Almond garden planting and care. Cultivation and care of ornamental almonds. What time to plant almonds

Almond is deciduous shrub, sometimes a small tree with simple, lanceolate leaves, serrate along the edge; with abundant and beautiful, solitary, large, white or pink flowers; fruits - roundish drupes with pubescent, pericarp and separating stone. Almonds bloom for 4-5 years.

Almond is undemanding to the soil, drought-resistant, photophilous, responds well to soil liming, and tolerates urban conditions. Grows fast.

Almonds belong to those shrubs in which aging stems die off, gradually being replaced by root suckers that appear from the 3rd year of the plant's life. At the age of 7, they begin to die off. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the curtain, old shoots must be completely removed. Highly decorative species deserve special attention.

Types and varieties of almonds

Georgian almond

Bush about a meter high, has big leaves, 9 cm long, large bright pink flowers and bristly, hairy fruit. Georgian almond blossoms in May, fruits ripen in September, begins to bear fruit at the age of 7. By winter, the shoots become woody and quite easily tolerate frost.

Less hardy, but in Moscow it is quite stable, blooms and pleases with its fruits.

Almond Ledebourg

Grows in the foothills of Altai. The foliage is dark green, large. The flowers are pink. Flowering lasts 2 weeks. Begins to bear fruit at 10 years of age.

Almond low (bean)

Grows in Central Europe, Asia and Siberia. Grows in hollows, along ravines.

Deciduous shrub, with spherical crown. The branches are erect, reddish-gray, with densely covered narrow leaves. Bright pink flowers are solitary, bloom with leaves and adorn the bush in abundance. Flowering lasts 7 days.

Almonds are low photophilous, winter-hardy, drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil, tolerate shearing well, give root offspring. Almonds are propagated by seeds, grafting, layering, root offspring.

Low almonds are grown in the middle, it blooms profusely and bears fruit, as well as in the forest-steppe part of Siberia.

There are two forms: white-flowered - with white flowers; Gessler - with large pink flowers.

Common almond

Under natural conditions, it is found in the Western Kopetdag, in the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan. Lives for a century.

It grows as a shrub or small tree with reddish branches. Height 3 - 8 m, resembles a sweet cherry. Leaves become oblong after flowering. The flowers consist of a calyx and a red or pink corolla.

Almond Petunnikova

Petunnikov's almond grows on the rocky slopes of the mountains, sometimes forming pure thickets.

Shrub one meter tall, with erect or splayed branches, with countless shortened branches. The shoots are pale yellow, bare, the bark of the branches is gray-brown. The leaves of Petunnikov's almond are linear, with a pointed apex, bluntly or sharply serrated along the edge. In almonds, Petunnikov's almonds have pink, single branches.

Winter-hardy, drought-resistant. Decorative during flowering and fruiting.

Almond (Louiseania) three-lobed

Bush 3 m tall, with dark gray shoots and spreading crown. Almond three-lobed leaves are located on fruitful shoots in bunches, when deployed from the underside, densely hairy, then - naked.

Flowers on the shoots grow in two, of different colors - dark pink, red, crimson. The flowers are simple, 1.5 cm in diameter. The shrub blooms in early May before the leaves bloom, lasting 2.5 weeks.

Two decorative forms :

"Captivity". Spreading bush, 2 m in height. Flowers double, pink, 10 sepals, 48 petals. Pedicel 10 mm long. Blooms in May for about 10 days. Flowers bloom after the leaves open.

"Kyiv". Bush or tree up to 3 m tall. The flowers are pink, double. It blooms very profusely at the end of April for a week, spreading a pleasant light aroma around. The flowers open before the leaves open.

Louisiana trilobate with simple flowers grow only in botanical gardens, in flower growers they are practically absent.

Location

Almond loves sunny place or penumbra. The place for planting almonds must be protected from strong winds.

soil for almonds

The soil mixture should consist of humus, leafy soil, sand with the addition of lime.

Almond care

Almonds are positive regular top dressing. On loamy watering should be moderate, on sandy - plentiful. With a lack of moisture, the flowering time is reduced, with stagnant water, the root neck rots. Loosening is recommended. The plant tolerates shearing and pruning very well. In cold winters, flower buds and shoot tips freeze near almonds. If a large number of snow, then there may be a decay of the root neck.

Reproduction of almonds

Ortho almonds are propagated by grafting onto sloes, plums, other almonds, and bird cherry. Almond species can be propagated by seeds. Sowing should be done in spring or autumn after stratification.

Annual seedlings grow rapidly and reach 30 cm in height. They tolerate transplant well, bear fruit for 3 years of life. To obtain a dense crown, a bush at a young age is formed by removing dry faded shoots. Almonds are propagated by green and root cuttings, layering and offspring.

Usage

Florists need to take into account that almonds are an ornamental shrub of spring flowering time. He is very handsome in single landing, it is used to create rocky slides. Effective almonds, planted in 3 - 5 pieces, against the background conifers, on the lawn and in standard culture.

A huge number of people from all over the world come to Japan to see the amazing cherry blossoms. But there is another beautiful fabulous plant that blooms in spring and exudes an amazing, dizzying aroma. This is an almond. In fact, almonds and sakura (serrate cherry) are quite close relatives, and they represent the genus of plums.

From our article you can learn some interesting information concerning this amazing plant: where you can see the almond blossom, when it blooms, etc.

Growth

The birthplace of almonds is Asia (Middle and Front) and the Mediterranean. This culture arose many centuries ago BC.

Today, the most numerous plantations of almonds are found in the Mediterranean, USA (California), China, Central Asia, Western Tien Shan, Kopetdag, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea. In Tajikistan, there is even a beautiful "city of almonds" - Kanibadam. Also, this plant is grown in some areas and South Moravia.

Types of almonds in Russia

Before we look at the flowering almond itself (description just below), we will determine what varieties of it grow in Russia. Here, 3 types of this plant are mainly grown:

ordinary almond;
beaver, steppe;
three-blade.

The last two species are forms that do not produce edible fruits, but are decorative. They grow in the territories of central Russia. Their flowers open up to the full blooming of the leaves, almost on bare branches. They are very beautiful, from white to rich Pink colour, have a great strong aroma that attracts many bees.

The fruits give the common almond and the almond tree. The first kind is large plant which can reach a height of up to 5 meters.

Blooming almonds: photo, description

In spring, almond gardens are strewn with delicate, almost airy ones. There are also flowers decorated in the middle with bright purple veins. They bloom, as noted above, almost on bare branches. It seems that the trees are covered with an airy whitish-pink veil. All the air over long distances around is filled with the most tender pleasant aroma blossoming almond.

This flowering plant has amazing, striking beauty. Such splendor attracts many people to admire the extraordinary colors of awakening nature. Blossoming almonds - a real miracle!

Vincent van Gogh on almond blossoms

Van Gogh (a Dutch artist), who has a rather sad fate, can be said to have earned great respect from people, customers and colleagues throughout his short life, although he remained not entirely in demand until the end of his days. Only after his death did he earn real fame and recognition throughout the world as an impressionist, although he himself rejected this direction more than once.

The painting entitled "Blossoming branches of almonds" is one of his last works. It was written in 1890 after the birth of the artist's nephew (the son of his brother Theo). The blossoming almond, depicted in a magnificent picture, is a symbol that carries a certain connotation. Almond blossoms early and, probably, according to the author's own intention, it means the beginning of a new life.

The peculiarity and remarkableness of this picture is that it was made in a style not characteristic of the artist. Yes and color solution limited. The turquoise sky looks bright and carefree, and not a single cloud overshadows the amazingly bright spring day. Blooming almonds in his painting are a harbinger of warmth and joy of life.

reproduction

Absolutely all varieties of almonds are self-fertile. To get fruits, you also need to plant a variety of pollinating tree. You can propagate almonds with seedlings, seeds, or even just graft a plum or cherry plum onto a turn. However, in order to successfully grow varietal almonds, it is best for the garden to purchase a seedling in a fruit nursery and do not forget that you must also choose a pollinator variety for the selected variety.

This plant is unpretentious to the soil, but it is advisable to choose the most illuminated place and protected from the wind. Worth planting this magnificent tree in order to always see the indescribable beauty of blooming almonds in the spring.

Landing and care

It should be noted that the distance from one tree to another should be approximately 5-7 meters. It all depends on the type of plant. A landing pit measuring 60 by 60 cm is being prepared. Its bottom is mulched with a mixture consisting of leaf soil, humus and sand. The seedling is placed on the bottom of the pit, covered, and the earth is compacted. If necessary, the plant can be tied to a peg, also installed in the pit before being sprinkled with soil. The seedling is carefully watered with a bucket of water.

The first fruiting occurs at 3-5 years. Almonds should be trimmed annually and fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. The age of the plant can reach up to 100-130 years, and the maximum yield occurs at the age of 18-20.

Russian Almond

Imported to Russia for a long time. In Krymskoye, for several decades, work has been carried out on the selection of its winter-hardy varieties. Although these plants tolerate very coldy(up to -25 degrees), early spring bloom in the presence of still strong frosts, it destroys leaves and flowers.

Frost-resistant varieties:

Varieties of the southern regions:

Rems.
Fragrant.
Yalta.
Almond Petunnikov.

Varieties of brittle almonds:

Dream.
Pink mist.
Anyuta.

Conclusion

Gorgeous almond blossoms. A photo of him or a picture with such an image will decorate any interior of the room and give it freshness and comfort. Any species that has taken root in the garden will become a real decoration and will lead to indescribable delight with wonderful flowering. And this season (early spring) is a celebration of the birth of life!

Sorrow will drown in a pink haze,

Sweet hope fills the heart.
Only almonds will bloom in the garden,

And delicate petals luxurious veil

For bright joy, open the doors wide open.

From the bewitching beauty of flowering almonds, resembling a huge soft pink ball, it takes your breath away. But the shrub does not lose its attractiveness even after the large petals generously covering its branches fly around. A compact, well-shaped crown and unusual outlines of dark green leaves allowed him to take pride of place in the list of preferences. landscape designers. Distinguishes culture and versatility of use. Often it is grown as part of hedges of any height, but a single almond will look no less impressive in the garden.

Looking for a suitable site

Planting a shrub will be successful if you choose for it right place. The plant does not like cramped conditions and does not tolerate shade well. The key to its health and abundant flowering is free access to air and sun rays in combination with reliable protection from drafts and gusty winds. The ideal place for almonds would be the southern part of the garden. It is better to choose an area that is well lit throughout the day. Can be planted near tall trees. The decorativeness of the shrub will not suffer if it is in the light shade cast by them for 2-3 hours a day.

Culture does not impose special requirements on the quality and structure of the soil. Light loams or sandy loamy soils with a rich supply of nutrients and a significant depth of occurrence are most suitable for it. ground water. In them, almond roots will not suffer from moisture stagnation and lack of oxygen. If the land on the site is dense and contains a lot of clay or it is prone to flooding, growing a shrub will most likely end in its death.

Important for culture and soil reaction. Ornamental almonds are cultivated on neutral or slightly acidic soils. If the pH is outside the range of 4.5-7.5, the soil will have to be neutralized or discarded before planting the shrub. In acidic or salty soil, the plant will be weak and vulnerable to disease.

Getting ready to land

Almond belongs to deciduous crops. You can plant it in autumn or spring. In the first case, the procedure is started after the ornamental shrub sheds all the leaves. In the second, they focus on weather. Planting almonds is carried out when the heat is finally established. If there is still a threat of frost, it is better to postpone it. In the early stages of development of a heat-loving plant, they can greatly harm it. No care will help to correct such consequences. More commonly practiced autumn planting culture.

Under natural conditions, almond bushes are usually found on rocky slopes. Therefore, he will easily endure the presence of boulders and cobblestones on the site, you can not waste energy on removing them. Seedlings are placed in pits of medium depth (about 30 cm). If there are several bushes, an interval of 3-5 m is left between them. Planting almonds in rows will require a lot of space. The distance from one to the other should be approximately 5 m.

The shrub needs good drainage, so the bottom of the pit is covered with a layer of rubble or broken brick, and sand is poured on top. Growing almonds will require support. It is better to install it immediately, driving it into the center landing pit long count. The height of the support should be at least 0.5 m. It is better to take root on the site annual plants. In order for planting to bring less stress to almond bushes, a cloudy and cool day is chosen for it. Spend it early in the morning or in the evening. The procedure includes several steps.

The roots of the seedling are dipped in clay talker.
They put the plant in a hole so that its root neck is above the soil surface (it rises 2-3 cm above it).
A fertile loose substrate is poured, consisting of the top layer of soil, leafy soil, humus and sand.
With an acidic soil reaction, lime or dolomite flour is added to the pit.
The soil around the plant is compacted and the planted decorative almonds are watered abundantly (1-1.5 buckets of water).

After the liquid has been absorbed and the soil has settled, the future bush is tied to a support. Landing is completed by mulching the trunk circle. Dry earth or peat is well suited for these purposes. A layer of mulch is poured so that it does not cover the root neck of the plant.

Almonds are cross-pollinated. Its cultivation will cause less trouble if you place not one, but 2-3 bushes in the garden. Bees mainly pollinate the bush, so it is good if the site is located near the apiary.

Watering and feeding

Decorative almonds in the garden will not require much attention. Growing it is no more difficult than any other shrub. Provide him proper care even beginners can.

Care consists of standard procedures:

glaze;
soil loosening;
weed removal;
top dressing;
trimmings;
preventive measures aimed at combating diseases and pests.

The shrub will delight you with luxurious and long flowering in wet soil. It must not be allowed to dry out, otherwise the loose buds will quickly wither. When watering, it is important to observe the golden mean. Excess moisture will cause the root neck of the bush to rot and die. The amount of water applied depends on the type of soil. If an area with sandy soil is allocated for growing almonds, watering should be plentiful. On loamy soils, moistening is carried out moderately. The time for the next procedure is determined by the state of the soil in the near-trunk circle. If her upper layer(1.5-2 cm) dried up, it has come. Usually almonds are watered once a week, spending 1 bucket of water on such care.

Having moistened the soil, it is loosened. If the bush is still young, then the soil is treated shallowly - by 5-7 cm. Adult plants require more intensive care. Loosening around them is carried out to a depth of 8-10 cm. Almonds do not like the neighborhood of weeds. The soil in the trunk circle should always be clean.

Ornamental shrub responds well to fertilization. Feed it during the entire growing season. In the spring you can not make mineral compositions into the ground, and mulch the trunk circle with nutrient organic matter (rotted manure or mullein). Later, ammonium nitrate is also used for top dressing, dissolving them in water and watering the plants with this mixture. With the advent of autumn, almond care is complemented by the introduction of potassium-phosphorus compounds into the soil. Potassium sulphate and double superphosphate have proven themselves well.

We carry out pruning

When growing a shrub, you will have to learn the rules for pruning it. If this procedure is not included in the mandatory care for him, the decorative effect of the almond will decrease, and its flowering will be poor. It is cut for sanitary purposes and to form a crown. In the first case, the procedure is carried out in early spring. It is important to be in time before the start of sap flow.

When sanitary pruning get rid of the following types of branches:

damaged;
sick;
beaten with frost;
dry;
thickening the crown;
growing inside it;
interfering with each other.

When the bush fades, you can remove the shoots that had buds. Such care will contribute to the development and maturation of young branches on which flower buds will be laid. next year. Then you can start forming pruning. The plant tolerates it well.

Forming the crown of almonds begins immediately after planting. Having placed an annual bush in the ground, its shoots are shortened by 20 cm. In the next 3 years, the goal of pruning is to form the skeleton of the plant. The main branches are laid at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. In summer, 2-3 pinching of unnecessary shoots is carried out. Those that need to be left shorten when they stretch more than 60 cm in length. Caring for an adult almond bush (7 years and older) involves pruning old branches. They will be replaced by root offspring, which the shrub begins to actively produce when it reaches 3 years of age.

Preparing the plant for winter

The homeland of almonds is the Mediterranean, the climate of which is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters With big amount precipitation. The plant is thermophilic, therefore, by the onset of the cold season, they begin to cook it in the summer. Pinching the upper part of the shoots of the bush stimulates their lignification. Such branches withstand frost almost without loss.

Ornamental almond bushes are found even in the gardens of Siberia. But not all of its varieties will be able to grow in this region. The culture has many varieties, but only some of them are characterized by increased cold resistance. It is better for Siberians to choose steppe almonds for planting. It is also known as wild, or low. In the people, it is usually called bean and almond.

Young plants hibernate under cover. It can be made from straw or dry leaves. The height of the protective layer should be significant - at least 15 cm. Adult almond bushes do not cover. If the winter is harsh, the flower buds on the plant and the ends of its shoots may freeze slightly. But do not panic if you find such signs on the bush. The decorativeness of its crown is restored quickly. The consequences of a snowy winter are more serious. Under a thick layer of ice grains, the root collar of the plant can rot.

Few ornamental shrubs can boast such an abundance of virtues as almonds. He is different rapid growth, unpretentiousness, not afraid of drought, adapted to urban conditions. Its flowers attract bees, making the plant a valuable honey crop. If you properly care for almonds, they will delight more than one generation with their beauty, because the life of a shrub can last more than a century.

Plant almond – small tree or shrub of the subgenus Almond of the genus Plum of the Pink family. It is often referred to as a nut, although in fact it is a stone fruit. Almonds grew in the Mediterranean and Central Asia many centuries before our era. Today it is also distributed in China, California, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and South Moravia. This light-loving and drought-resistant culture grows in nature in small groups of several trees or bushes at an altitude of 800 to 1600 m above sea level.

In our country, the common almond is usually found in the southern zone of the European part. IN middle lane they grow steppe almonds, or beaver, or low almonds, or tender plums. The value of this type of almond is not only in the kernels of its fruits, but also in the high decorativeness of its leaves and flowers. And the three-lobed almond is one of the most beautiful garden shrubs, which is grown solely for its decorative qualities. We wrote about how planting and caring for common almonds in the article "Almonds - planting and care, pruning and grafting." Today we will tell you how to plant and care for an ornamental almond shrub.

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Planting and caring for almonds (in a nutshell)

Landing: in spring, before the start of sap flow, or in autumn, after leaf fall.
Lighting: bright light or partial shade.
The soil: fertile, light, loamy or sandy, with a pH of 4.5-7.5. Salted and clay soils, as well as areas with groundwater lying close to the surface, almonds will not work. It is better to plant a plant in the southern part of the garden.
Watering: when the soil dries to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, a bucket of water is poured under the bush. Usually, watering is carried out once a week, but in extreme heat and drought, you will have to water more often, and spend more water.
Top dressing: spring trunk circle mulch horse manure or mullein, and before flowering, the bush is fertilized with a solution of 20 g ammonium nitrate and 10 g of urea in a bucket of water. In autumn, 20 g of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added for each m² of the near-stem circle.
Pruning: in the spring they carry out a sanitary cleaning of almonds, and in the bushes of seven years of age they need rejuvenating pruning, which is also carried out in the spring, before the start of sap flow.
Reproduction: seeds, cuttings, shoots, layering and grafting.
Pests: spider mites, aphids, leafworms and almond seed-eaters.
Diseases: clasterosporiasis, moniliosis ( gray rot), scab and rust.

Decorative almond - description

Ornamental shrub almonds are usually medium in size (2.5-3 m), it is easy to grow even for inexperienced gardeners. He is one of the most valuable ornamental crops. Some varieties of ornamental almonds are grown on a trunk, and then the shrub looks like an almond tree with dark green lanceolate leathery leaves with a serrated edge, which together with the branches create a spherical compact crown. Ornamental almonds bloom, as a rule, in the fourth or fifth year after planting: flowers of incredible beauty with a large number of petals and stamens, simple or double, pink or white - they envelop the almond bush air cloud sometimes up to 3 weeks.

Anyone who has ever seen blossoming branches of almonds will never forget this magic. Almond leaves usually bloom after flowering. The fruit of the decorative almond is inedible, but also decorative: a rounded suede three-lobed pericarp, in which there is an easily detachable stone.

The almond is a close relative of these fruit trees like plum, cherry, apricot, cherry plum, peach, nectarine, blackthorn and sakura. It is also related to pear, apple, quince, dog rose, rose, hawthorn, chokeberry and mountain ash.

Decorative almond is unpretentious, resistant to drought, it is a valuable honey plant and good care can live for more than a hundred years. decorative types almonds, unlike common almonds, grown mainly for their fruits, are able to withstand harsh winters the middle zone, and almonds in Siberia also ceased to be a curiosity.

planting almonds

When to plant almonds

Planting decorative almonds is carried out in the fall, after leaf fall, and in the spring, after the establishment warm days, to return frosts did not coincide with the beginning of the vegetation of the plant. However, autumn planting of almonds is preferable.

How do almonds grow? What kind of soil does he prefer? Almonds will not grow in acidic or saline soils - the pH should be in the range of 4.5-7.5, and the occurrence of groundwater in the area should be deep. Almonds grow best in light, fertile loamy or sandy loam soil, but heavy clay soils will destroy it. Since the ornamental almond loves air and sun, set aside a place for it in the southern part of the garden. This may be a site that is under the sun all day, or a place where the almond tree will have 2-3 hours a day shade from trees growing nearby.

How to plant almonds

Since almonds need cross-pollination, it is advisable to plant several almond bushes at the same time. Almonds are pollinated mainly by bees, and proximity to an apiary with several beehives would be very helpful.

Clear the area for planting from plants that give shade, and you can not remove the stones - almonds in nature grow mainly on rocky slopes. Dig holes at least 30 cm deep at a distance of 3-5 m from each other in a row, keeping a distance of about 5 m between rows. Put a layer of broken brick or crushed stone for drainage on the bottom of each hole, lay a layer of sand on top and drive a long a pole for supporting a seedling - the support should rise above the surface of the site by at least half a meter.

Almond bushes are planted in the early morning or after 4 pm. Before planting, annual almond seedlings are dipped in roots in a clay mash, then placed in pits so that the root neck is several centimeters above the surface of the site, and the pit is covered with a mixture of topsoil with leafy soil, humus and sand. If the soil is in an acidic area, add a little lime or dolomite flour to the soil mixture.

After planting, compact the soil around the seedling and pour one to one and a half buckets of water under it. When the water is absorbed and the soil settles slightly, tie the seedling to the support and mulch the near-stem circle with dry earth or peat so that the mulch does not come into contact with the root collar, which should be at surface level after watering.

Shrub almonds - care

How to grow almonds? Planting and care decorative almonds present no difficulty. You already know how to plant almonds, and caring for almonds is the same as for any other decorative tree or shrubs: watering, loosening the soil, weeding, top dressing, pruning, treatment from insects and pests.

Watering is carried out, preventing the soil from drying out in the near-stem circle, however, waterlogging of the soil threatens to rot the root collar of the plant. It is enough to pour a bucket of water under an almond tree or bush once a week if the soil is dry to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. After watering, it is convenient to loosen the soil to a depth of 5-7 cm around young plants and 8-10 cm around mature ones. Keep the trunk circle clean, remove weeds as soon as they appear.

Planting and caring for almond shrubs involves fertilizing. In the spring, you can mulch the trunk circle not with peat, but with manure or mullein, and a little later, each bush is fed with 10 g of urea and 20 g of ammonium nitrate, diluted in a bucket of water. In autumn, 20 g of potassium sulfate and double superphosphate are added for each m² of plot.

cutting almonds

Almonds in the garden need pruning. In the spring, before the start of sap flow, sanitary pruning of bushes is carried out, removing broken, frostbite, diseased, dry and thickening shoots and branches. Sometimes one almond branch interferes with the growth of another - they are called competing. The branch that is located more successfully is left to grow, and the other is cut out. Formative pruning is carried out when the flowering of almonds ends. Almonds tolerate shearing well, moreover: the removal of faded shoots stimulates abundant flowering next year.

After seven years of growth, it becomes necessary to remove aged branches. They will be replaced by their root offspring, which appear after three years of the life of decorative almonds.

How almond blossoms

According to some sources, the name of the plant comes from the ancient Greek word amygdalos, meaning " beautiful tree". This version is similar to the truth, because during flowering, decorative almonds look amazing: white, red, purple or pink almond flowers are located on the branches in such abundance that the tree itself is not visible. Art lovers are well aware of Vincent van Gogh's painting "Blossoming Almond Branches", but a real gardener would prefer to admire this spectacle not in an Amsterdam gallery, but in his own garden.

In areas with a warm climate, flowering begins at the end of January and lasts until March. In the middle lane, almond color appears in late April or early May and lasts about 2 weeks. During this period, it is very important to organize regular watering of almonds, since flowering can end ahead of schedule due to lack of moisture.

Pests and diseases of almonds

Of the diseases, almonds can suffer from clasterosporiasis, moniliosis, gray rot, scab and rust. Among pests, spider mites, aphids, leafworms and almond seed-eaters are dangerous for him. You can read more about the symptoms of almond diseases and pest damage in the article that we have already mentioned. Here we briefly recall that you can get rid of fungal diseases by treating almonds with fungicides such as Topaz, Skor, Fundazol, Kuproksat, and insecticides Aktellik, Calypso, Fufanon, Zolon cope with insects.

The spider mite is destroyed by treating the plant with Kleschevit, Akarin or Agravertin.

But much more important than timely processing plants with chemicals, performing crop farming techniques, and understanding that planting and caring for an almond bush in accordance with the rules will preserve not only its health, but also the health of your entire garden.

Almonds in winter

It is necessary to prepare almonds for winter from summer: pinching the tops of almond shoots accelerates their lignification, which allows the plant to safely survive the winter without freezing. Young seedlings need to be covered for the winter with straw, dry leaves or lutrasil to a height of 15 cm from the ground. Make sure that the root collar does not stick out under a layer of snow. Mature plants winter normally without shelter, but even if frost damages some of the shoots, the almonds will recover quite quickly.

Almonds in the Moscow region and in Moscow

For growing in climatic conditions Moscow and the Moscow region are suitable for such types of almonds as steppe almonds, or low, three-lobed almonds, Georgian almonds and Ledebour's almonds. Plants of these species, even if slightly affected by frost during the winter, can quickly recover their strength and delight you. lush bloom. Planting almonds and caring for them in the conditions of the Moscow region are no different from those described in our article.

Reproduction of almonds

How to propagate almonds

Species almonds can be propagated by seeds, and varietal ones can only be propagated by vegetative methods - by grafting, layering and shoots. Gardeners, accustomed to relying on themselves in everything, prefer to grow rootstocks from seeds on their own in order to plant varietal cuttings on them.

Growing almonds from seed

Almond seeds can be sown in the ground in autumn, or in spring, but before spring planting seeds must be stratified in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for 4 months. Almond kernels are sown in grooves 8-10 cm deep, placing them at a distance of 10-12 cm from each other. The interval between the furrows is left within half a meter. When the seeds germinate, take care of the almond seedlings like any other: water, loosen the soil around them, remove weeds.

In summer, on seedlings stretched up to 50 cm with a stem thickness of about 1 cm, all branches growing at a height of up to 10 cm from the root collar are cut into a ring. Seedlings are transplanted to permanent place, and as soon as they take root, you can graft varietal cuttings on them.

almond graft

For grafting, you can take rootstocks of any type of almond, but it is better to use the most winter-hardy species. Almonds grow well on rootstocks of thorns, cherry plums, plums and bird cherry. For a scion, you need to find a straight, well-developed shoot of almonds with formed eyes. The leaves from the handle are cut with secateurs, leaving only short petioles no more than 1 cm long.

Reproduction of almonds by grafting is carried out during the period of sap flow - in spring or in August. The rootstock growing in the soil is wiped damp cloth from dust and dirt, make a T-shaped incision on its bark just above the root neck with a budding knife, carefully turn the cut bark to the sides.

A shield is cut from the scion cutting - a strip of bark with a kidney and thinnest layer wood. The shield should be of such length that it fits entirely under the bark of the T-shaped incision. After you insert the shield, press the edges of the unfolded bark against it and fix the grafting site with tape, budding tape or plaster, making several turns around the stem. The kidney itself with the rest of the petiole should remain open.

After two weeks, if the bud remains green and the petiole falls off by itself, slightly loosen the fixing tape, but if you did not bud in the spring, but at the end of summer, leave the tape on the stock until next spring and spud the grafted seedling with earth for the winter , hiding the vaccination site under it. In the spring, free the root neck from the ground and remove the tape fixing the grafting site.

Propagation of almonds by cuttings

For cuttings of almonds, it is necessary in the second half of June to cut off the apical semi-lignified cuttings from 15 to 20 cm long with two nodes and place them in a growth stimulator for 16 hours. The cuttings are rooted in a cold greenhouse, planted in a substrate consisting of one part of sand and two parts of peat. Rooting occurs in 3-4 weeks. From 85 to 100% of cuttings take root. After the formation of roots, the cuttings are transplanted for growing on a training bed.

Reproduction of almond shoots

Overgrowth around almond bushes begins to form after heavy pruning. The offspring are separated in the second year, when they have already formed a root system. The excavated shoots are transplanted to a permanent place and cared for like an annual seedling.

Propagation of almonds by layering

Flexible shoots of almonds are bent to the ground, fixed with metal studs and sprinkled with soil. Until the layers grow roots, they are watered, the soil around them is loosened and weeds are removed. Not earlier than a year later, when the root system appears at the cuttings, they are separated from mother plant and transplanted to a new location.

Types and varieties of almonds

Common almond

in culture as fruit plant common almonds are grown, which is divided into bitter almonds - wild almonds containing hydrocyanic acid in the kernels, and sweet almonds, which are grown in culture and do not contain hydrocyanic acid. It is the numerous varieties of sweet almonds that are in demand both in amateur and industrial gardening. Ordinary almonds, perhaps, do not have high decorative qualities, but its nuts have a high nutritional and medicinal value.

Details about this species and its varieties can be found in the article that we have already mentioned.

Almond low, or steppe, or bean

Deciduous shrub up to 1.5 m high with a dense crown in the shape of a ball, erect branches with reddish-gray bark, narrow lanceolate leathery leaves up to 6 cm long, dark green above and lighter below. The flowers of this species are bright pink, solitary. Flowering lasts 7-10 days. The bean fruit is edible. Almond low is the most popular type in the gardens of the middle lane. It has two forms - white-flowered and Gessler, which is smaller than the original species, but has larger bright pink flowers. Of the varieties of steppe almonds cultivated in the middle lane, the most famous are:

white sail- as the name implies, this is a white almond with flowers up to 10 mm in diameter, abundantly covering the branches of the shrub;
Anyuta- a variety with bright pink flowers with a diameter of up to 25 mm;
Dream- almonds with flowers of pale pink color, reaching 25 mm in diameter;
Pink flamingo- variety with double flowers pink color up to 10 mm in diameter;
pink mist– almond with bright pink large flowers, reaching a diameter of 25 mm;
Mediator- the variety was created by Michurin. This tree is usually taller than 2 m with large flowers of pale pink color, which has a high frost resistance.

Georgian almond

Caucasian endem, growing on slopes, edges and in hollows. This plant is about 1 m high, similar in appearance to low almonds, but with more large leaves, reaching a length of 8 cm, and larger bristly flowers of bright pink color. The species has good prospects for breeding and is frost-resistant enough for cultivation in the Moscow region.

Almond Ledebourg

In nature, it grows in the foothills of Altai, forming entire thickets. The leaves of this species are large, dark green in color. pink flowers open earlier than other species, and bloom within 2-3 weeks. The most famous variety:

Fire Hill- almonds with flowers red-pink color up to 3 cm in diameter.

Almond Petunnikova

It is endemic to Central Asia. It is a shrub up to 1 m high with erect or splayed branches with gray-brown bark and light yellow shoots. The leaves of plants of this species are linear or lanceolate, with a pointed apex, obtusely serrate at the edges. Solitary pink flowers.

Three-lobed almond

Shrub up to 3 m tall with a spreading crown, large-toothed three-lobed leaves along the edge, densely hairy on the underside at the time of opening. Flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter of various colors grow on shoots in pairs. The view has two decorative forms:

captivity- Terry almonds with flowers 3-4 cm in diameter. Pink petals of almonds of this form open after the appearance of leaves, which reduces the decorativeness of the plant;
Kyiv- pink almonds up to 3.5 m high, blooming extremely abundantly with double flowers with a diameter of 2.5-3.5 cm. The variety has a high decorative effect due to the fact that the flowers appear on the bush before the leaves.

Three-lobed almond

It has many varieties and hybrids that differ not only in the appearance and color of the flowers, but also in the flowering period. The most interesting varieties are:

Svitlana- a variety of Ukrainian selection with very light flowers;
Tanyusha- almonds with dense double flowers with a diameter of 2.5-3.5 cm with twisted petals;

Initially, almonds sprouted in Asia Minor, Tien Shan, Iran, the Balkan Peninsula, but the beauty this shrub did not leave people indifferent, travelers brought thin twigs from distant shores, seedlings took root. In Russia, similar shrubs can be found in the Crimea, southern regions Trans-Urals and in the Danube regions. It should be noted that the Russians were very fond of the almond bush, they began to actively use it in landscape design to create magical flowering gardens.

Almond is a small tree, rather even a shrub that has a powerful root system capable of reaching 5 meters. It grows up to 10 meters high. Of course there are various varieties of this shrub, differing in height, shape and profusion of flowering.

Common almond

Common almond usually grows up to 3-8 meters. At the beginning of the flowering period (April-May), flowers of a reddish tone appear, which have a pink corolla and a goblet-like simple calyx, the diameter of the flowers is 3-4 cm.

Almond flowers are characterized by the presence of single, large flowers, which together form a magical flowering cloud instead of a bush.

Steppe almond

Steppe almond rarely gives more than 1.5 meters of growth. Flowers are bright pink. Their diameter is 2-2.5 centimeters. They bloom simultaneously with the appearance of leaves, which gives the bush spherical shape flowering meadow. Although flowering continues and long time, only 7-10 days in May, but it is simply impossible to pass by such an unusual bush indifferently, the impression remains for the whole year.

three-lobed almond

Three-lobed almond reaches 3 meters. Unlike its counterparts, this bush has flowers of dark pink or rich crimson color, somewhat reminiscent of small roses, with which the entire bush is strewn. The flowers are usually 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter.

The bush begins to bloom in early April, the duration of flowering reaches 30-35 days.

Almond is inherently an amazing shrub that can become a decoration of your garden, both as a bright spot against the backdrop of spring, awakening nature, and as a hedge covered with many small inflorescences.

Almond flowers look especially impressive against the background of huge boulders or conifers, and almond branches are perfectly combined in bouquets with spring flowers and long pleasing to the eye. Also, do not forget that some of its varieties bear fruit in the form of your favorite almonds, subject to proper natural conditions, Certainly.

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