflections on how to grow a peach in central Russia, have come to the conclusion that it bears fruit best in the form of a bush. From the tree in one trunk, you need to leave only a small (about forty to fifty centimeters high) shoot, which will give abundant root shoots in the spring. It is necessary to form bushes from it, which will subsequently bloom and give a good harvest.

Variety selection

You need to plant a slightly different peach in central Russia. Varieties suitable for the southern regions practically do not take root here, so many prefer zoned species. You can also get your own seedlings by planting seeds, and then selecting from the seedlings only the strongest and winter-hardy ones.

When buying seedlings in specialized stores, it is necessary to clarify the fruiting dates of this variety and opt for the earliest and undersized ones. Gardeners of the middle lane leave a lot of positive reviews about the following species: "2-Ш-10", "Dneprovsky", "Early", "Belgorodsky".

The Krasnoslobodsky peach in central Russia, which is a frost-resistant variety that can withstand temperatures down to twenty degrees of cold, has also proven itself quite well. In addition, it is fast-growing: already in the second or third year, delicious fruits weighing up to one hundred and fifty grams, rounded in shape, appear on it. White-yellow peaches of this type with a red blush on the side growing in the sun, have a juicy sweet pulp with a delicate aromatic taste.

Planting seedlings

In order to have a good harvest in the summer, you need to know well how to grow a peach, in central Russia, first of all, since this crop is new here. And the right place for planting it plays an important role in this process. For this, a sufficiently well-lit area is selected, protected from cold winds. The best option is a place near the southern wall of a building - a house or a summer cottage. At the same time, planting seedlings between trees in an old garden is unacceptable.

The optimal time for planting a crop such as a peach in central Russia is early spring. You can plant directly after the ground, having thawed, dries up a little. Experts do not recommend delaying the landing, because otherwise they take root for a long time and sometimes may even die.

In the fall, planting a tree is undesirable, since the likelihood that immature seedlings will freeze out is high. At the same time, the planting hole with a diameter of up to one meter and a depth chosen depending on the type of soil must be prepared around October.

Formation

A peach in central Russia, reviews of the cultivation of which indicate that the best yields are obtained from a plant cut to the shape of a bush, must be cut off immediately after planting. This is done as follows: the seedling is formed as a bowl - without a stem, so that the skeletal branches of the plant leave directly from the soil. Leaving only twenty centimeters above the graft is necessary to quickly build up the supply of wood and quickly restore the crown in case of frosting, since due to the low laying of fruit shoots under the snow, enough dormant buds remain on them.

The crown of a peach is formed from a maximum of five branches located close to each other - fifteen to twenty centimeters.Subsequently, every spring, when the weather stabilizes and the threat of frost has passed, cyclical pruning of peach trees is carried out, like in grapes. Two or three upper one-year-old shoots should be shortened to twenty to thirty, and those already located under them - to ten centimeters.

This ensures not only optimal fruiting of peaches in central Russia, but also recovery.

In summer, young shoots, reaching lengths of up to fifteen centimeters, are pinched above the outer bud, and all the extra ones, including those appearing in the place of the trunk, are removed. If any branch surpasses the rest in growth, it must be shortened by a bud.

Top dressing and watering

For good fruiting and growth, a peach tree growing in the middle lane needs to be fed two or three times for each growing season. For the first time, complementary foods should be given in early April. It should be ammonium nitrate and nitroammophoska diluted with water. The second time the same composition should be fertilized at the end of April, and the third time - in the first days of June.

If the soil is dry, then three days before applying top dressing, the trees need to be watered so as not to burn their roots. When fertilizing strongly growing young trees, experienced gardeners reduce the portions by almost half, believing that it is better to underfeed than to overdo it with nutrients. Timely watering is no less relevant, especially in dry weather, as well as mulching the trunk circle and periodic weed control.

Shelter for the winter

In autumn, over the peach trees growing in the Russian central lane, it is imperative to install air dry shelters, for example, boxes made of expanded polystyrene or polystyrene, the thickness of the walls of which must be at least ten centimeters. You need to lay a plastic wrap on the roof, and in winter it is better to cover the structure with additional snow.

In early spring, with the retreat of severe cold weather, the vents must be opened immediately, and in May, when frosts are no longer expected, the insulation can be removed completely.

In addition, in winter, the bole and skeletal branches of peach trees need to be whitewashed with lime, to which copper sulfate is added, and also tied with reeds or spruce legs, and if there are none, with paper or burlap: any material, with the exception of plastic wrap. This event will protect the culture from frost and sunburn, and will help to resist damage caused by rodents.

Peach propagation

The seeds of this fruit remain viable throughout the year. They need to be sown freshly harvested either in autumn or early spring after a preliminary three-month stratification. Moreover, the seedlings obtained in this way bloom by the third year.

In addition to seeds, a peach in the middle lane of our country can multiply by grafting or cuttings, but these methods are somewhat more painstaking and require special training from the gardener.

PEACH IN THE MIDDLE LAND OF RUSSIA

Details Posted on 12.12.2016 10:56

Doctor of Agricultural Sciences talks about growing peaches in central Russia Maina Vladimirovna KANSHINA (VNII lupina) and experienced gardener Victor Alexandrovich Nizyaev (Bryansk).

Growing several varieties of peach in the Bryansk region gave good results.

A peach during a dormant period requires 500 to 1000 hours of exposure to temperatures below 7.2 ºC for trees to develop leaves and bloom normally in spring. In southern latitudes, the need for rest is not satisfied. Expansion of leaves, flowering and fruiting become unstable. Since the peach originated from the monsoon part of East Asia, it is sensitive to lack of moisture and requires a significant amount of rainfall distributed throughout the summer. An example of the conditions under which the peach crop is extremely successful is the climate of the east and west coasts of North America.

About culture

A significant amount of peaches and nectarines are produced in the world. So, in 2015, the following fruits were produced (thousand tons): China - 13,200, EU - about 4,000, USA - about 900, Turkey - 560, Argentina - 290, Brazil - 220, South Africa - 170; Mexico - 160, Chile - 140, Japan - 122, Australia - 90, Canada, Russia, Ukraine - 23-30 thousand tons each.
This is the geography of the production of the fruits of this valuable culture. In Russia, peach is grown in the North Caucasus region, Crimea, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Rostov Region. According to the State Register, 57 varieties of economic use are recommended for cultivation. State register only for 2014 and 2015 was replenished with 41 varieties of household use and 11 decorative varieties of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Crimea).

Peach is a very early-growing crop, and most varieties begin to bear fruit in the 2-3rd year. Flower buds usually form on annual shoots and each has one flower. Flowers are bisexual with one pistil. Flowering begins at the same time or somewhat earlier than the blooming of the leaves. Flowers are of two types - pink and bell-shaped. In campanulate, pollen grows even in the anthers touching the pistil, breaks through the anther wall and reaches the pistil. In pink flowers, filaments are thin, long, with red-yellow and yellow anthers. The pistil is small, pollination takes place in the usual way.
After pollination, fruit growth occurs in waves. At first, the fetus develops rather quickly, then the growth rate slows down, followed by a second wave of rapid growth, ending with the ripening of the fetus.

Peach pollen is heavy, so wind pollination is limited. The predominant number of varieties are self-fertile.

Trees in abundance lay flower buds, fertilize flowers and perfectly preserve their fruits, and only in rare cases is the ovary falling off. In the conditions of Bryansk, an experienced gardener V.A. Nizyaev sprayed the flowers with the preparation "Skor" to reduce the shedding of the ovaries, after one day the shedding stopped. We believe that the cause of the dropping of the ovaries is the action of some kind of fungus.
Nowadays, interest in peach has grown significantly beyond its cultivation and began to appear in the gardens of experienced horticulturists. At first, these were southern varieties, then seedlings obtained from seeds. The spontaneous selection of the peach has led to the creation of a number of interesting forms of this culture.

The experience of a folk breeder

Many readers will certainly be interested in the experience of the Bryansk gardener V.A. Nizyaev on growing peaches in our region. Its site is located on a steep northern slope. There were planted the varieties ‘Kievsky early’, ‘Early Sycheva’ and ‘Inka’.
Polish variety ‘Inka’ fruited in the 3rd year. Due to the annual damage to the leaves by curliness and the death of shoots, the tree, although preserved, is in poor condition.

‘Kiev early’ proved to be the most adapted to local conditions. Medium-sized tree (1.8 m) with a spreading crown, blooms with bright pink flowers

Flowering variety ‘Kievskiy early’.

Fruits are large, weighing up to 150 g, excellent taste (4.9-5 points). The pulp is snow-white, ripens in early July. The fruits are beautiful, orange-ruby

      Fruits of the ‘Kievskiy early’ variety.

The variety is resistant to diseases, including curliness, rot. Fruit set is very abundant, so normalization is required. The ovaries were normalized manually. For normal fruiting, it is enough to leave the ovary on the branches after 10 cm. The yield was good, in the 3rd year after planting it gave 3 kg of peaches, later - 10-15 kg per tree.

‘Early Sychova’ has proven itself well in our conditions. The variety is more vigorous than the 'Kievskiy early'. It blooms with beautiful pink flowers.

Flowering variety 'Early Sychova'.

Ripens 10 days later (mid-July) and is somewhat inferior in taste to the latter. It has beautiful large fruits with a ruby ​​blush.

Fruiting of the Early Sychova variety '.

Resistant to curliness, fungal diseases. Ties very abundantly and requires compulsory normalization of the fruit. The pulp is white, the weight of the fruit is about 150 g. The variety is rapidly increasing its yield, from 5 kg in the 3rd year after planting to 10-15 kg in subsequent years.

      The largest fruit of the 'Early Sychova' variety.

'Veteran' seedling has a more powerful tree in comparison with the 'Kievsky early' variety, reaches a height of 3 m. Requires detailed pruning. Late ripening (third decade of August). The pulp is yellow, the taste is excellent. The average fruit weight is about 200 g, most of the large fruits weighing up to 235 g, the largest - 296 g.
40 pieces of fruits with an average weight of 200 g were harvested from a 4-year-old tree, the yield was 8 kg per tree. Resistant to curl and fungal diseases, bears fruit annually, in moderation. Fruit normalization is not required.

Seedling 'Primorsky' grown from seeds obtained by the Bryansk gardener Alexander Maksimovich Belyaev. The tree is tall, about 3 m, no further increase in height is observed. When entering the fruiting season, it requires detailed pruning. This peach bore fruit in the 3rd year, and gives a stable harvest for 5 years. At a temperature of - 28 ºС, a slight freezing of the tops of the shoots was observed, but after such a winter it bore fruit abundantly. It blooms very strongly, during flowering it serves as a decoration of the garden.

   Experienced gardener V.A. Nizyaev.

Requires strong fruit normalization. For the last 4 years, the harvest has been annual and reaches 20 kg per tree. Ripens late - in mid-September. The fruits are not large, the average weight is 40 g. Sugar accumulates in the fruits a little, but the fruits are very fragrant, good for making compotes, do not boil over, the seeds are separated medium. Possesses high winter hardiness, grows without shelter, bears fruit annually and abundantly in all weather conditions.

Peach cultivation in the Pochep District of the Bryansk Region has also been successful. Varieties 'Anniversary', ‘Ambassador of Peace’, 'Veteran' did not shelter, the trees overwintered well. Protected from the wind, they survived frost down to –30 ºС, and kidneys up to –26 º. Fruiting is average; a 5-year-old tree yields up to 10 kg of fruit.

Observational data showed that peach cultivation in the Bryansk region is possible. Even selected seedlings grown from seeds are not inferior to southern varieties in taste. For 5 years of fruiting, in contrast to the apricot, the peach bore fruit annually.
Planting was carried out in well-prepared pits 80x80 cm in size. The pits were filled with humus, peat, wood ash, fertile soil, the topsoil was mixed with sand enriched with phosphorus and boron. It is better to plant a peach in the spring, as opposed to an apricot, which takes root better in the fall. Peach, like grapes, bears fruit on an annual growth, requires the same pruning. The best crown shape is a bowl. In the 3-4th year, when the tree is well formed, the central conductor is removed.

Peach responds well to nitrogen fertilization. However, foliar top dressing with urea, by analogy with other fruit crops, is undesirable.

Peach trees well (in comparison with apple and plum) absorb potassium from the soil, therefore, during the period of fruit formation, they also need potassium fertilizers. The content of about 0.9% potassium in peach leaves is considered to be sufficient for obtaining high yields.

The site on which the observations were carried out is a steep slope of northern exposure. The peaches were planted at the top of the slope on a flat area in front of the building.

In addition to these varieties, peach varieties are also of interest. ‘Donetsk White’, ‘Donetsk yellow’... They are quite resistant to winter damage. For all varieties of peach, choose an area protected from strong winds, which dry out the shoots and worsen the condition of the trees. All fruits taste very good.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that everyone who wants to start growing a peach should start with the frost-resistant variety 'Kievskiy Early', which has tasty fruits of good quality.

MainaKANSHINA, Doctor S.-kh. Sci., FGBNU All-Russian Research Institute of Lupine.

Victor Nizyaev, an experienced gardener, Bryansk.

Published in the magazine "Gardens of Russia" №12 / 2016

See also:

Peaches: a northern gardener's dream

Far Eastern peaches: Schlicht's seedling

Peaches of Primorye: selection, winter-hardy forms

Back to Fruit Garden

Traditional southern crops such as pears, cherries, grapes and apricots have been conquering the northern territories of Russia for a long time. Breeders have bred winter-hardy varieties, fruit growers have developed agricultural technology for harsh conditions. So these kinds of crops in our gardens are now not uncommon. But here are the peaches! For many, these are only dreams. Meanwhile, there is a technology that allows you to successfully grow them in the middle lane.

But let's make a reservation right away: in order to learn the harvest of sweet, juicy, fragrant fruits, you will have to work hard.

Rule of thumb: special pruningPeach is known to be a tree. And this is its main problem - in harsh winters (and in the middle lane all winters are harsh for a peach) it freezes. And it is not possible to wrap it up in the fall. But if you form a plant in the form of a bush, practically without a trunk, the chances of success increase many times over.

How to do it? In principle, nothing complicated. Immediately after planting, the seedling is cut shortly, leaving only 20 cm above the graft - this will allow the peach, firstly, to preserve the fruit buds (with this formation, they will be under the snow and will not freeze), and, secondly, to quickly restore the crown if it all the same it will freeze.

In the second year, out of all the branches that will grow from the base, you need to leave 2-3 of the strongest. They usually bear fruit for 3 years, after which they are affected by gum flow. Therefore, in the fourth year, all shoots are cut at the level of the root collar. Over the summer, shoots grow, and in July-August a new bush is formed from it. And this time, 5–8 well-developed branches are left. Of these, 4–5 will bear fruit, and 2–3 one-year-olds will be used for replacement. And this is repeated every year. As a result, the peach bush will completely rejuvenate within 2-3 years, and it will not threaten gum removal.

Second rule: seedlings from seedThe technology described above is designed for a finished seedling. But, as practice shows, peaches grown from seeds take root much better in the middle lane, since from a young age they get used to harsh conditions.

The seeds are planted in a school in late August - early September to a depth of 3-5 cm. Seedlings appear in May next year.

A year later, in the spring, the seedlings are dug up with a clod of earth and planted in a permanent place. It is best from the south side of a house or barn, which will protect the plants from the cold northerly winds. And it is better to prepare the holes for planting them in the fall. Dig them with a diameter of 50 cm and the same depth. It is useful to add 1.5 buckets of chicken to each (or 2 buckets of rotted cow dung) and 0.5 ash. Fertilizers are thoroughly mixed with the soil right in the hole, after which it is watered. And leave until spring.

In May, the fertile soil is taken out, a seedling dug up from the ground is placed in the center of the hole, and covered with the excavated soil. The soil around the young tree is carefully tamped and watered.

At the end of the season, the seedlings that have grown over the summer are cut off, leaving 20 cm above the soil surface. Well, then everything is the same as when planting a grafted seedling.

Third rule: protection from diseaseNo matter how we form peaches, no matter how we groom and cherish them, it is always worth remembering that it’s not easy for delicate trees to survive in harsh conditions. They are always much weaker than their southern counterparts and therefore prone to disease. So special attention should be paid to protecting them from ailments.

The first processing of peaches is carried out before flowering: 3% Bordeaux liquid.

The second - immediately after flowering: 50–70 g of soda ash, 20 g of copper sulfate, 10 g of boric acid, 1 g of manganese and 10 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water.

The third - during the ripening of the fruits: with the same solution as in the second treatment, but with the addition of herbal infusion (tansy, yarrow, celandine, chamomile or nettle).

In addition, during the summer, peaches will need 5–6 waterings. So that the water soaks the soil to a depth of 40-50 cm.

In July, they need to be fed with any complex fertilizer (according to the instructions for fruit trees). And in the fall, under each fruiting bush, it is useful to add 0.5 buckets of rotted chicken (or 1 bucket of cow manure).

Fourth rule: suitable varietiesBest of all, in the middle lane, 2 varieties have proven themselves.

Early. It is less susceptible to clasterosporium disease, curliness and quite frost-resistant. And it ripens early. The first fruits usually ripen in the third decade of July, the last - by August 10. With a large number of fruits on a branch (up to 30 or more), they are small, weighing 50–90 g. And if there are no more than 10 fruits, their weight increases to 140 g. Peaches in this variety are yellow-brown, with a bright red tan. The pulp is yellow, juicy, sweet, with a light, pleasant sourness. The peel is slightly pubescent; when fully ripe, it peels off well. The stone is small, easily separated from the pulp. In good years, an adult bush gives more than 30 kg of fruit in the middle lane.

Kiev early. Also a fairly frost-resistant variety. The skin of the fruit is light yellow, sometimes with a bright striped blush. The pulp is greenish-white, juicy, tender, tasty. The bone does not separate from the pulp. But in the middle lane, it has a number of problems: it is more prone to gum flow, it is affected by curliness and the yield is lower than that of the Early variety. But the fruits are large - 100–160 g and more. Ripens in early September.

Alexey VOLODIKHIN, agronomist

Central Russia - a zone of risky farming ... The weather here is unpredictable at any time of the year. In winter, long thaws can easily be replaced by severe frosts, and rainy June - by abnormal July heat.

But even in such conditions, you can grow

finicky southern cultures

one of which is

peach ... The main thing is to learn how to cover it for the winter and

protect from spring frost

.

Peach propagation

The advantage of peach over many other crops is that a seedling grown from a seed begins to bear fruit already for 3-4 years with proper care! However, peach propagation by grafting is also practiced.

Seeds from fruits purchased on the market are not the best option, as they can be very thermophilic varieties. In addition, sometimes barren trees grow from them. A better option is to buy fruits brought from as far as possible northern regions, and ideally - to take planting material from lovers of exotic from your area.

It is recommended to plant a lot of seeds as their germination rate is less than 100%. You can sow them directly into the ground in the fall and wait for the entrances in the spring, or germinate them in a seedling method, in which the seeds are planted in late March - early April (see lunar landing calendar).

Some gardeners recommend, when using the seedling method, freeing them from the hard shell, sowing only the kernels. This makes a certain sense, since some of the seeds do not germinate due to the fact that the root cannot break through the thick shell. But it should be borne in mind that when they are split, a certain percentage of the nuclei are damaged. Choose the lesser of two evils, just be careful! Although, if there is a lot of planting material, then there is no point in unnecessary trouble.

Important! When sowing before winter, the shell should be preserved, since the bare kernel will simply freeze.

In early to mid-May, seedlings are planted in open ground. During the warm season, they can reach a height of about a meter.

Another way of breeding a peach is grafting on plum or apricot... Most gardeners agree that the best method is budding into the bottom of the trunk. It is best to do this in the spring before the start of active growth, or in August. Make sure that there are no scion buds under the inoculation site.

Peach tree shelter

At the end of autumn, after dropping the leaves, you should proceed to the most important and difficult procedure - shelter for the winter.

The ideal wintering temperature for peaches without shelter is from -5 to +10 degrees. In more severe frosts, flower buds and thin shoots die. Naturally, in central Russia there are rarely winters when the temperature never drops below -15 degrees. Therefore, hiding a peach is a prerequisite not only for the fruiting of the tree, but also for its survival.

It is easiest to cover small plants. In any case, it is advisable to constantly prune the peach to prevent the tree from overgrowing. For a temperate climatic zone, the best solution is to form a peach in the form of a bush or a squat tree. One-year and two-year-old seedlings can be safely cut to a height of 50-80 centimeters, which will greatly simplify the task.

As a covering material can be used:

• newspapers,
• old wallpaper,
• burlap,
• agrofiber.

We press the branches of the first order to the trunk, tighten them with a rope and simply wrap the plant in covering material from base to top, fastening it with threads or tape.

Perfect option - apply several layers so that air gaps are formed between them.

To prevent the paper shelter from softening from the rains, you can also wrap it with packaging film, polyethylene, etc., but only the lower half, so that condensation does not form inside in winter, provoking rotting of buds and thin shoots. You can put a bag on top. Another way to protect the paper from moisture is to build a kind of roof or umbrella over the tree.

Also a good solution - grow a peach in a greenhouse, preferably heated. If it is impossible to supply heat there, the peaches are also covered.

The third option is to dig up a young plant, transplant it into a pot and store it in the winter on the balcony or in the basement at the optimum temperature (0 ... +5).

• Disadvantages of the method: damage to the roots, early awakening of the tree from hibernation (February-March), the inability to do this with an overgrown specimen.
• Dignity: almost one hundred percent guarantee that it will not freeze.

What should be done if the tree, despite all the measures to curb its growth, has already become very large? Unfortunately, the only thing left to do is cover it with straw and then snow as much as possible. Of course, there is a risk of crown freezing, but the lower part of the tree should be preserved. In spring, branches damaged by frost are removed.

Growing peaches in the risky farming area is also a bit of a risk, but in general, getting a good harvest of this wonderful fruit is a real challenge. May luck help you in this not very simple, but not too difficult business!