2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
It turns out that the exotic kiwi fruit can be grown in central Russia, and not only in the subtropics. We are talking about a variety of kiwi and it would be correct to call this plant actinidia
The most cold-resistant kiwi is the actinidia kolomikta variety. There are also varieties such as purple actinidia, arguta and polygamy. By the way, the scientific name of the familiar kiwi is Chinese actinidia. It does not grow in our country, but it can bear fruit in the Crimea and the Caucasus.
Actinidia kolomikta is a liana, but without supports it can form like a tree up to one and a half meters high. During growth and fruiting, the tree must be tied up so that the trunk does not bend and the branches do not break under the weight of the fruit.
Actinidia is a dioecious plant and both female and male seedlings are needed for good pollination on the site. It is possible to determine the sex only during the first flowering - female flowers do not have a pistil, but only numerous shaggy stamens. The male flower has a pistil and rarer stamens around, and they are sterile. A monoecious bush can be made artificially by grafting cuttings from a female or male plant onto the bush.
Actinidia can be grown on its own, through sowing seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be obtained from fruits purchased on the market or by ordering them by mail. It should be remembered that they are able to maintain germination only in the first six months - a year.
It bears fruit in the middle of summer, so the seeds for sowing are washed, dried and stored until winter. In order for the plants to sprout together, actinidia need a stratification procedure. For this purpose, it is necessary to sow seeds in January in a pot with soil, on which snow has been previously laid tightly. Scatter the seeds in the snow, cover with a lid or a bag with holes and put them in the cold, for example, in a wintering greenhouse. After a month, take the pot to a room with an air temperature of 5-10 degrees. When the snow melts completely, we transfer the pot to the veranda or glazed balcony, with an air temperature of 14-18 degrees.
Let the pot always be covered with a bag, but with air access (we make several holes). When the seeds hatch and white tails appear, you can gradually sprinkle them with sand so that the sprouts take root better. In the first year, seedlings are grown in partial shade - in boxes or in the ground. For the winter, it is advisable to cover them with foliage in order to protect them from frost. In the second year, the plants can be cut open if there is a thickening. The first flowering can occur in 5-6 years - this is a significant disadvantage of this method. In the case of cuttings or dividing the bush, actinidia enters fruiting much earlier. Green or lignified cuttings can be cut all summer and rooted in homemade greenhouses. The stalk should have 4 buds, the lower end is cut obliquely, and the upper end is cut straight, all the leaves are cut off.
Cuttings are stuck into a box with fertile soil (humus and leaf litter) at an angle of 45 degrees and covered with a plastic bag with several holes for air access. The box is best left outside in partial shade. Regular watering and airing are essential for early rooting. When the upper buds awaken and the leaves appear, remove the package and grow the seedlings until autumn. Before winter, the box can be brought to a cool veranda with a constant temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius or left to winter in a greenhouse, covered with leaf litter or agril. In the second year, such seedlings are planted in their permanent place.
Actinidia has a healing effect, and not only the fruits, but also the leaves are useful. Actinidia fruits contain a substance - a natural analogue of aspirin. Berries are indicated for people suffering from heart disease, intestinal problems, whooping cough and rheumatism. Actinidia also has an anthelmintic effect and can be given to children to prevent helminthiasis. In care, this plant is not capricious at all - it is enough to water it well and provide it with pergola supports. Unfortunately, the fruits of actinidia crumble, therefore, during fruiting, it is advisable to stretch the net or lay out canvas bags under the vine.
Northern kiwi is good for everyone - it is moderately decorative, and its fruits are very tasty and healthy. It's worth making friends with him!
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