Irga edible is the largest variety of berries. Irga: types and varieties (photo and description). Reproduction by dividing the mother bush

The agrotechnology for growing shadberry is quite simple, since the plant is unpretentious, due to its species characteristics:

  • Drought tolerance.
  • Winter hardiness.
  • Rapid growth.
  • Precocity.

In addition to harvesting its own berries and excellent melliferous properties, the plant can be used as a stock for growing dwarf pears and apple trees.

Types and varieties of irgi

As cultivated plants grown about two dozen types of shadberry, here is some of them:

  • Spiky.
  • Alder-leaved.
  • Lamarck.
  • Canadian.
  • Oval or regular.

In addition, in the process of selection, gardeners bred many varieties of this wonderful plant, for example, such:

  • Smokey.
  • Thyssen.
  • Honeywood.
  • Altaglow and others.

The fruits of the plant have an average weight ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 or more grams, and their diameter ranges from 5 to 18 or more millimeters. The yield depends on the age of the bush, this figure gradually increases from 6 kg in the fifth year of cultivation to 15 or more kilograms in the future. And now let's talk in more detail about some varieties and varieties of irgi.

Irga spiky

It is a tree up to 5 meters in height or a deciduous shrub with a dense oval crown. Forms numerous shoots. Its smooth berries are up to 10 mm in diameter, have a round shape and a purple-black color with a bluish coating. Varietal features: winter hardiness, drought resistance, tolerates smoke and gas contamination of the surrounding air. Begins fruiting at the age of four.

it shade plant with spherical, slightly elongated black fruits. The taste of berries simultaneously resembles blueberries, mountain ash and plums. The berries are sweet and do not have "sourness" at all.

Irga canadian

It is a powerful shrub up to six meters high or a ten-meter tree. Forms many thin shoots. Round fruits of dark purple color, covered with a bluish bloom, sweet in taste, collected in brushes of 5–12 pieces. The features of this variety of plants include its frost resistance, high decorative qualities, undemanding to moisture and soil quality.

Irga Lamarck

This plant, due to its high decorativeness, is most often used for the purpose of landscaping areas. As rootstocks for apple and pear trees, the Lamarck irga is also of high value, since it increases the winter hardiness of the scion, and also allows you to plant a garden on waterlogged soils that are undesirable for other stone fruit varieties.

This shrub, reaching a height of up to 2.5 meters, mainly grows in dry places - forests, rocky slopes, forests. Blue-black berries covered with a bluish coating. This type of shadberry is resistant to droughts, but does not tolerate frost, therefore it is able to endure wintering without special shelters only in the southern part of the country. As for the soil, it prefers saturated nutrients lime soils.

Smokey

This variety is most often used in industrial plantings of shadberry in Canada. Its round, fleshy fruits reach a diameter of 16 mm. They are very juicy and have a mild, sweet pleasant taste. The productivity of one bush can reach 40 kg.

Thyssen

Of all the varieties of shadberry, it is on Thyssen that the largest fruits grow - up to 18 mm in diameter. They are quite good in taste - sweet and fragrant. The plant blooms earlier than others and is highly productive, although the fruits ripen unevenly.

Honeywood

Large fruits of the variety, up to 16 mm in diameter, have a shape from flattened to rounded. The berries are blue-black, have a slight wax coating, united in brushes of 9-15 pieces. They are great tasting and aromatic. The plant is highly productive, resistant to powdery mildew.

Altaglow

The variety is distinguished by the white color of the fruit, very decorative, grows in the form of a column or pyramid. It has an interesting range of autumn foliage colors.

Landing

Both spring and autumn planting of irgi is practiced, although it is preferable to do this in the fall. The place for placing the plant is chosen light, and the soil is sandy or loamy, although this is not important. The main condition is fertile soil. You can ignore the acidity of the soil, but as for the depth of groundwater, it is better not to place plants in places where they are located high, with the exception of Lamarck's irgi.

Site preparation for autumn planting should begin in the spring - black steam should be kept on it until planting.

In autumn, 40 g / m² of potash and phosphate fertilizers are applied to the soil, then the site is plowed up to a depth of 15 cm.

Seedlings at the age of 1–2 years are planted for a hedge at a distance of 0.5–0.7 m from each other, and for a berry plantation - according to the scheme of 4 × 2 meters.

The pit for the plant should have a size of 60 × 60 × 50 cm. The arable layer taken out of it is mixed with compost and sand in a ratio of 3 × 1 × 1.

The following nutrient composition is introduced into the pit:

  • Humus - 1-2 buckets.
  • Potash fertilizer - 0.15 kg.
  • Phosphate - 0.4 kg.

The roots of the seedling in the pit are straightened along a pre-prepared mound and covered with a mixture of soil, compost and sand, while the root neck is not deepened. After planting, watering is done - up to 10 liters of water per plant, after which the settled surface of the pit is filled with soil to the level of the surrounding soil and mulched using humus, peat or dry soil. The seedling is cut to a height of 15 cm, while 4-5 full-fledged buds should remain on it.

Irga care

Watering the plant makes sense only during a drought, while washing away the dust from its foliage. It is better to start watering in the evening, at the end of which the soil around the bush is weeded and loosened.

Concerning fertilizer, then they should be applied when the plant reaches the age of 4–5 years. At a distance of 20 cm from the trunk, the following composition is introduced for digging:

  • Humus - 2 buckets.
  • Superphosphate - 0.3 kg.
  • Chlorine-free potash fertilizer - 0.2 kg.

In spring or summer, organic matter is introduced - for one plant - 5 liters chicken manure dissolved in water (1:10), watering is carried out before application.

pruning

In autumn, the bushes must undergo thinning and sanitary pruning, in addition, all fallen leaves should be removed from the site. The shadberry winters without shelters, except for the oval shadberry in the northern regions of the country.

Plant pruning rules:

  • The first years are left only the most powerful zero shoots.
  • When the shrub gains strength, a couple of the oldest stems should be removed annually, leaving a couple of young ones instead.
  • Vertical shoots of young bushes should be shortened by ¼ of the increase over the previous year.
  • In older plants, lateral branches are removed so that the crown grows in breadth.

Processing of cuts on young shoots is not carried out, but on old ones it is used Oil paint, dissolved in natural drying oil. To rejuvenate old bushes, they are cut “under the stump”.

reproduction

Irgi breeding types

A plant can be propagated in several ways, using its various parts for this:

  • Seeds.
  • Root growth.
  • Root cuttings.
  • Green cuttings.

But for varietal irgi slightly fewer options:

  • Budding.
  • Green cuttings.
  • Grafting with a cutting.

Concerning seeds, then before sowing, they should be stratified for 90–100 days. We sow 2 grams per linear meter, close up one and a half - two centimeters. Row spacing - from 15 to 20 centimeters. After germination, we thin out, leaving one plant per 7–10 cm in a row. Seedlings in a school grow for 2 years, they should be planted in a permanent place when they reach a height of 40 cm.

green cuttings harvested from young shoots in the II-III decades of June. Their length should be 15 to 20 cm. in a greenhouse equipped with a fogger.

Root offspring, on which high-quality roots have already formed, are transplanted to a place of constant growth either after forcing, or after growing for one to two years.

Concerning root cuttings, then they should be cut into lengths from 10 to 15 cm, with a diameter of 7 to 8 mm. For rooting, planting is carried out in the spring, immersing the cutting in the ground vertically, for its entire length.

The most valuable varieties of the plant can be grafted with a cutting on a seedling of shadberry, hawthorn or ordinary mountain ash. Grafting, in order to obtain a beautiful standard form of shadberry, is best done on hawthorn or mountain ash, at a level of 50–60 cm from the soil.

Pests and diseases

This plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests, however, in the population there are:

  1. tuberculosis(drying of branches). Control measures: pruning and burning of diseased shoots, as well as spring spraying of plants with Bordeaux liquid or a solution of copper sulfate.
  2. (brown, gradually blurring spots on the foliage, covered with fluffy mold). The leaves turn yellow and fall off. Most often, the development of pathology is associated with waterlogging of the soil, therefore, in order to save the irgu from death, one should either normalize watering or transplant the tree to a more suitable place. Treatment consists in treating the plant with Bordeaux liquid, oxychome, cuprosate or topaz.
  3. Phyllostic leaf spot(spots of brown-brown color on drying and falling leaves). Sick leaves are removed, the bush is processed before and after flowering with Bordeaux mixture.

From insects, irgu can damage moths and Irga seed-eaters. You can fight this scourge with the help of karbofos, actellik and fufanon.

Beneficial features

The fruits of this plant contain many useful substances for the human body that help it resist:

  • Stress.
  • Infections.
  • Oncological disease.
  • Alzheimer's disease.
  • Cataract.
  • Night blindness.

Irga also has anti-inflammatory, astringent, wound healing and detoxifying effects.

Plant an irgu on your site and get in one plant a beautiful honey plant, a site decoration, a delicious juicy berry, and, finally, a whole range of substances useful for the body. Well, the agricultural technology of its cultivation is within the power of even a novice gardener.

Irga Canadian is a very decorative and abundantly fruiting shrub. Its berries are not only tasty, but also very useful. The plant is valued by gardeners for its general unpretentiousness, high productivity, immunity to many common diseases and pests.

Description of Canadian irgi

Irga is a deciduous tree-like shrub from the rose family. In nature, it is mainly distributed in North America. There, without any care, it grows like a weed, including on the roadsides, as well as on the edges of forests, mountain slopes. In Russia, some varieties are found in the Crimea, the Caucasus. The period of productive life of the shrub is quite long, at least 45–50 years. At the same time, it is characterized by rapid growth and precocity. The first harvest is taken already 3–4 years after landing in a permanent place, by 8–10 years, the irga reaches the maximum possible indicators. On average, you can count on 20-25 kg of berries from a bush. They ripen in the first half of July.

The first crop of shadberry is harvested already 3–4 years after planting in a permanent place.

Since the temperate climate is ideal for shadberry, it is intended by nature for cultivation in most of Russia. High frost resistance allows her to winter without special shelter, not only in the Moscow region, but also in the North-West region. As practice shows, the plant survives and bears fruit even in the forest-tundra, tundra.

Irga Canadian, cultivated by gardeners since the 17th century, is known by many different names. At home (in Canada), it is called a word borrowed from the language of the Aboriginal Indians - "Saskatoon". Other nicknames are “northern grapes”, “wine berry” (irga is widely used for home winemaking), “shady shrub”, “children's”, “healthy” or “June berry”, “cinnamon” (due to its resemblance to small black grapes) .

The average height of an adult plant reaches 2–7 m. At the same time, he can have 20-25 trunks. The shoots are long, with a smooth bark, slightly drooping under their own weight. Young branches cast reddish or brick, then gradually turn brown. The crown is spreading, in the form of an ellipse or umbrella.

The leaves are not too large (up to 10 cm in length), ovoid, soft to the touch. The surface of the leaf is rough on both sides, pubescent with a short soft “pile”, due to which it seems to be covered with silvery hoarfrost. Young, newly blossomed leaves are painted in olive color with a brown undertone, in summer they are characterized by a bluish-gray or pinkish tint, and by autumn they acquire a very effective crimson hue interspersed with crimson-raspberry, dark purple and orange-gold. The edges are cut with small "teeth".

The leaves of the canadian shadberry change color during the season

The root system of the irgi is well developed, but superficial. Most of the roots are located at a distance of 40–50 cm from the surface of the earth, some go 90–100 cm deep. But in diameter they grow up to 2–2.5 m.

It is extremely difficult to uproot the irgu completely, even if you specifically set yourself such a goal.

In autumn, the Canadian irga looks very impressive.

Flowering occurs in the last decade of April or the first days of May. It lasts 12-15 days. The shrub at this time looks very impressive.

Irga is a good honey plant, attracting bees and other insects to the site. Its name in Latin (Amelanchier) means "to bring honey."

Flowers rarely suffer from spring frosts, they can withstand a short drop in temperature to -5ºС. The buds are collected in beautifully falling brushes of 5-12 pieces. Almost everyone is a future berry. Petals are snow-white or vanilla-cream.

Canadian shadberry flowers attract many pollinating insects to the site

The fruits of the irgi are rounded, in the shape of an almost regular ball. Ripe berries are colored inky purple with a bluish bloom, a little underripe - dark blue, unripe - pink. The crop does not ripen at the same time, so on the bush you can see the fruits of all three shades at once. Of all the types of irgi, it is the Canadian one that has the best taste. The pleasant sweetness is due to the high content of sugars and the low content of fruit acids.

The crop of Canadian shadberry ripens gradually, over several weeks.

Irgi berries are suitable for home canning, but apples, red or blackcurrant. Irgi juice is very useful for the heart and blood vessels. But it will not be possible to squeeze it out of freshly picked fruits. Berries should be allowed to lie in a dry, dark place for 5-6 days. If you leave it there for 1.5–2 months, the irga will turn into something similar to raisins.

Irga, alone or together with other berries and fruits, is widely used in home canning

Varieties popular with gardeners

Most of the varieties grown in garden plots are bred in Canada, but Russian breeders also have their own achievements. The most popular are the following varieties:

  • Pembina. The bush is almost spherical, 4.5–5 m in diameter, very decorative at any time of the year. Distinguished by a reluctant education root growth, which is, in principle, atypical for irgi. Berry diameter - 1.4–1.5 cm;
  • Smokey. One of the most popular varieties, almost a standard. At home, it is grown on an industrial scale. Differs in high immunity. It grows up to 4–4.5 m. The shoots are clearly drooping, the crown is in the shape of an umbrella. It blooms only in the last decade of May, when the probability of return spring frosts is already minimal. The average diameter of the fruit is about 1.5 cm. The berries are very sweet, juicy, without astringency. Productivity is high - more than 25 kg from an adult plant;
  • Northline. The bush consists of at least 25 trunks, upright shoots. The height is about 4 m, the crown diameter is 5.5–6 m. The average diameter of the berries is 1.6–1.7 cm, unlike most other varieties, they ripen at the same time. Their shape is not round, but rather ovoid. Fruits can be harvested not only manually, but also mechanically. The formation of root shoots is very plentiful. For the highest possible yield, a pollinator variety is needed;
  • Sturgeon. Spreading shrub, 2.5–3 m high. It is distinguished by high productivity and excellent fruit taste. Berry brushes are very long, resembling grapes;
  • Thiessen. It grows up to 5 m in height, the crown is wide, sprawling. The plant blooms early, the crop ripens at the end of June. The berries are large, 1.7–1.8 cm in diameter, sweet, with a slight sourness. The pulp is very juicy. Fruiting stretches over several weeks. Frost resistance up to -30ºС;
  • Martin. One of the clones of the Thiessen variety. compact bush up to 3 m high and 3–3.5 m in diameter. The average fruit diameter is 1.5 cm or more. The yield is not too high, the formation of root shoots is moderate. Fruiting is friendly. The variety has a high immunity against diseases, rarely affected by pests. The berries ripen 1.5–2 months after flowering;
  • Sleith. One of the earliest varieties, the berries are almost black. They differ in excellent taste and aroma. The average fruit diameter is 1.2–1.4 cm. Fruiting is friendly. Winter hardiness at -32ºС;
  • mandam. A variety of medium ripening, a low shrub, up to 3 m. It bears fruit stably. Berries with a diameter of more than 1.5 cm, no sour taste;
  • ballerina. Shrub tall (6 m or more), shoots strongly drooping. The berries are juicy and very sweet, hints of almonds are guessed in the aroma. It tolerates adverse environmental conditions well, grows and bears fruit even in the city;
  • Nelson. An almost spherical shrub with a diameter of about 4.5 m. The berries are not too large, 1.2–1.3 cm. The pulp is very juicy, with a tart aftertaste and slight sourness. The variety has a genetically built-in immunity to rust, blooms 7-10 days later than most varieties of shadberry, respectively, less often falls under return frosts;
  • honeywood. The height of the bush is about 5 m, the diameter of the crown is 3.5–4 m. The first crop is harvested already 2–3 years after planting. The berries are dark blue, as they ripen, they become magenta hue. They can be both spherical and slightly flattened. The average diameter of the fruit is about 2 cm. The brushes are long (each with 9–15 berries), reminiscent of grapes. The pulp is very fragrant, with a slight tart aftertaste. Few basal shoots, flowering later. Fruiting stretches for 2-3 weeks;
  • JB-30. Crown with a diameter of 5.5-6 cm, the height of the bush is about the same. Berries taste almost indistinguishable from wild shadberry, but much larger - about 1.7 cm in diameter. Perfectly ripe fruits are colored in dark blue color, yield - about 20 kg per bush;
  • Bluff. One of the latest achievements of Canadian breeders, among amateur gardeners, it is still not widely distributed. The berries are not too large (1–1.2 cm in diameter), but they are ideal for processing due to the fact that their seeds are very small. The taste is pleasant, slightly tart;
  • Prince William. The bush is compact, with a diameter of no more than 2.5 m. The variety is highly cold-resistant and decorative. In autumn, orange-scarlet leaves stay on the plant until the first frost. The average diameter of a berry is 1.2 cm;
  • Pierson. Canadian variety. The plant is powerful, multi-stemmed. Differs in intensive formation of basal shoots. The average fruit diameter is 1.8 cm or more. Taste qualities excellent. It blooms late, the harvest ripens in early August;
  • forestbourgh. A bush about 4 m high, at first erect shoots gradually droop. Basal shoots are not formed too much. Berries with a diameter of 1.4–1.6 cm, collected in dense brushes of 8–13 pieces. The fruits ripen together. Winter hardiness up to -40ºС, the variety is also resistant to drought. Immunity against diseases and pests is high;
  • Krasnoyarsk. Russian variety of late ripening. The bush is not very tall, 3.5–4 m. The berries ripen in the last decade of July or early August. It depends on how warm and sunny the summer is. Differs in winter hardiness at the level of -40ºС and more. The fruits are 1.8–2 cm in diameter, the taste is pleasant, sweet and sour.

Photo gallery: Canadian shadberry varieties popular with gardeners

Irga Pembina practically does not need to form a bush Irga Smoky at home - one of the most popular varieties grown on an industrial scale Irga Northline can be harvested mechanically Irga Sturgeon - a fairly compact shrub, suitable even for small garden plots Irga Thiessen due to early flowering can to fall under return spring frosts Irga Sleith is one of the first to ripen The yield of Mandam shrimp is little affected by the weather during the summer Irga Ballerina - a very tall shrub Bluff - a relatively new cultivar of shrimp Irga Martin - a clone of the second generation of the Thiessen variety Irga Nelson is protected by the creators from rust damage Irga Honeywood - a large-fruited variety Berries of Irga JB-30 taste almost indistinguishable from wild Irga Irga Prince William - compact and very ornamental bush Irga Pierson - a powerful, sprawling plant Irga Forestbourgh is valued for one-time fruit ripening and very high winter hardiness Irga Krasnoyarskaya - a successful achievement of Russian breeders

There is a Lamarck shadberry, which is often characterized as one of the Canadian shadberry varieties. But in fact, this is a separate type of plant. Irga Lamarka is most often used in landscape design, flowering plant looks very nice.

Irga Lamarka is widely used in landscape design

It differs from the Canadian one in a larger size of flowers, profusion of flowering and a copper-red tint of young leaves. Irga Lamarka also bears fruit, but her berries are small (up to 1 cm in diameter), and the yield is not too high - 5–7 kg per adult plant.

planting procedure

Irga - . This also applies to the choice of planting site and soil quality. It tolerates shade well, does not suffer from cold northern winds, therefore hedges are often formed from tall shrubs along the perimeter of the site, thus protecting other plantings. Others can be placed next to the irga berry bushes- raspberries, gooseberries, currants. On the open space culture also grows well, but direct Sun rays does not love.

Canadian Irga will easily endure penumbra, the bright sun for her is not the best option

Irgu is planted both in spring and autumn. It depends on the climate in a particular region. If it is moderate, then spring is more suitable. Over the summer, the plant will definitely have time to adapt to new living conditions. In areas with a subtropical climate, landing can be planned for September and even for the first half of October, being sure that at least 2–2.5 months are left before the first frosts.

Seedlings bought in the fall can be stored until next spring without compromising quality. They are planted in a container filled with wet sawdust or a mixture of peat and sand, which is removed in a dark place with a temperature slightly above 0ºС. There are other ways - to dig the seedlings in the garden, placing them at an angle, and then pour a high snowdrift on top, or simply wrap them in several layers of breathable covering material and throw them with snow.

Canadian shadberry seedlings are most often purchased in the fall, at this time there is more choice.

A pit for irgi is prepared in advance, at least a few weeks before the planned landing. About 50 cm deep and 60–65 cm in diameter are sufficient. From fertilizers, humus (15–20 l), simple superphosphate (200–250 g), and potassium sulfate (70–80 g) are added to the upper layer of fertile soil.

Coarse river sand (about 10 liters) and a layer of drainage at the bottom will help to make the soil looser.

A deep landing pit for irgi is not needed

With the simultaneous planting of several plants, at least 2–3 m are left between them. If it is planned to form a hedge, the irgu is planted in checkerboard pattern with an interval of 50–70 cm. A sufficient area for feeding an adult plant is 6–10 m².

Irga does not impose special requirements on the quality of the soil, however, the ideal option for it is light, but fertile loamy or sandy loamy soil. If the soil is very poor, the bush, in search of food, will begin to grow very actively in breadth, forming a huge amount of root growth, which is almost impossible to eradicate. The acid-base balance for the shadberry does not matter, but it does not treat acidic soil very well. If a ground water lie closer than 2–2.5 m from the surface, it is advisable to find another site, otherwise the roots may begin to rot.

When planting irgi, the root neck should be deepened by 5–7 cm, and the seedling itself should be tilted at an angle of approximately 40–45º. This contributes to the active development adventitious roots. The tree must be watered abundantly (10–15 l). Then the soil in the trunk circle is mulched. The shoots of the seedling are cut, shortening by about a third. Each should have 5-6 growth buds.

Video: landing irgi

culture care

Care consists in keeping the near-stem circle clean, periodically loosening the soil, fertilizing and watering. The need for shelter for the winter depends on the varietal qualities of a particular variety.

Watering

Frequent and abundant watering irga is not needed. The plant has a developed root system, so it may well do with natural precipitation. The exception is very hot and dry weather. In this case, the Canadian irgu is watered every 7–12 days, spending 20–30 liters per adult plant. The preferred method is sprinkling. It allows you to wash off the dust from the leaves of the shrub at the same time as watering.

If there is a technical possibility, the irgu is watered by sprinkling, simulating natural precipitation.

The optimal time for the procedure is early morning or late evening. If the bright sun shines, the drops of water remaining on the leaves can play the role of lenses, the shrub will get sunburn.

Fertilization

If all the necessary fertilizers have been applied to the planting pit, in the first 3–4 years of being in the open field, the Canadian irga can do without additional feeding. Then, every spring, 15–20 g of any nitrogen-containing fertilizer is distributed in the near-stem circle during the first loosening (you can prepare a solution by diluting the same amount in 10 liters of water). At the end of September, the plant is fed with phosphorus and potassium so that it can properly prepare for winter. To do this, use simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate (20–25 g each) or complex preparations (AVA, Autumn). A natural alternative is wood ash (about 0.5 l).

Wood ash is a natural source of potassium and phosphorus

Irga gratefully responds to any fertilizers, especially organic ones, by increasing the growth rate and increasing yields. Starting from the moment when flowering ends, it is advisable to water it every 3-4 weeks with infusions of nettle leaves, dandelion, fresh cow dung or bird droppings. The nutrient solution is not applied directly under the roots, it is better to make several annular grooves, stepping back from the trunk about 0.5 m. About half an hour after feeding, the bush is watered abundantly so as not to burn the roots. When moisture is absorbed, the soil is gently loosened.

12-15 days after flowering, foliar top dressing using trace elements can be carried out. In 10 liters of water, dissolve 1–2 g of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate and boric acid.

pruning

Irga is distinguished by its growth rate, therefore it needs periodic pruning. But you should not abuse this, the culture does not tolerate the procedure too well.

Most often it is formed as a multi-stemmed bush. This configuration is provided by nature itself, it only needs to be tweaked a little. To do this, during the first 4–5 years after planting in the ground near Canadian shadberry, all shoots are cut to the point of growth, leaving only 2–3 of the most powerful and developed. An adult shrub, therefore, should consist of 15–20 branches of different ages.

The productive life of the Canadian shadberry is long, so it needs rejuvenating pruning about once every 10–12 years. The signal for this is sharp decrease shrub growth rate - no more than 10 cm per year. In this case, it is imperative to get rid of all no longer fruitful, weak, deformed, elongated shoots. All other branches are shortened to 2–2.5 m. There is another option for rejuvenation - every year, completely cut off the two oldest shoots.

A radical way to trim the Canadian irgi is to leave only stumps from the shoots

If the cut diameter is more than 0.5 cm, it must be disinfected with a 2% solution of copper sulfate and carefully covered with garden pitch.

In the Canadian irgi, growing in a hedge, all available shoots are shortened by 10–15 cm annually. This stimulates the shrub to more intensive branching.

Sanitary pruning is carried out every spring. It is needed to get rid of broken, dried, frozen branches during the winter. They also remove those that grow down and deep into the crown, thickening it, breaking the neat outlines of the shrub.

Preparing for winter

Irga Canadian - frost-resistant culture. Therefore, in regions with a subtropical climate, she definitely does not need shelter for the winter. There you can limit yourself to cleaning the trunk circle from debris and updating the mulch layer.

But in the European part of Russia, for example, in the Moscow region, the situation is different. There, winters are both quite warm, snowy, and abnormally cold, with a minimum amount of precipitation. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and protect young seedlings by covering them with suitable-sized boxes stuffed with hay, sawdust, and shavings. Adult specimens at the base of the shoots are covered with a layer of peat or humus about 25 cm high. As soon as the snow falls, a high snowdrift is built at the roots.

Common diseases and pests

Irga Canadian by nature has a high immunity, therefore, it rarely suffers from pathogenic fungi and pests. The main threat to crops is birds. The only way to reliably protect berries from them is a fine-mesh net thrown over a bush. But this is not always possible due to the size of the plant. All other methods (scarecrows, shiny ribbons, rattles) give only a short-term effect, for 2-3 days, no more. Birds quickly realize that these objects are not able to cause them any harm.

Grid is the only reliable way protect the crop of shadberry from birds

But still occasionally, if the summer is very cold and rainy, the following diseases can develop:

  • tuberculosis. Leaves and young shoots acquire an unnatural red-purple hue, dry quickly and wither. Small reddish-pink "warts" may appear on the branches. All branches, even slightly affected, are cut and burned. The shrub is sprayed twice with an interval of 7–12 days with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or copper sulphate;
  • gray rot. On the shoots at the base and in the places where the leaf petioles are attached, “weeping” black-brown spots spread on the fruits, gradually covered with a fluffy light gray coating with small black blotches. Most often, the cause is abundant watering, so it is immediately stopped. Shrubs and soil in the trunk circle are dusted with sifted wood ash, crushed chalk, colloidal sulfur;
  • leaf spot. The spots can be of various shades, from almost white to dark brown. It depends on the specific type of fungus causing the disease. For the fight, any copper-containing preparations are used (Topaz, Skor, Horus). Usually, if the problem is noticed at an early stage, 2-3 treatments with an interval of 5-7 days are enough.

Photo gallery: Canadian diseases affecting Irga

Tuberculosis is easy to recognize by the unnatural red tint of the shoots. The development of gray rot is most often facilitated by improper care of the shadberry Symptoms of spotting are very different depending on which fungus causes the disease

The most common pests of irgi are usually not able to cause significant damage to the shrub. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be fought.

  • seed-bearing Adults lay eggs in fruit ovaries. The hatched larvae eat the seeds from the berries and pupate in them. Damaged fruits shrivel and fall off. For prevention, the plant is sprayed with Karbofos immediately after flowering, if suspicious symptoms are found, they are treated with Karate, Actellik or Fufanon;
  • moth moth. Caterpillars feed on plant tissues, eating narrow passages in the leaves. Damaged leaves turn yellow and fall off. After harvesting, for the prevention of irgu, they are sprayed with Lepidocide or Bitoxibacillin. Also, Kinmiks, Mospilan, Konfidor-Maxi are used to combat motley;
  • leaflet. Most often, the pest manifests itself in early summer. Adults lay eggs in leaves, folding them into a tube. 3-5 days before flowering, the bush is sprayed with a solution of Nexion or tincture of wormwood, tobacco chips. They fight with adults with the help of Alatar, Bitox, Binom.

Photo gallery: pests dangerous for crops

Fruits infected with larvae of the seed-eater fall from the bush much earlier than the term Caterpillars of the moth feed on leaf tissues.

Irgi varieties

Probably every gardener has heard about the irga, and, nevertheless, this culture can still be found only in a few gardens. And absolutely in vain. This winter-hardy plant develops well both in the middle lane and in the northern regions, in the Urals, in Siberia. And only those who were closely interested in shadberry know about varieties with tasty, healthy, large, multi-colored berries, decoratively flowering with increased frost resistance.

There are quite a few types of irgi- more than a dozen, but the main, most common are only 4.

The irgi spiky fruits are small, fresh, and the plant itself has a loose crown, narrow leaves, it does not differ in special decorativeness. But it is characterized by the highest resistance to heat, cold, polluted and dusty air of noisy streets, and therefore this irga is often grown in the form of a green hedge.

The next view is the blood-red irga. Its fruits also do not have any significant taste merits, however, this species has always been especially valued for its bright, mahogany-like color of the bark, and the shoots were often used in weaving baskets and making small utensils.- both beautiful and safe!

Irga canadian- this is already a more common species, on the basis of which several varieties have been obtained, among them the well-known Slate, characterized by a high sugar content. Its fruits are so tasty that you literally have to fight for the harvest.- birds peck berries at lightning speed. Well, the species plants themselves are more applicable for decorative purposes. They have a beautiful wide crown, consisting of long light gray curved shoots covered with light green, bright, dense, elongated leaves, sitting on long petioles. In autumn, the trees dramatically change their outfit and look like gorgeous girls in bright red dresses.

A special place among the types of shadberry is occupied by shadberry- the founder of most varieties of this culture. Its fruits are large, juicy and moderately sweet, used for processing. And the tree itself is resistant to both drought and frost, does not get sick with anything and is not attacked by pests. Birds do not like irgu alder-leaved: dense skin and a large amount of juicy pulp prevent them from reaching the seeds.

For a long time, gardeners were satisfied with these species, but then obvious shortcomings of the species irgi began to emerge.- tall stature, abundant root shoots, strong thickening of the bush, requiring application manual labor for cutting. And the fruits are small- weighing 0.6-0.8 g. I wanted more, and the breeders set to work.

The first varieties, however, like most others, were bred in Canada, in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. These varieties were distinguished by high yields, and the fruits were used to prepare raw materials for obtaining a very expensive thick dark red sweet wine, reminiscent of the monastery Cahors. Among Canadian varieties we can distinguish those that will grow well in our conditions, because they have sufficient winter hardiness (withstand temperatures as low as minus 38-39 °), are resistant to drought, return frosts and thaws in the middle of winter, as well as to thickening, which is often found in amateur gardens. Over the years of observation of varieties growing in Russia, no dangerous diseases or pests have been identified. Only sometimes plants are affected by green apple aphids, leaf-eating insects attack, but these lesions are single and do not pose a danger to either plants or crops.

Some varieties of irgi withstand frosts of 45 °.

I will give descriptions of some of these varieties and start, perhaps, with the most winter-hardy: the plants will not freeze even if the temperature drops below minus 45 °. These are varieties of Canadian selection already known to many: undersized, no more than 1.5 m high, Regent, one of the most popular Honeywood varieties in Canada, obtained from Canadian Shannon shadberry, as well as Strat, which can be grown even in the most northern regions due to its very low flattened crown shape, which, if necessary, is easy to cover.

It is impossible not to say about varieties with special fruits. I'll start with cultivars, the fruits of which are not painted in dark purple with a bluish bloom, like in ordinary shadberry, but in creamy white. Such fruits ripen on plants of the Altaglow variety, obtained from sowing the seeds of the alder-leaved shadberry.

There is a group of varieties that differ not in the color of the fruits, but in their weight exceeding the standard of 0.6-0.8 g. g, located on long brushes) and Slate (1.3 g).

And here are several varieties of universal purpose that look chic in any decorative composition and at the same time give good harvests: Mendan (11-12 large bright white flowers in an inflorescence), Northline (up to 14 flowers in inflorescences), Tradition (a variety of Canadian shadberry, characterized by abundant and very early flowering), and of course, Holland- a variety of blood-red shadberry, which is completely impossible to propagate by green cuttings (only by grafting and budding), but it is distinguished by wonderful flowering and a modest plant height not exceeding 2 m. Unfortunately, Holland- so far a rare guest in our gardens: this variety has a rather weak winter hardiness and it blooms early, just during the period of return frosts.

Irgi varieties can be propagated by grafting or budding on a stock- rowan ordinary or any kind of shadberry, as well as green cuttings. In the latter case, the main thing is not to delay the deadlines: the optimal period for cutting and planting green cuttings in a greenhouse- the end of May, when the tops on the shoots are still a little sluggish (they can be cut off). Best of all (up to 70%), varieties take root, one or both of whose parents belong to the Canadian shadberry species, a little more difficult (up to 55%)- varieties obtained from the alder-leaved shadberry, and the varieties descended from the blood-red shadberry are poorly rooted.

My irga is connected scientific work: I have been doing it for more than ten years and I am happy that once my scientific supervisor, now deceased Evgeny Petrovich Kuminov, offered me this wonderful culture for study (an article by E. Kuminov about irga was published in "PKh" B No. 6 for 1996 - Ed.). On our experimental plots, all the species of shadberry described above grow, as well as the varieties Mendan, Slate, Bluesun, Bluemun, Pembina and Surprise. With species, there are no problems when growing in the conditions of central Russia. There was only one negative- the crop of Canadian shadberry often goes to birds. Protection from them- a network thrown over the bush in time. On young shoots of plants different types there is a small amount of green apple aphids, sometimes the fruits of the alder-leaved shadberry that remain hanging until the first frost are affected by rot. But this is not scary: the lesions are scanty, and I do not carry out any treatments.

Winter hardiness varieties Slate, Mendan, Pembina, Surprise allows you to cultivate them not only in the south or in the central strip of Russia, but also in the northern regions. Bluemun and Bluesun varieties can also be grown in regions colder than Central Russia, but there is still a small risk in this case: my observations show that in years with extremely low temperatures (minus 37-38 ° and below), plants can freeze the tips of the shoots.

It must be said that in the north, shadberry and spiky can serve as a good rootstock for pears: the shoots of shadberry are very flexible, it is difficult to break them, so you can get plants on a freely bending stem, and, bending it down, cover the shadberry with burlap or lutrasil, thereby protecting it from deadly frost.

Canadian shadberry varieties, especially Slate and Pembina, ripen together, are short in stature, and behave well on mountain ash used as a rootstock. Tried to propagate these two varieties by seeds- the offspring turns out to be even, very similar to the cultural form, so this method of breeding irgi, I suppose, is also possible.

N. Khromov , Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture. I. V. Michurina

Canadian irga is a plant that definitely has a place in the garden of any gardener. It is not too whimsical, usually bears abundant fruit, can serve as an ornamental hedge and lives for fifty years.

Description

Irga Canadian is a fairly tall shrub, reaching a height of six meters. The tree has a large number of trunks, from three to twenty, the exact number of which depends on the variety. Irga is able to grow up to fifty years, and if one of the trunks dies, then a new one will definitely form. The depth to which the roots go varies from fifty centimeters to three meters. The diameter of the crown is in the range from two and a half to five meters.

By itself, the "cap" of leaves resembles an umbrella, the branches of which look down. The trunks are covered with a smooth bark of a pleasant brown hue and most often look curved. Young shoots appear red. The leaf length is approximately six centimeters, and the petioles are about one and a half centimeters. They are covered with silvery down and have the shape of a rounded oval, the top of which is much narrower than the bottom.

Each flower has narrow petals, the diameter of which is about two centimeters. One of the advantages of Canadian irgi is the winter hardiness of flowers - this culture does not die from frost if the temperature does not drop below -7 degrees. Buds begin to bloom at the end of April, and flowering lasts approximately fourteen days. Fruiting begins in the third year of the existence of the shadberry, but a large number of berries appear from the tenth to the thirtieth year of life. On one bush, the gardener collects from six to eighteen kilograms of shadberry - again, the exact amount depends on the variety.

The berry itself weighs only one gram, and its average width is sixteen millimeters. The fruit has a neat round shape and a sweet taste. You can harvest in the second half of summer. The maturity of the shadberry is easily determined by its color - ripe berries look dark purple, and unripe berries look pink. Blue colour considered to be transitional. As part of the shadberry, approximately twelve percent of sugar, 40% of vitamin C, one percent of fruit acids, carotene, as well as other essential substances and vitamins are isolated.

The variety is not afraid of either drought or low temperatures- the shrub will survive frosts reaching -40 degrees. It is self-pollinating, which is very convenient, does not express special requirements for the condition of the soil, absorbs noise and is able to grow even in an urban environment. Among the shortcomings of the culture, there are problems with uprooting the plant and a long period of fruiting.

Variety overview

Thyssen is the earliest variety of shadberry, because gardeners begin to harvest already at the end of the first summer month. The berries themselves are quite large in size, the diameter varies from seventeen to eighteen millimeters. The taste of "Thyssen" is quite sweet, and sourness does not even spoil it, rather, it gives a "refreshing" effect. The height of the shrub reaches five meters, and the width is six meters. The only disadvantage of this variety of shadberry can be called the fact that, blooming early, it falls into the period of frost and does not always successfully tolerate them.

Variety "Smoky", on the contrary, it is considered the latest - it begins to bloom only at the end of spring. The height of the bush is four and a half meters, the width corresponds to it. From one bush, the gardener receives approximately 25 kilograms of sweet and intolerant berries. The diameter of one fruit varies from 14 to 15 millimeters, its flesh is tender and fleshy, and the skin is colored deep blue. To the pluses of the variety, you can add high resistance to numerous diseases.

"Krasnoyarsk" refers to late ripening varieties. The height of the bush varies from three and a half to four meters. Berries are harvested at the junction of July and August, and the diameter of one fruit reaches two centimeters. To taste, this irga is quite sweet and moderately sour. The winter hardiness of this variety is very impressive - it does not die in winter at a temperature of -40 degrees. In addition, the Martin, Prince William, Ballerina, Mandam, Rainbow Pillar and Starry Night varieties are popular.

How to plant?

Landing irgi takes place according to a fairly conventional pattern. Its period is determined depending on weather conditions, more precisely, climate. For example, in the Moscow region, irgu is planted in the spring, and in the south you can wait until autumn. The soil can be almost any, but it is better not to risk with wetlands. The place should not be in the open sun, but the irgu is allowed to be planted as an ornamental hedge.

When the gardener plans to harvest, then holes should be placed so that five meters of free space is maintained between them. The seedlings used should be smooth, without scratches, with fibrous roots. The best specimens are those that are a year or two old. The bottom of each well is covered with drainage. Its depth should reach half a meter, and its width should be approximately 60 centimeters.

The soil used is a mixture of humus, sand, peat and soil available on the territory. Fertilizers can be applied immediately, for example, 400 grams of superphosphate, 100 grams of lime, tidying alkali, and 150 grams of potassium sulfate. When planting a seedling, it will need to be tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees, and not deepen the root neck. After making the soil, the area is watered, and the area around the trunk is also mulched.

How to properly care?

Caring for the Canadian Irga is, in principle, quite standard. Effective cultivation of a crop is impossible without high-quality watering. As a rule, during the rains, the roots of the plant absorb moisture on their own, but if a drought occurs, then twice a month you will have to irrigate the beds on your own. Usually a small diffuser is used for this, and it takes from twenty to thirty liters. Watering ends with loosening and weeding, which contributes to a better transport of oxygen to the roots.

You need to feed the irgu somewhere two or even three years after planting with mineral and organic fertilizers. At the beginning of spring, about fifty grams are usually applied. nitrogen fertilizer to the area near the trunk, and after the start of flowering, foliar top dressing. For this purpose, as a rule, about two grams of boric acid, copper sulphate and zinc sulphate are dissolved in ten liters of water. In the summer, organic matter is periodically introduced - mullein, litter or herbal infusions. In autumn, it is worth feeding the culture with 0.5 liters of ash or with a combination of 100 grams of superphosphate and 50 grams of potassium preparations.

Any fertilization ends with abundant watering.

In early spring, it is necessary to cut off the shoots and those branches that are already dying, damaged, or creating excessive crown density. During the year, it is also necessary to shape the crown, for example, cutting off young branches to stimulate the growth of the crown. At the end of autumn, all dried parts are also removed, fallen leaves are cleaned, and the soil is dug up. If the plant is mature, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter.

Reproduction of Canadian shadberry is carried out in several ways: using seeds, cuttings, layering, shoots or division. In the first case, ripe berries are collected on the most productive bushes, and seeds are extracted from them. Sowing is carried out in the fall under the film. If sowing is to take place in the spring, then the pre-seeding material will need to be stratified for about three months in fabric bags filled with moistened sand. In the event that it is decided to use the shoots, the procedure is carried out either in the fall or in the spring, when the young shoots are separated from the main bush.

Cuttings will need to be cut from late June to mid-July. The size of this part of the plant should reach fifteen centimeters, and it is selected from five-year-old or six-year-old branches directly from the top. The finished stalk first takes root in greenhouses, and in the spring months it is already transferred to open ground. Working with layering, you will need to dig a bush, separate the long branches of the root system and place them in previously dug holes. Finally, it will be possible to propagate the irga if, in March, a suitable hole is dug next to the lower branches. Having placed a branch in the recess, it must be pinned and covered with earth.

Diseases and pests

Canadian irga often suffers from tuberculosis. You can determine this disease if you examine the shoots and leaves - they become bright red, covered with growths, and then wither. The damaged parts of the bush will definitely have to be cut and destroyed, after which the remaining parts should be treated twice with copper sulphate or one percent Bordeaux liquid. The interval between procedures should be ten days. As a preventive measure for the disease, gardeners are advised to remove crumbling leaves in a timely manner and cut off damaged branches.

Characteristic of this culture is a disease such as sulfur rot. On the berries of the affected plant, wet dark spots first appear, which then transform into a gray coating. In order to heal the irgu, you will have to use ash or colloidal sulfur, which is sprinkled on both the plant itself and the soil nearby. The main preventive measure in this case is the reduction of watering. We must not forget about the appearance of multi-colored spots, signaling a fungal disease.

Processing in this case is possible only with purchased fungicides.

To prevent leaf spotting, it will be necessary to treat the irga with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid, but only until the flowers appear. Finally, often the branches begin to dry out due to moniliosis. In this case, the affected parts will have to be destroyed, and the next year, do not forget to treat the bush with copper solutions.

The main pests that affect the Canadian irga are leafworm, seed-eater, hawthorn, aphids and moths. As a rule, they can be destroyed only with the help of purchased drugs, and the culture can be protected by properly caring for the culture.