Almonds are known to anyone as nuts. But its decorative qualities are not inferior to food. By planting a bush of this plant on a site, you can increase its aesthetics.
Origin and appearance
As a subgenus almonds, an ornamental shrub began to form in Asia before our era. The first mention of this plant is in the Bible. Now it is common in many countries.
Flowering almonds
Almond shrub growing in height to 6 meters. Branches are represented by two types:
- Long, on which only leaves are revealed.
- Short, with laid flower buds.
This type of shrub can be shaped as an almond tree on a stamp.
The leaves are elongated, with a sharp tip, up to 8 cm long. The color of the plates is dark green. The leaves are dense, leathery. They are located on a branch in groups of 3-5 sheets. The flowers of decorative almonds are large, reaching 6 cm in diameter. By the color of the petals, there are two main colors: white and pink. Many species have been developed in which not only these colors are combined in the petals, but also become very bright.
Almond blossom
Almond tree blossoms shrub for 4 years after planting. The leaves of most species bloom after falling flowers, so the almond bush in the spring is shrouded in pink haze. A description of this miracle can be found not only in literary works, but also in the paintings of artists.
Almond blossom
Depending on the variety, flowering lasts from 7 to 14 days.
Species and varieties
In the world there are more than 40 types of almonds. Among them there are edible species, and decorative. The almond shrub begins to bear fruit 3-5 years after planting. Historically, this representative of the Plum found only in Central Asia. As a result of breeding work, species capable of growing in the temperate zone of Europe and in the southern regions of Siberia were created.
Nikitinsky 62
The view was created for the temperate zone. Without additional shelter, it can tolerate short-term frosts up to -20С. Of the subgenus Mindalev, Nikitinsky 62 is the most frost-resistant. How grow almonds, tree or shrubs, depends on the gardener.
When forming on the stamp grows up to 5 meters. Branches form a spreading crown. The flowers are white-pink, the scope of the petals is up to 5 cm. Flowering begins in April, nuts can be collected in September.
Interesting! The variety refers to self-infertile. To get the crop in the same group as Nikitsky 62, you need to plant almond pollinator varieties.
Paper-shell
A hybrid variety developed on the basis of the Nikitsky 62 species. It tolerates frosts well in spring. It blooms in small, up to 3 cm in size, white with raspberry-edged flowers. Flower buds begin to bloom at the end of March.
Seaside
High yielding variety. It grows in the form of a tree 3 meters high. Crohn fan-shaped, thick. The flowers are medium, the petals are painted white with a pink tint. It blooms in the second half of April. Needs a pollinator variety.
Sweet Dreams
Almond plant shrub forms a low, up to 1.5 m, crown in the form of a ball. The flowers are pink, small. Blossom in mid-May. Used for landscape design. It tolerates drought and mild frosts.
Almonds sweet dream
Victoria
Unlike other almond varieties that grow shrubs, the Victoria plant is an almond tree. It reaches a height of 4 m. It blooms with medium pink flowers. Branches form a spherical dense crown. The variety was bred for cultivation in the North Caucasus, is characterized by increased frost resistance.
Three-lobed
The bush blooms in small flowers from light pink to lilac. Flowering lasts up to 3 weeks. It has only decorative meaning. Leaves bloom after falling flowers.
Coastal
The view is a low tree with a panicled crown. Blooms in April. It is resistant to both frost and drought. Edible walnut, weighing up to 3 grams. Harvested in September.
White sail
The White Sail variety fully justifies its name. In April, large, 6 cm in diameter, white flowers bloom on it. Flower buds are densely arranged on branches. Due to the thick spreading crown the impression of a deployed sail is created. You can enjoy flowering for 21 days.
Almonds white
Pick fruits in July. Almonds were bred for the southern regions of Russia; they cannot survive frosts.
Annie
Grows in a bush. The flowers are small, do not exceed 2.5 cm in size. Flowering begins in April and occurs violently.
Dream
Ornamental pink shrub, almonds grow to 1 meter in height. Highly appreciated by landscape designers for the lush flowering. The flowers are bright pink, densely located on the branches. Blossom simultaneously with leaves in May.
Almond transplant after purchase in the open ground
When buying almond seedlings, you need to choose annual plants.
Almond seedlings
What you need for landing
Before planting almonds, dig a hole about 50 cm deep or more. Be sure to lay drainage at the bottom.
Prepare nutritious soil. To do this, mix sand, humus and garden soil in the proportions of 1: 2: 3. Mix this mixture with 5 kilograms of humus from manure. Add 0.5 kg of superphosphate to the finished soil. The finished hole is left to insist for 2 weeks.
Important! The shrub should be protected from drafts and gusts of wind.
To plant almonds is better in the fall. If planting is planned in the spring, then the landing pit is prepared in the fall.
Optimal place
Shrub should be planted in a sunny place or in partial shade.
Step-by-step landing process
The landing process is as follows:
- Near the center of the pit is placed a support for the seedling.
- A mound of earth is formed near the support.
- Put a plant on it and spread its roots on the ground.
Important! The root neck of the tree should be 5 cm above the ground.
Almond planting
- Sprinkle the straightened roots with earth, well tamped so that there is no air near the roots.
- Water the land well. When the water is absorbed, straighten the seedling and attach to the support. Mulch the moist soil with peat to a height of about 5 cm.
Almond propagation
You can increase the number of almond trees on the site by growing seedlings from seeds or planting a bud on a related tree. You can also make layering from the mother tree.
Propagation by cuttings
For vegetative propagation, it is necessary to take the tips of the shoots of this year. They should be green, not completely lignified. Typically, petioles are cut in the third decade of June. The prepared material is soaked for 16 hours in a growth promoter. In a cold greenhouse, peat and sand ground should be prepared to root the petioles. Mix these two components in equal proportions. Rooting ends at day 25.
Seed cultivation
Growing almonds at home is possible from the seed. It can be sown both in spring and in autumn. In the autumn, sowing is done immediately, before the spring - the seeds must be kept at a temperature of 2 to 5 ° C during the quarter.
Seed is sown in grooves with a depth of 10 cm, between grooves should be 60 cm. The distance between the fruits should not be less than 10 cm.
Seed cultivation
Almond bush care
Planting and caring for decorative almond shrubs are no different from other fruit. The main stages of care include watering and top dressing.
Watering mode
Recently planted seedlings are watered every 2 weeks. Mature trees are enough to water once every 25 days.
Top dressing
In spring, adult plants are fed ammonium nitrate according to the generally accepted scheme. In the fall, manure (about 1 kg), 20 g. potassium sulphide and 20 gr. double superphosphate. After feeding, the near-stem circle is dug up.
During flowering
After flowering begins, trees need to be watered abundantly. Lack of moisture will affect the future harvest. Considering the fact that this type of Plum cross-pollinated, it is good to place an apiary next to the almond grove. This will not only lead to an increase in yield, but also allow you to get a large amount of honey and pollen.
During rest
Each type of almond dormancy lasts a different time. Despite this, you can define several recommendations for preparing it for the winter:
- With the onset of autumn, Almond trees and shrubs are fed with phosphorus and potash fertilizers.
- The last nitrogen supplement is carried out in June.
- At the end of October, planting should be watered abundantly to create a moisture reserve in the soil.
- For the early ripening of wood and buds in early August, pinch the tops of young shoots.
Important! In areas with a probability of return frosts in spring, plantings must be covered with cover material in the fall. At the same time, make sure that the bark and the root neck do not bulge.
In the spring, almond plantings delight their owners and their guests with a unique flowering and aroma. When growing food varieties, you can not only admire their beauty, but also get a harvest of delicious and nutritious fruits in the fall. Despite the fact that initially the Slivov subgenus was grown only in the southern regions, breeders bred species for planting both in the Moscow Region and in the Urals.
If you want to grow a beautiful southern tree in your area north of its growing area, you only need to select a zoned variety, take good care of it in time and enjoy the unique beauty.
