Almonds: cultivation and care, description of the best varieties, propagation methods

Growing almonds requires careful care of the crop and the implementation of certain agricultural practices. The plant forms a fruit with a bone, which is rich in useful trace elements. It is important to choose the right variety that suits the climate of the region and the composition of the soil. Care involves compliance with the irrigation regime, fertilization, crown pruning and other nuances. There are several options for breeding shrubs.

General description and characteristics of culture

Almond is a plant that produces hard stone fruits. The shrub tolerates drought and low temperatures well.Flowering occurs in February-April and lasts up to three weeks. The inflorescence is formed from five large petals of crimson hue. Nuts appear at the beginning of summer.

The almond bush is able to develop over the course of a century. Fruits begin to form in the 5-6th year. Almond fruits are a small stone covered with a green-gray rounded pericarp with villi.

Almond varieties

Before choosing a variety, it is necessary to determine the purpose for which cultivation is intended. More than 38 types of almonds are known. Some varieties are suitable for decorating the site. The fruits of ornamental varieties are not eaten.

Common almonds

Sprawling bush stretches up to 4.6 meters. Flowering begins early - in the first decade of March. The long branches of the shrub are covered with pale pink inflorescences. The fruits ripen in the last days of July.

There is a bitter (wild) and a sweet kind of common almond. The first variety of almonds is intended for use in medicine. It is recommended to plant the sweet species for eating.

Low almond, either steppe or bean almond

Shrub is a deciduous plant. Its height does not exceed 155 cm. The spherical crown is lush and dense. The bark is red-gray in color. The oblong-elongated leaves have a fleshy texture.

The flowering of the bean plant is beautiful, lush, but not long-lasting. Almonds begin to bloom in late March. A furry drupe with a stone strews a tree at the end of summer days.

Georgian almonds

The Georgian almond variety grows in the Caucasus. Shrub no more than one meter in height. Few branches are formed, the leaves are large, elongated. It begins to bloom in the first decade of May. The branches are covered with white-pink inflorescences.

Ledebour's almonds

This variety of almonds is found in the vastness of Altai. Shrub small, with spreading branches. Height does not exceed 125 cm. He loves light and tolerates frost. Flowering begins in early May before the leaves begin to bloom. The petals of the inflorescences are a rich pink color. Flowering lasts up to three weeks.

Almond Petunnikov

The birthplace of Petunnikov's almond is Central Asia. The variety is characterized by low growth. The crown is spherical, the branches are straight. The leaves are oblong with rounded teeth along the edges. Flowering begins in mid-May and lasts two weeks. The fruits are formed on the 6th year after planting.

Three-lobed almonds

China is considered the birthplace of the three-lobed almond. The tree grows up to three meters. The flowering period begins in mid-May and lasts two weeks. Then the leaves begin to bloom, which have a three-lobed shape.

This kind of almond has other names: Trilob, Aflatunia, Louisiana. The following varieties are considered to be prominent representatives of this group of almonds: Vesnyanka, Ruslana, Kyiv, Plena, Snega Uimura.

The subtleties of growing a plant

There are many features and nuances of how to grow almonds. Culture needs the right choice and preparation of the place. It is also important to consider that for pollination it is required to plant other varieties nearby and attract pollinating insects to the site.

What time to plant

It is preferable to plant a crop in the country in the middle of autumn, after all the leaves have fallen. When planted in spring, the tree takes root worse. You should wait until the threat of frost is completely over.

Almond planting is carried out in the morning or in the evening, a couple of hours before sunset.

Location

To get a quality crop, you need to fulfill a number of conditions:

• For landing, choose the warmest and brightest place on the site, protected from through winds.
• Minimum distance with other fruit trees is 160 cm.
• Landing in low-lying areas should be avoided.
• Ground water should not pass too close to the site. If they flow at a depth of 155 cm or closer, then it is better to choose another site.

Soil

The tree does not impose special requirements on the composition of the soil, it can develop in sand, on stones and gravel. Best results will be obtained when the crop is grown in fertile, light, loose soil rich in calcium. Sandy or loamy composition is well suited.

Roots do not tolerate the presence of closely spaced groundwater, high acidity, chlorine and s alt content. The soil must necessarily pass air and water well.

Selecting planting material

When choosing a seedling, you should always study the characteristics of the variety, be sure to check with the seller whether the plant is adapted to the weather conditions of the region. You need to buy seedlings only from a trusted seller:

• The trunk should be strong with glossy bark without cracks or abrasions.
• On the branches the buds are large, without damage.
• There should be no dry shoots and outgrowths on the roots.
• Dark patches on foliage or bark indicate that the crop is overcooled.

Boarding process

Vegetable growers are interested in the question of how to plant almonds. Seedlings are planted on the plot with an interval of 2.5 meters. In order for the procedure to pass without errors, you need to perform a series of sequential actions of the following scheme:

• dig a hole 52 cm deep in the selected area;
• make a drainage layer;
• then a layer of sand is covered;
• contribute nutrients;
• carefully plant a tree, straightening root branches;
• the pit is covered with earth so that the root collar protrudes 13 cm;
• set up a tie support;
• plentifully watered with warm water.

At the last stage, it is recommended to mulch the root zone with peat, straw, sawdust.

Nuances of tree care

Homemade almonds require special attention and care. It is necessary to water the crop correctly and on time, introduce nutrients, weed the soil from weeds and carry out loosening, treat it from pests and infections, and shelter from frost.

Irrigation

Moisturizing the soil should be carried out regularly so that the near-trunk zone never dries out. Moisture stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the risk of developing fungal infections and rot will increase.

It is recommended to water the tree every seven days, while up to 9 liters of water should be consumed. For watering the culture, only warm, settled water is used. After each irrigation, it is necessary to loosen the soil to a depth of 7 cm and weed weeds.

Feeding and fertilizer

Almonds are recommended to be fertilized several times per season:

• In spring, it is recommended to mulch the near-trunk zone with mullein or manure.
• A month later, the plant is watered with a liquid solution based on ammonium nitrate and urea.
• In autumn, it is desirable to make a composition of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

If the soil is soft and fertile, then it is enough to water the tree once a season with a solution based on superphosphate.

Weed control

Around the young seedling should be constantly weeded. Weeds promote the spread of infections and pests. An adult plant is rarely overgrown with weeds, as a dense crown drowns out their growth.

Flowering

Almond pleases the eye with abundant and elegant flowering. The flowers are large, depending on the variety chosen, they can be white-pink, burgundy or crimson. Throughout the entire flowering time (the period lasts up to three weeks), it is required to moisten the soil abundantly. Moisture deficiency will lead to premature completion of flowering and a decrease in yield.

Wintering

Almond bush tolerates frost well down to -15 degrees. At temperatures below this mark, the tops of young branches may freeze:

• To prevent the plant from freezing, it is recommended to pinch the ends of the shoots at the end of summer.
• Young seedlings are covered with dried leaves or straw 18 cm from the ground in autumn.

After the snow falls, a snowdrift is formed around the trunk. The main thing is that the root neck of the tree does not decay, otherwise rotting will begin.

Almond trimming

It will be possible to give a neat shape and rejuvenate the plant with pruning:

• In the spring, before the start of the movement of juices, dry, frostbitten and damaged branches are removed. You should also thin out places where a lot of shoots grow. Leave strong and strong branches.
• After flowering, thin out the area where a lot of branches have grown, leaving the strongest shoot.
• Rejuvenating pruning of almonds is done after 8 years of crop growth. Old branches are shortened or completely removed.

Treatment from diseases and pests

Diseases can significantly reduce the yield and completely destroy the plant. Often there is moniliosis, scab, rust and klesterosporiosis. In recent years, almond burn has become widespread. The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Polystigma ochraceum.

The fight against infections is carried out with biological products, chemicals or compositions from folk recipes. Treatment is effective with drugs such as Hom, Bayleton, Zaslon, Fundazol, Topaz.

From insects, aphids, leafworms, almond seed-eaters, and spider mites cause harm to plant development. Drugs such as Actellik, Fitoverm, Fufanon, Vertimek help to fight the invasion of pests.

In early spring, before the appearance of buds, preventive treatment of wood and soil is carried out with a solution based on Bordeaux liquid. In October, after all the leaves have fallen, the treatment is repeated.

Almond propagation

Almonds are propagated by seeds, cuttings or root division. Each method has its advantages and some disadvantages.

From the bone

Possible reproduction by bones. When growing a seed crop, you need to be prepared for the fact that the original characteristics of the variety may be lost. Bone planting steps:

• select large, dense, defect-free specimens;
• the seeds are soaked in growth stimulants and left to germinate;
• holes are made on the plot with an interval of 18 cm and a depth of 12 cm;
• plant seeds in late autumn;
• a couple of bones are placed in one recess;
• after the sprouts appear, the strongest seedling is left.

Almond grafting

Almonds can be grafted onto a tree of the same variety and other varieties. The vaccination is carried out during the period of active movement of the juice - in early spring or in the last days of summer.

2-3 days before the procedure, the stock is plentifully watered. This is done so that the bark moves away from the wood well. For a scion, a straight, he althy cutting is suitable, on which there is a formed kidney. All leaves are plucked from the cutting.

In the region of the root neck of the scion, a small incision is made and the bark is pushed back. At the handle, a shield with a kidney is cut so that it fits into the incision made. The cutting is inserted into the incision, fixed with a tight bandage, leaving the kidney outside.

If the procedure is successful, then after 2.5 weeks the eye becomes green, and the petiole dries up. After that, the bandage must be loosened. In the spring, as soon as the first leaves appear, the bandage is removed.

Cutting

Almonds can be propagated by branches. Cuttings are carried out in early June. Cuttings 18 cm long are cut from the top of the tree. There should be two buds on each process:

• Cut shoots are kept in solutions with growth stimulants.
• Then the cutting is planted in a mixture of peat and sand.
• The seedlings are transferred to a cool place and left for a month.

In the allotted time, the seedlings have time to adapt and take root. After that, they begin to transplant to a suitable piece of land in the garden.

How to propagate shoots

If the branches of a tree are severely cut, it will form numerous shoots. The next year, the shoots that appear are cut off along with the root branches and transplanted to a separate area.

Propagation by layering

Young shoots of almonds are used for further propagation by layering. The branches are bent to the ground, fixed with staples and covered with a layer of earth. A year later, the layers should have roots. All this time you need to weed and water the soil around this place. The seedlings are then separated from the mature tree and transplanted to a permanent site.

Features of cultivation in different regions of Russia

Growing a crop is easiest in regions with a warm climate. Even in the southern regions of Russia, the plant may not form fruits. Therefore, you should carefully choose a variety and carefully study frost resistance.

Almonds will simply be grown in the Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, but only where there are no sharp temperature fluctuations. If the cold returns after the blooming of the flowers, then the flowers and ovaries will fall off.

In central Russia, the cultivation of the Dessertny almond variety shows good results. This variety can withstand frost and flower buds do not drop.

In the Moscow region, it will be possible to harvest crops only when growing crops in a greenhouse. An ornamental variety of almonds can be planted in an open area. Even if you provide proper care and follow all the methods of agricultural technology, it will not be possible to harvest a good crop in the Moscow Region without a greenhouse or high-quality shelter.

In Siberia, steppe almonds are grown in open spaces without shelter for the winter. In the central strip, a three-blade shrub variety feels good.

Harvesting and storage of crops

When almonds ripen, the oval shell of the fruit begins to crack along the lines, after which it is easily separated. Inside there is a bone up to 30 cm long, oval-elongated or teardrop-shaped, beige or brownish.

The harvest of the ripe crop begins in the last days of July. The bones are freed from the pericarp and dried in the sun. If you collect unpeeled grains, they can be stored in cloth bags. The storage place is chosen dark and well ventilated.

Using a flowering tree in landscape design

Almond has an unforgettable flowering, so the tree is often planted for decorative purposes. To make the plant decorate the site, you can use the following tips:

• shrubs are planted along the alley;
• make an arch for relaxation;
• almonds look beautiful in combination with other large-leaved crops;
• shrubs look beautiful on a flat green lawn;
• decorate the rocky garden;
• trees make hedges.

Planting almonds is easy. Care does not require too much time and effort. Flowering will decorate any site, and the fruits will benefit he alth.

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