Planting, growing and caring for actinidia in the open ground of the Moscow region, description of the best varieties of kiwi

The liana has a decorative appearance, healthy and tasty fruits. Can decorate any area. Planting and caring for actinidia in the Moscow region does not cause difficulties, but despite this, the plant is very rarely found in summer cottages and private plots. With the right approach, it gives a good and regular harvest, which is suitable for making jams, marmalade, preserves, and marshmallows.

Is it possible to grow kiwi in the Moscow region?

The plant grows well in the Moscow region. If planted correctly and provided with the necessary care, the crop will bear fruit consistently. There are several varieties of varieties suitable for cultivation. They do not require shelter for the winter.

Suitable varieties for cultivation and their characteristics

Kiwi lovers need to plant winter-hardy actinidia on their plot, since the fruit grows on Chinese actinidia, which is not intended for our latitudes.

But there are better plant species suitable for cold climates that will delight you with similar fruits.

Kolomikta

Peculiarities:

• withstands cold down to -45 °C;
• sensitive to spring frosts;
• plant height maximum 5 meters;
• trunk 10 centimeters thick;
• shoots of the plant are brownish-red;
• the flowers are small, have a spicy aroma, reminiscent of a mixture of lily of the valley and lemon;
• the plant blooms in the last ten days of May;
• Upon reaching technical maturity, the fruits fall off.

Spicy or arguta

Characteristics:

• reaches a height of 15 meters;
• withstands frost -40 °C;
• The diameter of the leaves of the plant is 3 centimeters, they have no smell;
• maximum yield 15 kilograms;
• When reaching technical maturity, the fruits do not fall off.

Polygamous

Peculiarities:

• height 5 meters;
• shoots are light, brown in color;
• the plant can withstand -35 °C;
• recovers well after freezing;
• the fruits resemble a mixture of sweet peppers and figs;
• leaves are 15 centimeters long.

Giralda

Peculiarities:

• long stems - 10 meters;
• the plant blooms in early June;
• fruit ripening in September;
• harvest - 5 kilograms;
• withstands -25 °C;

In harsh winters it requires shelter.

How to choose quality seeds and cuttings

Seed preparation:

1. Seeds are collected in late autumn. Place in water and incubate for 5 days. The water is renewed daily.
2. Then they wrap it in a wet cloth and bury it in the sand. Keep in a humid environment for two months. Temperature +20 °C.
3. Take out the seeds weekly, air them and wet the cloth.
4. A box with sand and buried seeds is buried in the snow for 2 months. After this, they are transferred indoors, maintaining a temperature of +12 ° C.
5. You will have to wait another month before germination. After this, they are transplanted into soil and grown in a room.
6. When the second pair of leaves appears, you can plant it in a permanent place.

The cuttings should not be damaged and should not be dry.

Preparing the site and soil for planting

At the dacha you will need a place with plenty of lighting. In dark places the vine is also capable of growing, but will serve primarily a decorative function. When deprived of sufficient light, fruits practically do not grow.

The soil chosen is slightly acidic, neutral is allowed. It should be constantly moistened, but without stagnation of water.

Landing dates and rules

Planted in open ground in spring. Two-year-old seedlings are best suited. With such planting material, fruits may appear next year.

How to plant:

1. They dig a hole. Depth 70 centimeters. Diameter - 50 centimeters.
2. Keep a distance between plants. The ideal distance is 1.5 meters.
3. Seedlings of different sexes are planted. It is preferable to plant one male for three female ones.
4. Drainage is poured into the hole.
5. The seedling is kept in liquid for 1.5 hours.Place in the hole. Cover with soil and fertilizers. Compacted.
6. They mulch around.
7. A trellis is installed nearby for support.

Cats love to eat the juice of the plant. To do this, they dig up the root system and injure the stems. Therefore, it is necessary to build a fence in the form of a metal mesh.

Seasonal care in the Moscow region

All varieties are cared for equally. The main thing is to follow all recommendations.

Watering

Does not tolerate dryness and drying out of the soil. Under such conditions, it drops its leaves. Because of this, young shoots may die in winter.

It is necessary to constantly keep the soil moist, but without stagnating liquid. On especially hot days, arrange sprinkling.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied three times per season:

1. After the snow melts. Phosphorus fertilizer - 20 grams, nitrogen - 35 grams, potash - 20 grams.
2. When the ovaries are formed. Phosphorus fertilizer - 10 grams, nitrogen - 15 grams, potash - 10 grams.
3. At the end of autumn. Phosphorus fertilizer - 20 g, potassium fertilizer - 20 grams.

Spread the fertilizer dry, lightly digging into the soil. Water immediately.

Pruning rules

The crown is formed from the third year. The procedure is carried out only in the summer. In other periods, the crop will die due to loss of juice. It is recommended to cut young shoots in half.

Anti-aging pruning is carried out from the age of 10.

Wintering kiwi seedlings and trees

An adult plant does not need to be covered. Stop mulching the circle around the trunk.

It is recommended to remove young seedlings from the support and cover them with spruce branches. Before covering, spray with Bordeaux mixture.

Liana propagation

It is not recommended to propagate by seeds. Such a plant will not bring the desired results.

Suitable reproduction:

1. By layering.When the juice runs out in the shoots, they choose one. Press it to the soil and sprinkle it with earth. The top should remain on top. They mulch around. Rooting occurs in the fall. You don't have to prune it until spring.
2. Cuttings. Cut from strong shoots. Length 15 centimeters. The lower cut should be oblique (45°). The top one is straight. At a height of 4 centimeters above the kidney. Planted obliquely in the soil. Angle 60°. Cover with non-woven material. Spray 7 times a day. For the winter, sprinkle with leaves.

Flowering and fruiting period

The first fruits appear in the 3rd year. Stable harvest from the 7th year. Blooms at the end of May. Technical maturity occurs unevenly. Starts in August and ends in October.

How to stimulate fruit set

In order for there to be fruits, excess shoots are cut off. A crop of two sexes is planted nearby.

Problems during cultivation

As with growing any fruit crop, gardeners encounter some problems that are easy to solve.

Diseases and pests

Pests are treated with insecticides. It is affected by the leaf beetle and bark beetle.

Amaze:

• leaf spotting;
• fungal diseases.

For prevention, they are treated with fungicides.

Doesn't grow or bear fruit

The reason for the lack of fruits is the male gender of the crop:

1. The plant is dioecious. They are divided into female ones with pistillate flowers and male ones with staminate flowers. Gender does not change throughout life.
2. After flowering, the male ones fall off. Female flowers form fruits, but only if pollinated by insects and air currents.
3. Plant different-sex vines nearby. For 2 men's - 5 women's.

Reasons for lack of growth:

1. Seedlings planted in the fall will not take root well. As a result, in the spring they will begin to wither and die completely.It is necessary to plant only in spring.
2. In a very dark place, the plant will not want to fully develop and will lag in growth, so it is necessary to transplant it to a well-lit area.
3. An apple tree planted nearby suppresses the growth of the crop.
4. Stagnant water can cause rotting of the root system, which will significantly affect the condition of the vine and can lead to death.
5. The reason may be cats that like to feast on the plant. With constant digging of the roots, the vine slows down its growth and may die as a result.
6. Young trees that are poorly insulated for the winter may freeze. This will have a bad effect on their condition. The vine will lag behind in growth for some time. If the root system is not completely frozen, growth will resume on its own after some time.
7. In very hot summers, if there is no proper watering, the plant may slow down its growth. If the situation is not corrected urgently, the vine will shed all its foliage. The soil must be constantly moist. To reduce the number of waterings, mulch the ground around the plants.

To improve growth, it is recommended to plant hazel and currants. Plants nourish the vine, thereby improving its performance.