The best varieties of irgi. Irga Canadian varieties are the best Planting and caring for Irga in the open field
In culture, species are most often grown, and not varieties of shadberry, because they are the most common and freely sold in nurseries. As for the varieties, it is mostly Canadian ones that are common. In the State Register of the Russian Federation, only one variety of shadberry is currently listed, but there are already more than three dozen of them in the world. Each variety has its own characteristics associated with care, placement on the site, and the use of fruits.
Types of irgi
Of the types of irgi, two are most suitable for cultivation in culture:
- irga alder-leaved,
All types and varieties of shadberry can be grown on almost any type of soil, with the exception of areas with very close standing groundwater (less than a meter) or those areas where melt and rain water stagnates for a long time.
Read more about planting and caring for irga in the articles:
Irga alder-leaved
Irga alder-leaved is an ideal version of a plant intended for obtaining fruits and for decorating a garden.
Distinctive features:
- highest winter hardiness
- drought tolerance,
- does not get sick
- not damaged by pests.
Blooming shadberry alder-leaved
Irga alder-leaved blooms very beautifully, usually in mid-May. Its shoots almost completely cover the inflorescences with snow-white flowers, the petals of which crumble at the end of flowering, resembling falling snowflakes. Depending on the onset of spring, the timing of flowering may vary.
Photo: flowering shadberry
Fruiting shadberry alder-leaved
The fruits of shadberry alder-leaved ripen simultaneously with currants. The berries are dark purple, almost black, with a very bright, coloring juice that contains a large amount of pectin, which causes the juice to gel quickly. The taste of the fruit is pleasant, fully ripe they are sweet with a slight sourness.
The fruits also contain seeds, but unlike the same currant, where they are very clearly felt when consuming fruits fresh, in alder-leaved shadberry they are almost invisible.
The benefits of alder-leaved irgi
The seeds of shadberry contain amygdalin, which is good for the heart. Therefore, you should not spit them out - it is better to chew and eat, especially since they are very soft.
Irga canadian
Irga Canadian is more suitable for decorating the garden. Plants are low, about 3-3.5 meters, have curving shoots and light green leaves elongated by a boat. This species blooms less effectively, due to the fact that the brushes are loose, and it forms fewer fruits, but they are larger, about 0.7-0.8 g compared to 0.5-0.6 g for shadberry.
Fruit shadberry canadian slightly more interesting in taste, they contain more acid, so their taste is considered more harmonious. The fruits ripen 3-5 days earlier than those of the alder-leaved shadberry.
Of the minuses of this species, only one can be named - birds are very fond of the fruits, so if you decide to start a Canadian irgu on your site, then you will need to think about protection from birds.
Irgi varieties
As for the varieties, now it is relatively easy to get only three:
- mendan - Canadian, reminiscent of alder-leaved irga only having larger fruits, weighing up to 0.9 g,
- Slate - in fact, this is an improved Canadian irga - the brushes are denser, the berries are large, weighing up to 1.1 grams,
- Starlight Night - obtained from the alder-leaved shadberry, its fruits are more palatable and reach a maximum weight of 2 g.
Irgi variety Starry night
The first Russian was included in the State Register in 2016.
Main differences:
- resistance to pests and diseases,
- increased fruit transportability due to denser skin,
- balanced taste,
- the ability of the fruits in the brush to ripen almost simultaneously.
Cultivation of irgi variety Starry night
Irgu can be placed literally anywhere on the site, but we advise you to land them on the north side. Due to the fact that plant varieties Starlight Night are fairly sprawling shrubs, they are able to protect more heat-loving crops from the cold north wind, hold snow on the site and contribute to its accumulation.
For the first 5-6 years, the variety does not need practically any care, it is enough just to irrigate if the weather is excessively dry and remove weeds in the bite zone, although the latter will rather prevent you from harvesting fruits than fully develop the plant. At about the sixth year, it is necessary to thin out the crown - remove the shoots that thicken it, as well as thin and broken ones.
Due to the fact that the fruits of the variety Starlight Night ripen in close time, you can get by with two fees.
Irgi variety Mendan
One of the most common cultivars of shadberry.
Distinctive features:
- large fruit,
- winter hardiness,
- drought tolerance,
- resistance to pests and diseases,
- restrained growth.
Adult plants of 8-9 years old are stretched no more than three meters, which allows you to harvest the entire crop with a slight elevation.
Due to its relative compactness, mendan can be placed closer to other cultures. Given that the crown of this variety resembles a candle and is not sprawling, plants can be planted both on the north side of the site and on the south.
Of the minuses "Medana" can be called an extended period of fruit ripening. From the beginning of the ripening of the first fruits to the full ripening of all the berries in the brush, it sometimes takes up to a week, so in order to remove the entire crop, several collections will need to be carried out.
Variety irgi Slate
Variety Slate also quite widespread. This variety was obtained from shadberry canadian , and therefore it is more suitable for decorating the site than for growing for the sake of fruits. Many people like its light green foliage, light shoots and rather bizarre flowers, collected in loose inflorescences and having long petals.
Irgu "Slate" it is better to plant on the south side of the site, he prefers a well-lit place and is afraid of severe frost. Planting should begin in the spring, before bud break. In early May, it is advisable to feed - 1.5 matchboxes of nitroammophoska under a bush, after loosening the soil. The fruits of the variety, quite large and tasty, need to be harvested before they are pecked by birds, so you should not wait for the berries to fully ripen in the brush.
Irga Smokey
The category of less common varieties in our country includes a cultivar Smokey . The fruits are large, tasty and very fragrant. Considering the spreading of the bush, the variety should be planted at a distance of at least three meters from other plants, often cut out shoots thickening the crown and watered, because this variety is poorly resistant to drought.
Irga Northline
One of the leaders in winter hardiness is the irgi variety Northline can be placed in an area open to all winds. The fruits of the variety are very sweet (up to 13% sugar) and quite large (just over 1 g). The variety is good because it has slender shoots and restrained growth, and therefore is very convenient for harvesting. Often the fruits are harvested by mechanized methods. Northline suitable for those who have suburban areas far from home - it does not need to be watered often, and thanks to friendly ripening and dense skin, the fruits can be harvested in one go and easily brought home.
Irga Honeywood
Real sweet tooth will like a variety with a honey name Honeywood . The fruits are cloyingly sweet, rarely used for processing, they are mainly consumed fresh as a tasty and healthy dessert. The variety is winter-hardy and drought-resistant, grows on any type of soil and does well even without top dressing, the main thing is that there is enough moisture in the soil. They affect the variety of brushes, they can have up to 10-15 large fruits of dark blue color, aligned in shape.
Irga Altaglow
In the event that the collection of irgi fruits is not included in your plans at all, and you just want to decorate your site, the variety will be the most successful acquisition. Altaglow With amazing fruits of white color.
In autumn "Altaglow" It strikes with the magnificence of foliage: it becomes bright crimson and hangs without falling off until the first serious frosts, when everything around is already gray and dull. The undoubted advantages include the weak formation of root shoots and the slow thickening of the crown, which reduces work with the plant to a minimum.
New varieties of irgi
Of the new products that will be problematic to get, you can name such cultivars as:
- Cumulus ,
- Ballerina ,
- Princess Diana.
The flowers of these varieties from a distance look like miniature roses, and the fruits look like small apples.
New variety of irgi Rabin Hall
Fans of exotic plants will certainly like the cultivar Rabin Hall , in addition to high productivity and large-fruitedness, it has very interesting flowers with pink petals. The variety, like other foreign novelties, perfectly suits our conditions, it can be planted both in spring and autumn, but when planting in a hole, be sure to make drainage from pebbles, expanded clay or broken bricks, because new varieties do not tolerate stagnant water.
How often is irga found in dachas ... Almost all varieties are suitable for the Moscow region, since the berry is not picky. Everyone knows this bush under different names, but the essence of this does not change. He is equally loved by children and birds. Over time, the overgrown bush begins to take up a lot of space, which is not very good for a small area. But this disadvantage is compensated by a huge harvest of delicious blue berries. But it is worth picking up scissors, and the tree obediently turns into a beautifully formed ball or cube; in this way you can make a charming hedge that will delight you with the harvest. So, the topic of our conversation is irga and its varieties. Let's get started!
Pros and cons
This needs to be sorted out if you decide whether an irga is needed on your site. Varieties for the Moscow region - all as one - are very tenacious and prolific. They will not dry out in the hottest summer and will not freeze in the harsh winter, and from spring to autumn they will diligently occupy your site with young shoots. Therefore, you need to remember that you need to look after your garden. Moreover, watering and fertilizing play far from the first role, the most important thing is to restrain the growth of shadberry, form its crown and give shape to the bushes docked in a row. But with the overgrowth it will be more difficult, it will still crawl out, no matter how much you destroy it.
However, many gardeners still want their irga to grow. Varieties for the Moscow region are surprisingly durable and hardy plants that, no matter what, will produce a crop.
Spring in the garden
Approximately two weeks after the appearance of green leaves, it releases pale silver flowers of irga. Varieties for the Moscow region are famous for early harvests, and fragrant flowers feed many insects. The plant we are considering does not differ in a variety of species, usually it is either round-leaved or spiked shadberry, although there are many more of them. And each is more or less fruitful, and also differs in shape and size. However, if you are replanting the site with trees, then you will probably be interested in learning more about these varieties.
Irga canadian
Since we are limited by the scope of the article, we will note only the best varieties of shadberry for the Moscow region. First I would like to consider the Canadian variety, which is distinguished by high decorative properties. The bush has a natural rounded shape with drooping branches. The plant is especially beautiful during the flowering period. By the way, irgu can be grown as a bush or as a tree, it all depends on your skills. In the first case, it turns into a luxurious bush up to 6 meters high. Keep in mind that the irga on the garden plot should be available for harvesting, so it makes sense to form a bush lower. Thin drooping shoots are beautiful at the time of flowering: they are literally strewn with white flowers. And then they become completely gray with berries.
Irga round-leaved
We continue to consider what kind of irga happens. Types and care are not too different, but there are still certain features characteristic of each variety. This species without pruning grows up to three meters. It grows in almost the entire territory of Russia, it also bears excellent fruit in the Moscow region. Leaves are oval, toothed. Differs in good productivity, and also amazing stability. It is even very difficult to remove it from the site on purpose.
Irga alder-leaved
This is a multi-stemmed shrub, its height is up to 4 meters. The leaves are rounded, turning yellow in autumn. The flowers are white, with a faint aroma. The fruits are purple, very sweet and quite large. It can produce up to 10 kg of berries per season, which can be attributed to good results. The tree itself is unpretentious, resistant to various diseases. Another species is very similar to it, called the blood-red irga. It is a shrub up to 3 meters high. It has oblong leaves and flowers, berries are sweet, dark, very pleasant to the taste.
Large-fruited varietal plants
The work of breeders does not stand still, and today such types and varieties of shadberry as Alytaglou are demonstrated at exhibitions. Its peculiarity is the fruits of white color. Another good variety for the Moscow region is the large-fruited Forestburg and the very fragrant Pembina. Other types of shadberry are presented at the exhibitions, distinguished by record-breaking large berries: Moonlake, Nelson, Slate, Regan and others. We will not dwell in more detail on the features of caring for them, since the opportunity to purchase these plants is still very small. Usually, old, good, proven varieties are sold in stores.
shrub care
Have you decided to plant an irgu at your summer cottage? What a good variety to choose, you can ask in the next issue of "Dachnik". Most often, only the varieties listed above will be presented there. By the way, they can be borrowed from neighbors for free, because the irga gives a lot. This is a completely unpretentious plant that will endure even the most severe frosts.
However, she also has her own requirements for the conditions of detention. Irga will survive in any conditions, but it shows the maximum yield on fertile, loamy soil. The plant loves well-lit places, but will grow even in full shade. Absolutely calm about drought. An excellent design idea can be planting irgi along the fences. This will give it a special decorative effect, especially if you cut the bushes beautifully.
shrub planting
Irgu can be planted both in spring and autumn. At the same time, choose seedlings that have reached the age of 1-2 years, because the fruits from younger ones will have to wait a long time. The hole for one plant should be at least 80 cm in diameter. After planting, do not forget to water the seedling abundantly. It remains to mulch the soil around - and you can leave the plant alone. It takes root almost immediately, it is for this quality that many gardeners fell in love with irga. Care and breeding is intuitively simple. The only thing that is required for a good harvest is regular watering.
Bush formation
In order for the plant to look good and not block too much of the usable area of \u200b\u200bthe site, but at the same time it was convenient for you to pick berries, you need to regularly prune. First of all, you need to make the bush as strong as possible. He will need care in the form of sawing out old trunks, removing long and weak branches, as well as cutting off damaged shoots. To emphasize the decorativeness of the planting, you can form the irgu as a multi-stemmed bush. To do this, you need to leave only strong shoots, and cut off the weak ones. In this case, you will need to follow a number of rules. In the first three years of the plant's life, leave all strong shoots, then annually control their numbers, leaving a new one in place of the remote one. A fully formed bush consists of 10-15 branches of different ages. After that, care will consist of an autumn inspection, removal of broken branches and excess shoots. If you see that the growth and fruiting of the bush is deteriorating, then once every 4 years you can perform a rejuvenating procedure, that is, cut off all 2-4-year-old growth.
reproduction
If you have enough time, you can try to grow irgu from seeds. To do this, you need to collect ripe berries, select seeds from them and rinse them from the pulp. Immediately after washing (preferably in September), the seeds should be sown in the soil. They will sprout next year or next year.
However, it is much easier to use vegetative methods. Most often, the plant is propagated by root shoots. What is needed for this? Dig up the shoots and select seedlings 10-15 cm long, with well-developed roots. An excellent result is shown by those whose shoot thickness is from 0.5 cm or more. They should be planted vertically. Such seedlings need constant care in the form of abundant watering. Young shadberry bushes can be propagated by division, but this method is not suitable for old plantings. You can also use the cutting procedure. To do this, cut the annual shoots 12-15 cm long. After cutting, the material must be planted in a greenhouse. If the air is sufficiently humid, then roots will soon appear, and in a month it will be possible to plant young seedlings. However, it will give roots no more than 20% of the total number of cuttings.
top dressing
In order for the harvest to please you every year, you need to feed your plant. To do this, you can use organic and mineral - in the spring. Like all fruit trees, the irga is very responsive to top dressing, since growing a large number of berries consumes a large amount of nutrients. If the soil is very poor, then the bush will drop some of the fruits, and those that remain will be small, and there will be much less useful trace elements in them.
Pests and diseases
Irga rarely suffers from diseases, most often it is only slightly affected by leaf-eating insects, which do not cause much harm. Birds cause much more damage to the crop - they love to feast on berries. However, usually the irgi bush gives so many fruits that it will be enough for you and your feathered friends. If the bush is small, then you can tighten it with a net so that it is difficult for the birds to get to the berries.
If you notice rust-like spots on the leaves of the irgi, then this is a clear sign of a fungal disease. With monilinosis, brown rot forms on the fruits, and the crop will be ruined. Nektrium necrosis of the bark leads to the drying of shoots and branches, which can contribute to the death of the entire bush. In addition, it is not uncommon for the shadberry to be damaged by a gray tinder fungus, which causes a white, fibrous, putrid coating on the trunks of the old shadberry. To protect your garden, it is necessary to timely treat with insecticides and antifungal drugs. One procedure in early spring will help to avoid all these problems, which means that you will safely enjoy tasty and healthy berries.
As you know, they don’t argue about tastes, some like sweeter fruits, others sour, some prefer the flesh to be bright, attractive, while others like the average amount of anthocyanins or their complete absence. But some average taste characteristics, using which we can say that some fruits are tasty, while others are not, are still there.
Let's first consider the types of irgi, and then its varieties for these very taste characteristics. Why did we decide to touch on species?
Because it is still not so easy to get pure-grade planting material of shadberry in our country, while species are most often propagated by simple sowing of seeds and freely sold in nurseries.
Varieties, as you know, can only be propagated vegetatively, which is not so easy to do with irga. Its cuttings do not take root well enough, and grafting on mountain ash, although it contributes to obtaining a full-fledged planting material, still leads to certain difficulties associated with a decrease in the productive age of plants and the presence of a large number of root shoots, which annually, or even several times a year must be removed.
In culture, 4 species are common - shadberry, blood-red, Canadian and alder-leaved. The fruits of the spiky shadberry ripen first, then the Canadian shadberry comes up, a little later the alder-leaved, the last to please us is the blood-red shadberry.
With this in mind, you can create a kind of fresh produce conveyor by planting all four species in your garden plot and enjoy the fruits plucked from the branch for a long time, because, alas, it will not work to keep them in their original form - the fruits lie no more than a couple of days. But is it worth planting all these species on your site, given the taste of their fruits?
Let's figure it out, and at the same time analyze the taste characteristics of those varieties that were obtained using these species, because only the name of the varieties without reference to the "parent" is unlikely to tell you anything.
Irga spiky
So, the irga is spiked.
Its fruits are the smallest among these species, 0.5 g - this is already considered quite good for her. But it’s not about the mass, the taste of the fruits of the irgi spiky is more than mediocre, although there is quite a lot of sugar in them. The not very outstanding taste of the fruit also contributed to the fact that not a single variety was bred using shadberry. In VNIIS them. I.V. Michurin (Michurinsk), employees of the department of berry crops received several selected forms from the free pollination of Canadian shadberry, but the very first tasting assessment showed that they were never destined to become varieties.
Irga blood red
The next in line is the blood-red irga. As we have already said, its fruits ripen the latest. They have an unusual shape - they are slightly flattened, like blueberries, and an interesting feature - they are never eaten by birds. Why would it? It turns out that the fruits contain a small amount of seeds, which many birds eat, and have a very mediocre taste. In this case, it cannot even be called cloyingly sweet, it is simply no. The fruits are dense, like rubber, the pulp contains almost light juice, and when eating ripe fruits, it seems as if you are chewing a completely unripe berry, but, alas, it will never get better. But from the fruits of the blood-red shadberry, quite a lot of juice is obtained, because there is little pectin in the fruits and the juice does not “curl”, like in other types of shadberry. When other juices, such as apple juice, are added to the juice, a multivitamin drink that is very interesting in terms of taste characteristics is obtained.
Irga blood-red is more productive in varieties, with its participation such masterpieces as Holland and Success. The first grade is English, its fruits have a mass of about 0.7 g and do not have a pleasant taste (it, like the species, is mediocre).
But the second variety in our small list - Success - is not without reason translated from English as "success", its fruits have a mass of about 0.8 g and they taste much more pleasant than the fruits of the species. Their taste is estimated by tasters at 4.6 points, which is not bad, but it can be described as sweet and sour and quite pleasant, refreshing, even reminiscent of the taste of cherries to some.
Irga canadian
Let's move on to the Canadian Irga. This species forms the largest fruits of the four we have named, however, its brush is very loose and there may be only a few fruitlets in it. They are simply swept away by birds even before the berries are fully ripe, at which they turn from brown-red to dark blue.
These berries are considered one of the best in terms of taste characteristics, their taste is almost perfectly balanced, both sweetness and acidity are clearly felt in it, and everything would be fine if not for one drawback - this type of shadberry has a rather weak winter hardiness, and even in Central Russia can freeze quite a bit. But Canadian breeders are not at all embarrassed by this fact, and using the Canadian shadberry, almost the largest number of varieties have been obtained. It makes no sense to name them all and list the taste characteristics of fruits for the simple reason that it is almost impossible to get them, but those that are most widespread and easily accessible should be.
I want to start with a wonderful, if not magnificent, honey-wood varieties. It is not for nothing that the word “hani” is present in its name, which means “honey”. The fruits can really be called honey, they are tasty, sweet, but at the same time not cloying, like the shadberry, but harmonious, pleasant. Lovers of "sour" will like the fruits of the variety parkhill those who want to chew the pulp, feeling its density and pleasant taste, the variety is suitable pembina those who love large fruits that are pleasant to collect and which are suitable for dessert and for all types of processing, we can recommend planting the most common variety in Russia on your site Gathering. Well, for those who prefer the traditional sweet taste of irgi fruits, coupled with their very good mass, we advise you to stop at the variety Tradition.
Irga alder-leaved
And finally, the real leader both in terms of the taste characteristics of the fruits, and in the number of varieties obtained with her participation, is the alder-leaved irga. The fruits of this species are large (average weight 1 g), tasty, they most clearly feel the harmony of acid and sugar, as well as the pleasant honey aroma of shadberry.
The fruits are juicy (however, due to the huge amount of pectin, juice from them can only be obtained by slightly drying during the day in an open place) and have a high content of anthocyanins, thanks to which the juice can be used as a natural and safe food coloring.
Of course, the varieties obtained from the alder-leaved shadberry cannot be ignored, and I would like to put in the first place the first Russian variety of VNIIS them. I.V. Michurin, which has already been transferred to the GSI and whose name will appear in the State Register very soon, - Starlight Night. The variety is named so because of the color of the berries - they are dark, almost black, with tiny dots resembling stars in the night sky. The variety will delight both with tasty fruits with a harmonious content of acid and sugar, and their chic mass (1.8-2 g), and a large number of fruits in the brush (up to 14 pieces), and their ripening closer in time, thanks to which the crop can be harvested maximum two times.
But one should not forget about the good old, well-proven varieties either. The best of them in terms of fruit taste are Altaglow, which produces fruits with a very attractive aroma, and Forestburg, the fruits of which contain just an insane amount of sugars - up to 11 mg%, as well as mendan- with fruits that have unusually juicy pulp, and of course, Smokey- the most common Canadian variety, the fruits of which are ideal for making delicious wine.
So, we hope that from this huge list you will choose the type or variety that you like, and do not forget that even one tree can be placed on the site, because the self-fertility of the irgi is close to 100%, so the pollinating varieties are completely Not needed.
Types of irgi - photo
Useful properties of irgi
Irga is an underestimated culture
For areas with a harsh climate, the irga has no equal in endurance. It withstands colds down to -50°C, and the flowers do not care about spring frosts down to -7°C. Durable, lives up to 70 years. It is practically not damaged by diseases and pests, tolerates drought well, grows well and bears fruit in partial shade.
Irga is self-fertile, high-yielding, starts fruiting early. Already at the age of four, the shadberry bush will delight you with a considerable number of berries, and by the age of 10, the harvest increases to 10-15 kg per bush. The fruits ripen gradually (from mid-July to early August), which is very convenient for fresh consumption. They are not only tasty, but also healing. In a word, the culture is wonderful in every sense, but underestimated by gardeners.
soil and place
Irga is undemanding to soils. Feels good on both sandy and heavy loams. Humidity loves moderate, since a powerful root system, going 2 m deep, regularly supplies the above-ground part with water. That is why in the lowlands, in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater, it develops and bears fruit poorly.
A permanent place for irgi can be anything, even uncomfortable, somewhere near the fence or behind outbuildings. For the speedy growth of new shoots, when planting, the seedling is deepened by 5-7 cm compared to the previous position. The soil is watered, mulched, and the shoots are cut, leaving 4-5 buds.
Shaping and feeding
Irgu can be (formed both in the form of a bush and as a separate tree. The first option is more often chosen. In the first 2-3 years, all strong shoots are left, in the subsequent years, 2-3 are added, the rest are cut out. The formed bush should have 10-15 branches of different ages.
If the planting pit was filled in accordance with all the rules, then the first years can be dispensed with without additional fertilization. But starting from the 5-6th year, when the harvest becomes tangible, it is recommended to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. In the first year, 2-3 buckets of humus are added for each plant, the next - 100 g of superphosphate, 50 g of ammonium nitrate and 30 g of potassium fertilizers.
Treats and medicine
Irgi fruits contain sugar (up to 12%), pectins, fiber, dyes and tannins, organic acids, vitamins C and group B, beta-carotene, and minerals. As a result, they have a wide range of medicinal properties.
Fresh berries help adults with insomnia, and children with restless sleep, having a calming effect on the nervous system. Juice can gargle with sore throat and use it in the treatment of purulent wounds. For rinsing the mouth with stomatitis and periodontal disease, a decoction of fruits is used. And an infusion of them thins the blood and improves heart function, prevents the formation of blood clots.
Berries can be used to prevent and treat liver and kidney diseases, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. By strengthening the walls of blood vessels, they help reduce "bad" cholesterol, reduce the likelihood of a heart attack.
The astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of the juice help in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and colitis. It relieves pain and reduces inflammation, so it can rightfully be considered a diet drink.
But not only berries are used for medicinal purposes. Healing and flowers, and leaves, and even the bark. The berries are harvested as they ripen, the flowers - in May, and the bark - in the fall, after the foliage has fallen.
Irga in the home first aid kit
For medicinal purposes, infusions and decoctions are prepared from fruits and other parts of the plant. The methods are very different.
So, with disorders of the stomach and intestines, take an infusion prepared as follows: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried berries is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 30 minutes and drunk as vitamin tea.
But an infusion of irgi flowers is used for heart failure and hypertension. It is said to work as well as drugs. A handful of flowers is poured into 500 ml of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours, then filtered and drunk 2-3 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day.
With pancreatitis, accompanied by diarrhea, an infusion is prepared from leaves with astringent properties: 1 tbsp. spoon in a glass of boiling water (brewed like tea). Drink 0.5 cup 3 times a day.
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Irga ( Amelanchier) - shrub or tree, up to 6-8 m high. In spring, irga blooms profusely with small white flowers collected in a brush. At this time, the plant is a bit like a bird cherry. In autumn, the leaves turn golden and purple.
In culture, four types of shadberry are most common, of which Canadian shadberry ( A. canadensis) is the most decorative.
See photos of the irga shrub of the most common species in our country:
All species have edible apple-shaped fruits, similar in color and size to currants.
Irga is a frost-resistant, undemanding shrub that can tolerate both drought and slight soil salinity. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, tolerates air pollution, is photophilous, but can also grow in partial shade, tolerates pruning, including “on the stump”, grows and rejuvenates by offspring.
Irgi makes excellent hedges, screens that protect from prying eyes, noise, and a dusty highway. In addition, irga is a good background for other shrubs. Below is a description of the bush irga, features of care and cultivation.
Description of the bush irga
This bush can be considered a "newcomer" on the territory of domestic summer cottages, but, despite this, gardeners fell in love with it. The tree grows rapidly and has several trunks, is resistant to winter cold, unpretentious to conditions, is not subject to disease and has a bountiful harvest.
The shrub has oblong, oval dark green leaves, which turn purple-orange in autumn and look especially decorative, brown-gray bark. It blooms with white flowers, which are arranged in inflorescences in the form of brushes. The berries have a sweetish taste, juicy, dark blue in color, up to 12 pieces are located on one brush.
Flowering occurs in April-May, which makes the shrub very attractive at this time. During this period, he is not afraid of frosts that occur in spring, and in winter the bush can withstand frosts down to -30 ̊С without additional hilling.
Types and varieties of irgi for the Moscow region: photo and description
In total, there are 18 types of irgi (there is also information that 25). The shrub is classified as a member of the Rosaceae family, most of which are common in North America. He loves open sunny places, such as the edges along the forest, mountain slopes, and can grow in the tundra.
On the territory of our country, such types and varieties of irgi are considered common, such as:
Irga round-leaved ( Amelanchier rotundifolia)
Irga spiky ( Amelanchier Spicata)
Irga canadian ( Amelanchier canadensis)
Irga blood red ( Amelanchier sanguinea)
These varieties can be found running wild in nature, which grow there thanks to birds who love delicious fruits.
The listed varieties of irgi are suitable for the Moscow region, they perfectly "take care of themselves", the main thing is to plant a tree correctly. They are not afraid of drought, strong winds and almost any adverse conditions, and all thanks to the root system, which penetrates to a depth of about 2 m and spreads within a radius of 2-2.5 m. It provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients and moisture.
What kind of different varieties of irgi have, look at the photo:
Consider a more detailed description of the varieties of irgi with a photo.
round-leaved
This shrub has many trunks, grows up to 4 m. It has a smooth bark, dark gray color, oval, sometimes almost round leaves, which makes them similar to alder leaves. In autumn, they turn bright yellow. Blooms white with a slight fragrance. The berries are very sweet, large, dark blue with a purple hue. The shrub can bring up to 10 kg of fruit per crop, so it is considered the best variety of shadberry.
Canadian
This plant is distinguished by its height, which can reach 8 m. It blooms with cream or white flowers that are odorless. The branches are thin, hanging down, the leaves are oblong, elliptical, in the autumn they become dark purple, red, purple. The berries inside are dark pink in color, taste sweet, about 6 kg can be harvested in one crop.
spiky
The bush is up to 5 m in height, has a dense oval-shaped crown, a gray shade of bark and matte dark green leaves of an ovoid shape. Flowers have a bright pink or white tint, placed in racemes. The berries are dark red, almost black, with a bluish bloom. The plant begins to produce crops from the 4th year of life.
blood red
Its berries have an irregular spherical shape, reminiscent of blueberries. They taste like unripe fruits, which are neglected even by birds. Despite this, they are very juicy, so they are used to make juice based on other fruits.
Given the description of the types of shadberry, the best varieties for the Moscow region are Canadian or round-leaved. But you need to pay attention to some nuances. Since this shrub has a powerful root system, you will have to fight shoots all the time, so you should not plant this shrub near paths and buildings or decorative landscape elements. You should not do this for the reason that falling fruits leave dark spots.
Planting and caring for irga in the open field
Before you start growing this shrub, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of planting and caring for shadberry. She loves sunny areas and soil that is rich in organic matter. Depending on the preferences and features of leaving it, you can form a bush or a tree.
Planting and caring for irga in the open field have their own characteristics. For planting, seedlings are taken, aged 1-2 years, planted in prepared pits, with a diameter of about 50 cm. The distance between plants should not be less than 1 m. A trunk about 10 cm long with 4-5 healthy buds remains above the ground.
Some stages of planting irgi, see photo:
Planting a seedling in a prepared hole.
after landing.
Irgi seedlings for sale.
How to plant an irgu in the spring
Features of planting irgi and care in the Moscow region correspond to general recommendations for planting and caring for trees in general. It is desirable to plant seedlings of this shrub in autumn. According to some experts, this can also be done in March, when the weather conditions are favorable.
It is necessary to trim weak branches in time. In general, one trunk should not have more than 2-3 healthy shoots. At 3 years old, the shrub should have about 15 branches. Older plants can be periodically rejuvenated.
See the photo below for planting irgi and care features, which shows the annual method of dealing with the overgrowth of this shrub:
Young shoots, or as they are also called "zero", must be removed not above the surface of the earth, but near the root of the plant, except for those from which a shrub is subsequently formed or with the help of which its rejuvenation is carried out in the future.
How to grow irgu from seeds
Planting irgi and care, as well as reproduction - the process is not difficult not only for professional gardeners, but also for beginners too. Shrubs can be propagated by seedlings, which can be purchased or grown from seeds. Seeds are planted in fertilized beds and then well watered. When the seedlings reach 1-2 years of age, they are planted in a permanent place.
Growing irgi does not require special skills, the main thing is that the plant is taken up when planting, further care consists in feeding, crown formation, pruning weak, old or dry branches, thinning the bush.
If you are interested in how to plant irgu from seeds, you need to know how to properly prepare them for planting. To prepare the seed material, ripe fruits are taken, rubbed and washed with cool water. Bad seeds usually float to the surface. The washing procedure should be carried out until the good ones remain at the bottom.
You need to know how to properly plant an irgu using seeds if you have chosen this breeding method. In a furrow one meter long, about 300 seeds should be sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Sowing is done in early spring, sometimes at the end of winter, and climbing can be expected for almost a year.
How to grow irgu when the seeds have sprouted, every gardener should know. Parostki, which grow 3-5 full-fledged leaves, dive and grow up to 1-2 years of age. For bushes grown from seeds, homogeneity is characteristic. This is presumably caused by asexual reproduction (apomixis).
Propagation of irgi by cuttings and root processes
The easiest way to propagate irgi is to use overgrowth from the roots for planting, which has to be harvested every year. This bush requires an area for life activity of 2.5-4 m, 1.5-2 m is left between future shrubs. Seedlings are planted in nurseries in a checkerboard pattern.
The work consists in choosing suitable root shoots, the diameter of which should not be less than 0.5 cm and the length 10-15 cm. It is important that the roots are healthy and well developed. The dug-in seedlings are well watered so that the humidity is constantly at a high level.
For this method of reproduction, shoots that are no more than 6 years old are suitable. It is suitable for amateur gardeners who are interested in how to plant an irgu in the spring by dividing the bushes, because it turns out no more than 4-6 full-fledged cuttings. In nurseries, preference is given to propagation by seeds in order to get more seedlings.
Propagation of irgi by cuttings consists in choosing branches that are no more than one year old and whose length is 12-15 cm. It is necessary to prepare a special greenhouse with a special earth mixture. The bottom is strewn with a layer of pebbles (30-40 cm), then a mixture of light soil with humus (25 cm) is poured, the top is covered with sand (4-5 cm).
Planted and well-watered cuttings are covered with a film until roots appear. This usually happens around the 25th day, depending on the variety. To speed up the appearance of roots on the cuttings, they are treated with special solutions. Rooted cuttings are planted in open ground the following year.
Despite the fact that the cultivation and care of this shrub does not require much effort, it is still necessary to carry out some standard activities, such as top dressing, pruning and protection from pests and birds. Birds are very fond of eating ripe fruits, so when you want to get a harvest, you need to cover the bush with a fine mesh.
Growing and caring for irga consists in the correct application of top dressing in the summer. The nutrient composition should be liquid, prepared from ammonium nitrate, 50 g of which is used per bush or 5 liters of 10% bird droppings emulsion. It is necessary to fertilize at night, when abundant watering has been done or it has rained.
How to cut the irgu in the spring
In order not to harm the bush, you need to familiarize yourself with the information on how to cut the irgu in the spring. You can start shaping the crown from 3-4 years of age. During this period, it is important to remove the basal shoots, leaving 1-2 shoots that have grown near the main trunks of the bush.
Let's consider further how to properly cut the irga in order to rejuvenate it. "Rejuvenating" pruning is done when the shrub is 8-10 years old. The condition of the bush indicates the need for rejuvenation, such as:
- a small increase per year (no more than 10 cm);
- increased bush density;
- the appearance of weak and dry branches.
If rejuvenation is not done, then the bush begins to lose its decorative effect, bears fruit worse and is exposed to pests. How to prune irga to rejuvenate a shrub:
- thinning (remove all unnecessary, weak shoots);
- pruning too elongated branches;
- shortening of long healthy shoots.
As a result, no more than 10-15 strong branches should remain. The cut point is processed with garden pitch.
Each amateur gardener, using basic information, will know how to care for the irga correctly, what needs to be done at each “age” period of the plant, what actions to take at different times of the year. With careful care, it can safely grow and bear fruit up to 70 years.
