Irga care in autumn preparation for winter. Irgi jam

Irga is a berry that contains a large amount of vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the human body. In addition, the leaves and bark of the tree can also be used for preventive and therapeutic purposes.

The tree can grow in any soil and does not require special care. It reproduces during the flowering period. It is resistant to frost and does not require shelter even at temperatures below -40 ° C. In addition, shrubs are resistant to spring frosts. It is important to note appearance irgi, which can decorate any suburban area. All year round the plant looks beautiful. In spring it pleases with abundant flowering, in summer with beautiful bright clusters of berries, and in autumn with a variety of colors of foliage.

Useful properties of irgi

Attention! People with reduced pressure do not recommend the use of this berry.

Types and varieties of irgi

There are approximately 25 species of irgi, however, only a few varieties have been introduced into the culture. The main types are considered to be the following:

• Alder leaf;
• Canadian;
• blood red;
• Lamarck.

The variety of irgi Lamarck has many variations. For example, in Canada, the development of new varieties is of great importance. This variety has large sweet and juicy berries.

Irga spiky

Bushes of this variety of irgi bloom in spring with white or pale pink blooms. The variety tolerates frost well and is resistant to many diseases. But that's where the benefits end. The berries of the plants are not large and not very tasty, despite the fact that the sugar level in the shadberry is high. This species has no cultivars.

Irga blood red

Bushes reach a height of 3 meters. The flowering of the irgi is large, the petals are elongated. Berries ripen late, medium-sized. From the berries of this variety you can get a lot of juice - this is the main difference between the blood-red shadberry from other species. The taste of berries is normal, with the exception of the Success variety. Average weight berries about 0.8 grams. At the tasting, the berries of the Success variety received a score of 4.6 points, which is a high indicator.

Irga canadian

Bushes of this variety grow about 6 meters. Trees can also reach 10 meters in height. When the leaves of the plant bloom and pubescence occurs, the bush appears silvery, as the whole tree is covered with white flowers.

The berries of the variety are large with a high content of sugar and acids. However, few berries are formed in the brushes. All varieties bred are considered to be frost-resistant. Freezing of a bush can occur in the most severe winter period.

The most famous varieties:

• Slet - has large and tasty berries;
• Tradition - sweet berries;
• Honeywood - sweet berries;
• Parkhill - characterized by sour fruits.

The berries of Canadian shadberry are to the taste of birds, so the harvest must be protected.

Irga alder-leaved

In the middle lane, plants can grow from 2 to 4 meters. Irga blooms in the third decade of May, flowers white color. Berries can weigh approximately 2 grams. Up to 14 berries can be formed in one brush. Ripening of berries occurs evenly. You can harvest twice. Since the content of sugar and acids in the berries is average, therefore the taste is excellent. The plant is unpretentious, but in severe frosts the branches may die. One of famous varieties alder-leaved shadberry:

• Smokey - great for making wine;
• Altiaglou - has fragrant fruits;
• Foresburg - distinguished by sweet berries;
• Mendan - the fruits are quite juicy.

The variety can be grown in any region of the country.

Irga ordinary

This is one of the most undemanding species culture. The berries are small, low in sugar, but contain many other useful elements.

Watch the video! Irga - beneficial features miracle berries

Landing irgi

Trees are unpretentious to transplants and easily take root in a new place. However, it is necessary not to damage the root system during transplantation.

Selection of planting material

For planting, varieties that are resistant to frost, as well as types of shadberry with high level productivity. If the purpose of the irgi is to create an artificial hedge, then the yield should not be taken into account. The main criterion is the age of the plants. The optimal survival rate of shrubs is if they are 1 or 2 years old.

When choosing trees, you need to make sure that:

• The root system was healthy. Rot and signs of drying should be absent;
• The trunk of the seedling must be developed. The bark should not be damaged.

Shrubs grow in special nurseries, which have a closed root system grown in containers. These varieties are ideal for planting. By planting such a seedling, you can not waste time on the care and restoration of the root system.

Container varieties have no restrictions on planting dates. You can carry out the procedure throughout the growing season.

Soil preparation and site

Irgi bushes can grow for many years, so it is important to choose the right place for planting. It is important to consider that the plant will develop in height and width.

What are the criteria for choosing a landing site:

• The place must be sunny in order to reap a good harvest;
• Low level of standing ground water;
• Light mechanical composition of the soil. For example, loose loam with a high level of humus or sandy loam;
• The acidity level should be in the range from 6.5 to 7.

All weeds must be removed from the surface of the soil. Fertility is greatly improved if the soil is sown leguminous plants. Before planting, you need to dig up the soil and add about 10 kg of compost or humus, as well as about 40 grams of fertilizer based on potassium and phosphorus.

Terms and rules of landing

Irgu should be planted in early spring or late autumn. If it's about spring planting, then the kidneys should not be swollen. And if planting is done in the fall, then the bush should shed its foliage, but frost should not yet occur for at least 3 weeks for rooting. The optimal area for a seedling is about 4 square meters. m, and the distance between the trees should be 2 meters. If the culture is planted in order to create a hedge, then the distance between the seedlings should be 50-100 centimeters.

Landing pattern:

Irgi reproduction

Propagating the culture is easy. This can be done both vegetatively and by seed.

• Seeds should be selected from ripe berries. Rinse and dry them. Best way planting - sow seeds on a breeding bed before winter. As a result natural selection In the spring, only the most resistant plants will be able to sprout. Sowing is done at a depth of 2 centimeters. Row spacing is approximately 20 cm. Seedlings may be uneven, for example, a seedling may sprout in a year. Plants that have formed 5 full leaves require a pick;
• For vegetative propagation, you need to choose shoots that grow at the root. The thickness of the shoot should be 0.5 cm, and the height should not exceed 15 centimeters. For starters, irgi seedlings must be planted on a distribution bed;
• For propagation by cuttings, you need to use growths aged 1 year.

Watch the video! How to plant, propagate and grow irgu in the country

How to cut Irgu?

• You need to cut the shoots in the summer;
• The optimal length of the handle is 6-7 centimeters;
• The bottom sheet must be removed completely, and the top sheet should be reduced by half;
• The cut is treated with a special root formation stimulator;
• Landing takes place in the cutter under the film at an angle;
• Required air humidity should be within 95%.

Cuttings take root with a probability of 50%. Root formation occurs after 20 days. After the winter, the cuttings are planted first on the distribution bed, and already in autumn period to a permanent place.

Important! The most valuable varieties are propagated by grafting on the irga spiky - the most resistant species.

To do this, you need to choose the most resistant seedling aged 2 years. Vaccination should be done during the period of sap flow, until the moment the kidneys swell.

Irga care

Without proper care, the plant may cease to delight with delicious berries. Therefore, all methods of agricultural technology must be timely.

How to water irgu?

mature tree needs regular watering. One bush should have about 2 buckets of water. If we are talking about a seedling that has recently been planted, then in this case, maintaining the level of humidity is important point agricultural technology. The frequency of watering should be weekly. After the seedling reaches a height of 15 centimeters, it should be watered like an adult tree.

Top dressing and fertilizer

You need to feed the plant the next year after planting. In the first half of the summer season, fertilizers based on nitrogen are applied. Cooking:

• Ammonium nitrate 50 grams;
• 10% solution of bird droppings;
• 10 liters of water.

This composition is designed for one tree, which is 3-5 years old.

It is necessary to fertilize in the autumn period so that the tree overwinters well. The optimal time for feeding is the beginning of September, and in regions with a cool climate (Moscow region) - August.

200 grams of potassium sulfate and 300 grams of superphosphate are added to one bush. We must not forget about watering and digging.

Contraindications! In the autumn, nitrogen-based fertilizers cannot be applied, as this leads to a weakening of the seedling.

Transplant and pruning

Irgu needs to be transplanted if the situation is hopeless. For example, if the irga grows poorly or the chosen place is unsuccessful. Preparatory work to transplantation are similar to landing.

If the bush is not cut, then the yield will decrease significantly. How to properly shape a plant? Pruning is carried out in the spring before the start of sap flow.

The formation of a tree and a bush is different. So to form a bush, you need to remove only damaged or dry branches. And at the tree it is necessary to shorten all the branches that grow vertically. The shoots should be shortened by ¼ length. This will keep the crown of the tree from growing. You also need to remove all the growth at the roots of the seedling. It is optimal to leave 1 or 2 healthy shoots.

The process of rejuvenating irgi should be done at a plant age of 8-10 years. All weak shoots are removed. You need to leave 10-15 healthy branches at an optimal distance from each other. Slices in the warm period are processed with garden pitch.

How to care in autumn, winter?

• In winter, the irga does not need care;
• In autumn, potash and phosphorus fertilizers should be applied;
• After dropping the leaves, the trees should be well watered. Mulch the root system of young seedlings with humus or compost.

Pests and diseases

Culture is not afraid of disease. The main threat is leaf-eating insects and hawthorn.

Irga is a plant with tasty and healthy fruits. The technology of planting and caring for irga in open field does not require special skills. Therefore, it will not be difficult for lovers of interesting berries to grow on the site. healthy trees irgi. There are many varieties of this berry, so before planting, you need to familiarize yourself with the description of each variety.

Watch the video! Irga. Landing and care

In contact with

Despite the excellent taste of berries and their beneficial properties, irgu is quite rare to be found in personal plots. In fact, there are many varieties of this crop, but only four appear among the most common:

• Irga is spiked. This variety is good because the tree is resistant to various weather conditions(heat, cold), but its fruits have small size and somewhat bland taste. In most cases, plants are planted for landscaping city streets, as a green hedge.
• Irga is blood red. This variety is valued for its decorative qualities: the bark has a bright red color, which makes it possible to use the twigs of the plant for weaving baskets and creating various souvenirs. But the berries, just like the previous variety, do not differ in special taste qualities.
• Irga Canadian. Planting and care, in order to get a good harvest, must be carried out properly. But for this tree "thanks" you with incredibly tasty, juicy and sweet berries. In addition, the plant has an attractive appearance and can be used as an ornamental.

• Irga alder-leaved. The tree bears fruit with fairly large, moderately sweet juicy berries that can be used not only fresh, but also for processing. The variety tolerates hot weather, drought and frost. A special advantage of this plant is that it is not susceptible to any diseases, and besides, pests do not “attack” it.

As already noted above, there are several dozen varieties of shadberry. It is necessary to choose a plant depending on the region and the conditions in which you plan to grow a tree. In addition, when reading the description of a particular variety, you need to pay attention to taste qualities berries and their sizes.

Before buying a seedling of irgi, you need to decide on a landing site. In general, the irga is not whimsical to the composition of the soil, the tree will feel great both on fertile black soil and on sandy loamy soil. However, wetlands and places where groundwater is close to the soil surface should be avoided - the irga does not like this. And if the roots of the tree are waterlogged, then it will not develop and will soon die.

Irga grows better and bears fruit in bright or semi-shaded places, which should definitely be taken into account when determining the landing site. If the place is too shaded, then the tree will give all its strength to growth, but it will not bear fruit well.

We plant irgu

The question of when it is better to plant a seedling of irgi is still open among amateur gardeners. Some argue that this should be done especially in the spring, others - in the fall. Therefore, here, perhaps, it is necessary to focus on own wish and opportunities. For planting, it is better to choose 2-3 year old is enough strong seedling which will surely survive.

The land where the irga will land must be prepared initially. Where the tree will grow, the soil is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel and the weeds and rhizomes that have fallen are removed. If there is an opportunity and desire, then before planting in the ground, you can add some organic, potash fertilizer, superphosphate. An excellent soil fertilizer in this case will be ordinary ash.

A hole 50-60 cm wide and 50 cm deep is prepared for planting. The planting depth of irgi seedlings can vary slightly depending on the seedling itself; the neck will rise slightly above the ground. But in general, 40-50 cm will be enough. The seedling must be placed in the center of the hole, straighten the roots and cover them with earth, which will have to be carefully tamped. After that, we water, wait until the water is absorbed and sprinkle the landing site with sawdust or peat chips. In some cases, the tree needs additional support, then it is useful to tie it to two pegs, which will add balance to the seedling. You can take out the pegs and untie the plant when it is strong enough and grows by 5-10 centimeters.

If it is planned to plant several trees, then a 4x3 m planting scheme is used. This will allow the plants to fully develop without interfering with each other.

Irga care

Irga, the cultivation of which can be carried out on any garden plot, is not a capricious enough plant. But proper care will allow you to get the maximum result. So:

• Watering.

An adult tree tolerates a long drought, but only a planted seedling requires special care in terms of watering. Till young tree will not grow by 5-10 cm, it needs to be watered often and plentifully. It is necessary to navigate according to weather conditions. In hot, dry weather, watering should be carried out by pouring at least 10 liters of water under the bush daily.

When the tree gets stronger, frequent watering should be stopped and just keep the soil moderately moist during the spring-summer period. An adult tree does not need watering at all, since the roots lie at a fairly large depth.

• Top dressing.

Irga can be safely called one of the least whimsical in terms of feeding, because even a young seedling is fed only three times in the first year. As a top dressing, ash is used (it is abundantly scattered around the trunk in a radius of 30-50 cm), nitrogen fertilizer(at the lowest dose). It is recommended for adult plants to dig the earth with organic fertilizers. They are introduced by digging the soil in the spring within the radius of the tree crown and to a depth of 1/2 spade bayonet.

• Pruning.

The only thing that will have to be strictly observed is the correct formation of the bush, otherwise it will either turn out too tall tree, from which it turns out to be very problematic to harvest, or a thickened irga, the fruiting of which turns out to be poor. Proper pruning consists of leaving the strongest zero shoots in the first stages. When the plant reaches the desired height, limit growth. The height of 2.5 meters will be optimal, since harvesting is not so problematic, and the insolation of the shadberry will be sufficient for confident development.

• Rejuvenation.

To maintain stable fruiting, the irgu needs to be “rejuvenated”. This is done by annually replacing old stem shoots with new ones. That is, 2-3 of the strongest new stem shoots are selected (the rest are removed) and started to grow, and 2-3 of the oldest are removed. It is best to rejuvenate in the fall, when the sap flow in the irga comes to naught. But do not delay until frost, otherwise the irga may be damaged, despite all its cold resistance.

Irga, the cultivation and care of which is carried out correctly, will delight with timely rejuvenation with a plentiful harvest for many decades. You can meet "samples" whose age has already exceeded 30 years or more, while fruiting, if reduced, is not much.

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Irgu (Amelanchier) the Rosaceae family is known by different names: “cinnamon”, “wine cherry”, “raisin”, “shura” (with an accent on the last syllable, the Belarusian name that migrated to us) and “cherry”. The overgrown bush of irgi over time takes up a lot of space, which is so lacking in small areas. But you forget about it when you see how beautiful a flowering bush is. And irgi berries are so tasty and sweet! And there are so many.

Most of these berries, which both people and birds get, fall on paving slabs, staining it with ink stains. Many are annoyed by abundant growth, which has to be cut regularly. But Irgu is still loved. Few people decide on the final destruction of its bushes. They prefer to transplant them over the fence, to the delight of the neighbors. Or they form it by turning the “wine cherry” into a green ball (especially the Canadian irgu), a cone (alder-leaved irgu) or other figures. A good option is to create hedges and screens from bushes.

Pros and cons of irgi

Is it worth it to strictly follow all those recommendations for growing shadberry that can be found on the Internet and numerous printed publications? Don't know. I just give the irga the opportunity to live and bear fruit. Of course, only on my terms. And she shows amazing vitality. It does not dry out in dry summers and does not freeze in frosty winters. Occasionally, I remember that it's time to fertilize the bushes or you need to extend the end of the hose to them.

But I never forget about the secateurs and huge garden shears. These tools of labor allow not only to restrain the growth of shadberry, but also to give shape to bushes docked in a row. I have a lot of requirements for Irga: it should bloom beautifully in spring, give a lot of berries in summer and have bright foliage in autumn. You can not worry about endurance in frosty winters.

Irga gives a lot of shoots. It's useless to fight her. Root shoots crawl out even in hard-to-reach places. It's great if the bush grows on the lawn. Then a lawn mower will help to restrain the growth of basal shoots. Irgu is often planted in the far corner of the site. Considering that young bushes need sufficient lighting.

The advantages of irgi are its durability, ease of formation and ease of propagation (by seeds, root offspring, cuttings, layering and dividing the bush). Recently, irgu has increasingly begun to be grafted onto mountain ash.

Irga care in spring

Irga blooms in spring, about 10-14 days after bud break and the appearance of young leaves, which at first are soft silvery and slightly pubescent. White or pinkish flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. They are fragrant, as most of trees and shrubs blooming in spring. honey plant feeds many insects.

In areas near Moscow, round-leaved and spiky irga are most often found, although there are many more species. Some of them are more or less fruitful. It is worth noting the decorativeness of the Canadian irgi, which has a natural rounded shape with thin drooping branches. This view looks amazing, especially during the flowering period. Irgu canadian can be grown not only as a bush, but also as a tree: high at home and lower in culture.

Irga canadian (Amelanchier Canadensis) - a fairly large shrub (more than 6 m high) or a tall tree with a wide oval crown. This species has thin and drooping shoots with ovate leaves up to 10 cm long, abundant flowering(up to 12 white flowers in drooping racemes) and dark purple sweet berries with a bluish coating.

Irga round-leaved (Amelanchier rotundifolia) without pruning grows up to three meters. It is found in the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia and the Caucasus. There are many of them in Crimea. Shrub height up to 2.5 meters. Its leaves are oval (ovoid) in shape and have serrated edges. On young leaves Bottom part pubescent. As the leaf grows, the pubescence disappears. Shoots are upright. Flowers (having long narrow petals, divorced to the sides) are collected in a brush.

Irga spiky (Amelanchier spicata) is a shrub up to six meters high. It gives a lot of root shoots. The ovate leaves have a white-tomentose pubescence when blooming. White or pinkish fragrant flowers are collected in short dense brushes.

There is large-fruited varieties, which we owe to Canadian breeders. It is worth looking in nurseries or among amateurs for the large-fruited varieties Thyssen, Altaglow, Pembina, Forestburg, Honeywood and Smokey.

Irga care in summer

In many countries (in Western Europe four centuries ago) irgu was grown because of the berries. They made wine from them. In America and Canada in early XIX For centuries, huge gardens with bushes and trees of irgi, from the berries of which delicious wines were made, were familiar. Echoes of the glorious history of this culture have survived to this day. For example, motivated one of folk names irgi - "wine cherry". Nowadays, wines and tinctures from shadberry berries are rarely prepared.

In irga bears fruit. At first, its berries are red and tasteless. Then (in specific forms and most varieties) they become cherry in color, and they can already be eaten. But very dark berries are a real delicacy. They are very sweet, almost without sourness.

The first crops can already be harvested from three-year-old bushes, and in some species from the age of five. I can judge the yield of shadberry only from the data given in the literature. This is more than 10 kg of berries from a bush. AT real life the harvest of berries and their quality are highly dependent on which particular irga grows in your area. How tall and overgrown is the bush? How many birds want to peck berries from the tops of the branches? One can only guarantee full bowls of berries collected from shadberry.

useful and delicious berries irgi has one insidious property. A person who has eaten fresh shadberry for a while turns into a "monster" with blue lips, black teeth, a purple tongue and spotted palms. He is afraid to show himself to people. However, that doesn't stop anyone. There are always many neighbors near our bushes: children and adults. There are enough berries for everyone.

Irga care in autumn

The autumn foliage of the shadberry is painted in red and orange tones. Formed bushes look great. For the last time in a season, I form plantings of irgi. From this time on, the growth of young shoots stops.

Autumn is a good time for planting shadberry. It is better if it is possible to prepare landing pits in advance. If there is no time for this, then it is quite enough to plant seedlings in recesses filled with a light and nutritious soil mixture. At the very bottom, you can add "long-playing" fertilizers. It is important that the roots do not touch their granules. The seedling needs to be strengthened by giving it vertical position. It is advisable to mulch the soil with loose compost.

I do not like to prune newly planted seedlings, despite all the recommendations. I think that pruning is better tolerated only by well-rooted bushes. And why subject such an execution to very young seedlings? Irgi has no problems with tillering. And all the voids will soon be filled with young shoots and shoots.

Irgu can be safely planted even where they blow strong winds. We have a high hedge of shadberry (about six meters long) that protects the corner of the plot from the strong cold north and northeast wind directions.

Irgi seeds are best sown in late autumn. Better than many other species, the shadberry oval-leaved propagates by seed.

Irga in winter

Irga is a winter-hardy plant. I do not remember cases when the irga froze out. Most of its species are grown even in regions where winter frosts reach minus 50°C. In the conditions of the Moscow region, the irgu can not be insulated. Its dense bushes trap snow, so snowdrifts form around them.

In early spring, during the melting of snow, the irga does not rot even when the bush is in wet heavy snow for a long time, which does not melt.

What to cook from irgi berries?

Irgi berries are very useful. They contain pectin, P-active compounds, vitamins, manganese, etc. In order to prolong the consumption of berries, they are boiled, preserved, dried or made into wine.

Compote. Irgi compote is delicious and beautiful. The syrup is prepared from 1 liter of water and 300 g of granulated sugar. When pouring berries into syrup, add 3 g citric acid. Banks are sterilized.

Jam. Many consider shadberry jam to be too sugary. I cook it to add it to sour cream later (for pancakes and cheesecakes) or to fill the top of cottage cheese and apple casseroles. For jam you need: 1 kg of berries, 1 kg of sugar, 1 glass of water and 3 g of citric acid (added at the end of cooking).

Dried irga. First, the brushes of berries are dried in dry air (in dryers or in the oven). Then they are peeled from the stalks and sprinkled with powdered sugar (to taste). For some time they are kept under load, after which they are dried in dry air. Dried irga resembles sweet raisins.

© A. Anashina. Blog, www.site

People are able to tirelessly care for capricious plants and completely ignore the unique beneficial properties of "tenacious" unpretentious crops. This is exactly what the irga is. This shrub grows in almost every garden, but not everyone discovers its wonderful properties. Meanwhile, the fruits of irgi are able to treat the most common diseases, ranging from seasonal vitamin deficiency to cancer prevention. In this article we will tell you how to plant an irgu on the site, how to care for it and what benefits you can get from this plant.

General characteristics

Irga vulgaris is a fast-growing shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits are distinguished by a beautiful dark blue or purple color, depending on the variety. Irga is a long-liver and does not require special care. So, one bush in vivo able to live up to 50 years, giving every year from 5 to 10 kg of berries. At the same time, new ones come to replace the dying trunks in a few years.

The beneficial properties of irgi berries have long been known in folk medicine, but today few people have even heard of such a plant. The composition of the juicy pulp contains a lot of useful elements: sugar, a whole complex of vitamins, tannins, carotene, coumarins, pectins, etc.

In this case, you only need to plant it on the site and provide a minimum comfortable conditions and care - then the irga will cope completely independently. She is not afraid of either severe drought or wind, can grow on any soil (except swampy) and tolerates harsh Russian winters well. Such endurance is explained by the morphological structure of the shrub - its roots go deep into the ground (2 m or more), receiving maximum nutrition from the bowels of the earth. Irga can grow and give useful fruits even in urban environments where the air is heavily polluted.

Often, an adult shadberry bush is confused with a real powerful tree. From one base, up to 25 trunks can grow, the height of which sometimes reaches 8 m.

Beneficial features

Irga (photo) is an excellent remedy for seasonal beriberi and is used to prevent colds and viral diseases. If you regularly use irgu, the chances of getting a cold or flu are minimized. You can eat it both fresh and dry, frozen, in the form of jam, jam or compote. Even after heat treatment, the berries retain a large amount of vitamins.

People suffering from or at risk of cardiovascular disease are also advised to eat shadberry regularly. Thanks to the beta-sitosterone contained in them, the level of cholesterol in the blood is significantly reduced. Irga prevents heart attacks, varicose veins, improves immunity, removes toxins from the body, and also reduces harm from exposure electromagnetic radiation, which is extremely useful for all residents of large cities.

Contraindications for use

Despite the obvious benefits of irgi berries, it has a number of contraindications for use:

1. Since it lowers blood pressure, it is better for hypotensive patients to refrain from treatment with berries.
2. The active substances in the composition can cause drowsiness, so take medicines with irga it is better for the night.
3. Fruits increase blood clotting, so they are not recommended for people suffering from thrombophlebitis.

Important: if you collect irgu in the forest, be careful not to confuse it with buckthorn. Buckthorn fruits can be consumed only a year after harvest, otherwise you can get severe poisoning.

Types of irgi

All varieties of irgi, and there are about 20 of them, are outwardly very similar to each other - they all have white inflorescences with tassels, they all bloom almost at the same time, and the fruits differ only in a shade that ranges from purple to crimson. The true differences between the species are noticeable when considering the morphology of plants and are associated more with the origin and resistance to the conditions of the Russian climate.

Irga smooth

It is considered one of the most beautiful and elegant varieties. Differs in wide spreading branches, foliage of a purple hue and inflorescences hanging down with tassels. The flowers are replaced by juicy dark purple berries, and the foliage is painted in bright reddish colors.

The smooth irga was first discovered in eastern North America. Under natural conditions, it can be found on hillsides and dry forest clearings. This is a large shrub, the height of which can reach 5-10 m.

Growing features:

1. When seed growing, sowing occurs under the cold or in early spring. Pre planting material should be stratified at +1 + 5C, but this method is almost never used due to low germination.
2. Irga cuttings also take root quite poorly. Often it is grafted onto other varieties or rowan.
3. It tolerates drought well and requires almost no watering.
4. It is not necessary to cover for the winter.
5. Good honey plant.
6. Can grow in urban environments.

Irga canadian

A fairly large shrub, the height of which can reach 12 m. It is distinguished by penetrating shoots of a reddish hue, white tassels and dark purple berries. It is often used for decorative purposes, because it blooms very beautifully, and closer to autumn it changes the color of the foliage to crimson.

Growing features:

1. Before sowing, the seeds should be stratified for 2-3 months at +1+5 C.
2. Best propagated by rhizomatous shoots and cuttings.
3. Virtually no watering required.
4. It tolerates rejuvenating landing "on the stump", pruning and decorative haircut.
5. Winter-hardy variety that does not require shelter.
6. It bears fruit from the second half of July to August every year from the age of 5. The fruits are round, like miniature apples, very sweet.
7. Good honey plant.
8. Can grow in polluted urban environments.

Canadian irga is also valued for its unique dense wood, which is perfectly polished and serves as a material for the manufacture of interior items.

Irga spiky

Due to its short stature, it is used both as a decorative and as a fruit type. characteristic distinguishing feature- whitish felt fluff on back side young leaves, on the tops of the ovaries and pedicels. Unlike its "relatives" in the fall, it does not change the color of the foliage to bright purple, but looks most beautiful during the fruiting period, when all the branches are strewn with clusters of juicy berries.

In its natural environment, the spiked irgu can be found on gravel and rocky coastal areas, ledges, rocks, in dry pine forests and mixed forests. Sizes usually do not exceed 50-70 cm.

Growing features:

1. Propagated by shoots, cuttings, seeds, division of bushes.
2. Seeds before sowing should be stratified for 3 months. at a temperature of +1+5C.
3. With vegetative propagation, approximately 60% of the cuttings take root.
4. Like other varieties, it tolerates drought well.
5. It is frost-resistant (tolerates temperatures up to -50C), it should not be covered for the winter.

Irga Lamarck

A low shrub known for its beautiful umbrella-shaped canopy and copper-red foliage that turns orange in autumn. It is grown for ornamental purposes and for delicious blue-black berries.

Lamarck is a natural hybrid of smooth and canadian shadberry. The maximum height is 60-70 cm.

Growing features:

1. In a year, the bush grows by about 25 cm.
2. It takes root on any soil with a pH level of 5.6 to 7.5.
3. Lamarck is planted in late autumn or early spring.
4. Propagated by cuttings, seeds, grafting or shoots (best cuttings).
5. Seeds require stratification for 3-4 months.
6. Good honey plant.
7. Frost-resistant.
8. Sweet apple-like berries.

Irga oval-leaved (oval)

A small shrub up to 50 cm high with whitish felt leaves and young shoots. He loves warmth, tolerates drought well, so it is more suitable for the southern regions of the country.

Under natural conditions, oval shadberry can be found on scree, rocks, light forest edges.

Features of growing irgi:

1. Plant in mid-autumn or early spring.
2. It is preferable to plant in lime-rich soils with good drainage. The denser the earth, the less comfortable the irga will feel.
3. Propagated by shoots, seeds or division of bushes.
4. Germination at seed propagation is 30%.
5. Seeds should be stratified 3-4 months.
6. It tolerates decorative haircuts and pruning.
7. The shrub is able to overwinter at temperatures down to -29C without shelter.
8. Fruiting from July to August. Berries up to 10 mm in diameter are very juicy and sweet.

Oval irga has a powerful phytoncidal effect, so even being near a flowering bush can strengthen immunity, not to mention eating fruits.

Irga alder-leaved

This variety of irgi loves moisture very much, and this is what distinguishes it from all the others. It can also be recognized by its lowered young shoots with round, serrated leaves that turn yellow in autumn. bears fruit large berries in large quantities (berry diameter from 10 to 15 mm), which makes it a valuable fruit crop.

AT wild nature found along the banks of streams and rivers, on wet slopes and slopes of canyons. Usually not tall, but can reach 7-9 m.

Growing features:

1. The optimal time for planting is early spring and autumn.
2. Propagated by division of bushes, shoots and seeds (preferably rhizomatous shoots).
3. Seeds are best sown after 6 months. stratification.
4. The cuttings root rather poorly.
5. Requires regular watering.
6. Likes moist, but not marshy soils.
7. Winter-hardy variety, but at very low temperatures the tips of the shoots may freeze slightly.
8. Fruits abundantly from 5 years from mid-July to August.
9. Alder-leaved irga can grow in urban environments.

There are several decorative forms:

1. Abundantly flowering shadberry - with very large fruits up to 30 mm in diameter.
2. Amelasorbus Jack is a natural hybrid with mountain ash. Able to endure harsh winters.

Growing shadberry

Despite the unique medicinal qualities of shadberry, in many countries it is grown as an ornamental crop to decorate plots. And there is a logical explanation for this - in spring the shrub is covered with scatterings of pleasantly smelling flowers, around which bees swarm, they are replaced by purple and blue fruits, and in autumn the foliage is transformed, coloring the bush into juicy purple colors. Irga combines both eye candy and health benefits.

Planting and caring for the irga are very simple, it is enough to provide the proper conditions. The plant loves sunny places on the south or west side. It grows on any soil, but on poor dry soil it develops poorly and bears fruit with small berries. On one site, it is enough to plant only 1-2 bushes to provide for yourself useful reserves vitamins for the whole year and beautify the landscape.

Soil preparation takes place according to the same principle as for any berry crops:

1. In spring or autumn, bushes are planted in pits 40-70 cm deep with a diameter of about 50 cm.
2. Medium-sized varieties should be placed in a row at least 2 m apart, vigorous ones - with a distance of 3-3.5 m with a row spacing of 4-5 m.
3. In the first year after planting, it is recommended to water any varieties abundantly, especially if the summer turned out to be hot.
4. Young bushes are fed with humus or peat chips.
5. The ground part should be shortened to 10 cm, leaving up to 5 developed buds above the soil.
6. In the first year after planting, the growth will be insignificant, but after 2-3 years the bush will already grow by 40-60 cm.

Important: Irga (especially spiked) is distinguished by abundant root shoots, which must be constantly monitored. Also, do not plant a bush next to garden paths or near a parking lot, since the juice from fallen berries can ruin the appearance of light-colored stones and cars, and it is quite difficult to remove it.

Irga care

A year after planting, the irgu should be fed with ammonium nitrate, adding about 50 g of fertilizer to the soil. It is also recommended to add 100 g of superphosphate to the ground, evenly scattering it into the trunk circles and loosening it slightly. In early spring, after fertilizing, the ground should again be mulched with humus or peat chips.

The fruiting of the shadberry usually begins at 3-4 years old, and already from the age of 5 years, you can collect abundant crops of 5-10 kg from one bush (depending on the variety). During this period it is required additional top dressing organic (humus, compost) or mineral ( ammonium nitrate, potassium compounds) fertilizers. In the first year, you can add minerals, and the next - organics, etc.

In order for the irga to please the eye and bear fruit well, it should be formed in the form of a bush, periodically removing weak shoots. In the first couple of years, leave only strong shoots, so that as a result you get a bush of 10-15 powerful branches different ages. Anti-aging pruning should be carried out no more than 1 time in 3-4 years.

If the bush develops poorly in the second year after planting and lags behind in growth, at the end of spring it should be fed with nitrogen compounds, slurry, bird droppings or mullein (dilute with water 1:10 and 1:6, respectively).

Irgi reproduction

Depending on the variety of irgi, cultivation and care occurs in different ways. Most species are well propagated by seeds, root cuttings or grafting. The seed method is mainly relevant for species forms. To get the seeds, collect the fruits and leave for a few days in a cool place, then grind, remove the seeds and dry them in the shade. Irgi seeds are very small, so it is better to sow them to obtain seedlings in wooden or peat boxes with a light soil mixture (sand, turf, humus).

Before sowing, any seeds should be stratified in wet fine sand at a temperature of + 1 + 5C. If you sow irgu in the fall, dig in the boxes in the garden and cover with leaves or spruce branches. Bushes grown from seeds should be shortened by 1/3 of the length during planting. They will give the first harvest for 3-4 years, and abundant fruiting will begin at 7-8 years of age.

Varietal shadberry breeds exclusively vegetatively, which allows it to maintain its healing and aesthetic characteristics. In early spring or late autumn, dig up root shoots or root cuttings up to 15 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter. In the first summer after planting, they need to be watered abundantly, and by autumn the sprouts will turn into small strong bushes, which, depending on the degree of development, can be sent for growing or planted in a permanent place.

Grafting is rarely used. Rootstocks are made from seedlings of mountain ash or another variety of irgi (it is better not to take irgi so as not to get root shoots). Irga, grafted onto mountain ash, grows moderately fast, bears fruit early and very plentifully, plus everything does not give root shoots, which greatly facilitates care.

Harvesting

Harvesting shadberry is the most pleasant and long-awaited part of the work. Since the fruits on the bushes ripen gradually and in different time, you can collect them in several steps, but it is better to wait for the entire bush to ripen.

Irgu should be constantly protected from birds, which also love to feast on sweet juicy berries. Thrushes, starlings and sparrows can completely destroy the entire crop, so the bush must be covered with non-woven protective material, for example, a large piece of gauze or a mesh with small cells. Cover should be immediately after the ripening of the first berries and leave protection until the end of the fruitful period.

The benefits that just one shadberry bush can bring are invaluable. It adorns the landscape, indulges in the fragrant fragrance of flowers in the spring and bestows medicinal and tasty fruits in the fall. Healing jams are made from shadberry berries, compotes are cooked and even put in pastries instead of raisins. It is able to prevent and cure many diseases, strengthen the immune system and simply cheer up.

Hard to find more unpretentious plant, including for northern latitudes than irga. Planting this shrub in your summer cottage will bring both decorative and practical benefits. Its fruits are extremely useful. They contain pectins, fiber, vitamins C, A and B, carotene and many other substances indispensable for human health. In addition, irga is an excellent honey plant that attracts bees. Meanwhile, this plant is unpretentious and needs minimal care.

Varieties

Irgi has a huge variety of species, of which the following are most often used in the household.

• Irga ordinary. This variety grows in arid areas, in rich calcareous soils. Without shelter, it can winter only in a warm climate. The fruits are dark, bluish-black, with a whitish bloom.
• Blood-red irga. This species is the lowest: it does not even reach 2.5-3 meters in length. It bears fruit well: on one bush you can collect up to 5-6 kilograms of dark sweet fruits.
• Irga Lamarck. Most decorative look attractive throughout the season. Like the Canadian, Lamarck's irga is an ideal stock for pear and apple trees, increasing their winter hardiness.
• Canadian irga. This species is the highest: it reaches 7-8 meters. On an adult bush of Canadian shadberry, you can collect up to 6 kilograms of sweet fruits.
• alder-leaved shadberry reaches 4 meters in height. Unlike other species, its flowers are odorless. The berries are large and tasty, up to 15 mm in diameter. From one bush you can collect about 9-10 kg of berries.

When choosing a plant for your site, you should rely on the climatic features of the region and the specific conditions of maintenance and care that you can provide to it. In addition, the choice of plant species varies depending on its main purpose. So, if its main role is decorative, it is worth buying Lamarck's irga, and if you are determined to get a harvest, feel free to buy Canadian or alder.

Selecting a landing site

Before purchasing seedlings, it is worth highlighting on your site appropriate place for landing. Despite the fact that the irga does not need special care and grows well even in sandy loamy soil, it does not tolerate marshy lowlands and dampness. It cannot be planted in places with a high groundwater flow: due to moisture, the root system will stop developing and subsequently die. The best types of soil for the development of seedlings are sandy and loamy.

Irga is often called the “queen of the backyard”, meaning that it is usually planted in inconspicuous corners of the garden: under the wall, near the fence, behind the toilet, etc. However, you should not assume that since the irga is unpretentious, it doesn’t matter where to plant it . If you plant a plant in the shade and do not give it any care at all, the seedlings will grow poorly and stretch upwards, not giving side shoots, and the fruits will be small and tasteless. In order for the irga to grow well and bear fruit, it should be planted in partial shade, for example, near a fence. The plant does not like direct sun.

For each bush, it is worth allocating a free space measuring 3 by 4 meters. If several bushes are supposed to be planted, it is worth placing them in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of more than a meter from each other.

Irga is a long-liver, it has been growing for more than 70 years and becomes stronger with age, overgrown with bark and acquiring the appearance of a real tree. The supply of free space around the seedlings is necessary so that adult bushes do not interfere with each other's development.

Do not plant irgu next to a parking lot or paved light paths. Falling fruits can leave marks on the car, as well as on asphalt and paths trimmed with light stone. This is due to the presence in ripe fruits of a coloring pigment of a rich bloody or eggplant color.

Fit Options

Irgu can be planted both in autumn and in spring, however, most gardeners advise the autumn period.

Landing irgi involves several successive stages.

1. Site preparation: weeding, digging up the landing site and adding potassium-phosphorus fertilizers at the rate of 40-50 g for each square meter soil.
2. Digging a hole with a depth of up to 2 bayonets of a shovel and a diameter of 70-80 cm.
3. The soil dug out of the pit is mixed with compost and sand in a ratio of 3 to 1.
4. Humus and a little potassium-phosphate mixture of fertilizers are placed at the bottom of the hole.
5. Seedlings over 1 year old are planted in holes and sprinkled with soil previously mixed with compost.
6. The earth around the seedling is watered abundantly.
7. After the water has been absorbed, the ground must be leveled and trampled down, and then mulched (cover protective layer from compost, sawdust or leaves).
8. The bush is cut in such a way that each shoot has no more than 4-5 buds.

plant care

Irga grows very quickly and does not require special care. Some summer residents do not care about the plant at all, paying attention to it only when harvesting. This is the wrong approach. Irga needs a little, but still regular care.

Irgi has an extensive root system, so it should be watered only during severe drought. It is advisable to use a spray bottle to wash the leaves at the same time. A strong root system can create significant problems for the summer resident: spreading in breadth, it suppresses other plants in the radius, and it has to be destroyed.

If the soil around the irgi is fertile enough, the roots will not actively spread in breadth in search of nutrients, respectively, there will be fewer of them, and the nutritious juices of the plant will go not to them, but to valuable fruits.

To do this, the soil around the plant must be regularly fertilized. So, the entire trunk circle of the bush is dug up with the addition of special fertilizers:

• buckets of humus;
• 300-400 g of superphosphate;
• 200-300 g potash fertilizers containing no chlorine.

The procedure should be carried out once a year upon reaching the 5-year age of the bush.

You can also feed the plant with a liquid organic mixture of chicken manure and water in a ratio of 1 to 10. For one adult bush, you will need about 5-6 liters of organic mixture.

Experienced gardeners advise fertilizing the irga with liquid organic matter in the evening, immediately after heavy watering. The dry mixture is dug together with the earth around the stem of the plant and only then watered.

From time to time, a shrub needs such a planned care procedure as pruning. It is needed so that the irga does not lose its attractiveness. In addition, pruning rejuvenates the plant and improves yield.

So, caring for the irga will not cause problems even for an inexperienced gardener. Unlike most ornamental shrubs and trees, she does not need constant monitoring, but is content with rare watering and top dressing, as well as periodic pruning.

Reproduction methods

Reproduction of irgi occurs in several ways.

• The division of the bushes (it is possible to divide the root growth only in adults, but not in old bushes).
• Creating layering (the most popular method for beginner gardeners).
• Propagation by seeds (this method is the most effective, but also the most time-consuming).
• Grafting a cutting (used to obtain a standard tree shape).

To grow irgu from seeds, it is necessary to choose the most mature, large fruits, select seeds from them, and mix them with sand without prior drying and put them in a cool and dark place (basement, balcony, etc.).

To make the seeds sprout faster, you can carry out the following manipulation:

1. Seeds are placed between layers of cotton wool soaked in water or hydrogen peroxide and packed in cellophane.
2. A bag of seeds for 4 months is left in a cold and dark place (this procedure can be started late autumn so that by the beginning of spring, the seeds are already ready for planting).
3. Seeds are planted in a mini-greenhouse at intervals of 20-25 cm. After 20 days, the seeds “wake up”.

The second way to grow seeds: in the fall, they are sown in pre-dug beds, to a depth of 2 cm, covered with a layer of sand and watered. As with the first method, seedlings will appear in the spring.

Growing irgi by grafting cuttings is suitable exclusively for experienced and skilled gardeners. This is a rather complicated and time-consuming procedure. Since autumn, it is necessary to prepare cuttings (cut from last year's growth) and dig them in the ground or sand until spring. You do not need to touch them at this time, they also do not need care.

In the spring, you can start propagating cuttings. As a rootstock, you can take a mountain ash of two years of age. It is dug up in the spring when the plant wakes up. The roots of the stock are cleaned of dirt and washed. 2 cuts are made on the trunk - one above the kidney and the other below it.

The shank of the irgi with the lower end (the end must be carved in advance with a wedge using sharp knife) is inserted into the incision on the rootstock trunk. The joints of the cuts are tightly wrapped with polyethylene, and the plant is planted in a greenhouse.

Reproduction of irgi by root growth and division of the bush is much simpler than the cutting method. In the first case, it is enough to dig out any of the young shoots (no more than 15-20 cm) from the growth around the bush and transplant it to a prepared place.

Growing shoots by dividing an adult irgi bush will also not cause any particular difficulties. It is enough to choose a bush aged 5-6 years, remove all old branches and cut the bush with a shovel so that 3-4 strong young shoots remain in each compartment.

Growing irgi by dividing the bush is an important component of plant care. So, if you perform this procedure every 3 years, the bush will rejuvenate and bring a good harvest.


So, planting irgi is a fairly simple event even for a novice gardener. It is enough to buy seedlings or dig a few shoots of shadberry, prepare the soil and plant the plant. Caring for this plant is also not difficult: it is enough to occasionally fertilize the plant, cut it, and even less often water it.

At the same time, irga is a universal plant that will not only decorate your site, but also provide you with healthy and tasty fruits.