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Formation And Pruning Of Actinidia
Formation And Pruning Of Actinidia

Video: Formation And Pruning Of Actinidia

Video: Formation And Pruning Of Actinidia
Video: Male Pruning Kiwifruit vine 2024, March
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Read the previous part. ← Planting and reproduction of actinidia

Formation of actinidia

Actinidia
Actinidia

In order for the plant to be healthy and look good, you must follow the rules of care, pay attention to the formation of the crown. Forming a plant is artificially giving a bush a predetermined definite shape.

This form, first of all, should provide a high and stable yield of actinidia, as well as promote the rational use of light and air space. It is necessary to begin the formation of a plant from the age of three. This is necessary in order to force actinidia to bear fruit early.

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To do this, young shoots growing upwards must be bent, spread out and fixed horizontally. In the future, these branches will be the skeleton of the plant. Giving an inclined position leads to a weakening of the growth of the branch, as a result, new fruiting branches appear along its entire length. At the same time, it is desirable to form the plant itself symmetrical in order to balance in growth and development, since a uniform distribution of sap over all parts of the tree is a necessary condition for its longevity.

It is desirable to bend the ends of the horizontally laid shoots upward, they can be a continuation of the branches. They need to be cut only in autumn, since, on the one hand, they divert more juices to themselves, which means that the side shoots on horizontally located branches receive less of them and turn into fruiting ones, and on the other hand, they ensure the growth of the root system with their foliage.

When growing actinidia, special attention should be paid to the formation of plants in order to increase their winter hardiness, productivity and longevity. Its productive potential can only be realized when grown on strong, durable supports, which are built depending on the chosen type of plant crown formation.

The support structure should:

- provide the power of the bush so that the plants do not feel cramped. To do this, it is recommended to make a two-plane trellis with bushes in the middle, and separate the sleeves into two planes. At the same time, at the bottom, the distance is 70-80 cm, and in the upper part - 1.4-1.6 meters with a trellis height of 2.2-2.5 m;

- to provide shoots with the best position and illumination. To fulfill this requirement, it is recommended to install a trellis inclined at an angle of 25-40o and descending to the south.

Actinidia
Actinidia

The easiest way to form is a two- or three-tiered single-lane trellis. In the first case, four horizontal oppositely placed sleeves are formed, in the second - six sleeves at different levels (see diagram).

Formation like a two- or three-tiered palmette consists in the fact that it is created within three years on two or three levels of oppositely placed sleeves. In the first year after planting, the plant is cut into 3-4 buds, and the growing shoots are tied up vertically. At the end of summer, one or two of the strongest shoots are left.

In the spring of next year, they are tied to the lower wire and one or two shoulders are formed. In this case, the kidneys on the stem are removed to the height of the wire. A shoot that has grown from a bud at the bend of a vine is allowed to go vertically upward and grow to the second wire, and in the third year - to the third. On horizontal branches, pinch all downward buds, and the shoots that emerged from the bud of the shoulder extension can be cut off only during autumn pruning.

In order for the bush to be durable and the lower shoulders to bear fruit and give a good harvest, it is necessary that the shoulder length of the second tier be one third shorter than the shoulder of the first tier, and the third tier is one third shorter than the second tier. Shoots grown on horizontal shoulders must be pinched during the summer, which accelerates the beginning of the plant's entry into the fruiting phase.

When growing a plant like an altanka, a T-shaped support is needed, the shoulder of which is 1.5-2 m, and up to five rows of wire are stretched on it. The plant is formed within three years: first, the growing shoot rises vertically, and then at the top they make a short cut and form the plant's cap.

When grown by a bush, 3-4 strong shoots are chosen from a two-year-old plant, shorten them to 30-40 cm, the rest are removed. In the future, the vegetative shoots are annually shortened by 1/3 and the branches that thicken the crown are cut out. A plant formed in this way reaches a height of 140-180 cm, a bush with a diameter of 130-250 cm, the number of skeletal branches is 8-12 pieces. Weak, unproductive branches are cut out at the base and replaced with powerful vegetative shoots. The bushy shape of the crown ensures good wintering of the plant, reduces the time and effort spent on caring for them, but, on the other hand, does not allow for large yields.

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Pruning actinidia

Actinidia is a vigorous vine, which is distinguished by good bud productivity, which, in the absence of care, leads to a rapid thickening of the crown. Therefore, shaping and pruning is preferable to do in late autumn, since spring pruning weakens the plant due to the abundant flow of juice.

The purpose of pruning is to obtain high yields, balance the vigor and volume of fruiting, and create optimal lighting conditions in the crown of the plant. During pruning, the optimal number of annual shoots is left. By shortening them, broken and weakened shoots are removed and the crown size is maintained within the limits set aside for this plant. In amateur gardening, the formation of plants should be continued throughout the summer, directing the shoots in the right direction, pinching them in time to shorten the length and promote better maturation of the wood.

Harvesting actinidia

Actinidia
Actinidia

Actinidia berries ripen in August - October, depending on the type and variety of the plant. In the types indicated in this article, the berries are firmly held on the stalk, so they can be harvested in several steps. In addition, actinidia fruits tend to ripen during storage, therefore, if it is necessary to transport the fruits, they can be removed 5-7 days earlier than consumer ripeness.

Actinidia fruits are characterized by a sweet taste with a pleasant aroma, sometimes a slight sourness is felt.

Sugars contain: glucose, sucrose, xylose, arabinose.

The qualitative composition of acids is varied: malic, citric, oxalic in an amount from 1.3 to 2.1%.

The fruits of actinidia are especially prized for their outstanding amount of ascorbic acid. They are also distinguished by a rich composition of mineral substances that ensure the normal passage of metabolic and enzymatic processes in the human body. An analysis of the quality of macro- and microelements in the fruits of actinidia showed the presence of potassium, which is responsible for the acid-base balance of the blood.

It contains from 504 mg / 100 g in the variety Purpurova sadova to 778 mg / 100 g in the variety Kievskaya large-fruited. Calcium contains from 111 mg / 100 g in the variety Kievskaya large-fruited to 345 mg / 100 g in Actinidia kolomikta; iron - from 10.2 to 18.4 mg / 100 g; chlorine - from 198.6 to 255.7 mg / 100 g; sulfur - from 1226.7 to 1591.2 mg / 100 g. In addition to these, the berries also contain elements such as zinc, selenium, bromine, copper, P - active substances, rutin - 14-31 mg / 100 g, catechins - 15-50 mg / 100 g.

The chemical composition of actinidia fruits indicates that they are sources of biologically active substances and have medicinal properties. In actinidia, not only fruits, but also the entire ground part of the plant, especially the leaf one, have medicinal properties. In actinidia leaves, vitamin C is up to 0.1%, and it remains until the end of the vegetative period; there are many tannins. It should be noted that there are more biologically active substances in female plants than in male ones. Therefore, the aerial part of actinidia, especially its leaf mass, can be used as a raw material for food, vitamin, feed additives, tea and herbal remedies.

Fruits are a valuable food and dietary product and are mainly used raw, as well as for the preparation of jam, preserves, compotes, candied fruits and high-quality wines. Dried fruits resembling raisins are especially appreciated. Fresh berries, ground with sugar in a 1: 1 ratio, are valuable. Only 10-15 g of them provide a person's daily intake in vitamin C.

This is such a berry of actinidia, which, according to I. V. Michurin, is capable of displacing grapes and gooseberries from gardens in the future.

Read the next part. Actinidia blank recipes →

Victor Guzenko

experienced gardener, Lida

Photo by the author

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