Chinese Dates: cultivation and propagation rules, planting and care with photo

Cultivation of Chinese dates until recently was considered an exotic hobby. The varieties of this plant were represented only by small-fruited types, which did not have time to ripen in the climatic conditions of the Middle Strip. But the work of both amateur and professional selection has borne fruit. Today, even large-fruited Chinese dates are no longer a rarity in Russia.

Botanical description and features

Chinese date belongs to the genus Krushinov. It was cultivated in different regions of the Earth a very long time ago, but it came to our country only in the middle of the twentieth century. Its life span is long, which, combined with good yields, has turned the tree into one of the most popular crops.

Popular varieties

There are only 80 types of jujube, not to mention a huge number of varieties. Of course, among such a large variety, gardeners should have their favorites.

Varieties are divided into three main categories, depending on the timing of fruiting and ripening:

early ripe;
mid-season;
late ripening.

They are also divided based on the size of the fruit: those in which they weigh less than 5 grams are considered small-fruited, and over 10 - large-fruited.

To date, the most popular varieties are:

Ya Zao - Chinese mid-season variety with good yields.
Ta-yang-Zao is another Chinese variety with high yields and early fruit ripening, making it hardy.
Chinese 2A - one of the best large-fruited varieties of medium ripening.
Sinit - a variety of Nikitsky Botanical Gardens, related to early medium-fruited.
Southerner is a popular early maturing domestic variety.

Three to five buckets of fruits are harvested from one tree of each of these cultivars.

What is the difference between dates and unabi

Dates and unabi belong to different families. If the first are the fruits of a palm tree, then the second are buckthorn trees. They resemble dates only in their appearance and nutritional value.

Methods of reproduction

Unabi refers to those plants that propagate in several ways - such a tree is so resistant that it will be accepted even from root shoots.

Main options:

seed propagation;
reproduction by cuttings;
propagation by root shoots.

At the same time, in addition to them, vaccinations and budding are used. It is worth noting that each method is best suited for its variety. Say, mid-season varieties are grown from cuttings.

Seed

Seed propagation is a suitable option for small-fruited varieties with early yields. The fact is that cultivars grown from seeds bear fruit a little later, which means that those, in the conditions of the average Russian climate, will not have time to ripen.

Alternatively, a plant grown in this way is used as a rootstock for large-fruited varieties.

Stone harvesting starts from the moment the fruits ripen. Ripe fruits are removed from the plant and placed in the refrigerator until the warm season. Unabi seeds need pulp stratification.

Peel the seed in the spring. Ensure the complete absence of pericarp residues. To do this, put the "date" in hot water for a couple of minutes for three days. Peeled bones for the same period, for heating, are poured with water at a temperature of about 60 degrees.

The seeds are planted to a depth of 3 centimeters. Between the bones, the distance is at least 5 centimeters, and after the emergence of seedlings, they are seated at a distance of up to half a meter. The time required for their appearance is about a month. The seed bed has been covered with a film all this time.

Shanks

Reproduction by cuttings is extremely simple - a branch of the required length is cut off and placed in wet peat until the root system is formed. As soon as this happens, the cutting is planted in the ground.

Root shoots

Reproduction by root shoots is similar to the previous one, only instead of a cutting, the shoots of the plant at the roots are used. They already have small roots.

Chinese date cultivation

Growing a Chinese date is not such a difficult undertaking. It is not capricious, and the only thing that hinders its wide distribution in Russian areas is exoticism. The gardener who dares to contact this crop will enjoy the ease of cultivation and subsequent care.

We select the variety and prepare the seedling of the future palm tree

The first step is to choose the most suitable variety of Chinese dates. This takes into account factors such as:

climatic conditions;
desired yield;
availability.

Inhabitants of the South of Russia grow most varieties of this crop due to the suitable climate. At the same time, the inhabitants of the Middle Strip are often limited to early cultivars, sometimes planting mid-season ones as well.

Always buy two seedlings to ensure pollination in the future. In addition, they are checked for damage and disease.

Choosing a seat

Probably choosing the right spot is the most difficult part of the Jujube planting procedure. It is at this point that he shows some capriciousness. The plant prefers to grow in areas protected from winds and drafts. Therefore, the southern slopes of small hills are especially well suited to it. The site is also chosen so that no shadow falls on it, and it is of sufficient size - the tree prefers the sun and the presence of sufficient space.

Soil preparation

Chinese date is not picky in the choice of soil and is able to grow in any soil. But, nevertheless, he has his preferences. Favorite soils for him are not only fertile, but also light. Therefore, the earth is dug up before planting and humus is introduced into it.The tree categorically does not tolerate saline areas - although it will survive in such conditions, it will bear fruit very poorly.

Fitting technology

Plant Chinese dates in early spring. If we are talking about planting seedlings, they first dig holes of suitable depth. The latter is determined by the development of the root system. In most cases, the dimensions of the pit are 60 by 60 centimeters. The distance between seedlings is about 4 meters. The soil is mixed with manure.

Features of care

Chinese dates are distinguished by low demands on care activities. This tree has been loved for centuries because it is extremely unpretentious. Its cultivation requires compliance with the simplest agrotechnical procedures. Timely watering plays an important role. As for dressings, they are used to increase productivity, although the plant bears fruit without them.

Irrigation

Unabi refers to plants of arid climate. This means that it easily tolerates drought and high temperatures. Moreover, he does not like "bays", so he is rarely grown in truly humid regions. The frequency of watering depends on the drying of the soil.

During the flowering period, the culture is not watered at all. The period of frequent watering is the first year of the life of jujube. At this time, water is introduced into the soil a couple of times a month, during the period of active growth.

Feeding

As already noted, the Chinese date does not apply to plants that require frequent feeding. It grows quite well and bears fruit without fertilizer. And yet, it responds very well to the spring application of nutrient complexes. But they begin to feed the tree only from the fourth year of life. In addition, when planting, humus is introduced into the soil.

Crown formation

Crown formation allows you to fit the plant into the size of the garden, make it more aesthetically attractive, stimulates productivity and makes harvesting fruits more convenient. The most common shape of the Chinese date, favored by gardeners, is the bowl-shaped form. To achieve the result, the crown is formed around the five strongest branches. They also carry out annual sanitary pruning.

We stimulate the flowering and fruiting of the palm tree

As already noted, the Chinese date easily reaches the highest level of fruiting if the correct agricultural practices are followed. To stimulate flowering, a technique such as stopping watering is used. This is due to the fact that the tree blooms during the dry season.

Getting the greatest number of ovaries is facilitated by the presence of two plants in the garden and sunny weather.

Diseases and pests, their control

The only pest of jujube is the unabium fly. It affects the fruits in early autumn, because of which they become bitter in taste. To combat it, digging of the soil is used, as well as special solutions - Sumition, Aktellik, Zolon. These preparations are harmless to fruits and allow harvesting within two days after spraying.

Conclusion

Unabi is a culture characterized by unpretentiousness and high productivity. It is very easy to grow because it does not require special care. At the same time, it gives a rich harvest of nutritious fruits. This tree prefers dry climates in summer.