Actinidia Doctor Shimanovsky: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care with a photo

Actinidia Doctor Shimanovsky is considered one of the most frost-resistant varieties. It is perfect for central Russia, has tasty, sweet fruits, but this is not the only thing that attracts gardeners. This culture has a bright color of the leaves, changing its shade at different times of the year. Such a plant will decorate any site.

Variety history

Actinidia kolomikta was found at the beginning of the 19th century. And already at the end of the century, these plants were grown in botanical gardens and individual rich estates. Actinidia fruits were served only to high-ranking persons.

Actinidia Doctor Shimanovsky appeared thanks to a Polish breeder. The variety was named after him. In 1995, this species was introduced into trade, and already in the 2000s it appeared in the form of seedlings on the domestic market.

Description and characteristics

Actinidia Dr. Shimanovsky is a bisexual, self-pollinating liana bush. Its length can be 3-4 meters. The shoots are brown, thin, smooth and shiny.

The variety has variegated foliage and juicy fruits. Flowering occurs in May or June and is a small white flowers. The fruits that appear ripen at the end of August. Their flesh is green in color with a sweet and sour taste.

Pros and cons

This plant has a lot of advantages. You can highlight the following:

• self-fertile variety that does not require pollination;
• winter hardiness;
• no tendency to disease;
• capable of playing the role of an ornamental plant;
• unpretentious care;
• he althy and tasty fruits.

This actinidia also has disadvantages:

• slight friability of fruit;
• uneven fruit ripening;
• The aroma of young plants attracts cats that gnaw through the shoots and enjoy the juice of the plant, for them it is like valerian.

The subtleties of planting actinidia

Actinidia kolomikta is a dioecious plant, therefore, in order for it to bear fruit, it is necessary to plant both male and female plants. The male acts as a pollinator and the female plant bears fruit.

In order for 10 female vines to bear fruit, it is enough to plant only 2 male plants on the plot.

Choice of time and place

Actinidia Doctor Shimanovsky loves sunny areas. But still, it should not be planted in direct sunlight, otherwise burns will appear on the leaves. She needs some shade.

The landing site should be protected from strong winds. It is better to plant on the east or west side of the house.

The best time for planting is the beginning of spring, when the soil warms up to 5-10 degrees. At the same time, in some regions of Russia, it is permissible to plant actinidia in the autumn.

Purchase of seedlings

You need to buy seedlings in garden centers or special nurseries. There, the seedlings were guaranteed to pass the control. Preference should be given to specimens that have reached 2-3 years of age. They will get along better than others. The branches of the plant should bend well, the leaves should be clean, without spots. Their presence indicates the disease of the bush.

Seedlings are bought in containers. Actinidia, in particular the Doctor Shimanovsky variety, have a delicate root system. If the roots of seedlings are under the sun or in the wind for at least 10 minutes, they can wither and even die.

Site preparation

Two weeks before the proposed landing, you need to prepare the site. The soil is dug up, weeds are removed and holes are dug. Their diameter should be 50-70 cm. You can dig a trench 50-60 cm deep and 50 cm wide.

A material is sent to the bottom of the pit, which will perform the function of drainage. To do this, use a broken brick, pebbles, gravel or expanded clay. It is needed to prevent stagnant water. Fertile garden soil and humus are poured over the drainage. It must be at least 8 kg. You also need to add a complex of fertilizers and 200 g of ash. Only after the ground settles down, they start landing.

Fitting technology

Before planting, the seedling is kept for 30 minutes in a solution of "Heteroauxin" or "Kornevin". This procedure will enhance root formation.

Next, the seedling is lowered into the center of the pit and covered with fertile soil, ramming it well. From above, the plant is watered and mulched. For mulch, humus, dry needles or other organic matter is suitable. For the first two weeks, actinidia should be covered with a thin cloth or paper. This is done to protect the plant that has not yet taken root from direct sunlight.

Immediately after planting the actinidia Dr. Shimanovsky needs to be fenced off with a metal mesh, digging it into the ground. It will protect the plant from cats that are attracted by the smell of actinidia.

Nuances of culture care

The development of a plant after planting depends entirely on caring for it. He needs proper nutrition, regular watering and support.

Water, top dressing and loosening

The roots of vines do not go deep into the ground, but remain close to the surface. Therefore, it is important to prevent the soil from drying out. Properly water actinidia with sprinkling, spraying water from a hose. The procedure is carried out in the evening. If the plant lacks moisture, it sheds foliage.

In the first 2 years of growth, Actinidia does not need to be fed. Then, in the spring, a complex of fertilizers must be applied to the soil. And in early autumn, a potassium-phosphorus mixture. Mulch is also top dressing for creepers. It must be from humus or peat.

There should be no weeds around the vine, they are removed by weeding the soil. It is not necessary to loosen the earth strongly, as there is a risk of damaging the root system of the plant.

Need for support, vine formation

A variety of actinidia Dr. Shimanovsky grows quite quickly, so she needs to establish a support immediately after landing. It must be strong and reliable. Actinidia kolomikta lives for a long time. You can plant creepers along the fence, you get a beautiful hedge.

You need to start forming a vine after the 3rd year of her life on the site. Already adult vines are cut annually by ½ of their length. The ovary is formed on the growth of previous years.

In total, 2 to 4 branches are left, which bear fruit. 2 branches of different ages for replacement and only half of the annual growth. If the plant is already more than 7 years old, anti-aging pruning should be carried out. Old branches thickening the plant are completely removed.

Such measures help the plant to ventilate, warm up by the sun, stop excessive growth and prevent the appearance of certain types of pests.

Preparing for winter

In the first year, a still poorly rooted plant is insulated for the winter. Dry leaves from trees are suitable for this. They cover actinidia, after putting something that repels rodents. They will not gnaw on a vine, but will gladly build a nest in warm foliage.From above, the leaves are covered with branches or a net so that the wind does not carry them. Film cannot be used to insulate actinidia.

An adult plant no longer needs such insulation for the winter.

Disease and pest prevention

If the plants are properly cared for, they will rarely get sick. The most common actinidia diseases are fungi, and more specifically:

• powdery mildew;
• grey and green rot;
• phyllostictosis;
• ramulariasis.

For prevention in the spring, vines are sprayed with "Fitosporin" 3 times with a break of 1 week. When flowering is over, spray with "Soon", and for the winter with a Bordeaux mixture of 3%.

Of the pests, the leaf beetle is most common. It eats leaves, leaving only veins on them. By the end of summer, he can leave the vine completely without foliage. To avoid this, you need to treat the vines in early spring with a special solution.

Moth caterpillars also eat foliage, leaving large holes in it. To prevent their appearance, you need to slightly loosen the soil just before the actinidia blooms. These actions will help destroy caterpillar pupae.

Crop propagation

Most often actinidia Dr. Shimanovsky is propagated through layering. In the spring, when the leaves began to bloom, the young and long branch is tilted, fixed with a metal bracket and sprinkled with soil. Mulch on top. The following year, they are separated from the liana and transplanted to a permanent place.

Collection and storage

Since the harvest does not ripen at the same time, the harvest is carried out in several passes. Ripe fruits quickly crumble, so some gardeners pluck them not yet fully ripe. In this case, they need to be laid out in a thin layer in the air, where the sun's rays will not fall on them, and they will ripen.

Fruits do not last long fresh, so they should be processed or consumed immediately.

The fruits of the described actinidia variety Dr. Shimanovsky contain vitamin C, the amount of which is much higher than in lemon or currant. They also contain many other vitamins and minerals. Therefore, gardeners are happy to take care of this plant, receiving tasty and very he althy fruits as a reward.

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