Actinidia is self-fertile rather interesting ornamental plant. Its fruits are extremely healthy for human health, tasty and fragrant. Growing and caring for a plant is easy. In addition, actinidia produces high and stable annual yields. The fruits are distinguished by marketability and remarkable transportability, can be stored for a long time in a cool place. Detailed information on growing actinidia and its content at home is provided below.
Description of self-fertile actinidia
The above plant has several names. This is actinidia acutifolia, and self-fertile actinidia, and kiwi, and pineapple atinidia. The plant is, first of all, a spectacular tree-like vine, which is characterized by a beautiful decorative appearance and edible fruits. The latter are characterized by an extremely high content of beneficial trace elements and vitamins.
This plant is characterized by stable, high productivity, sufficient frost resistance, unpretentiousness to growing conditions, resistance to diseases and pests.
It should be noted that self-fertile actinidia does not require a male plant: it is well pollinated by itself. This monoecious plant begins to bear fruit already for 4 years after planting. From one bush you can get up to 9 kg of berries.
Actinidia fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, but be sure to observe a strict temperature range: from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius.
Features of actinidia
The above plant has the following characteristics:
- has a height of up to 25 m (sort of argument), up to 6 m (type of colomict);
- trunk with a diameter of up to 5 cm;
- high growth rate of plant shoots (up to 2 m per season);
- the root system is fibrous, with skeletal roots;
- the maximum minus temperature that the actinidia plant can withstand is -30 degrees Celsius;
- Kiwi fruit bearing is more frost-resistant than non-bearing;
- mid-August - fruit ripening period;
- plant fruits are rounded or oblong, from light to dark green in color;
- the taste of fruits - from sweet and sour to sweet;
- photophilous plant;
- culture loves moisture, but an excessive amount does not tolerate it;
- Spring pruning is strongly discouraged.
It should be noted that the actinidia plant can grow and bear fruit well for about 30 years.
Useful properties of actinidia
The fruits of the above plants are extremely beneficial to the human body. In their composition they contain:
- carotene, niacin, ascorbic acid, vitamin B5;
- polyphenols;
- minerals: salts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus;
- dry matter;
- organic acids;
- pectins.
It should be noted that the fruits of this plant contain 5 times more vitamin C than blackcurrant and 10 times more than citruses.
These fruits greatly enhance the immune system of hypertensive patients, people with diabetes, the elderly and children. Especially useful kiwi fruits for patients who have vision problems.
Types of autologous actinidia
Perennial tree creepers comprise about 30 plant species in the genus. All varieties of actinidia are distinguished by high annual fruitfulness and a beautiful decorative appearance. In Russia, the following species of the above plant are known:
1. Argutovye:
- Hybrid
- Kiev large-fruited;
- Curly;
- September;
- Actinidia Argut self-fertile.
2. Interspecific:
3. Colomictic:
- Pineapple
- Clara Zetkin;
- Autologous actinidia of Colomict;
- Victory.
Pollination of this plant occurs with the help of wind or insects. Interestingly, this process can be carried out at sufficiently large distances: up to half a kilometer. For example, some species of colomictic and interspecific are pollinated independently. Harvest in this case comes out small.
In one place, tree lianas are able to grow for more than 70 years.
The yield of a liana depends on its type. Argutovy produce the largest number of fruits - up to 250 kg, colomictic - only up to 3 kg. The weight of the fruits is also different: for example, polygamous fruits have a weight of 6 grams.
Recently, in America, breeders have bred a new variety of actinidia called Kiwi. So he is able to produce fruits weighing up to 330 grams.
As for harvesting, the Giralda variety and all colomict fruits are harvested in late August, the rest until mid-September. Although, if you want more sugars to accumulate in fruits, take kiwi closer to frost.
If the crop was harvested at sub-zero temperatures, it will not be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.
Actinidia reproduction
The above plant is propagated by both cuttings and seeds. Seed stratification is carried out for 2 months. Before this process, the seeds are steamed. Then they are mixed with sand and slightly moistened. After that, the seeds are wrapped in tissue and placed in a refrigerator, where a temperature of about +5
degrees Celsius should be observed
. Recommended daily fifteen-minute ventilation at room temperature.
After the above stratification process, the seeds are planted in light soil, which is pre-steamed. Shoots appear early enough: in two weeks. During the first year they grow slowly. But they are not recommended to feed anything.
It is better to keep young actinidia seedlings in the first winter in a cool place. It is advisable to plant only in the early spring.
If actinidia is propagated by cuttings, then it is recommended to cut them with two or three buds. Also leave one top shortened leaflet. Cuttings are recommended to be put in a glass of distilled water for a day. Only then can they be planted in a container with a substrate. As the latter, you can safely use peat or sand. Important: do not fall asleep with a leaf leaf substrate! After planting the cuttings, they need to be poured with water and covered with a film.
In order for the cuttings to take root well, it is necessary to provide them with a temperature regime (+18 degrees Celsius), humidity above the average and access to sunlight. Once a day, it is recommended to spray the cuttings with a spray gun.
Saplings grown from cuttings will begin to bear fruit in two to three years.
Soil for the above plant
Actinidia seedlings prefer a variety of soils, with the exception of floating clay soils, near which groundwater is located. Breeders recommend making a good drainage for the plant. Therefore, tree-like lianas are best placed on slopes with a drain of water, in elevated areas. This will prevent stagnation of water in the roots of the plant.
Intensive growth of actinidia is observed on acidic and slightly acidic soils fertilized with organic mixtures. But in no case should they contain lime. The plant does not tolerate this top dressing. It is also not recommended to add calcium chloride under actinidia .
It should be noted that it is strictly forbidden to plant actinidia after actinidia. An undesirable neighbor for the above plant is an apple tree. It is better to plant actinidia near the black currant.
In no case is excavation of soil around a tree-like liana allowed. The maximum that can be done is to carry out shallow loosening.
Autogenous actinidia: planting and care
Plants are planted in the spring to a depth of 70 cm. Gardeners advise to add a little fertilizer to each hole: about 10 kg of ordinary humus and 100 grams of superphosphate. It should be noted that actinidia is planted in early spring.
At the very bottom of the pit, first you need to place drainage, which can be stones, expanded clay or broken brick.
Plants are planted at a distance of up to 2.5 m. Before planting a tree-like vine, its roots are moistened in a clay mash.
In addition, breeders recommend planting one male plant for 10-15 female plants - for better pollination.
Actinidia care is as follows:
- Before flowering, fertilize the tree-like vine with phosphorus.
- In the fall, actinidia is fed humus, potassium salt, superphosphate and ammonium nitrate.
- For the plant, it is useful to mulch the soil with humus, sawdust or peat in a 12 cm layer.
- In addition, actinidia hides for the winter to prevent freezing of young plants.
Actinidia conditions
The above plant is unpretentious, but still requires some attention. A tree liana prefers to grow in the sun, although it feels good in the shade.
The conditions for the actinidia are as follows:
- It is important to build supports for the plant.
- Provide her with additional watering during hot weather.
- During fruiting, the soil around the tree-like liana is contained under black vapor.
Pruning actinidia
This action cannot be carried out:
- in early spring;
- during a period of intense sap flow (due to loss of juice, the plant becomes weak);
- at the end of summer (may cause awakening of the kidneys on the shoots of the current year).
The ideal time for pruning is considered the period after flowering plants. Trimming of actinidia is also carried out in late autumn. At this time, you can thin out the plants, cut weakened branches, remove the frozen tips on the shoots.
Pests and Actinidia Diseases
The above plant is highly resistant to various diseases. Breeders note the following diseases that can affect actinidia:
- phyllocticosis of leaflets (brown spots);
- fruit rot on berries.
It should be noted that to combat the above infections, the affected fruits and leaves are collected and destroyed.
Dangerous pests for actinidia are cats that like to gnaw young shoots and dig in the roots of the plant. Therefore, it is important to fence the woody vine with a wire mesh and cover the top.
Calendar of work on the care of the above plant
In order for the plant to grow intensively and bear fruit well enough, it is important to carry out the necessary work on care and maintenance of actinidia in time:
- In April, shelters were removed from young tree-like vines. This is the time when actinidia is planted.
- In May, gardeners advise feeding tree vines with organic fertilizers. Also this month it is recommended to carry out loosening, weeding the soil around actinidia. If the weather is too dry in May, gardeners advise watering the plant and mulching the soil.
- In June, it is desirable to provide the plant with the required amount of moisture. It is also important to carry out a little loosening and weeding of soil. At this time, cutting of green cuttings is carried out.
- In July, in addition to weeding, loosening and watering, it is important to tie up the plant. It is also necessary to remove excess shoots.
- Harvested in August. After collecting the fruits, it is recommended to feed the plant with minerals and organic fertilizers.
- Harvest is also going in September.
- In October and November, actinidia is trimmed, which is carried out to form a bush. Although the aforementioned plant is highly frost-resistant, it is absolutely important to have time to shelter young tree-like vines for the winter to sub-zero temperatures.
Interesting Actinidia Facts
Do you know that:
- in terms of ascorbic content, only rose hips can compete with the fruits of the above plants;
- 1 or 2 actinidia berries provide the body with a daily requirement for vitamin C;
- about 700 berries of the above plants cover the annual need for ascorbic acid for humans;
- for a family of 4 people, it is enough to have only one bush of woody vine to provide each of its members with an annual norm in vitamin C.
How is actinidia used?
The fruits of the above plants are actively used in cooking. They are also prepared for the winter: canned and dried.
Jam is prepared from the fruits of actinidia, squeezed juice, make cocktails. Also use the above fruits to decorate cakes and other sweets, for the preparation of desserts.
Sun-dried actinidia or kishmish is especially popular, which reminds one of its appearance of dried grapes (raisins).
When preserving the fruits of actinidia, experts recommend adding citric acid, since they already have a taste with mild acidity when processed.
Self-fertile actinidia is a plant that can not only decorate a personal plot, but also give extremely tasty and healthy fruits. This is just a godsend for an enterprising summer resident.