Actinidia: planting and care, cultivation. Growing actinidia on a plot with your own hands Actinidia how to plant to look after what places it likes

Actinidia (Actinidia) - woody vine of the Actinidia family. The name of the plant is translated as a ray. In the natural environment, it is found in Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and the Far East. China is considered the homeland.

It has been cultivated in European countries since 1958. Delicious actinidia is a plant whose fruit is the well-known kiwi. In the gardens of the temperate climatic zone, species are grown that give smaller fruits and are not so hairy.

Botanical description

They are perennial deciduous. The stems need support. The leaves are whole, smooth or leathery, have a variegated color - the main reason for the decorativeness of the plant. In the axils of the leaves, flowers of white, golden yellow, orange color appear, they are located in 1-3 pieces. Flowers are fragrant only in some species.

Actinidia kolomikta Dr. Shimanovsky Actinidia kolomikta 'Dr Szymanowski' in bloom photo

The actinidia fruit is a valuable food product. It is rich in sugars, ascorbic acid, and other biologically active substances. They are consumed fresh, they are used for making jam, wines, dried berries are similar to raisins. Actinidia is gaining more and more popularity in horticulture.

Male and female actinidia

The plant is dioecious, therefore, to obtain fruits, it is necessary to have male and female actinidia on the site. Sex is determined by the structure of the flower: males have many stamens, and the pistil is absent; female flowers have a large pistil surrounded by stamens with sterile pollen (not involved in pollination). Pollen from male plants enters female plants through insects and wind.

How actinidia reproduces

Vegetative and seed propagation is possible. Actinidia grown from seeds are more hardy, but varietal traits are most often not transmitted, and you will only recognize the sex of the plant during flowering, which occurs in the 7th year of life. With vegetative propagation, flowering will occur in the 3-4th year.

Layers

Reproduction by layering is a simple and reliable way.

• In the spring, when young leaves have already opened, a long, well-developed shoot should be chosen.
• Tilt it to the ground, pin it and sprinkle it with a layer of soil 10-15 cm thick, the top of the shoot should be above the ground.
• Mulch the mound with sawdust and humus.
• Water regularly, remove weeds, when a young shoot appears, spray it.
• In the fall, at least next spring, the young sprout will be ready to be separated from the mother plant and planted in a permanent place.

Propagation of actinidia by cuttings

Reproduction is the fastest and easiest way to reproduce.

Green cuttings

• Root green cuttings in June. Select several annual branches 0.5-1 m long, cut 10-15 cm long pieces of them. Each stalk should contain 2 internodes and 3 growth buds.
• The cut under the lower kidney should be at an angle of 45º, the upper one should be straight, 4-5 cm above the kidney.
• Remove the lower leaves together with the petioles, and shorten the upper ones by half the length.
• Root in water, greenhouse, greenhouse, or right in the garden.
• In the latter case, the cuttings are covered with gauze in 2 layers: spray daily 3-5 times a day, in cloudy weather, in the morning and in the evening, remove the gauze, completely get rid of it after a couple of weeks.
• The soil needs a neutral or slightly acidic reaction, into which humus, river sand and complex mineral fertilizer (100 g per m2) should be added.
• Position the stalk at a 60º angle with the middle bud remaining level with the ground. compact the soil, water well.
• Cover with fallen leaves for the winter. With the onset of spring (before bud break), transplant to a permanent growth site.

Lignified cuttings

Can be rooted. Cut them in late fall, tie them in bunches, place them vertically in a box and store at 1-5 ºC until spring. Plant in spring for rooting.

We look at the rooting of lignified cuttings in the video:

Rooting of combined cuttings is possible: at the beginning of summer, select the shoot of the current year and separate it together with the heel (the part of the annual branch adjacent to it). Root in an open field or greenhouse. Water daily, shade out of direct sunlight. In these cuttings, the root system develops rapidly and the next spring can already be transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

Actinidia from seeds at home

Consider seed propagation. Seedlings should be grown.

• Collect seeds from ripe fruits: mash the berries, place in a mesh bag and rinse under running water. Then remove the seeds from the pouch, spread out on paper and dry in the shade.
• Store until the first decade of December, and then soak the seeds for 4 days, change the water every day.
• Next, place the seeds in a nylon cloth and lower them into a box with wet sand, keep at an air temperature of 18-20 ºC.
• Remove the sandbag every week and ventilate for a few minutes, rinse the seeds under running water directly in the bag and return to the box.
• The seeds should not dry out.
• In January, wrap the box with a cloth and move it to the garden, burying it deep in the snow for a couple of months. If there is no snow, store in the vegetable section of the refrigerator.
• After stratification, return to indoor and store at 10-12 ºC. At the same time, ventilate and rinse the seeds weekly.
• When the seeds are nailed, it is time to carefully plant them, trying not to break the sprouts. Fill containers with a mixture of turf soil and river sand, spread the seeds over the surface less often and lightly sprinkle with sand.
• It will be necessary to moisten the crops with a spray gun and cover with a film to create a greenhouse effect. When the plants sprout, it is better to remove the film.
• Spray seedlings regularly, protect from direct sunlight.
• With the appearance of 3-4 true leaves, plant the actinidia seedlings in separate containers.
• in open ground in the 3rd year of life in the spring.

Planting actinidia in open ground

Actinidia grows well in one place for more than 30 years, but it is necessary to choose a suitable site and follow agricultural techniques.

Choosing a landing site

Actinidia is shade-tolerant, but the fruits will fully ripen only when sunlight is available: pick up an area under the bright sun with shade at midday. Not recommended to be planted next to apple trees. Suitable neighbors are currant bushes.

Priming

The soil is required to be moist, loose, well-drained. Does not tolerate clay and alkaline soils. Avoid areas with a close groundwater table (in this case, you will need to fill a hill). It is best to plant on hills or slopes - the water will drain naturally, without stagnating in the roots.

Support preparation

For actinidia, support is needed, otherwise the stems will get tangled, it will become problematic to care for the plant, and the fruits in this case ripen unevenly.

• Vines do not have aerial roots, so plant them calmly near buildings, fences, frame gazebos.
• Use arches of classical form, pergolas (wooden, metal, concrete) as a support.
• You can stretch galvanized wire (3-4 rows) between two concrete posts according to the principle of a grape trellis: actinidia will grow vertically, tie up the shoots during the growth.
• In areas with harsh winters, it is better to use removable trellises in order to remove the vine for the winter, lay it on the ground with the construction of a shelter.

When and how to plant

Plant actinidia in early spring (before sap flow begins) or in autumn (2-3 weeks before frost starts). It should be noted that it is better to plant vines 2-3 years old in the fall, since older specimens are painfully tolerant of autumn planting.

• Prepare the planting hole 2 weeks before planting. Length, width and depth - 50 cm each.
• At the bottom, lay a drainage layer of small stones or broken bricks.
• Move fertile soil with peat and compost, add fertilizers (250 g of superphosphate, 120 g of ammonium nitrate, 35 g of wood ash and potassium sulfate each) and fill the hole.
• Cut dry and broken roots on the seedlings, treat the sections with a fungicide, hold the seedlings in a clay mash.
• Pour a hill of soil without fertilization into the planting hole, place the seedling so that the root collar is flush with the soil surface.
• Cover the roots with earth, press the earth a little.
• Pour 10-15 liters of water under the bush, mulch with a layer of compost or peat 4-5 cm thick.

Maintain a distance between plantings of 1.5-2 m.To decorate the wall of a building, plant seedlings in a trench, retreating between plants 0.5 m.

The scent of the vine is attractive to cats - so protect the seedlings from their encroachment. Dig in a metal mesh that is at least 0.5 meters high around the plant.

How to care for actinidia outdoors

Watering and loosening the soil

Water the plant abundantly. During severe drought, add 6-8 buckets of water under each bush once a week. Spray actinidia in the morning and evening. This must be done so that leaves do not drop. Young leaves will not have time to get stronger in cold weather and will freeze in winter.

Loosen the soil, remove weeds.

Top dressing

It is important to feed regularly. In early spring, apply 20 g of potash and 35 g of nitrogen fertilizer per m². During the period of ovary formation, apply 10-12 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and 15-20 g of nitrogen fertilizers per the same unit of area. After harvesting (about the second decade of September), add 20 g of potassium and phosphorus. Apply fertilizing in this way: embed the fertilizer granules into the soil around the plant to a depth of 10-12 cm, water abundantly.

Pruning

Sanitary pruning spend in mid-September: shorten the shoots by 1/3 of the length, remove the branches that thicken the crown.

Upon reaching the age of 3-4 years should be carried out formative pruning lianas. Do this throughout the summer. Form a two-arm cordon along a horizontal trellis: direct two shoots of the same level in one plane in opposite directions and secure, cut off the remaining shoots. Next year, shoots of the second order will appear on them - it is on them that fruits are formed, they should be tied to a vertical guide.

Anti-aging pruning spend at the age of 8-10 years. Do it in the summer. Cut off the shoots completely, leaving a stump 30-40 cm high.

How to distinguish between male and female actinidia, we look at the video:

Diseases and pests

Diseases and pests of actinidia are rarely disturbed.

Possible diseases: fungal diseases (powdery mildew, phylostictosis, etc.), green and gray mold, fruit rot. For prophylaxis, treat the plant with Bordeaux liquid after the buds appear and 2 weeks after the first treatment. When a disease appears, the affected areas should be removed and treated with a fungicide.

Pests: leaf beetles, moth caterpillar, lacewings, bark beetles. In spring and autumn, treat the vines and soil with Bordeaux liquid.

Harvesting

Fruiting begins at the age of 3-4 years. Full harvests can be harvested from actinidia from the age of 7 years: about 60 kg of berries from one plant with proper care. Fruit ripening is uneven, but they do not crumble for a long time. Harvesting time starts from mid-August and lasts almost until mid-October.

Wintering actinidia

Young plants (2-3 years old outdoors) need shelter for the winter. Remove the branches from the supports, lay them on the ground, cover with peat, dry leaves, spruce branches (a layer at least 20 cm thick). Mice can make nests there - use the poison. Adult specimens hibernate without shelter.

Types and varieties of actinidia with photos and names

In the natural environment, there are 70 species of plants, 3 of them are cultivated with numerous bred varieties.

Actinidia arguta or acute Actinidia arguta

The most powerful plant among the cultivated species. The length of the liana reaches 25-30 m, the diameter of the trunk is 15 cm. The leaf plates are ovoid with finely toothed edges, their length is 15 cm. The flowers are fragrant, located singly or are collected in racemose inflorescences of 3 pcs. Fruits are spherical (diameter 1.5-3 cm), are dark green, have a slight laxative effect, ripen at the end of September.

Varieties:

Self-fertile actinidia photo

Actinidia Self-fertile - fruiting begins in the second half of September. The weight of the elongated-cylindrical berry is about 18 g, it is colored bright green. Winter-hardy plant;

Primorskaya - leaves of medium size, soft, oblong, green color. Fruits are elliptical, olive-colored, weight 6-8 g. Average winter hardiness;

Actinidia large-fruited - an elliptical fruit, painted in dark green color with a blush, weighing 10-18 g. Frost-resistant plant.

Other popular varieties: Mikhneevskaya, Relay, Zolotaya Kosa, Ilona, \u200b\u200bVera, Lunnaya, September.

Actinidia kolomikta Actinidia kolomikta cultivar for Moscow region and Leningrad region

Very resistant to severe winter frosts. Plant height is 5-10 m, trunk diameter is 20 mm. The leaves are obovate, elongated by 7-16 cm. They have sharp-edged edges, the veins are covered with an orange-colored pubescence. in males, the leaves are variegated: in the fall they become yellow-pink, red-purple. Female flowers are arranged singly, male flowers - 3-5 pcs. Fruits are green in color, they acquire a bronze, reddish tint in the sun.

Varieties:

Actinidia Pineapple - a very productive variety. The oblong berries, 3 cm long, have a pineapple flavor;

Actinidia Dr. Shimanovsky variety description- Curly liana, lashes reach a length of 3 m. Annual growth is about 1.5 m. Young leaves have light green spots, but quickly become pink in color. Liana loves warm, sunny, wind-protected places. A bisexual species. Flowers are white, fragrant, bloom in June. The fruits are edible, sweet, ripen in August.

Gourmet - has fruits 30 mm long and weighing 4-5 g, taste: sweet and sour with a hint of pineapple.

Other varieties: Festive, Sweet, Wafer, Narodnaya, Moma, Priusadebnaya.

Actinidia polygama Actinidia polygama

Liana 4-5 m high. Elliptical leaf plates with pointed tops and serrated edges, painted green with silvery spots, leaves turn yellow in autumn. Fruit weight - 3 g.

Varieties:

Actinidia polygamy Apricot - moderate winter hardiness, fruits ripen late. The berries are slightly flattened, weighing about 6 g, have a sweet and sour taste;

The beauty is a winter-hardy plant. Fruits are yellow-green in color, sour taste;

Patterned - fruits of a cylindrical shape, colored orange with longitudinal stripes. Possesses fig-pepper flavor.

Actinidia giraldii Actinidia giraldii

A species listed in the Red Book. Similar to actinidia argut, but with larger fruits.

Varieties:

Juliana - berry weight 10-15 g, sweet taste;

Alevtina - berries weighing 12-20 g, sweet;

Native - berry weight 7-10 g.

Actinidia purpurea Actinidia purpurea

Actinidia purpurea Actinidia arguta cultivar ‘Ken’s Red’ photo

Shade-tolerant liana, low cold resistance. The fruits are purple in color. Their weight is 5.5 g. The taste is sweet.

Actinidia hybrid

The work of the breeder I.M. Shaitan. This is a cross between actinidia argut and actinidia purpurea. Fruits are large, purple in color.

Varieties:

Kievskaya Large-fruited - oval green berries, weight - 10 g, taste - sweetish;

Candy - fruits ripen late, have a sweet taste and candy-fruity aroma;

Souvenir - greenish-red fruits weighing about 8 g, sweet.

Useful properties of actinidia

The fruits of the plant are excellent remedies for belching, heartburn, and other digestive disorders. They are also recommended to be taken for anemia, rheumatism, lumbago, gonorrhea, colitis.

Other parts of the plant also have medicinal properties. From them, infusions, decoctions, ointments are prepared.

Polygamol is a drug based on actinidia, which has a tonic effect.

Contraindication to the use of drugs is varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.

Actinidia is a perennial representative of deciduous vines. Her homeland is the subtropical zones of Asia and the East. However, plant species have now been bred for the cultivation of which the middle belt of the European part of Russia is ideal. Gardeners noticed that actinidia in landscape design looks very harmonious. According to reviews, this plant makes the garden exotic. In addition, it is cultivated as a berry bush. Vine fruit is very healthy and tasty.

Description and characteristics of the culture

The plant is a woody vine. It densely braids any support, very beautifully decorating the landscape of the site. It can be used as a green hedge, decoration for arches, house walls, any designs.

The leaves are elongated, juicy. Slightly heart-shaped. There are varieties in which the leaves have neat, even edges, and there are varieties with jagged leaves. Actinidia leaves have a unique property. During the season, they change color several times. At first they are light copper, then emerald, whitish, pink. In autumn, the tips of the leaves turn purple.

Appearance

In the spring (in May, June), the actinidia blooms. At this time, the site is filled with an indescribable fruity and floral aroma. The color of the flowers is white or slightly purple.

The trunk is strong, can reach a diameter of 2-5 cm, bending. The height of the shrub is from 15 to 30 meters. Liana constantly wraps around the support and stretches to the sky.

The fruits ripen at the end of August. They are slightly larger than grapes. They are elongated oval berries. Very tasty, aromatic, sweet with a piquant sourness. They contain a lot of ascorbic acid. The chanting is not amicable. Ripe berries fall off. The yield is decent - from an adult bush, depending on the variety, from 4 to 11 kg of juicy berries are harvested. Delicious homemade jams, juices, and wine are prepared from the fruits.

Additional Information. The fruits of actinidia are useful. They contain vitamins A, C, P, B, copper, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, organic acids, etc. Berries increase the body's resistance, treat diseases of the digestive system, help with headaches, and soothe.

Some gardeners are tormented by the question: "why does not actinidia bear fruit?" To answer it, you need to understand that actinidia is a dioecious plant. There are female and male vines. In order for this culture to bear fruit, it is better to grow several varieties on the site. Male and female specimens differ in flowers. Male flowers have many stamens, but no pistil. In women, there is a pistil, it is surrounded by stamens.

A culture has several species, which, in turn, have varieties. The middle zone of Russia is suitable for growing such types of actinidia as:

• Kolomikta;
• Arguta;
• Polygamum;
• Large-fruited.

All of them easily tolerate winter frosts and give good yields, even if the summer is cool and rainy.

The answer to the question "when does actinidia begin to bear fruit?" - 2-3 years after planting. However, the crop gives the maximum yield only after 6-8 years.

Note! The most famous type of actinidia is Chinese. Its fruits are sold in our stores. This is kiwi. It is grown only in warm countries.

Preparing for landing, choosing a seat

First you need to choose the best place for the plant to grow. An important condition is moist, loose open ground. The acidity should be weak or neutral. It is best to plant the vine in fertile soil, where there is enough clay and sand. Culture loves the sun. Partial shade is also suitable for her. Another condition is the presence of support. Actinidia cannot grow normally without it. You can install a trellis, an arch, a regular post next to it. Another option is to plant the culture right at home. In this case, she will be able to catch on the wall.

Before boarding

The right choice of seedling gives a lot. It is better to buy a small plant in a specialized store, nursery. The seedling must be healthy. Its roots are closed. A suitable age is one to two years.

Cultivation of actinidia begins with preparation for planting. A pit is prepared a few weeks before the scheduled planting day. If several plants are planted, then several pits are prepared. The distance between them must be at least 2 meters. The hole needs to be dug quite deep - more than half a meter. The width is exactly the same. A drainage layer is built at the bottom. Pebbles, brick fragments will do. A soil mixture of humus, peat, garden soil, ash, ammonium nitrate is placed on the drainage, it is allowed to add superphosphate.

Note. Within two weeks, the soil mixture will settle. Ordinary soil is added to it. It is poured in the form of a slide. Actinidia will land on this hill.

On the day of planting, the seedling is examined. Remove all dry twigs, straighten the roots, remove broken or dried ones. After the root system is dipped in a clay mash, its consistency should be like thin sour cream.

Correct fit diagram

The correct landing scheme consists of the following stages:

1. As soon as the clay talker on the roots has dried up, the rhizome is placed in the planting hole;
2. The grower should place the roots on a mound made of ordinary soil. Each spine should surround a free space;
3. It is necessary to ensure that the root collar does not go deep, but is at ground level;
4. Gradually the pit is filled with earth. It is slightly tamped;
5. You need 2-3 buckets of water for watering the seedling;
6. Planting ends with soil mulching. You can take peat, hay, grass.

Actinidia care

How to grow actinidia in the country? This can be done if the planting and care rules are followed. At the same time, the cultivation and care of actinidia does not cause special difficulties for gardeners. Even a novice summer resident can cope with this.

Cultivation of a crop involves sparse watering, but frequent irrigation of the leaves. Water from a sprayer can be sprayed on crops early in the morning and in the evening. Water the ground under the bush every few weeks. If the summer is not dry, then you can refuse watering.

Top dressing is carried out in April. First, the earth is loosened. This is done carefully, since the roots are shallow from the ground. Further, complex fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are placed. Fly ash is added. Mulch is laid out. Hay, sawdust, spruce needles are suitable.

Important! To make actinidia feel comfortable, you need to observe the root collar. The plant will develop better if this area is not very bare and protrudes from the ground. At times, you can sprinkle it with earth.

For the winter, the plant is removed from the support, laid on the ground. If the liana is not 3 years old, it is covered with peat, spunbond.

Trimming scheme

The first sanitary image of the culture is carried out 3-4 years after planting. Rejuvenating pruning, when only a small stump is left, after 9-10 years.

Sanitary pruning of leaves is carried out in early spring, before bud break, or in autumn, before hibernation.

The pruning scheme is to remove old shoots that do not bear fruit, dry branches, overgrown branches.

The principle of removing old branches

In addition, you need to pay attention to what kind of Actinidia grows in the garden. Each species has its own characteristics and pruning schemes.

Council. If we take the Kolomikt actinidia as an example, then it can be cut off only after the plant reaches 7 years of age. After that, one of the main shoots is removed from her every year. Medium will do. It is replaced by a new stem.

Reproduction

An exotic plant can be propagated and grown in several ways. Among them:

• Seeds;
• Arc layering;
• By cuttings with green shoots;
• Lignified cuttings.

Seeds

How to grow actinidia from seeds? Planting actinidia seeds is troublesome. Seed material should be pre-prepared for planting for almost 5 months. First, the grains are washed, dried, placed in water for 3-5 days. After they are soaked, they are put into wet sand. Sand with seeds is watered every 7-10 days. The container must be in the apartment. After 60 days, it is taken underground, where it is cool. There, the seed material in the sand will stay for another 60 days. Then they bring him home for 20 days. Then the seeds are planted in containers with soil mixture. Transplantation to a permanent place in open ground is carried out after 3-4 strong leaves appear on the sprout.

Arc layering

This method is suitable for early spring. The lower branches with buds are taken from actinidia. They are not cut off, but simply bent to the ground in several places. In these places, pits are made where peat and humus are placed. Parts of the branches are fixed in these pits, sprinkled with earth. It is important that the tip of the branch, which is taken for growing cuttings, is not covered with earth. Pits with bent branches are constantly shedding. A layering transplant is possible in a year.

Cutting green shoots

Cut green cuttings that have at least three buds. The upper part is cut straight, the lower one forms an acute angle. Cuttings are planted in a greenhouse in fertilized soil with sand. They need to be watered every day. The procedure is performed in early summer after flowering. Transplantation to a permanent place is also possible after a year.

Propagation by green cuttings

Lignified cuttings

The procedure for cutting cuttings is carried out in the fall. Next, the sticks are stuck into a container with sand. The container is removed to the cellar until spring. In the spring months, cuttings are planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. There they will grow for about a year.

Diseases and pests of actinidia

This plant has strong immunity. If you plant a vine in fertile soil, take care of it correctly, then pests and diseases will not affect it.

However, even such a strong plant can sometimes get sick with powdery mildew, fruit rot. To cope with ailments, infected shoots and leaves should be removed in time. You can treat culture with household soda. A solution is being prepared. It is necessary to dilute 100 grams of soda in 2 buckets of water. Liana is sprayed with water and soda. The procedure is carried out every 10 days.

Note. Among the pests that can appear on actinidia are the larvae of leaf beetles. These insects eat leaves. Insecticides are used as a control.

Disease and pest prevention is simple. In spring and autumn, the plant is washed with a common remedy - Bordeaux liquid. They also water the ground under the bush.

Actinidia: the secrets of growing

Creating conditions for fruiting and increasing the yield of actinidia is the main thing in growing this beautiful vine.

In order to grow a healthy plant that yields a good harvest every year, 9 conditions must be observed:

1. The seedling must be intact, with a closed root system. It should be bought only in proven nurseries;
2. The place for actinidia is selected sunny or with partial shade;
3. The soil should be fertile, neutral or slightly acidic;
4. The planting pit is prepared 2 weeks before planting. It must have a drainage layer;
5. A plant cannot develop without support. The main purpose of the vine is to grow up and twist objects;
6. Watering can rarely, but be sure to irrigate the leaves of actinidia from a spray bottle;
7. Sanitary pruning is done in the spring or fall. But you need to start it only after the plant has reached the age of 3-4 years;
8. The plant can be fed with complex fertilizers. This will increase yields;
9. In the spring and autumn, one should deal with the prevention of diseases and pests.

If you grow and care for actinidia correctly, then the plant will give a bountiful harvest of juicy fruits every year for 40-60 years, and decorate the summer cottage with its appearance.

Self-fertile actinidia is quite an interesting ornamental plant. Its fruits are extremely beneficial for human health, tasty and aromatic. It is not difficult to grow and care for a plant. In addition, actinidia produces high and stable annual yields. Fruits are notable for marketability and excellent transportability; they can be stored for a long time in a cool place. Detailed information on growing actinidia and keeping it at home is provided below.

Description of self-fertile actinidia

The above plant has several names. This is actinidia holly, and self-fertile actinidia, and kiwi, and pineapple atinidia. The plant is, first of all, a spectacular tree-like liana, which is characterized by a beautiful decorative appearance and edible fruits. The latter are distinguished by an extremely high content of useful trace elements and vitamins.

This plant is characterized by a stable, high yield, 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 as early as 4 years after planting. You can get up to 9 kg of berries from one bush.

Actinidia fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, but it is imperative to observe a strict temperature range for this: 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 argut), up to 6 m (type of kolomikt);

trunk up to 5 cm in diameter;

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 that has entered fruiting is more frost-resistant than non-fruiting;

mid-August - the term for fruit ripening;

the fruits of the plant are distinguished by a round or oblong shape, from light to dark green in color;

fruit taste - from sweet and sour to freshly sweet;

light-loving plant;

the culture loves moisture, but does not tolerate excessive amounts of 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 plant are extremely beneficial for the human body. They contain in their composition:

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 black currant and 10 times more than citrus fruits.

These fruits significantly strengthen the immune system of hypertensive patients, people with diabetes, the elderly and children. Especially useful fruits of kiwi for patients with vision problems.

Types of self-fertile actinidia

Perennial tree vines have about 30 plant species in the genus. All varieties of actinidia are distinguished by high annual fertility and beautiful decorative appearance. On the territory of Russia, the following types of the above plant are known:

Hybrid;

Kiev large-fruited;

Curly;

September;

Actinidia Argut is self-fertile.

Pineapple;

Clara Zetkin;

Self-fertile actinidia Kolomikt;

Victory.

Pollination of this plant occurs with the help of wind or insects. It is interesting that this process can be carried out at fairly large distances: up to half a kilometer. For example, some species of colomicts and interspecies pollinate independently. In this case, the yield is small.

In one place, woody lianas can grow for more than 70 years.

The yield of a vine depends on its type. Argut trees give the largest amount of fruits - up to 250 kg, colomic ones - only up to 3 kg. The weight of the fruits themselves is also different: for example, polygamous ones have fruits weighing 6 grams.

Recently in America, breeders have introduced a new variety of actinidia called Kiwi. So he is capable of producing fruits weighing up to 330 grams.

As for the harvest, the Giralda variety and all the colomicty fruits are harvested at the end of August, the rest until mid-September. Although, if you want more sugars to accumulate in the fruit, shoot the kiwi closer to frost.

If the crop was harvested at sub-zero temperatures, it will not last long in the refrigerator.

Reproduction of actinidia

The above plant propagates both by cuttings and by 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 cloth and placed in a refrigerator, where a temperature of about +5 degrees Celsius must be maintained. It is recommended to ventilate them daily for fifteen minutes at room temperature.

After the above stratification process, the seeds are planted in light soil, which is pre-steamed. Seedlings appear early enough: after two weeks. They grow slowly during the first year. But it is not recommended to feed them with anything.

Young seedlings of actinidia in the first winter are best kept in a cool place. It is advisable to plant it only in early spring.

If actinidia is propagated by cuttings, then it is recommended to cut them with two or three buds. One upper shortened leaf is also left. It is recommended to put the cuttings 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 cover the bud with a leaf with a substrate! After planting the cuttings, they need to be watered and covered with foil.

In order for the cuttings to take root well, it is necessary to provide them with a temperature regime (+18 degrees Celsius), humidity above average and access to sunlight. Once a day, it is recommended to spray the cuttings with a spray bottle.

Saplings that are 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 good drainage for the plant. Therefore, tree-like lianas are best placed on slopes with water runoff, in elevated areas. This will prevent stagnation of water in the roots of the plant.

Intensive growth of actinidia is noted on acidic and slightly acidic soils fertilized with organic mixtures. But in no case should they contain lime. The plant does not tolerate this feeding. Also, it is not recommended to add calcium chloride under actinidium.

It should be noted that it is strictly forbidden to plant actinidia after actinidia. An undesirable neighbor for the above plant is the apple tree. Better to plant the actinidia near the black currant.

In no case is it allowed to dig the soil around the tree-like liana. The maximum that can be done is to carry out shallow loosening.

Self-fertile actinidia: planting and care

Plants are planted in the spring to a depth of 70 cm. Gardeners are advised to add a little fertilizer to each hole: about 10 kg of ordinary humus and 100 grams of superphosphate. It should be noted that the planting of actinidia is carried out in early spring.

At the very bottom of the pit, you first 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 liana, its roots are moistened in a clay mash.

Actinidia care is carried out as follows:

Before flowering, a tree liana is fertilized with phosphorus.

In the fall, actinidia is fed with humus, potassium salt, superphosphate and ammonium nitrate.

For a plant, it is useful to mulch the soil with humus, sawdust or peat with a layer of 12 cm.

In addition, actinidia takes shelter for the winter to prevent young plants from freezing.

The above plant is unpretentious, but still requires some attention. The tree-like liana prefers to grow in the sun, although it feels good in the shade.

1. It is important to build supports for the plant.
2. Provide her with additional watering in hot weather.
3. During the fruiting period, the soil around the tree-like vine is kept under black fallow.

Pruning self-fertile actinidia

This action cannot be performed:

4. in early spring;
5. during the period of intensive sap flow (due to the loss of juice, the plant becomes weak);
6. at the end of summer (can cause awakening of the buds on the shoots of the current year).

The ideal time for pruning is the period after the plant has flowered. Actinidia is also pruned in late autumn. At this time, you can thin out plants, cut out weakened branches, remove frozen tips on the shoots.

Pests and diseases of actinidia

The above plant is highly resistant to various diseases. Breeders note the following diseases that can affect actinidia:

7. phyllostictosis of the leaves (brown spots);
8. fruit rot on berries.

It should be noted that in order to combat the above infections, the affected fruits and leaves are collected and destroyed.

A dangerous pest for actinidia is cats that like to gnaw off young shoots and dig in the roots of the plant. Therefore, it is important to fence the woody liana with a wire mesh, and cover the top.

Calendar of works for 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 time for the care and maintenance of actinidia:

9. In April, shelters are removed from young tree-like lianas. This is the time when the actinidia is planted.
10. In May, gardeners are advised to feed the tree liana with organic fertilizers. Also this month it is recommended to loosen, weed the soil around the actinidia. If the weather is too dry in May, gardeners are advised to water the plant and mulch the soil.
11. In June, it is desirable to ensure that the plant receives the required amount of moisture. It is also important to do a little loosening and weeding of the soil. At this time, cutting of green cuttings is also carried out.
12. In July, besides weeding, loosening and watering, it is important to tie up the plant. It is also necessary to remove excess shoots.
13. Harvested in August. After harvesting the fruits, it is recommended to feed the plant with minerals and organic fertilizers.
14. The harvest is also in September.
15. In October and November, the actinidia is pruned to form a bush. Although the above plant is also distinguished by high frost resistance, it is all just important to have time to cover young tree-like vines for the winter to sub-zero temperatures.

Do you know that:

16. in terms of the content of ascorbic acid, only wild rose can compete with the fruits of the above plant;
17. 1 or 2 actinidia berries provide the body with a daily requirement for vitamin C;
18. about 700 berries of the above plant cover the annual need for ascorbic acid for humans;
19. for a family of 4, it is enough to have only one bush of a tree liana to provide each of its members with an annual intake of vitamin C.

How is actinidia used?

The fruits of the above plant are actively used in cooking. They are also harvested for the winter: canned and dried.

Jam is made from actinidia fruits, juice is squeezed out, cocktails are made. The above fruits are also used for decorating cakes and other sweets, for making desserts.

Dried actinidia or raisins are especially popular, which resembles dried grapes (raisins) in their appearance.

When preserving actinidia fruits, experts recommend adding citric acid, since already processed, they have a taste with mild acidity.

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.

Actinidia home care











An easily vegetatively propagating plant, and the floor of the vine depends on which seedling it developed from. Seed propagation is more difficult because it is impossible to determine which sex the plant will develop at once. However, plants grown from seeds are more hardy. Reproduction by arc layers is possible, and this method is considered quite simple. The plant propagates by cuttings.

This powerful liana can grow up to eight meters in length, and it bears fruit with good care for up to 30 years. The place where it will grow is very important for this plant. The shoots are unusually light-loving, reaching towards the sun, and the superficial roots suffer from the dry substrate. A little shading saves the situation somewhat, but at the same time reduces the yield and winter hardiness of the plant.

Soils are required not too light, clayey or sandy. Close-lying groundwater makes the site unsuitable for growing this plant.

A fast-growing dioecious plant in which male and female flowers are formed on different plants, you need to plant plants of different sexes next to each other.

Actinidia tolerates pruning well, responds well to fertilization, requires sufficient watering.

During the flowering period, the bushes are covered with large fragrant white flowers, which eventually acquire a creamy color.

Materials on Actinidium

In this section you will find posts on the care, cultivation, watering, reproduction of Actinidia. Community users share tips and secrets among themselves. A huge number of photos.

The goal of our project is to exchange experience so that each project participant can learn how to care for a plant at home. Register now.

How to grow kiwi from seeds 2



Kiwi can be grown from seeds that are extracted from the fruit. To do this, seeds are extracted from the kiwi, since they are small, you can immediately smear the pulp with seeds on paper and wait until they dry. Before planting, they are simply separated from the paper and slightly deepened into the ground. For germination, a universal soil is suitable. A place for germination.

How I grow actinidia (kiwi) from seeds 3



I really enjoy growing plants from seeds or seeds. I will tell you how I grow actinidia (kiwi) from seeds. In January, I take out black seeds from a ripe kiwi fruit, separate them from the pulp and put them in wet sand for two months. I put the container with seeds and sand in the refrigerator on the shelf in the door and periodically sprinkle the sand with water.

Actinidia in the garden 2



My whole family loves kiwi, but there is no way to grow it in the open field. Frost-resistant varieties have not yet been bred. But, there are other species from the genus Actinidia that live well in our climate. And, among them actinidia arguta. It also produces delicious fruits, only they are smaller than those of kiwi. I bought actinidia bushes in a local greenhouse.

May - planting time of actinidia 2



The beginning of May is almost ideal for planting actinidia. I planted actinidia seedlings in the early days, keeping a distance of 1.5-2m between the bushes. Since the plant is separate, then for 1 male actinidia bush I have 4 female ones, so that actinidia is normally pollinated.

I have pits for landing 50cm deep and 60x60cm in size. To the bottom.

Growing actinidia 1



Actinidia is a very valuable berry vine. Its fruits contain significant amounts of vitamin C.
Liana grows up to 10 m tall. It should be planted in mid-April from the western side of the house or gazebo in well-fertilized humus, sod and drained soil. Actinidia grows very poorly on calcareous and dry soils.
For getting.

Growing plants The sweetest and hardiest actinidia cultivar?

I can not decide on the choice of the variety of actinidia. I would like to purchase a frost-resistant (up to -35 degrees) variety with tasty, sweet fruits. Tell me what to choose?

Growing Plants How to Grow Actinidia at Home?

Tell me, is it possible to grow actinidia (a relative of kiwi) in indoor non-greenhouse conditions? I read that this is a very useful plant, and it looks interesting. Will it bear fruit at home?

Growing Plants Is it possible to grow kiwi fruit at home?

I saw the program on TV, how kiwi are grown on the balcony. But she was filmed in southern countries. And who tried to grow kiwi at home in our climate. What should be the care?

Growing plants Actinidia

How to properly care for and grow an actinidia plant? What is the difference between male and female plants when purchased and during the growing season? How to distinguish varietal plants from simple ones?

Plant identification How to distinguish actinidia?

They brought me 4 actinidia as a gift, but the tags where it was indicated who was "boy" and who was "girl" were lost. How to distinguish between seedlings now, because the conditions for the growth of "boys" and "girls" are few.

If you still have questions about the care, growing, watering Actinidia, then create your own theme in the gazebo 🙂

Actinidia - planting and caring for the plant

If you want to grow a plant called actinidia in your country house, planting and caring for it is quite easy. We can find out all the details about this exotic plant below.

Actinidia - what is this plant?

Early and mid-autumn is the time when the actinidia fruit can be harvested. Most often they ripen in September. Actinidia is a relatively unpretentious, easy-to-grow, disease-free tree. Thanks to this, it can grow even in not very favorable conditions.

Early and mid-autumn is the time when the actinidia fruit can be harvested

Although still little known in colder climates, actinidia is a very valuable garden plant. Not only will it decorate your garden with its twisty stems, but it will also yield delicious fruits.

The most common species is gourmet actinidia (kiwi), obtained from a Chinese plant. It was originally called the "Chinese gooseberry". At the very beginning of the 20th century, it was brought to New Zealand, where everyone liked it, and it was decided to name it in honor of the national bird - Kiwi.

Unfortunately, all kiwi cultivars do not have frost resistance and freeze at -10 ° C. The most frost-resistant variety is "Jenny", which can withstand frosts down to -15 ° C, but its fruits are very small and tasteless.

Video about how to plant correctly

Frost-resistant varieties

Actinidia arguta and kolomikta can withstand temperatures from -23 ° C to -35 ° C. They are considered as decorative elements of the garden, ideal for cladding fences, walls, pergolas and gazebos due to their rapid growth. They also have tasty fruits, but in much smaller quantities. Their kiwis are smaller than a medium grape.

In orchards, the Actinidia Arguta variety (also known as Mini Kiwi or Hardy Kiwi) is considered the best. It has relatively large and extremely tasty berries. In order to produce fruit, Tara Vine needs a long growing season - about 150 days without frost. An adult plant can bear 10 to 20 kg of berries.

Actinidia arguta and kolomikta can withstand temperatures from -23 ° C to -35 ° C

During this time, a climbing plant can grow up to 30-50 meters in height in a familiar climate. In cooler areas, it reaches 4-8 meters in height. Young plants have brown shoots that will change to gray with age. Large ovoid green leaves turn yellow in autumn and fall off shortly thereafter.

Varieties suitable for temperate climates

• Geneva is an American variety, the earliest, loves a lot of sunlight.

The ripening of various species occurs at the very beginning of autumn. The berries are round and medium in size (about 4 cm long). Unripe fruits of this variety are reddish-brown in color.

They fascinate with their taste, as they are unusually sweet and aromatic. If the plant gets enough water, then its fruits ripen much faster. They get soft enough and fall off.

It is a very prolific variety. It begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year after planting. Isn't frost up to -30 scary for him? FROM.

This variety of actinidia does not require any special care. The main thing is every spring, when all the snow has completely melted, to loosen the ground near the plant. Thus, she will get enough air.

• Issai is a dicotyledonous self-pollinating variety.

It was invented in Japan. The berries ripen in mid-autumn. The fruits have a sweetish taste. They are of medium size and oblong in shape (about 3 cm in length). The advantage of Issai is that it starts bearing fruit in the first year. Does the plant feel well at temperatures down to -25? FROM.

This variety is only 3 meters high, so it is suitable for small gardens. When caring for the plant, make sure it is properly watered. As soon as the ground near the plant becomes dry, you need to water it immediately. In hot weather, this should be done very often, even several times a day.

• Jumbo is a well-known Italian variety.

It has large, oblong and slightly elongated fruits (approx. 6 cm). The color of the berries can be either yellow or green. The largest berry can weigh up to 30g. The fruit is tasty and sweet, without a pronounced aroma, but persistent.

The color of berries can be either yellow or green

The berries ripen in mid-autumn. A variety that bears fruit in the third or fourth year after planting. It grows up to eight meters in height and can withstand cold temperatures down to -28 ° C. Top dressing remains a very important factor in plant care. It is held at the very beginning of summer. To do this, you need to dilute one part of the mullein with ten water and thoroughly water the plant with this solution.

• Ken's Red is a variety from New Zealand.

It is a species of arguta and melanaudra actinidia. Large fruits (up to 4 cm long and 3 cm in diameter). Strong and tasty berries, albeit without the characteristic aroma. They have a purplish red hue in full sun and are green when in shade.

They ripen in the middle of autumn. Ripe berries are not overly soft, making them suitable for transport. Are they not afraid of frost down to -25? FROM.

The plant should not grow in an open meadow, because it really does not like direct sunlight. When caring for him, this fact must be taken into account. Water it as often as possible to keep the soil moist at all times.

• Kokuwa is a Japanese self-pollinating variety.

The berries have a lemon scent. The fruits are small but firm. Ripening occurs in mid-autumn. When caring for a plant, try to cut it carefully. By removing any excess and dry branches, you will help the actinidia grow stronger and bear more fruit.

• Purpurna Sadowa is a famous Ukrainian variety.

Invented by crossing actinidia argut and purpurea. Delicious and juicy fruits of long shape and medium size (3.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter). The berries are purplish red. Fruiting in the third or fourth year after planting. Ripening occurs in mid-autumn. Not afraid of frosts down to -25? FROM.

Fertilize and water this variety. Since he is crossed in Ukraine, he loves enough water. Treat the plant from pests before it blooms.

• Rogow is a variety that was invented in Poland.

He was bred in Rogov. Quite tasty, medium-sized berries (about 3 cm long). The fruits are green and ripen in September. A very prolific variety. It begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year after planting. Not afraid of frost down to -30? С.

Every spring it is necessary to strengthen the roots of this plant. To do this, make a small pile of earth around the trunk of the plant. These actions will help strengthen the trunk from strong gusts of wind, and protect the roots from unexpected spring frosts.

• VITIKIWI is a very beautiful and prolific variety that bears fruit without pollination (parthenocarpic).

Fruiting for a year already. Green berries ripen in mid-autumn. This variety has a fairly high growth rate, so it is necessary to cut it off in time. Rid the plant of unnecessary and dry branches.

• Weiki is a German dicotyledonous cultivar.

The male species are good pollinators for all Tara grape varieties. Females are very fertile. The fruits are tasty and medium in size (about 4 cm long).

Video clip about proper care

The berries ripen in the middle of autumn, but they do not fall. They are usually green, and sometimes a dark brown coating may develop when exposed to direct sunlight. The shiny dark green leaves give the plant an attractive appearance.

The plant is suitable for decorative purposes and can produce up to 10 kg of fruit. Cats are very fond of this shrub and can damage it, scratch or bite the leaves, so it is better to secure the base with a net for the first three years.

Don't forget to fertilize it early in the summer. When the plant is completely hardened, it can withstand frost and cold up to 40 degrees below zero.

Most common varieties in temperate climates

Adam is a decorative Polish male variety.

When the plant is completely hardened, then it can withstand frost and cold up to 40 degrees below zero.

It has beautiful variegated foliage, attractive male flowers. It is a good pollinator for all varieties of Actinidia kolomikta.

• Dr Szymanowski is a dicotyledonous variety that is of Polish origin.

It has extraordinary beauty leaves and juicy fruits. Very prolific, it bears fruit as early as the fourth or fifth year after planting.

• Sentyabrskaya is a prolific Ukrainian cultivar with attractive variegated foliage.

In the third or fourth year, it begins to bear fruit. The berries can be picked at the end of summer and have a pleasant aroma and delicate honey taste.

Actinidia are best propagated by stem cuttings that are split off in mid-summer. They must be grown in a special container for 1–2 years to ensure good rooting before being planted in a permanent place in the garden.

Video Actinidia - the northern sister of the kiwi

Planting a plant at home

How to plant actinidia? If you choose dicotyledonous varieties, you must plant both male and female species in close proximity to each other (no more than 3-5 meters).

When planting a large number of actinidia, it is enough to plant one male species for every 7 female species. These can be samples of different varieties, but they must necessarily belong to the same species.

The male species should be evenly distributed among the female species and remember - their flowering should occur in approximately the same period.

For example, Arguta blooms at the turn of May and June, with small (1–2 cm in diameter) white flowers. The flowering period of kolomiktastarts is 7-14 days earlier. Its flowers are slightly smaller and have a faint lemon scent.

If you do not have enough space in the garden, it is better to put both species in the same hole, or alternatively, choose hermaphrodite varieties (but this method is not always justified).

When to plant actinidia? There is no definite answer. After all, they can pollinate from spring to autumn.

Male flowers, have more than a dozen racemose inflorescences, and well-developed stamens with pollen that remains fertile for 5 days.

Female flowers can be individual, or in groups of two or three. They have a well-developed pistil surrounded by sterile stamens. They can be pollinated for up to 10 days. The number and size of berries depends on the quality of pollination.

It is very important that both female and male flowers bloom at the same time. They are mainly pollinated by bees, in rare cases by the wind. Unfortunately, the flowers of actinidia are not very attractive, so a lot of insects are needed to ensure good pollination. If insects are not available, try hand pollination.

Pick a newly opened male flower and hold it close to the female for 1–2 seconds. The pollen of one male flower is enough to pollinate about 10 female flowers.

Pick a freshly opened male flower and hold it near the female for 1–2 seconds

When is the best time to plant actinidia in fall or spring? Planting in the fall is the best option.

Actinidia are generally very sensitive species, in particular, they grow much better in warm, sunny, sheltered from the gusts of wind.

Long exposure to frost should be avoided. They are susceptible to unexpected spring frosts. If there are walls, or a fence, then they give off some heat and thus increase the chances of survival of these delicate plants in winter.

How to plant actinidia in autumn? All actinidia are most vulnerable during the first 3-4 years after planting, so during this period special care should be taken to provide adequate protection from the cold, for example by placing mulch around the base of the plant.

• How to choose the right landing site

Actinidia grow well in a variety of soils, although they prefer soils that are rich in organic matter. The land should be well-drained, moist but not waterlogged, and acidic (pH 5–6.5). Since actinidia are plants with shallow roots, excessive loosening of the soil should be avoided.

Video plot about the variety kolomikta

When planting occurs, the plant must be placed on the ground, at the same level as it was for growing in a pot. Pour compost or well-rotted manure into the hole.

Actinidia require large amounts of water throughout the growing season and it is especially important to regularly water the plants during periods of intensive growth or when it is very hot. When planning to plant your actinidia, you must remember that large rivers and lakes are a natural reservoir of water.

The seedlings also require a balanced feeding of macro and micronutrients. You need to start feeding in the second year after planting in the ground. Sprinkle the soil at the base of the plant, at a distance of about 20–80 cm from the trunk.

Plant pruning

The simplest pruning helps to control the development of excess branches, increases their germination rate and promotes the growth and development of fruits. It must be produced in the spring.

This allows air to flow through the branches and opens up the interior of the bush for maximum light penetration, which is necessary for optimal growth of flavor and fruit quality. The berries are harvested in the fall and, in the winter.

• In January-February (before the beginning of the growing season), you need to cut off the branches 3-5 cm above the top of the support.
• In the second year, select a pair of strong side stems and branch them out to the sides, tying to a wire. In winter, trim the tips off, leaving 8-12 prongs on each. In the spring, these buds will develop and begin to bear fruit the following year.
• Again they should be trimmed at the sides and pinched in August to stimulate multiple buds.
• Every year in summer and winter, you should remove all lateral shoots growing from the bottom of the trunk and avoid excessive growth.

Every year in summer and winter, you must remove all side shoots

If actinidia is used as an ornamental plant, it can be left to grow without special supervision, periodically cutting off unnecessary branches. However, such a plant will begin to bear fruit much later and will be of inferior quality.

In order to achieve the best yield, you must carefully monitor your actinidia and prune it in time, remembering that the berries will fall on the stems, which will form horizontally in 2-3 years.

For hobbyist cultivation, it is best if the plant grows along wires stretched between posts, on a wall or fence. It takes 3-4 years, but after that it will grow and bear fruit even after 50 years.

Video on how to properly cut a plant

What you need to know about fruits

Actinidia usually begin to bear fruit in the fourth year after planting. When the fruits are unripe, it is better to put them in a plastic bag and leave them at room temperature for several days.

Video about medicinal properties

Actinidia fruits are very beneficial. They are completely fat-free, low in sodium, and rich in vitamins (C&E), potassium and other trace minerals, including zinc, which make a great addition to a healthy diet. Argut fruit contains about 400 mg of vitamin C, which is 4 times more than lemon or orange.

Try to grow actinidia in your country house and you will get not only a beautiful plant, but also delicious and juicy fruits that you collect in the fall.

Growing actinidia: photo, care and planting in the Moscow region

Actinidia is a fairly resistant plant to various diseases, and harmful insects are also little interested in it, due to this, the berry is quite popular among domestic flower growers. Growing and caring for this plant is also not very difficult, and you will understand this if you learn more about this plant.

Actinidia: landing features and description

The actinidia family has approximately 37 varieties, the natural habitat is Primorye, Far East, Japan, China, Sakhalin Island... In the conditions of the backyard for cultivation, four varieties are of interest as an ornamental and berry plant:

One of the types of actinidia is also considered to be kiwi (a hybrid of kolomikta, Chinese and purple). Today there are many varieties and varieties of actinidia kolomikta with a fairly large number of berries.

Actinidia is a powerful tree-like liana with branches about 14-16 meters, trunk diameter 3-6 cm, winding around the frame counterclockwise. The bark is peeling, the shoots are brown, the new shoots are in the form of light lentilswith which the plant is fixed to the fence.

Leaves and fruits

Actinidia leaves are quite large, thick, wrinkled, pubescent and quite attractive, because at different times of development, the vine changes its color. In spring, when new leaves are formed, their upper side is painted green-bronze, as they germinate, they get a bright green color, then darken. Before flowering - in early July, the tips of the leaves of this plant turn white, and for several days they cover almost the entire leaf.

The flowers are white, large in size - up to 2 centimeters in diameter, located on long stalks, have a rather strong odor. The smell is similar to garden jasmine, intensifies towards evening and towards the rain, thus luring butterflies and bees. The flowering of this plant is quite long - up to one month. Pollinated by bees, good honey plant. When blooming, the bleached edges of the leaves take on a pink hue, and then become a bright crimson color, but some leaves may be silvery purple. The variegation and elegance of the painted parts of the liana depends directly on the degree of illumination - the location in the shade makes the color less pronounced.

With the arrival of autumn, the plant becomes even more attractive - on one bush there are immediately raspberry, pink, yellow, purple, bright brown colors.

Fruiting

But our flower growers cultivate this magnificent plant not only for the beautiful foliage. The medium-sized fruits of actinidia are also quite valuable - a whole storehouse of vitamins, especially vitamin C, - its amount is 4 times more than that of currants. It's not for nothing that actinidia is also called the northern lemon.... The fruits of this plant are soft and oblong, weighing 5-7 grams, several centimeters long, during ripening they change color to a bright green, red, pink hue. There are up to 15 dark stripes along it. There are quite a lot of small seeds - about 100 pcs. in the berry.

Fruiting occurs 7–8 years after planting this plant in a permanent place (but flowering sometimes occurs as early as 4 years of age), approximately 7–9 kg of healthy and tasty berries can be obtained from approximately one plant.

It produces fruits stably for 32–37 years, with proper care and if the planting was carried out in the right place. The fruits do not ripen at the same time - first, those that are in the sun. Ripening continues, as well as flowering itself, up to one month. On some branches, ripe fruits crumble, therefore it is advisable to spread paper (or fabric).

Growing actinidia at home

In order for the cultivation and care of actinidia to be properly organized, you need to know certain features of its germination.

Germination conditions

First, you need to choose the right landing site. The shoots of the plant are stretching towards the sun, but here the root system absolutely does not perceive the drying out of the soil, since they are shallow - the main part is at a depth of 35 cm. Therefore, the landing site must be darkened in hot weather, and the actinidia itself is more like partial and slight shading.

Actinidia soil is more like light (not clay or sandy), carefully loosened, you can add deciduous soil to the planting hole. it the plant does not tolerate strong moisture, therefore, should not be located at the landing site with a high location of groundwater. It is also not necessary to plant a vine near water bodies - the plant will die quickly.

Impact on other trees

Actinidia is a very aggressive shrub and significantly inhibits other plants in its sphere of influence. In addition, the roots of the liana are actively diverging to the sides and violate the root system of nearby trees. Because, planting this plant is obliged to provide her with approximately 7-9 square meters of "personal" space for food, which must be fenced in with dug sheets of slate or thick film.

There must be at least three meters of space to the neighboring trees. The best landing site is near the fence of the house, on a trellis near the path, near the arch. This has several advantages:

• convenient to harvest;
• the liana will not interfere with the rest of the plants;
• actinidia will be a great individual decoration.






The most common mistake is that most people think that actinidia is a dioecious flower, like other varieties of vines of this group. Yes, wild varieties grown from seeds are actually dioecious and you need to plant several plants nearby. Planting one male bush is enough for 7-9 female... But today's garden hybrids have bisexual inflorescences, and planting a male plant separately is not considered optional.

How to grow actinidia from seeds?

It is quite easy to do this, but still not necessary, since it is not clear before the first fruiting, which inflorescences will turn out - female or male. And you can plant up to 10 years, from which then there will be no use. In addition, even when fruiting appears, the berries will turn out to be tasteless and rather small. because it is best to choose a hybrid variety - it can be bought in garden stores or multiplied with your own hands - by shoots from a high-quality mother plant (bury a branch in spring and until autumn the shoot will take root). Or cuttings - in a small greenhouse.

When to plant actinidia?

The pit for planting must be quite large - at least 75x75x75 cm.Drainage is laid out at the bottom - approximately 15 cm (gravel, expanded clay, crushed stone), then the pit is filled with soil of the following composition (in equal parts):

• humus or compost (you cannot add fresh manure);
• forest or coniferous land.

If the soil is heavy, add a layer of sand to the bottom of the pit. In the ground (per hole) add about 1.2-1.6 kg of ash, 220 gr. superphosphate, 120 gr. potassium. In addition to fresh manure, it is prohibited to use lime and nitrogen-containing additives.

The disembarkation of actinidia takes place in this way: in the middle of the depression you need to make a small hill, set in it seedling, its roots must be processed in advance - dip in a mixture of clay with a root growth activator (fumar, humate, epin, charkor). Sprinkle the hole halfway, make watering (a bucket per plant), then fill up the earth and tamp. You need to insert the seedling in such a way that the root collar is 3 cm in the ground.Then you need to build a temporary support and the planting site should be mulched by 6 cm with dry leaves or grass.

It is best to plant actinidia at such a time: in September (before the arrival of frost, the plant will take root) or in May.

Actinidia care

A clear sign that the plant has taken root is considered to be actively germinating branches in the first year after planting up to 2 meters. All care consists in regular watering, especially in the dry season and light loosening.

Main feature! Young shoots of this vine are very fond of nibbling cats (just as they love valerian). Because, n after planting, the seedling must be protected for several years - wrap with a thin mesh of metal or plastic.

When actinidia is planted near a fence or other fence, then you just need to let it braid on its own. Or yourself install support, but not higher than 4 meters, since the height makes maintenance much more difficult. The wire is fixed from below at a distance of about half a meter above the ground, then every 80 centimeters.

Rows are best created from north to south - this way, the vine is better lit.

The creation of a bush is different - according to the type of vine:

• a fan-shaped formation of 6–7 seedlings evenly spread over the entire surface, no more than 7–8 m long. In this case, in early August, you need to pinch the plant up to 60–80 cm. These sleeves are used for no more than 4 years, and for 3 they need to be prepared replacement;
• two-armed formation in two directions, where vertical shoots are created. These sleeves bear excellent fruit for about 20 years and then need to be renewed.

Pruning actinidia

Pruning is carried out in late autumn or with the onset of spring before the start of the juice movement. Moreover, it is necessary to remove dense, frozen or damaged branches, as well as all small branches. The tops are also cut off. The cut should be made 3 cm above the kidney.

Correct care certainly implies periodic feeding - about three times per season, otherwise the yield will be much less. For an adult liana at a time you will need about 120 gamma nitroammophoska (in spring), 160 grams of sodium sulfate (in July), and about 180 grams of superphosphate (in September). In addition, a couple of times in the summer, you can dilute the manure with water (about 120 grams per bucket) and water it at the very root.

Fruit processing

The readiness of the berries is judged by the softness of the fruit. You need to collect them every 4 days. The freshness of the fruit lasts only a few days. Ripe - the most delicious, they are processed in this way:

• to make "raw" jam - transfer the fruits with a rolling pin and mix with sugar 1 to 2 (in a cold place can be stored for up to 4 years);
• prepare wine: transfer overripe actinidia fruits and pour water in the same volume (it is impossible to make juice from berries). For a kilogram of fruit, you need to add 2 kg of sugar and set to ferment, then - according to the traditional method of making wine from grapes;
• dry - remove the stalks and dry at 60C for several days, the dried fruit looks like raisins;
• preserve compotes: a 3 liter bottle is filled by a third with washed fruits and filled with syrup - 360 grams of sugar per liter of water, sterilized with a water bath for half an hour;
• make jams - proportions 1: 1, bring to a boil three times, then place in hot bottles and roll up.

Actinidia is a very valuable raw material for soft drinks and vitamin drinks and extracts. Medicinal pectin elements found in large doses in actinidia berries, perfectly bind toxins and other toxic elements, as deposits of copper, lead, mercury salts, remove them from the body, contribute to the treatment of minor radiation injuries, which are associated with the intake of harmful isotopes into the body, the main amount of which comes out only with pectin elements.



Actinidia, although not yet very popular among domestic gardeners, but every year it finds more and more fans who cannot but pay attention to this attractive exotic plant. Firstly, in its fruits there is a record content of vitamin C, which is ten times more than in lemon or black currant, and secondly, one cannot fail to note the variety of tastes and aromas in various varieties of actinidia, as well as the decorativeness of the plant itself.

That is why we decided to collect some tips on what the actinidia plant is - reproduction, disease, planting and care, as well as other nuances about it, so that every gardener can successfully decorate his site with a new specimen.

How actinidia reproduces.



This plant is very easy to propagate, besides, it will not be difficult to grow both males and females, because the sex and characteristics of the species of actinidia are hereditary. True, this applies only to the variant with vegetative reproduction, with seed, seedlings have no visible sex differences, and the characteristics of the variety are not always transmitted. However, the indisputable advantage of seed reproduction is that with it the plants grow stronger and more resilient. But in the matter of fruiting, it is better to look at the vegetative method, in which the first crop can be harvested already in the 4th year, while planting with seeds means waiting for at least 7 years.

The easiest and most reliable way to propagate actinidia is to use arc layers. In order for the procedure to be successful, you need to choose a sufficiently developed shoot and pin it upside down to the ground. The place of attachment is covered with soil and watered, after which the shoot must be mulched with humus and sawdust. With the arrival of autumn, the cuttings are separated from the mother plant for transplantation.

And in order to propagate actinidia as quickly as possible, you need to pay attention to the cuttings option. It is not only the fastest, but it produces a lot of seedlings. It is necessary to carry out the procedure at the beginning of summer, when the fruits begin to develop actively, and the shoots change green to brown. For reproduction, you need to cut off meter-long annual branches and lower them into a vessel with water at the ends.

After that, divide the shoots into several segments with buds and internodes and plant them in a greenhouse on a pre-moistened garden bed. Before wintering, it is better to cover them with dry foliage to avoid freezing, and with the arrival of spring they need to be carefully dug up and transplanted to a permanent place in the garden.

Planting and caring for the plant.



Actinidia is best planted in early spring or autumn. It should be borne in mind right away that this is a perennial plant that will live in the place allotted to it for several decades, so the preliminary choice of a place should be thoughtful. Despite the fact that actinidia tolerates shade well enough, it will still bear fruit better in the sun, so a well-lit area, but shaded during the afternoon heat, will be an ideal place for it.

You do not need to plant a vine next to an apple tree and clay or alkaline soil. This plant loves loose, well-drained and moist soil. It is also better to plant actinidia on a relative ground elevation to avoid moisture accumulation and root rot. It is imperative to provide for a support - it can be a wall of a house or a fence.

How to care

Actinidia care involves regular weeding and watering. We must not forget to trim and feed. In case of disease or pest attack, actinidia will need treatment. Regardless of the choice of plant variety, there is no difference in caring for it. Watering is best done by spraying; in hot weather, the procedure is required twice a day, in the morning and evening hours. If the soil is dry, the plant may begin to lose foliage, therefore, weekly, you need to abundantly moisten the soil around the vine. Frequent shallow loosening of the soil and removal of weeds is also encouraged. To stimulate the growth of young shoots, increase winter hardiness and yield, it is better to use mineral fertilizers as top dressing.

Diseases and pests.


One of the indisputable advantages of actinidia is its relative resistance to diseases and pests. If you provide a plant with good care, then you can protect it from unpleasant threats for many years. It is especially worth taking measures to prevent vines from being exposed to powdery mildew and other fungal infections, which can be fraught with the appearance of stains on the foliage. To do this, you need to regularly remove dried and damaged fruits and branches.

Of the pests, the most dangerous for actinidia are leaf beetles, they can eat away swollen buds and leave larvae that subsequently damage the pulp of the leaves; in order to avoid this, it is necessary to treat it with Bordeaux liquid and a half-percent solution of soda ash in the spring.

The relict liana grows in Southeast Asia.

On the territory of Russia, its habitat is the Far East.

The actinidia plant has recently become a popular horticultural crop.

It is not surprising, because green fruits resemble kiwi in taste and shape.

Most varieties have perfectly adapted to the cold weather of central Russia.

With proper care, the vine bears fruit abundantly every summer.

The culture is dioecious. On some individuals it has only female flowers, while on others it has only male flowers.

For the formation of fruits, it is required that pollen from male plants get on female ones.

Determine the sex of actinidia not difficult, just look at the vine during the flowering period. Male flowers lack a pistil, but there are many stamens. The female flowers have a large pistil, while the stamens, on the contrary, are small.

These individuals are 95% sterile. Sex does not change throughout life.

Pollen from one plant to another is carried by beneficial insects and the wind. In the fall, male actinidia changes foliage color from dark green to red.

Females do not have these properties.

On four female actinidia, one male of the same species must be planted.

To date, self-fertile actinidia has been bred.

However, its yield is significantly lower than dioecious lianas.

Types and varieties of actinidia with photos and names

The most famous actinidia is kiwi. This species does not tolerate cold weather, therefore it is not grown in Russian household plots.

The most winter-hardy plant is the actinidia kolomikta. This particular type is suitable for beginner gardeners.

Berries are prized for their delicate texture and high vitamin C content. Some varieties have a pineapple flavor.

Kolomikta is suitable for decorative vertical gardening. White spots form on the leaves of adult male plants in summer.

The varieties of this species are widespread. Most actinidia are suitable for planting in the Moscow region.

The fastest growing type of argument. Its fruits are much larger than those of other species. The height of plants can reach 20 m, so it needs support.

The foliage has no decorative properties. The hybrid forms retain the green color of the fruit even after processing.

Actinidia arguta has a late end of the growing season, so the upper part of the vine may freeze slightly. For this reason, the species is poorly distributed in Russia.

Actinidia Giralda is considered a subspecies of argut. It is listed in the Red Data Book as an endangered species.

The plant is famous for its winter hardiness and high quality berries. The weight of one can be 25 g.

Fruiting occurs in mid-September. One plant can be harvested 5 kg. For the winter, actinidia is not removed from the supports.

It differs from other types of actinidia polygamy. In its homeland, the Far East, it is called pepper. The yellow berries have a pungent flavor.

Males have beautiful silvery foliage. Flowers are also valuable, they have a jasmine aroma.

Plant height is 5 m. The crop ripens at the end of September, unripe fruits are very bitter.

Actinidia hybrid and actinidia purpurea are subspecies of argut.

These are the most thermophilic actinidia species that can freeze out without shelter.

Ripe berries of hybrid actinidia are lilac in color, their flesh is light. Most varieties are fast growing.

Vine breeding began at the beginning of the last century. Modern breeders have created varieties with fruits that have apple, banana, fig and grape flavors.

Ella Ioganovna Kolbasina played a special role in popularizing the fruitful liana. The doctor of sciences has developed more than thirty varieties based on the types of argut and colomicta.

Today, there are more than a hundred varieties and hybrid forms. High demands are placed on them.

Lianas of the Far Eastern and Siberian selection have winter hardiness. European forms are less hardy.

The best varieties of actinidia:

1. Yellow spindle. The plant belongs to the polygamous species. The fast-growing female liana is resistant to frost and disease. Fruiting begins in early September. The conical berries taste like sweet peppers. One bush can be harvested 10 kg.
2. Gourmet. Actinidia species of kolomikta. Liana has decorative value: its foliage changes color several times over the summer. Large green berries are harvested in mid-September. They have a soft texture and sweet taste. Bushes are winter-hardy, vines are not afraid of pest attacks.
3. Dr. Shimanovsky. A female self-pollinating variety of the Kolomikta species. The foliage changes color from green to pink in mid-summer. The fruits ripen in August, they have a sweet and sour taste, reminiscent of strawberries. The variety is not susceptible to diseases and freezing.
4. Kiev hybrid. Actinidia arguta reaches eight meters. In warm regions, the berries begin to sing in the first decade of September. The weight of one fruit is up to 18 g. From one bush, you can collect 10 kg of crop. The plant is cold-resistant and shade-tolerant.
5. Pineapple Kolomikta. Actinidia belongs to the old varieties, which were actively bred in the thirties of the last century. In June, the foliage gradually turns white from the bottom, the top remains green. The fruits ripen at the end of August.
6. Sweetheart. Actinidia is widely used to create green arbors. Liana gives a good harvest, small berries are colored green. The first berries ripen at the end of August. The plant is resistant to cold weather and disease.
7. Issai. Self-fertile actinidia of Japanese selection. The height of the bush reaches 9 m. The berries are 4 cm in diameter, they have a delicate texture and sweet taste. One bush gives 15 kg of harvest. The variety tolerates frosts down to -25˚C.

The fruits of all varietal plants contain vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Propagation of actinidia by cuttings

With the help of reproduction, you can get new females and males that will retain all the characteristics of the variety.

Growing actinidia from seeds is troublesome.

Young vines grow slowly and begin to bear fruit several years later than plants obtained by vegetative methods.

Green cuttings

Annual cuttings are cut in June. The shoot should have 2 buds and 3 internodes.

The lower petioles and leaves are cut, the top leaf is cut in half.

Cuttings are planted in a nutrient mixture consisting of peat, turf and humus. Sprinkle the ground with river sand from above.

It is advisable to transfer the container to a greenhouse, the air humidity should be at least 80%. Roots appear by the end of the third week.

Actinidia can be transplanted to a permanent place from the second year of life. Females have a higher survival rate.

Lignified cuttings

This method is less laborious, but lignified cuttings take root worse.

Shoots 70 cm long are cut in late autumn, after the cessation of sap flow.

The cuttings are dipped in paraffin and then placed in a wooden box lined with moss.

In winter, the boxes are stored in a dark and cool place.

With the onset of a warm season, the shoots are cut, kept in a growth stimulator and planted on a garden bed at an angle of 45˚.

The soil must remain moist. For the winter, the plants are covered with agrotex.

Reproduction by layering

In the spring, the soil near the vine is fertilized, dug up and small grooves are made. For reproduction, annual shoots with strong growth are used.

They are placed in grooves and carefully pinned. The soil is poured on top so that only the top of the shoot remains above the surface.

The soil around the bush should remain moist throughout the summer. In mid-September, the layers are separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place.

Landing in open ground

Liana can hardly be called a capricious plant. With proper planting and care, actinidia will live for more than forty years.

Modern gourmet varieties bear fruit every year in temperate conditions.

The type of kolomikt and its varieties are considered a win-win option. They bear fruit abundantly both in the European part and in Siberia and the Far East.

Place and timing of boarding

Liana will produce high yields in open areas with 6 hours of sun per day.

Young plants are planted in spring, before sap flow begins, while the buds are sleeping.

Actinidia dioecious can be planted in the fall.

It is important that at least three weeks remain before the onset of frost.

Liana can die in a cold and little snowy winter, so autumn planting should be practiced exclusively in the southern regions.

Good predecessors and neighbors

It is better to plant actinidia in the place where currants, linden and hazel used to grow. Annual flowers are also planted next to the liana.

Priming

The plant grows well on sandy and sandy loam soils.

Heavy soils are enriched with peat and sand.

If the soil in the area is acidic, it is necessary to add dolomite flour six months before planting.

The depth of the planting pit should be at least 50 cm.Crushed stone or broken brick is poured onto its bottom, which will act as drainage.

Planting actinidia is impossible without a layer of nutrient soil mixed with mineral fertilizers.

After placing the seedling, the planting hole is covered with a nutritious substrate, tamped and mulched.

Support preparation

Actinidia vines grow rapidly. For successful fruiting, it is necessary to prepare the support in the first year after planting. The simplest and most convenient solution is wooden trellises.

It is important that the stems do not get tangled on the support, this will lead to a reduction in yield. Liana will entangle a picket fence, a metal mesh and a wire frame.

Liana can live 40 years, so she needs a solid support, preferably from metal pipes.

How to care for actinidia outdoors

Actinidia seedlings begin to bear fruit in the fifth year after planting. For active growth of a young plant, shading is necessary.

An adult liana feels great under the sun. Moistened soil, fertilizer, and proper pruning are essential ingredients for healthy growth.

Watering and loosening

In the first year of life, vines are periodically shed from a sprinkler. The soil itself must be constantly moistened.

However, excess water will cause root rot. Mature shrubs need watering only during dry periods. Once a week, a bucket of water is brought under the plant.

Only young plants need loosening, earthen crust and weeds inhibit their development. The culture has a superficial location of the roots: drought, intensive loosening can damage them.

The danger is that the roots are not restored in the year of damage. In females, the root system grows faster.

Top dressing

Actinidia cannot be grown without fertilizer. To activate life processes, liana needs organic substances.

In early April, when the buds bloom, rotted manure is spread in a thin layer under the bushes.

Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied twice a summer.

The first time the vine is fed during the budding period. After the fruit appears, the bushes are shed again.

Pruning

Actinidia pruning serves several purposes at once. It eliminates excessive crown density, activates the growth of new shoots, increases the yield and gives the bush the desired shape.

Pruning should not be carried out in March, otherwise the branches will “cry”.

It is convenient to form bushes during flowering.

The best option is to prune the actinidia in the fall. Dried, diseased and sagging branches are subject to removal.

Fruiting branches for several years are replaced with young shoots. Argut is thinned out more intensively than other species, since it bears fruit on shortened shoots. After the autumn pruning, actinidia is covered for the winter.

Wintering

The most widespread species in Russia is the kolomikta species. These plants do not need shelter. Moreover, lianas wrapped for the winter can resist.

Kolomikta is not removed from the trellises. Other species are covered in the same way as grapes.

Before freezing, the branches are removed from the supports and wrapped in spunbond folded in two layers. With the onset of stable frosts, they are additionally covered with plastic wrap.

Diseases and pests

Plants are rarely ailments. Most often, liana is affected by gray rot, the spores of which are transferred from infected annual crops.

Warm and humid weather contributes to the spread of infection.

Plantings must be sprayed with copper-containing preparations:

• "Ordan",
• "Hom",
• bordeaux liquid.

A dangerous enemy is the leaf beetle, which eats leaves and buds. The moth caterpillar leaves huge holes in the leaves.

It is necessary to remove insects in a timely manner and spray the plantings with Karate, Decis, or Actellik insecticides.

CherryLink plugin not found

Today we will talk in more detail about such a plant as actinidia kolomikta, planting and caring for which summer residents are most interested in. In our country (the region of the Far East) only four types of actinidia are found in natural conditions. But Russian varieties of this plant are created only with the use of actinidia kolomikta, which is a climbing vine with a rather thin and branched trunk with a diameter of 2 to 4-5 cm.

Actinidia kolomikta: cultivation features, popular varieties

This species stands out among others for its high winter hardiness. It can withstand up to 45 degrees of frost quite easily without any shelter. The length of the actinidia colomicta usually varies from 8 to 10 meters.

The trunk contains a large number of medium-sized thin light green leaves (8-10 cm) with double sparse denticles along the edges. They are oval in shape with a small pointed end and are covered on both sides with short down.

This species, as mentioned earlier, attracts attention with the original color of the leaves, which changes several times per season. At the very beginning of the growing season, the leaves are painted in a bronze tint, and in the summer they turn green. In addition, with the blooming of flowers, the ends of the leaves are painted in a white tint, and after a while - in crimson. With the arrival of autumn, the leaves turn either pink or purple.

The fibrous roots of this culture are located at a depth of 30 to 45 cm. The width of the root system is from half a meter to 0.8 meters. Spectacular white flowers with a diameter of about one and a half centimeters have a pleasant aroma. Stamens with yellow anthers, evenly spaced around the pistil, look especially beautiful in the center of the flower.

Interestingly, on male plants, flowers bloom in loose flowering inflorescences, 2-5 pieces, and on female ones, one at a time. The greenish actinidia fruits with an attractive aroma and sweet taste are about 2 cm long and a little more than one centimeter (1.2 cm) wide. They ripen on slightly tilted and elongated stalks. Thin darkish stripes stretch along the entire length of the fruit. Their weight varies from one and a half to five grams.

Description of varieties

Currently, there are slightly more than three dozen varieties of actinidia. Let's get acquainted with several popular hybrids.

Variety	Description
	The Fantazia orchards variety ripens early and can be used both fresh and for canning. Medium-sized bushes are formed by rather long brown shoots, which are covered with leaves of a thick olive shade with a serrated-toothed edge. Strongly elongated green fruits are covered with green-gray stripes. The weight of one berry reaches 2.3 grams. A pleasant sweet and sour taste complements the powerful pineapple aroma. Almost not damaged by pests and diseases. It is grown on trellises.
	Berries on the bushes of the Izobilnaya variety ripen early. Medium-sized bushes consist of brownish-red curly shoots with a slight sheen. They are covered with large amounts of medium-sized green leaves. The berries are shaped like a cylinder slightly compressed on both sides, painted in a yellowish-green or dirty-green hue. The weight of one fruit reaches 4 grams. The taste is sweet and sour. It stands out for its good winter hardiness.
	Fruits of the grape variety are intended for fresh use. The variety is early and famous for its resistance to pests and diseases. It also attracts attention for its winter hardiness. Medium-sized olive fruits with longitudinal stripes have an attractive strawberry aroma and a sour-sweet taste.
	Small fruits weighing from 2 to 2.5 grams of Slastena variety ripen in early August. They attract attention with the sweet taste and aroma of marmalade. The color of the berries can vary from yellowish-green to green-olive.
	One of the best hybrids created on the basis of actinidia kolomikta is the Waffle variety. It ripens in the Moscow region in early August (early). The shoots of the plant can reach 7-8 meters, and the trunk width varies from 3-4 to 10 cm. The optimal planting site is light partial shade. Fruits of a greenish-olive shade with a rather strong apple or pineapple aroma, from one and a half to 2.5 cm long, weigh from 3 to 4 grams. For good yields, pollinating plants are required.
	Also among the varieties of this culture, it is worth noting the Holiday hybrid, whose fruits are liked for their sweetish-sour taste and apple aroma. Medium-sized fruits, about 3 cm long, can weigh from 3 to 3.5 grams. The color of the berries can vary from greenish yellow to dirty green. This variety is early (early August).

Seat selection and landing

Well-lit and warm areas are selected for growing actinidia. This culture works best on slightly acidic or neutral soils with a large amount of nutrients. The length and width of the pit for planting is about 0.6 meters, and the depth is from half a meter to 0.8 meters, depending on the composition of the soil. A layer of fine gravel or a mixture of sand and crushed stone with a height of 10 to 15 centimeters must be poured onto the bottom.

Also, before planting, trace elements or ash, ground eggshell (50-70 g), as well as about 10 kg of humus are introduced into the pit. All fertilizers and humus must be mixed with good soil.

The best time for planting actinidia is spring (the first two weeks of May), but this culture also takes root well in the fall. In summer cottages, plants are placed in a row planting, and between the bushes there should be from 2 to 2.5 meters.

Since actinidia belongs to dioecious crops, male and female plants are planted side by side for a good harvest. It is worth knowing that one male specimen is enough to pollinate 5-6 female bushes.

Care

Care work for various species and varieties of actinidia consists of regular fertilizing, watering, weeding, and weed removal. This culture responds well to the introduction of both organomineral and organic fertilizers.

Organomineral fertilizers are usually applied in spring and autumn. In the spring (end of April), complex fertilizers with nitrogen are used for feeding. In the fall (second decade of September) actinidia is fed with fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. Fertilizers are scattered at the location of the root system before loosening.

Formation and pruning of actinidia kolomikta

Since this culture is distinguished by a rather powerful growth of shoots and the presence of a large number of lateral buds, and this causes a rapid thickening of the bush. Therefore, during the entire growing season, actinidia requires correct and regular pruning.

The best time for it is autumn, because in spring pruning can lead to depletion of the bush. But if it still needs to be carried out in the spring, then it is carried out at the very end of spring or early summer (during the intensive regrowth of shoots).

Pruning and shaping actinidia directly depends on the method of cultivation. With the vertical method of cultivating bushes, they are placed on trellises about 2 meters high, between which 3 or 4 rows of wire are stretched. They can be either wooden or concrete. Usually the trellises are installed from east to west. Two-year-old seedlings are planted along them on the south side.

There are two options for the formation of the shape of a bush with this method of growing, which make it possible to obtain regular and abundant yields: fan and comb:

• With a fan-shaped bush, the shoots are placed at an angle to the trellis. Usually, from 5 to 8 main branches are formed on the plant, which are replaced with young shoots after 5-6 years. It should be noted that the fan-shaped crown does not require a lot of manual labor.
• The comb-like shape of the plant is created in several stages. Formation begins a year after planting, when the two most powerful shoots are selected on the bush, which are placed in different directions on a trellis on the lower wire row. All other shoots are cut off.

The next year, in the spring, horizontally located branches give vertical shoots. Of these, 4 to 6 are left (2-3 on each of the main skeletal branch) and tied to the upper rows of wire. They should be well developed and fairly symmetrical about each other. The remaining shoots must be removed.

Vertically growing branches usually grow and develop unevenly. The most powerful ones emerge from the buds located at the beginning of skeletal horizontal shoots. It is worth knowing that the harvest of berries ripens on the side branches extending from the vertical shoots. The main horizontal branches are replaced with new ones every 5 or 6 years.

Actinidia is also grown as a bush. The formation of bushes begins at the age of two. From 3 to 4 best shoots are left on the plant, which are shortened to 30-40 cm, and all other branches are completely cut out. In subsequent years, during the annual pruning, shoots without flowers are shortened by half or one third, and thickening branches are also removed.

To rejuvenate the plant in 7-9 years, the main shoots are replaced with new ones and at the same time the branches that give little fruit are cut off at the very base of the bush. This gives an impetus for the emergence of new shoots from dormant buds.

Reproduction of actinidia kolomikt

Various species and varieties of actinidia kolomikta reproduce quite easily by cuttings (lignified and green), leaves and layers. But reproduction with the help of seeds is used only when breeding new hybrids at special experimental stations and during selection tests.

The main method of obtaining plants is considered green cuttings... Shoots for cuttings begin to be harvested at the very beginning of the lignification process. In the middle lane, this occurs in the first decade of July. The length of the cuttings can vary from 10 to 15 cm, and the green top is not used.

Each cut should have 2-4 leaves. To reduce the evaporation of water during rooting, the upper leaves are cut completely, and the lower ones - half.

The soil for rooting is made up of river sand and peat in a ratio of 2 to 1 and 3 to 1. The finished mixture is poured into low boxes or other containers with a layer of at least 20-25 cm.

Prepared cuttings are planted to a depth of 5 to 6 cm. The distance between them should be 5 cm, both in a row and between rows. The first roots begin to appear 15-20 days after planting. Rooting of actinidia is carried out in beds covered with foil, as well as in greenhouses with artificial fog installations. For fast and high-quality rooting, high soil moisture is required for 2-3 weeks and shading in the first 4-6 days.

By the beginning of the autumn months, young plants have already developed an excellent root system with a length of 10 to 25 cm. The percentage of rooted actinidia cuttings reaches almost 100 percent.

With the onset of winter, young actinidia are covered with dry sawdust or leaves with a layer of 8-10 cm. The next spring (after May 15), plants are planted on beds in the garden or vegetable garden for growing.

For cuttings, fully matured shoots of this year are chosen, from 0.4 to 0.6 meters long. They are harvested either after the end of sap flow (November - December), or before it begins (March). The optimum length of the cutting is 15-20 cm. When planting cuttings, be sure to remember one point, the scars from the leaves should look down.

Lignified cuttings root in beds with loose nutrient soil or in greenhouses and cold greenhouses.

The simplest and most reliable way to obtain young actinidia is. With this method of propagation, the yield of plants is good, so it is more suitable for amateur gardeners.

Rooting of cuttings is carried out during intensive growth of shoots (end of May). For this, annual shoots are used. They are placed in small recesses. And they are attached in places of growth of shoots of this year. Then they are covered with earth, but be sure to leave the free end of the branch. During the entire warm time, the layers are spud and watered several times, especially if the weather is hot. By the beginning of autumn, well-developed roots are formed on the shoots. The bushes are separated and planted in a permanent place next year in the spring.

As you can see, this is a very nutritious crop and a beautiful vine at the same time. So with pleasure we recommend that you grow such a garden plant as actinidia kolomikta, planting and caring for it is quite within the power of any enthusiastic summer resident.