Viburnum has become popular among gardeners due to its compact arrangement of bushes, abundant fruiting, and attractive appearance. The berries are used for a variety of preparations; decoctions are prepared using the leaves and many diseases are treated. In addition, several varieties of viburnum have been developed through selective breeding, which are suitable for cultivation in the most severe climatic conditions.
Nuances of choosing a culture
Viburnum viburnum is widespread on the territory of Russia, on the basis of which the best breeding representatives have been bred. For lovers of sweet crops, sweet-fruited viburnum has been bred. These varieties are distinguished by the absence of the usual bitterness of viburnum, although the supply of nutrients remains at the same level.
The choice of variety depends on the climatic conditions of the region:
- remontant species are suitable for the Moscow region, such as: Souzga, Taiga rubies;
- for areas with low winter temperatures: Ryabinushka, Zarnitsa, Sunset;
- In the southern regions, sweet-fruited varieties grow: Vigorskaya, Shukshinskaya.
The best varieties of viburnum varieties
Viburnum is grown not only for harvest, but also as an ornamental shrub. The fruits of such varieties ripen in accordance with the main fruiting calendar, but they are not suitable for food.
Blue Muffin
Decorative variety. Suitable for growing in the southern regions and the Middle Zone due to low frost resistance. Unpretentious. It has a second name - Viburnum serrated - because of the jagged edges of the leaf blade.
Distinctive features of the bush:
- white large inflorescences;
- dark blue small fruits collected in large clusters.
Gardeners note that the species is able to tolerate waterlogging of the soil, and can also decorate any type of garden plot.
Buldenezh
A decorative shrub that can grow up to 3 meters, blooms with white flowers, the inflorescences are collected in a round ball. It is resistant to frost, so it is often found in gardens in Siberia and the Urals.
Resistance to infections and pests is considered an advantage.
Vigorovskaya
Viburnum of this species was obtained through several crossings. The berries ripen in the second half of September and are edible. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, with a characteristic bitterness.The weight of the berries reaches half a gram and contains up to 45 percent ascorbic acid.
Advantages of the variety:
- frost resistance;
- stable yield indicators.
Forked
A shrub that reaches 4 meters in height. It is grown on fertile soils, so it is almost impossible to find this type in the Middle Belt. You can recognize this species in the fall by its bright crimson leaves. The fruits of the bush have a hint of bitterness, but their content of nutrients is increased.
Gordovina or black
This is a shrub that is often used to diversify the overall picture of plantings.
The fruits that appear in autumn gradually change color: from pink to black. They are recommended to be used for making jams and jellies.
Late ripening of berries does not allow this type to be grown in regions with early frosts.
Zholobovskaya
The shrub is classified as medium-sized; it reaches 2.5 meters. The bushes are arranged compactly and are not prone to chaotic growth.
The fruits can weigh about 50-60 grams. The variety was bred to be sweet-fruited, but over time, in the 8-9th year of fruiting, bitterness begins to be felt in them.
The shrub is resistant to heavy rainfall and has average frost resistance.
Viburnum laurel variety
This shrub is small in size, its height ranges from 1 to 3 meters. In the southern territories it begins to bloom in early spring. Flowers can be pink or pink-white. The fruits are blue and dark blue in color, bitter-sweet in taste.
The homeland of this variety is the Mediterranean lands, therefore it is not grown in Central Russia due to climate requirements.
Canadian
The variety's homeland is the eastern regions of Canada, where the shrub grows next to coniferous and spruce forests.Reaches 5-6 meters, has a spreading crown. After ripening, the small oval fruits turn black. The shrub begins to bear fruit after reaching 5 years of age, after which flowering and ovaries become abundant and annual.
Red bunch
Suitable for southern regions, as it is not resistant to frost. The berries have a classic, bright red color, weighing up to 75 grams. This is a sweet-fruited variety; gardeners harvest up to 5 kilograms of fruit from one bush.
The species is resistant to droughts, infections and pests.
Maria
A selection species bred for the northern regions.
Characteristics of berries:
- tastes bitter;
- round in shape, weighing up to 0.65 grams;
- color – scarlet.
rugosafolia
The shrub reaches 3 meters, blooms with gray-yellow flowers. Suitable for areas with low winter temperatures. It got its name because of the structure and shape of the leaf plates. They are oblong and rough to the touch.
The berries are red, oval. The peculiarity of the variety lies in its slow growth, despite the creation of optimal conditions.
Folded viburnum
The homeland of this variety is China and Japan.
Advantages of the variety:
- high frost resistance;
- flowering stability;
- Tolerant of droughts and heavy rainfall.
The fruits are not suitable for food, they are poisonous.
Ulgen
This type is suitable for planting in central regions. It has compact dimensions and does not grow more than 3 meters. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting; up to 4 kilograms of berries are collected from one medium bush. The fruits reach 60-70 grams, bright red, sweet and sour, with bitterness.
The disadvantages are considered:
- impossibility of self-pollination;
- the need for additional watering.
Breeding Features
When choosing viburnum, take into account the characteristics of the variety. For further cultivation, the soil mixture and place for placing the shrub are carefully selected.
Suitable soil
All varieties are suitable for soil with neutral or slightly acidic acidity levels. It should be loose, not heavy, fertilized with the necessary substances.
For planting, choose a place that is shaded from direct sunlight. For viburnum, moist soil is important throughout the growing season, so shade is a way to avoid rapid evaporation of moisture from the surface of the earth.
Watering and fertilizing
Viburnum needs regular feeding:
- Spring. Includes treatment with urea, potassium sulphide or wood ash.
- Summer. Fertilizing with potassium-phosphorus complex fertilizers.
Every 2-3 years, when replanting and digging up the soil, it is fertilized with compost.
Advice! Summer dry feeding is replaced with liquid feeding in dry, hot weather.
Watering for viburnum is carried out according to the following scheme:
- weekly;
- 3-4 buckets per 1 adult bush.
Dry periods require more frequent watering.
Trimming
To form the crown and increase growth efficiency, 2 prunings are carried out:
- Spring. Sanitary, form-building.
- Autumn. Sanitary, correctional.
Diseases and pests
Viburnum is susceptible to a limited number of diseases. Shrubs rarely get sick, depending on the characteristics of the variety.
- Powdery mildew. This is a fungal infection that spreads gradually. A whitish coating forms on the leaves and moisture accumulates. Shrubs stop blooming and developing. To get rid of infection, the leaves are treated with fungicides.
- Frost burn. A specific disease that is caused by low temperatures. The bark of the trunk cracks, the leaves fade.If damage is detected, they are covered with special mixtures based on liquid clay.
- Fruit rot. A fungal infection that occurs on berries. They become dry, the shell cracks and turns gray. If there are empty cells, instead of fruits, the bush is treated with copper-containing preparations, and damaged fruits are removed individually.
- Viburnum leaf beetle. “Personal” parasite of viburnum - eats leaves, leaving only the central veins. The activity and spread of the leaf beetle leads to the loss of the bush. It is recommended to remove the damaged parts; the remaining bush is treated with karbofos.
- Black aphid. The appearance of a parasite on viburnum can be seen by twisted and discolored leaf blades. They begin to turn brown and dry out. The fight against aphids begins with pruning branches and destroying colonies; the remaining bush is treated with Karbofos.
Viburnum is suitable for growing in summer cottages and household plots, gardens, and park areas.
