Crimean cedar: description of the breed, methods of tree propagation and planting

Crimean cedar is a very interesting culture that develops well in the southern climate. This plant has excellent decorative properties, therefore it is often used to decorate garden plots, parks and alleys. For the successful cultivation of this conifer, it is important to choose the right place for planting. Compliance with the main agrotechnical recommendations is of no small importance.

What breed is this

Lebanese belongs to the Pine family. This culture in botany is considered a relic. This means that it has reached the present day from a previous geological era.Currently, there are only 4 species of such cedars on Earth. Moreover, the number of wild varieties is decreasing annually.

In natural conditions, the Lebanese cedar reaches a height of 50 meters. At the same time, the diameter of its trunk can be 2-2.5 meters. The tree has a thick and dense bark, which has a dark gray color. At the same time, it is similar in structure to scales.

Cedar has a conical multi-tiered crown. The upper part has a slightly flattened shape. Therefore, from the side, the crown looks like a huge umbrella, the diameter of which is 25-27 meters.

The Lebanese cedar is characterized by rather stiff needles of a bluish-green hue. In some places it has a smoky blue color. Needles differ in a tetrahedral shape and up to 4 centimeters long. All needles form bundles of 25-35 pieces. At the same time, greenery is renewed every couple of years.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionLike all conifers, Lebanese cedars are considered sources of phytoncides. These substances repel parasites and prevent the development of fungal pathologies.

The tree is characterized by barrel-shaped cones of a dark brown hue. In length, they reach 10-12 centimeters, and in width - 4-6. Inside are small seeds measuring 15-18 millimeters. They have thin wings, due to which they are carried by the wind over considerable distances. Fruiting is observed twice a year. At the same time, cones appear only on trees older than 25 years.

Ephedra also has unusual wood. It has a specific aroma, high strength and a slight reddish tint.

Crimean cultivated cedars

In the Crimea, the Lebanese cedar has long been used as a park breed. Relic plants adorn the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. And they were planted there back in 1826.

The most promising varieties that have managed to adapt in the Crimea are Lebanese, Atlas and Himalayan cedars. They are widely used from Kerch to Sevastopol. However, the Crimean cedar lives in this area for literally 150-200 years. This is due to not very favorable soil nutrition conditions.

Distinctive features of other cultivated varieties of cedar include the following:

1. Himalayan - characterized by long and thin needles up to 5 centimeters in size. The plant has a low crown and hanging shoots. Also, the culture has fairly large cones.
2. Atlassky - has stiff gray needles, which are distinguished by a cone-shaped shape. The crown is placed in the form of floors.

Also, Siberian cedar pine is often called cedar. However, it is distinguished from real cedar by edible fruits, which are characterized by excellent taste. Maturation of cones is observed every 2 years. It takes place between mid-August and early September.

How to store pine nuts

Storage of pine nuts depends on their variety. They can be peeled or in shell, raw or fried. With this in mind, choose a storage method. Raw shelled nuts can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. In the first case, they need to be placed in a glass container, tightly closed with a lid and put in the refrigerator. Under such conditions, the product will retain its properties for a maximum of 3 months.

To store nuts in the freezer, they must be placed in a special sealed bag for freezing. At the same time, it is important to extract air from there as much as possible, close it and put it into the chamber. Under such conditions, nuts can be stored for about half a year.

Roasted peeled nuts can be stored for a maximum of 3 days. After this time, the product will have an unpleasant rancid smell.

Also, pine nuts are well stored in cones.To do this, they need to be placed in a canvas bag, tightly tied with a rope and hung in a dark and cool place. Under such conditions, the product retains its properties for a maximum of 3-4 months. If there are no small rodents in the house, the cones can be kept in cardboard boxes.

Besides this, pine nuts are often sold in their shells. In this form, they can be kept in a canvas bag or in a glass container. This should be done in a dry and cool place - away from sunlight. The shelf life of such a product is 4-5 months.

Way to propagate a tree

Crimean cedar can be propagated in a variety of ways. Most often this is done by cuttings.

Search for cuttings

It is recommended to harvest cuttings from the beginning of April to the end of May. During this period, the tree awakens from winter and is filled with tree sap. It is recommended to harvest cuttings in the early morning.Annual shoots should be cut off by hand, and not cut. At the same time, part of the mother branch should remain on the handle, which will help speed up the rooting process. The size of the shoot should be 5-15 centimeters.

Storage shoots

After collecting the branches, they need to provide suitable storage conditions. To do this, it is recommended to place wet moss on the bottom of the plastic bag and put the cuttings there. Before planting in the greenhouse, the shoots should be kept in a cool place. This is done at a temperature of + 1-2 degrees. It is allowed to store cuttings for a maximum of 1 week.

Before planting in the greenhouse, planting material must be treated with a special agent. For this purpose, "Kornevin" , "Root" is suitable.

Rooting cuttings

To root the cuttings, you need to do the following:

1. Prepare boxes with loose soil. To do this, in equal parts, you need to mix sand, coniferous soil and high-moor peat. In the resulting substrate, make holes with an interval of 10 centimeters.
2. Put prepared branches into the soil, deepening 3-5 centimeters. Moisten the soil well and put the plants in partial shade.
3. For 2 weeks, maintain air humidity at the level of 30-45% of the mass of dry soil. After the appearance of the roots, this figure is reduced to 20-25%. Then, with the help of systematic watering, the humidity should be increased to 95%.

Step by step planting instructions

To plant the Crimean cedar, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Dig a hole. Its dimensions should be 30% larger than the roots.
2. Pour drainage into the bottom. It may consist of expanded clay or pebbles.
3. Add sand and peat to fertile soil.
4. Apply fertilizer. Compost or wood ash is suitable for this.
5. Set the peg in the center of the recess.
6. Pour the main part of the soil into the hole and pour a bucket of water.
7. When the ground settles, make a small hill.
8. Place the plant on top, sprinkle its roots with earth, compact the soil and water the crop.
9. Tie a cedar to a support.

Crimean cedar is an attractive plant that is often used in landscape design. For a culture to develop normally, it needs to provide proper care.

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