Actinidia Colomikta: features, varieties, planting and care

Not everyone is familiar with such a plant as Actinidia colomicta.Nevertheless, this bright and beautiful vine begins to gain popularity among the gardeners of our country. As for wildlife, ligneous liana most often grows in southeast Asia, it can be seen in the Far East and in the Himalayas. However, despite the fact that it is especially widespread in warm and southern countries, actinidia colomicta survives well and, for example, in the Moscow region, Siberia, you can find it in the Leningrad region.

This fruit and berry culture includes about 70 species. The most famous fruit, which is familiar to many Russians - kiwi, it grows on actinia "Delicacy".

As for the description, the stem of the plant is about 5 centimeters in diameter. Brown shoots, and they are quite a lot, have branches that can be both straight and climbing, and rise to 15 meters in height. The diameter of the crown can be from 1 to 2 meters. Young shoots have small lentils.

Among the features, experts note that the leaves are able to constantly change color. Initially they are bronze, after which they turn green. Before the plant begins to bloom, the leaves become saturated white, after the flowers fall, become pink or red.

Flowers themselves are predominantly white in color, same-sex, in some cases bisexual, have 5 petals each, very fragrant. The first flowering period falls on the 5th year of the plant’s life; the process takes place at the beginning of summer and lasts for 3-4 weeks. Liana can not self-pollinate, so it needs other plants growing in close proximity. After the flower dries, the cup remains with the fruit.

As for the fruits themselves, they are dark green berries. On top of the fruit cover the dark longitudinal stripes. Form - from round to elongated. Mature fruits are very sweet in taste, have a rich aroma and are quite soft to the touch. Small seeds in large quantities are inside and have a brown color.

Fruits appear on the vine no earlier than it reaches the age of 9 years. It should be borne in mind that actinidia colomicta gives a lot of fruit for a very long time. With the right agricultural technology, one plant can bear fruit for about 80 years.

Another feature of the vine is the presence of male and female types. The difference between them can be seen in the period when the flowers bloom. Male liana has many stamens, but there is no pistil in it, in the female there is both a pistil and stamens. The pollen of female specimens is sterile and unsuitable for pollination. Male pollen is carried by insects and wind.

Buds located on the shoots, hiding in the leaf axils. In order to re-pollinate the vines, at least 2 plants should be grown on the site.

The difference of this plant is high resistance to low temperatures. It is able to reach 10 meters in height, the trunk has a diameter of 2 centimeters. The leaves are rather large, with small notches on the edges, with a small light fuzz, can reach a length of 16 centimeters. Starting in mid-summer, sheets of male actinidia specimens begin to change color. Initially, they become whitish, then turn pink, and, finally, acquire a crimson hue.

The flowers are white and have a strong aroma. Male lianas have floral brushes of 3-5 pieces, while women have single flowers. Fruits are bright green, can be tinted with bronze or red blush, about 25 millimeters in length. Harvesting can begin in late August. So, the most popular varieties - "Doctor Shimanovsky", "Lakomka", "September", "Pineapple" and others.

Many species of actinidia colomikta can be found in the wild, but not all are suitable for cultivation. Only 3 species are used for this purpose: actinidia colomicta, purpurea and argut. Also at gardeners you can find hybrid, polygamous, and actinidia "Giraldi" vines.

"Doctor Shimanovsky" is most often chosen for regions with a harsh climate. This winter-hardy plant is able to tolerate cold. The length of the fruit - about 25 millimeters, weight - about 3 grams. They have pineapple apple flavor, and the taste is sweet, with a slight sourness.

"Gourmand" - a fairly new variety, which appeared in Russia not so long ago. The fruits of actinidia more than 3 centimeters, their weight - up to 6 grams. It tastes like pineapple, sweet and slightly sour.

“September” actinidia is distinguished not only by its rich and mild flavor, but also by the presence of medicinal properties. For example, one fruit is enough for the body to receive a daily dose of ascorbic acid. There is a significant amount of vitamin C, carotenoids and pectid. Externally, the berries are oval, green in color and have dark longitudinal stripes on the surface. Have a slightly sour taste and apple-pineapple.

The first fruits of the actinidia "Sweet wand" appear at the end of the last summer month. They have an olive-green shade and an elongated shape, the weight can reach 4.5 grams. The taste of sweet berries, with a noticeable sour, have the smell of pineapple. This variety is very resistant to low temperatures, not afraid of diseases and pests. To plant a liana is required in a warm place, not blown by drafts.

Actinidia "Pineapple" differs from other varieties in that it grows quite quickly and gives a significant amount of harvest. Fruits are oval in shape and about 3 centimeters long. Their color is bright green, with a crimson blush on its side. The taste of pineapple is interrupted by a slight sourness.

"Clara Zetkin" is a female plant specimen. It grows quite compact and rises no more than 3 meters in height. The process of fruiting begins at the age of 6 years, one fruit weighs about 3.5 grams, has an elongated shape, a yellowish color with light stripes, is distinguished by sweetness and a sharp pleasant smell. Liana is not prone to self-pollination, therefore, requires the presence of male representatives on the site. The variety is well going through the winter, has good resistance to pests and diseases.

All gardeners need to bear in mind that the purchase of seedlings at specialized points can eliminate many problems. For example, the possibility of buying a diseased plant or getting another variety instead of the desired one is excluded.

When buying a seedling of actinidia in the first place should pay attention to the roots. In healthy vines, they are undamaged, have no fungus and mold, and are not dried. In addition, in proportion, they should be equal to the trunk, thicker and thinner - already an anomaly. The trunk itself and the leaves should be free of plaque and holes. This suggests that the plant is in a satisfactory condition. The top notch is also a bad sign. It should be borne in mind that the sapling will take root better and will actively develop if it is not yet 4 years old.

Planting in the garden or on the site has no specific features and is similar to the planting of other fruit and berry crops. However, it does not do without the nuances that must be foreseen in order to get a healthy and well-fruiting plant. First, let's talk about the timing of landing.Aktinidiyu should be planted in the spring, but if necessary, you can do it in the fall. The main thing is that before the onset of frost the plant has had time to settle in a new place.

If the vine grows in the fall, you need to take care of the plant. The first step is to do the mulching, for which it is best to use compost or peat.

As for the landing site, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that actinidia do not tolerate stagnant water. This means that the site should be at a distance from groundwater and drainage. If you plant a plant near the house or a fence made of stone, it is better to endure the winter. It is also important to take care of the supports on which the branches are fixed. If they are of high quality and high, the vine will be pleased with excellent yield and vigorous growth.

Most preferably for actinidia penumbra, because in nature it can often be found in the forest. If the liana will constantly fall into direct sunlight, it will not have the best effect and it may just die. Soil having a high alkali content is also not the best choice. Clay soils will not work either. At the same time, the presence of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter and minerals in it is not critical.

So, consider the process of planting in detail. The first is preparing the wells, the size of which should be 50 to 50 centimeters, the distance between them should be more than a meter. Each pit is drained, for which a broken brick or crushed stone is used. Black earth, humus and ash are piled on top of the drainage; for a better adaptation of the bushes, you can add a little superformat.

Fertilizers are sprinkled with soil, so that young and fragile roots of the plant are not injured upon contact with them. Next, a seedling is placed on top, its roots are gently straightened, and then powdered with earth, which must be carefully tamped. Lian needs to be watered. For this procedure, enough 1 bucket of water. After that, the soil is mulched, for this you can take peat or fallen leaves.

Reviews gardeners agree that the care of actinidia is not difficult and a complex of agrotechnical measures in this case is not difficult. However, the nuances can not be avoided. As for watering, the plant here is fairly undemanding, but if there are hot and dry days, it is not worth refusing. One liana is enough buckets of water per week. In the evening, you can spray the foliage vines from a spray bottle. If the soil is wet enough, watering should be discarded.

Plant cultivation with your own hands involves mulching the soil every few months. This will help the vine to retain moisture better, as well as more comfortable to survive the winter. Sand, foliage and peat can be used as mulch. This procedure will help keep nutrients in the ground even during dry periods.

The presence of support should be a prerequisite if the gardener plans to continue to pick berries from the plant. With their presence, actinidia will reach upwards, which can increase the place for the formation of ovaries, on which yield directly depends. It is advisable to use structures with a height of more than 2 meters, which can be bent in a convenient direction. This will provide branches with the possibility of free movement not only upwards, but also at an angle.

When caring for actinidia in no case can not be neglected pruning, because it is she who is responsible for what the crop will receive in the future gardener. Pruning is done at the moment when the plant blooms, or in late autumn, when there are no leaves on the bush. If you make it in the spring, the vine can simply die. During the procedure, you need to cut off the damaged and dried shoots, as well as those that have recently appeared and have not yet woody.

Pruning is a kind of preparation of the plant for the winter. In addition to this, it should be mulching in the fall.It will not be superfluous to cover the liana for the winter, for this, the branches are removed from the support, laid on the ground, and covered with polyethylene or insulating material from above. This is an optional condition and applies only to regions that have long and frosty winters.

Actinidia multiplies in several ways: seeds, cuttings, lignified cuttings and arc layering. Consider all the options in more detail.

If it is decided to use arc slips, the procedure is carried out in the spring period, when the movement of the juice has ended and the first leaves have appeared. For this, a healthy growth shoot is taken, and its top is fixed in the direction of the ground, at the point of contact with it is sprinkled with a layer of soil about 15 centimeters thick. Further, the place is watered and mulched with humus or sawdust. After this, the shoot should be watered regularly and receive the necessary care. By the fall, he takes root, after which the next spring is transplanted to another piece of land.

You can also use cuttings. This is a very simple and fast breeding option. Harvesting begins with the arrival of summer, which is associated with the active growth of berries and lignification of the branches. Young stems up to 100 centimeters in length are cut off. The procedure is best carried out in the morning. The tips of the branches are immersed in water, so they will not have time to dry. After this, the shoots are divided into cuttings a little more than 10 centimeters long, having 3 buds and 2 internodes. In the lower part under the kidney is an oblique cut.

The sheet plates located below are also cut, and the upper ones are shortened by half. After that, the cuttings sit in the greenhouse and are provided with timely watering. It should be borne in mind that neutral or low acidity soil is suitable for cuttings, in which it is necessary to add humus, river sand and complex fertilizer that does not contain chlorine, at the rate of 100 grams per square meter. Between rows there should be a distance of at least 10 centimeters, between cuttings - 5.

Deepening should be at the level of the middle kidney. Land trampled down, watered and covered with two layers of gauze. The cuttings should have roots. After this gauze is moistened from the sprayer several times a day. 2 weeks after disembarking, covering material is removed. Prior to that, it can be cleaned only at high humidity in the morning and evening. In order for plants to survive the winter, they will also need a shelter that can be made from fallen dry leaves. In the spring, the cuttings are planted in a permanent place.

Lignified same cuttings are prepared in late autumn. They are collected in bunches and put in the sand until spring. The temperature in the room should be from 1 to 5 degrees Celsius. You can prepare the cuttings at the end of winter, but always before the juice goes. Planting should be done in a greenhouse, after which they need watering every 2 days. The treatment does not differ from the procedures carried out with green cuttings.

When breeding seeds need to pick a good planting material. It is extracted from the ripened fruit of the vines. Berries must be intact and melted. They warm up and fit into the grid, which must be rinsed under cool water until the seeds remain clean. Next, they are laid out on a sheet of paper and placed in a dark place where they dry.

Planting material is prepared at the very beginning of December. Seeds are placed in a small container and filled with water for 2 centimeters. In this state, they will be 4 days, but you need to consider that the water will have to be replaced. Next, the planting material is placed in a nylon mesh, which can be used as an ordinary stocking, and immersed in wet sand.All this should be stored at a temperature of about 20 degrees, once a week taking out a stocking of sand for a few minutes, so that the seeds can be aired. After which they need to be washed, not removing from the stocking, and returned to the sand.

Planting material should not dry up until January. Already in January, a box with sand and seeds in it turns into a cloth and sinks into the snow, where it is stored for 2 months. After that, it is moved to a place where the temperature is about 10 degrees. Washing and airing once a week should be continued. It should be borne in mind that the planting material can not be left warm, since after the cold it threatens them to fall into a period of rest.

If done correctly, the seeds should start to peck up. At this point, you can begin sowing them. It is necessary to use the earth mixed with river sand. Planting material is lowered 5 millimeters from the surface. Sprouted shoots must be constantly sprayed with water and protected from sun. After a few leaves appear on them, which usually occurs in June, the seedlings are planted in a greenhouse.

See the following video on how to plant and care for actinidia colomicta.