Irga is large-fruited. Irga Canadian Irga Thiessen description

Irga ( Amelanchier) - shrub or tree, up to 6-8 m high. In spring, irga blooms profusely with small white flowers collected in a brush. At this time, the plant is a bit like a bird cherry. In autumn, the leaves turn golden and purple.

In culture, four types of shadberry are most common, of which Canadian shadberry ( A. canadensis) is the most decorative.

See photos of the irga shrub of the most common species in our country:

All species have edible apple-shaped fruits, similar in color and size to currants.

Irga is a frost-resistant, undemanding shrub that can tolerate both drought and slight soil salinity. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, tolerates air pollution, is photophilous, but can also grow in partial shade, tolerates pruning, including “on the stump”, grows and rejuvenates by offspring.

Irgi makes excellent hedges, screens that protect from prying eyes, noise, and a dusty highway. In addition, irga is a good background for other shrubs. Below is a description of the bush irga, features of care and cultivation.

Description of the bush irga

This bush can be considered a "newcomer" on the territory of domestic summer cottages, but, despite this, gardeners fell in love with it. The tree grows rapidly and has several trunks, is resistant to winter cold, unpretentious to conditions, is not susceptible to disease and has a bountiful harvest.

The shrub has oblong, oval dark green leaves, which turn purple-orange in autumn and look especially decorative, brown-gray bark. It blooms with white flowers, which are arranged in inflorescences in the form of brushes. The berries have a sweetish taste, juicy, dark blue in color, up to 12 pieces are located on one brush.

Flowering occurs in April-May, which makes the shrub very attractive at this time. During this period, he is not afraid of frosts that occur in spring, and in winter the bush can withstand frosts down to -30 ̊С without additional hilling.

Types and varieties of irgi for the Moscow region: photo and description

In total, there are 18 types of irgi (there is also information that 25). The shrub is classified as a member of the Rosaceae family, most of which are common in North America. He loves open sunny places, such as the edges along the forest, mountain slopes, and can grow in the tundra.

On the territory of our country, such types and varieties of irgi are considered common, such as:

Irga round-leaved ( Amelanchier rotundifolia)

Irga spiky ( Amelanchier Spicata)

Irga canadian ( Amelanchier canadensis)

Irga blood red ( Amelanchier sanguinea)

These varieties can be found running wild in nature, which grow there thanks to birds who love delicious fruits.

The listed varieties of irgi are suitable for the Moscow region, they perfectly "take care of themselves", the main thing is to plant a tree correctly. They are not afraid of drought, strong winds and almost any adverse conditions, and all thanks to the root system, which penetrates to a depth of about 2 m and spreads within a radius of 2-2.5 m. It provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients and moisture.

What kind of different varieties of irgi have, look at the photo:

Consider a more detailed description of the varieties of irgi with a photo.

round-leaved

This shrub has many trunks, grows up to 4 m. It has a smooth bark, dark gray color, oval, sometimes almost round leaves, which makes them similar to alder leaves. In autumn, they turn bright yellow. Blooms white with a slight fragrance. The berries are very sweet, large, dark blue with a purple hue. The shrub can bring up to 10 kg of fruit per crop, so it is considered the best variety of shadberry.

Canadian

This plant is distinguished by its height, which can reach 8 m. It blooms with cream or white flowers that are odorless. The branches are thin, hanging down, the leaves are oblong, elliptical, in the autumn they become dark purple, red, purple. The berries inside are dark pink in color, taste sweet, about 6 kg can be harvested in one crop.

spiky

The bush is up to 5 m in height, has a dense oval-shaped crown, a gray shade of bark and matte dark green leaves of an ovoid shape. Flowers have a bright pink or white tint, placed in racemes. The berries are dark red, almost black, with a bluish bloom. The plant begins to produce crops from the 4th year of life.

blood red

Its berries have an irregular spherical shape, reminiscent of blueberries. They taste like unripe fruits, which are neglected even by birds. Despite this, they are very juicy, so they are used to make juice based on other fruits.

Given the description of the types of shadberry, the best varieties for the Moscow region are Canadian or round-leaved. But you need to pay attention to some nuances. Since this shrub has a powerful root system, you will have to fight shoots all the time, so you should not plant this shrub near paths and buildings or decorative landscape elements. You should not do this for the reason that falling fruits leave dark spots.

Planting and caring for irga in the open field

Before you start growing this shrub, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of planting and caring for shadberry. She loves sunny areas and soil that is rich in organic matter. Depending on the preferences and features of leaving it, you can form a bush or a tree.

Planting and caring for irga in the open field have their own characteristics. For planting, seedlings are taken, aged 1-2 years, planted in prepared pits, with a diameter of about 50 cm. The distance between plants should not be less than 1 m. A trunk about 10 cm long with 4-5 healthy buds remains above the ground.

Some stages of planting irgi, see photo:

Planting a seedling in a prepared hole.

after landing.

Irgi seedlings for sale.

How to plant an irgu in the spring

Features of planting irgi and care in the Moscow region correspond to general recommendations for planting and caring for trees in general. It is desirable to plant seedlings of this shrub in autumn. According to some experts, this can also be done in March, when the weather conditions are favorable.

It is necessary to trim weak branches in time. In general, one trunk should not have more than 2-3 healthy shoots. At 3 years old, the shrub should have about 15 branches. Older plants can be periodically rejuvenated.

See the photo below for planting irgi and care features, which shows the annual method of dealing with the overgrowth of this shrub:

Young shoots, or as they are also called "zero", must be removed not above the surface of the earth, but near the root of the plant, except for those from which a shrub is subsequently formed or with the help of which its rejuvenation is carried out in the future.

How to grow irgu from seeds

Planting irgi and care, as well as reproduction - the process is not difficult not only for professional gardeners, but also for beginners too. Shrubs can be propagated by seedlings, which can be purchased or grown from seeds. Seeds are planted in fertilized beds and then well watered. When the seedlings reach 1-2 years of age, they are planted in a permanent place.

Growing irgi does not require special skills, the main thing is that the plant is taken up when planting, further care consists in feeding, crown formation, pruning weak, old or dry branches, thinning the bush.
If you are interested in how to plant irgu from seeds, you need to know how to properly prepare them for planting. To prepare the seed material, ripe fruits are taken, rubbed and washed with cool water. Bad seeds usually float to the surface. The washing procedure should be carried out until the good ones remain at the bottom.
You need to know how to properly plant an irgu using seeds if you have chosen this breeding method. In a furrow one meter long, about 300 seeds should be sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Sowing is done in early spring, sometimes at the end of winter, and climbing can be expected for almost a year.

How to grow irgu when the seeds have sprouted, every gardener should know. Parostki, which grow 3-5 full-fledged leaves, dive and grow up to 1-2 years of age. For bushes grown from seeds, homogeneity is characteristic. This is presumably caused by asexual reproduction (apomixis).
Propagation of irgi by cuttings and root processes
The easiest way to propagate irgi is to use overgrowth from the roots for planting, which has to be harvested every year. This bush requires an area for life activity of 2.5-4 m, 1.5-2 m is left between future shrubs. Seedlings are planted in nurseries in a checkerboard pattern.
The work consists in choosing suitable root shoots, the diameter of which should not be less than 0.5 cm and the length 10-15 cm. It is important that the roots are healthy and well developed. The dug-in seedlings are well watered so that the humidity is constantly at a high level.
For this method of reproduction, shoots that are no more than 6 years old are suitable. It is suitable for amateur gardeners who are interested in how to plant an irgu in the spring by dividing the bushes, because no more than 4-6 full-fledged cuttings are obtained. In nurseries, preference is given to propagation by seeds in order to get more seedlings.

Propagation of irgi by cuttings consists in choosing branches that are no more than one year old and whose length is 12-15 cm. It is necessary to prepare a special greenhouse with a special earth mixture. The bottom is strewn with a layer of pebbles (30-40 cm), then a mixture of light soil with humus (25 cm) is poured, the top is covered with sand (4-5 cm).
Planted and well-watered cuttings are covered with a film until roots appear. This usually happens around the 25th day, depending on the variety. To speed up the appearance of roots on the cuttings, they are treated with special solutions. Rooted cuttings are planted in open ground the following year.
Despite the fact that the cultivation and care of this shrub does not require much effort, it is still necessary to carry out some standard activities, such as top dressing, pruning and protection from pests and birds. Birds are very fond of eating ripe fruits, so when you want to get a harvest, you need to cover the bush with a fine mesh.

Growing and caring for irga consists in the correct application of top dressing in the summer. The nutritional composition should be liquid, prepared from ammonium nitrate, 50 g of which is used per bush or 5 liters of 10% bird droppings emulsion. It is necessary to fertilize at night, when abundant watering has been done or it has rained.
How to cut the irgu in the spring
In order not to harm the bush, you need to familiarize yourself with the information on how to cut the irgu in the spring. You can start shaping the crown from 3-4 years of age. During this period, it is important to remove the basal shoots, leaving 1-2 shoots that have grown near the main trunks of the bush.
Let's consider further how to properly cut the irga in order to rejuvenate it. "Rejuvenating" pruning is done when the shrub is 8-10 years old. The condition of the bush indicates the need for rejuvenation, such as:
a small increase per year (no more than 10 cm);
increased bush density;
the appearance of weak and dry branches.

If rejuvenation is not done, then the bush begins to lose its decorative effect, bears fruit worse and is exposed to pests. How to prune irga to rejuvenate a shrub:
thinning (remove all unnecessary, weak shoots);
pruning too elongated branches;
shortening of long healthy shoots.

As a result, no more than 10-15 strong branches should remain. The cut point is processed with garden pitch.
Each amateur gardener, using basic information, will know how to care for the irga correctly, what needs to be done at each “age” period of the plant, what actions to take at different times of the year. With careful care, it can safely grow and bear fruit up to 70 years.

This tree has settled in my garden for a long time, but I still thank myself for planting the irga. Its fruits are just a storehouse of the most valuable vitamins, and the list of their beneficial effects on the body can be continued almost endlessly! The bark and leaves can also be used medicinally.

Irga is undemanding to the composition of the soil, does not require complex care, easily propagates and is an excellent honey plant at the time of flowering. The plant easily tolerates wintering without shelter even with little snowy winters with temperatures below 40 ° C! In addition, even prolonged spring frosts will not be able to leave you without a harvest; the irga will easily and without loss transfer them. And, of course, you should not discount its magnificent appearance, which will decorate the garden at any time of the year. In spring, irga caresses the eye with abundant flowering, in summer - with clusters of bright multi-colored berries, in autumn - with exquisite purple colors of fading foliage.

Landing irgi

As I said, irga is undemanding to the composition and acidity of the soil. It grows beautifully, bears fruit and multiplies on fertile black soil. A friend behaves similarly on sandy loam. However, the plant does not like places where groundwater (marshy) constantly approaches the soil surface very high. Its root system is located 3-4 m deep into the earth. On the one hand, this is good: it helps to survive the cold winters without loss. On the other hand, it’s bad: if the roots are in a layer with groundwater, don’t expect high yields. I can’t name the exact variety of my plant, since I took a seedling from friends, but visually it looks like a round-leaved irga ( Amelanchier ovalis).

I planted it in the fall, the seedling was about 70 cm high, the root system was well developed, the main root was about 30-35 cm long. I dug a hole 50x50 cm and the same depth. The excavated soil was mixed with sand and ready-made compost (3: 1: 1) and the roots were covered with it, compacted a little and watered well. The crown was cut off by about 15-20 cm. In the spring (in the second year of life!) One flower brush already flaunted on my baby, but I carefully removed it. Where to hurry? Let it get stronger, I will have time to enjoy its fruits.

And the taste of irgi berries is excellent! I won’t say that it’s too sweet, or too fragrant, or too juicy, but it’s impossible to break away from eating a bush! I also like the fact that the berries on the brush ripen gradually. You can repeatedly go to one bush and collect only the most ripe ones, and leave the rest to ripen. In our south, irga ripens in August-September. If we don’t have time to eat everything, I put the rest in the freezer. By the way, if even the most ripe and sweet fruits (strawberries, apricots), after defrosting, give a certain amount of sourness in taste, then this is impossible with irga. I sincerely recommend freezing!

Irgi breeding

It is easily propagated by all means: seeds, cuttings, root shoots. More information about these methods can be found on the website.

Irga care

Fortunately, irga is resistant to diseases. I never found any signs of disease on my plant. Since I fertilize all fruit and vegetable crops exclusively with organic matter, then in the fall I dig up the ground by 30 cm in a radius of 1-1.5 m around the bush and lay any green manure there, most often it is tops of peas or beans. A friend, on the other hand, treats this issue in a completely different way and uses mineral fertilizers. In the spring, as soon as the irga blooms and until the moment when the last berry is plucked, it applies nitrogen fertilizers 1 time in 2 weeks. After harvesting, it is time to apply potash and phosphorus. Honestly, her berries are larger and the yield is higher, but I prefer not to treat myself to her irga.

Watering. Irga tolerates dry periods well, in principle, it can not be watered, deep roots will provide the crown and fruits with enough moisture. But I love to water my tree with a diffuser hose. Basically, to wash off the dust from the leaves and berries, because everyone knows that the most delicious berries are straight from the bush!

pruning. But this will be required, otherwise the irga will reach such a height that you will have to climb a ladder to harvest the crop. And if you do not regulate the number of trunks in the bush, then the game will thicken pretty quickly and you will have to forget about high yields. The first years of growth, leave the strongest zero shoots, and ruthlessly remove the rest. Carry out a limiting cut in height. When the right number of trunks for your bush is typed, each year remove 2-3 of the oldest and leave 2-3 new ones instead. So you will constantly rejuvenate the plant and get a decent harvest.

Types and varieties of irgi

The main types of irgi, which are widespread and used in gardening, are shadberry alder-leaved, irga blood red And irga canadian, she is also known as Irga Lamarck. The latter has especially many variations: in Canada, they pay considerable attention to selection and have bred many tasty and productive varieties. This species has the largest, juiciest and sweetest berries.

Irga Canadian (Irga Lamarck) "Gypsy"

Irga Canadian "Smoky"

How decorative are often used irga spiky And irga round-leaved, although their fruits are also edible and tasty.

Irga spiky

Irga is a unique shrub that differs from others in incredible beauty. Irgi bushes are considered to be one of the most impeccable ornamental plants, the fruits of which, among other things, have an excellent sweet taste. The irga plant is very unpretentious, does not require complex care and constant monitoring, which is why almost all summer residents and gardeners are happy to plant it on their own plot. However, in order to achieve the desired result, you need to clearly understand that irgi flowers have growing features, which are described in detail in this article.

Did you know? The name "irga" in French means "a plant that indicates the taste of honey." Such a name fully reflects the honey-bearing capacity of all shadberry bushes.

Irga Canadian, features of growing the largest bush

Canadian irga is a tall shrub, reaching a height of 2 to 18 meters. It differs from other species, of which there are a considerable number, in thin branches, with the help of which, as a rule, a rounded crown of large sizes is formed. It has oblong leaves with small teeth. During the flowering period, the Canadian irga strikes with an amazing bouquet of yellowish-white flowers. This shrub produces round, dark purple fruits that ripen in early August.
Features of growing Canadian shadberry:

has a shallow root system;
irgi leaves reach 10 cm in length;
the flowering period of the Canadian shadberry lasts about one week;
grows about 30 cm in length and width per year;
the most favorable conditions for growth are an abundance of natural light;
not afraid of severe frosts, winds and does not require constant watering;
the best soil for growing is calcareous soil;
the introduction of fertilizers into the soil is advisable only three to four years after planting;
to increase the yield, it is enough to prune stepchildren every spring;
unnecessary shoots of the root system should be removed. Some of them can simply be transplanted;
planting should be carried out in a pit with a drainage system through which watering will be carried out in the future.

Important! Canadian irga is often planted exclusively for decorative purposes. In this case, you can not remove the emerging root shoots - soon they will become the basis of new shrubs.

Features of growing smooth shadberry

Irga smooth is one of the most popular and beautiful fruit-bearing shrubs, widely distributed among domestic farmers and summer residents. Hanging tassels, wide branches, purple foliage - this is what distinguishes smooth shadberry bushes. After flowering, purple foliage is replaced by edible berries with a unique taste.

Features of growing irgi smooth:

the height of the shrub reaches 5-10 meters, which is why it is necessary to allocate at least two square meters for planting the smooth shadberry variety;
drainage system - a mandatory component when planting shrubs;
smooth irga does not require regular watering and constant care;
the shrub is resistant to strong gusty winds, temperature changes and extreme cold, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter;
smooth irga does not take root well when planted by cuttings. The key to success is grafting onto other varieties of shadberry or mountain ash;
significantly increases the collection of honey when planted in apiaries.

Attention! Irgi bushes do not require special care, however, like all plants, they sometimes get sick. Diseases and pests can quickly cover the entire plant, therefore, at the first appearance of signs of soreness of branches or foliage, the affected areas should be immediately removed, after which the bush should be treated and the soil fertilized.

What you need to know about growing irgi Lamarck

Irga bush variety Lamarck is a unique shrub that is extremely popular among summer residents and farmers seeking to decorate their own plot. It belongs to deciduous large-sized plants, reaching a height of up to 5 meters. The flowers of the Lamarck variety shadberry are small and practically odorless, but there are a lot of them, which creates an indescribable decorative effect during the flowering period.

The fruits of the Lamarck irgi variety are rounded purple berries with a sweet-tart taste and extremely beneficial properties for humans. Like many others, the Lamarck bush irga has oblong leaves with small denticles along the edges. Irga Lamarka, planting and caring for which practically does not differ from others, still has a number of growing features.

Features of growing shrubs:

the variety is excellent for growing on any land plot, regardless of the quality of the soil, climatic features and weather changes;
annual growth of the bush - at least 25 cm in height and 25 cm in crown diameter;
landing is best done in late autumn or early spring. The pit must have a sufficient drainage system, and the soil in it must be fertilized with an organic composition for shrubs;
the Lamarck irga plant can be planted with cuttings, shoots, grafting and even seeds (planting with cuttings gives the best results, so other options are practically not used);
to increase the germination of fruits, the shrub should be cleared of stepchildren every 4-5 months;
Lamarck is an excellent honey plant and is often planted near apiaries.

Did you know? Irgi fruits are saturated with vitamin P, so their use is recommended as a means to strengthen blood vessels, prevent heart attacks and varicose veins.

Irga alder-leaved: features of care

Alder-leaved irga is a moisture-loving fruitful shrub of large size. The main distinguishing feature of this variety is the dependence on constant watering. Along with the high height of the bush and a wide crown, the alder-leaved shadberry is characterized by lowered shoots and round twisted leaves. This type of irgi gained particular popularity due to its numerous fruiting. In some cases, the diameter of the berries reaches 15 mm.

Important! In some cases, irga can cause allergic reactions and cause a serious increase in pressure. Moreover, excessive consumption of food has a sedative effect and reduces attention.

In view of the rigid dependence on the level of moisture in the environment and soil, the alder-leaved irga, like the common irga, is often found on the banks of water bodies, as well as on slopes and slopes above them.

Characteristic features of care and cultivation:

the most favorable landing time is early spring and / or late autumn;
the greatest chance of germination is when planting cuttings and shoots;
depends on constant abundant watering and the quality of the planting soil;
germination and flowering depends on the amount of light received;
can be planted in the city;
abundant fruiting begins 5 years after planting;
requires periodic top dressing with organic fertilizers;
resistant to frost, but with severe frosts, it is recommended to cover the tips of the branches.

Irga spiky, features of growing an ornamental fruit plant

Spiked shadberry is a decorative fruit-bearing shrub of small size. It enjoys unprecedented popularity in domestic summer cottages and personal plots. The main distinguishing feature of the appearance of the spiked shadberry is the white felt fluff located on the back of the leaves. Moreover, this shrub does not change color in the autumn-winter period, and during fruiting it is distinguished by a large number of berries.

Almost any soil is suitable for planting spiked shadberry, regardless of its composition and humidity. Resistance to drought, as well as difficult climatic conditions, determines the population of the shrub. Spiked irga rarely exceeds 70 cm in height.

Features of growing spiked shadberry:

perfectly tolerates almost all weather conditions;
does not depend on the regularity and quality of watering;
does not require fertilizers;
propagated by cuttings and does not require vaccination;
begins to bear fruit from the first years after planting;
does not require cleaning from stepchildren;
can be used as a hedge.

Irga oval-leaved, what you need to know about caring for a berry bush

Representatives of this variety of shadberry are short-growing perennial fruit-bearing shrubs. Felt sheets of white color and a maximum height of 50 cm distinguish the oval-leaved shadberry among others. During the flowering period, the bush is covered with a significant number of flowers, which is why it is the oval-leaved shadberry that is often used in order to obtain the best symbiosis of productivity and decoration. Oval-leaved varieties tolerate prolonged droughts well, and are also dependent on sunlight, therefore they are more suitable for planting in the southern regions.

Irga Canadian is a very interesting fruit and ornamental culture. A deciduous shrub with a height of 1.5 to 8 meters is beautiful at any time of the year. In spring, the irga looks attractive during bud break, when it seems to be shrouded in silver-white hoarfrost.

Later, during flowering, it is strewn with clusters of fragrant white flowers surrounded by bees. Until mid-summer, the bush is decorated with brushes of blue-violet berries. Until late autumn, the decoration of the shrub is foliage, gradually changing color from green to crimson. Burgundy-brown branches look spectacular against the backdrop of a snow-covered winter garden.

Description of the Canadian shad

Let's start, perhaps, with the description of Irga, this is a fast-growing, fast-growing, long-lived shrub. The culture enters fruiting after planting in the third year. The life expectancy of irgi is 40-50 years. Frost resistance is excellent, tolerates frosts up to 40 degrees without loss. In the conditions of the Moscow region, it does not need shelter for the winter. The plant also feels good in more northern regions. Well-growing bushes are very photophilous and, if planted too tightly, they stretch strongly upwards and bear fruit poorly.

The root system of the shrub is superficial, the bulk of the roots is located at a depth of up to 40 cm, some go deep into 1 m. The radius of distribution of the root system reaches 2 m.

Irga blooms in late April - early May, for 10-15 days. The flowers withstand short-term spring frosts down to -7 °C.

The shrub is not picky about the quality of the soil, it is drought-resistant. Irga grows quickly - already in the third year after planting it begins to bear fruit, and at the age of 8-10 years, a period of full productivity begins. The period of productivity is 20-30 years with an average yield of 8-10 kg of berries per bush.

The advantages of the shrub are early and abundant fruiting, the self-pollination of the plant ensures annual fruiting. Irga is unpretentious to growing conditions, very winter-hardy and drought-resistant.

Beneficial features

Irgi berries are a good multivitamin product containing vitamins C, B2, carotene, pectins, anthocyanins and trace elements (cobalt, copper, lead). The fruits are useful in the treatment of hypo- and beriberi, for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and the cardiovascular system.

Blooming Canadian shadberry Slate

Medicinal properties of berry berries

calm the nervous system, useful for insomnia and restless sleep;
increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and strengthen them;
used to prevent myocardial infarction and varicose veins (prevents the formation of blood clots);
have a general strengthening effect, lower high blood pressure and normalize cholesterol levels;
used for the prevention of peptic ulcer and as an anti-inflammatory agent for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
useful berry in the fight against sclerosis;
juice from fresh berries has astringent properties, so it is used to gargle with inflammation.

Types and variety of varieties

Irga is from the Rosaceae family and has more than 25 species. The most common of them are:

Irga canadian- shrub with drooping branches up to 6 meters high. Valued for very sweet, tasty berries weighing up to 1 g. Productivity up to 6 kg / bush. The greenery is lush, very good in hedges when planted after 2 meters. It is a fast growing shrub with an annual growth of up to 40 cm in height and width.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has been the center of breeding work to develop the best varieties of shadberry. The most popular among gardeners are:

pembina- the height and width of the shrub reach 5 meters. The crown is spreading. The advantage of the variety is the formation of a small amount of root shoots.
Smokey- shrub up to 4.5 m high, crown in the form of an open umbrella. A variety with a late flowering period, which makes it possible for him to avoid the loss of the ovary during late spring frosts. Smokey's berries are large with a diameter of up to 14mm with a great aroma. The berries are the sweetest of all varieties available, fleshy and without astringency.
Northline- a multi-stemmed bush of medium size, vertical trunks. The berries are very large, up to 16 mm in diameter, blue-black with a wax coating, the maturation of non-cracking berries is friendly. The variety forms a lot of root shoots. Needs a pollinator.
Sturgeon- a multi-stemmed sprawling shrub up to 3 m high. The variety is high-yielding, berry brushes are long, the fruits are large and sweet.
Thyssen- a shrub reaching a height of 5 m with a strongly spreading rounded crown. This is the earliest, quick-growing variety. The size of the berries of excellent taste reaches 17mm in diameter. The fruits are fragrant with a slight acidity. Due to the uneven ripening of berries, the harvest period is extended in time. Frost resistance up to - 28 °С.

Irga Lamarck- This is a large shrub or small tree up to 8 meters high. The crown has a rounded shape. Unlike the Canadian irgi, it grows more slowly, the annual growth is no more than 25 cm in height. Irga Lamarck is very beautiful during the flowering period and in the crimson decoration of the foliage in the fall.

Trunks acquire a beautiful sinuous shape when regular shaping is performed. Such trees look good in single plantings and alleys.

Blooming Canadian shadberry Lamarck

Often in gardens there is also irga spiky and irga round-leaved, they are decorative and their fruits are also eaten, but they are smaller in size and the taste of the berries is low.

Conditions for planting, growing and care

Irga is undemanding to growing conditions, it is not capricious in care.

In the garden or on the plot, it can be planted on the north side, as its multi-stemmed bushes trap snow and protect from cold northern winds. It is good to plant raspberries, currants, gooseberries next to it, for them it will serve as a good protection.

Irgu can be planted both in spring and autumn. In the prepared pit, seedlings are planted 5-10 cm deeper than they grew before, this will contribute to the growth of more basal shoots. After planting and abundant watering, the soil around the seedlings is mulched, the plant is cut to about 1/3 of the height, leaving no more than 5 well-developed buds. Plants are planted every 2-3 m, and when creating a hedge, it is preferable to plant in a checkerboard pattern every 0.5-0.7 m in rows and between plants.

Further care consists in watering during dry periods, loosening the soil around the bushes and top dressing. Irga is responsive to fertilizers. During the season, it is desirable to feed it monthly with liquid organic fertilizers (infusions of mullein or bird droppings), combining them with watering and making foliar top dressing with micronutrient fertilizers. The plant will thank you.

Variety of Canadian shadberry Linez

pruning

If you decide to form a plant in the form of a multi-stemmed bush, then in the first years after planting it is necessary to remove all weak shoots, leaving 2-3 of the strongest zero shoots from the root shoots. A well-formed bush consists of 10-15 branches of different ages.

When the annual growth of shoots is no more than 10 cm, they begin rejuvenating pruning, which consists in removing all weak and strongly elongated shoots. The rest are cut to a height of up to 2.5 meters. All places of large cuts must be treated with garden pitch.

For greater decorativeness of the Canadian irgi, its crown must be shaped in an oval shape when pruning. The result of such pruning will be a powerful growth of young shoots with the formation of fruit buds.

Irgu Lamarck is formed by a tree with 3-5 trunks, the rest of all basal shoots are removed throughout the season. Branches are shortened annually.

When using Canadian shadberry in creating a hedge, it is necessary to cut it annually, shortening the annual growth by 10-15 cm. Annual pruning will contribute to better branching.

reproduction

Canadian irgu can be propagated in several ways:

Ripe juicy berries of Canadian shadberry

Pests and diseases

Irga Canadian is resistant to major fungal diseases and pests. It can be affected by the caterpillars of the currant leafworm, the caterpillar of the rose leafworm. They damage the leaves and gnaw on the tops of young shoots. To combat pests when processing the garden, one must not forget to spray the shadberry bushes.

During the ripening period of berries, birds do great harm to it, which also like to feast on its juicy and tasty berries. To avoid crop loss, young bushes can be covered with a net. When the plants are already large, then there will be enough berries for everyone.

Vitamins - for the future

Irga bears fruit annually and abundantly, but its berries ripen unevenly and therefore they are harvested in several stages.

The shelf life of the collected berries is small, only 2-3 days, if stored in a cool place (basement or refrigerator).

Compotes, juices, jams, jelly, wine are prepared from sweet berries of shadberry, they are dried and frozen. Irgi berries, due to their low acid content, do not have a bright taste, but they have a very bright color. In this connection, it is very good to add them to compotes from apples, pears and other fruits that do not have a pronounced color.

Particular attention should be paid to dried fruits of shadberry, they may well replace expensive raisins. Dried berries retain their properties for a long time. They are stored in closed glass jars.

Characteristic of the irgi is the poor return of juice from fresh berries. After 5-7 days of maturation, the yield of juice during processing will be up to 80%.

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Juice from berries of irgi is useful for the eyes, heart, throat, blood vessels. The prepared juice is used for the preparation of fruit drinks, drinks, jelly.

Juice with sugar

The berries that have lain in a cool place for a week are washed, squeezed out the juice, mixed with sugar in a ratio of 1: 1. Heat the juice over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, without bringing to a boil. The heated juice is poured into glass jars or bottles, corked and stored in a cool place.

Natural juice

Juice is squeezed out of the prepared berries, poured into liter jars, pasteurized for 15-20 minutes and rolled up with lids.

Irga Canadian, due to its medicinal, taste and decorative qualities, deserves a place of honor in the garden or in the country. Maintenance is minimal, but benefits and pleasures are in abundance.

In terms of endurance, decorativeness, and taste qualities, the Canadian irga is one of the best representatives of a vast genus. Canadian breeders have successfully worked on the “image” of the fruit shrub, creating dozens of large-fruited varieties on the basis of the natural species. The similarity of climatic conditions allows most of them to be successfully cultivated in the European part of Russia, in Siberia, in the Urals.

Unusual berry - fresh resembles blueberries, dried looks like raisins

Natural potential of Canadian shadberry

Canadian Irga is a large multi-stemmed shrub, rather resembling a tree with thin bare trunks and a lush, wide-oval crown. It has great energy and growth rates - in 3–4 years it grows 2 or more meters in height, reaches 6–8 m in adult form, specimens under 11 m are found in botanical gardens. The plant is durable, in one place it can grow over 50 years.

The vegetation of the shrub begins in the second half of April with bud break. Young leaves are soft, felt, brown-green, pubescent. Then comes 1-1.5 weeks of boiling white flowering with large drooping brushes. They are replaced by bunches of fruits - tiny apples, during the ripening period they change color from cream with a pink barrel, through all shades of red, to bright purple, and then dark purple. Irgi berries begin to ripen in July, depending on the variety, the return of the crop can last from one to several weeks.

Note! Species representatives of the Canadian shadberry begin to bear fruit at the age of 5, varietal shrubs are characterized by precocity - they give the first berries already at 2–3 years.

The biological characteristic of the irgi contains clear signs of endurance and unpretentiousness.

Like most fruit crops, it is photophilous.
For development, it does not need a lot of heat, withstands frosts in the range of 40–50⁰ C.
Not afraid of spring frosts even during the swelling of flower buds.
Feels comfortable on soils with a minimum content of nutrients.
Drought-resistant, does not need regular watering.
Self-fertile, with abundant ovary.

And a few words about the decorative value of culture. If the irga is ordinary or spiked, common in the middle lane, is more suitable for hedges, group plantings, then the Canadian irga is a soloist, the “first beauty”, capable of outshine many. Graceful trees look like slender dancers, depending on the time of year in snow-white, dark green berries with purple beads, crimson outfits.

The best large-fruited varieties

One of the reasons why a shrub with tasty and healing fruits is not very popular is small berries (up to 0.7 cm in diameter) and low yield per bush. This shortcoming is deprived of the varieties of large-fruited shadberry, which have become the hallmark of Canadian breeders. "Apple" with a diameter of up to 20 mm, large brushes, sweet pulp, friendly ripening - this is not a complete list of the advantages of varietal shadberry. Unfortunately, a not too extensive assortment of culture is found on free sale, but there is plenty to choose from.

Irga Martin is a second-generation hybrid derived from the Thyssen variety. I took only the best features from the parental form - large (ø15 mm) juicy berries with a great refreshing taste, early ripening, stable yield, compact bush with a moderate amount of shoots. Unlike the Thyssen variety, it is characterized by a friendly ripening of berries, resistant to pests.
Irga Prince William is not as large as the previous variety, but has a number of other advantages, including high frost resistance and decorative effect. In autumn, the foliage turns an intense red-orange color and does not fly around for a long time, pleasing the eye with a bright outfit. Suitable for small gardens - the plant is characterized by a compact crown and a height of no more than 2.5 m.
Irga of the Pembina variety, on the contrary, belongs to large shrubs. In adult form, it is a sprawling multi-stemmed tree up to 5 m high and with the same crown diameter. Taking into account the large berry (ø15 mm), stable and high yield of one plant is enough to provide a family with fresh fruits and prepare a vitamin supplement for the winter. Gardeners appreciate the variety for a small amount of root shoots.
Irga Canadian Ballerina was named for her graceful silhouette and decorative properties. The variety is tall, large-fruited (berries ø12 mm), the pulp is juicy, sweet, with a slight aroma of almonds. The fruit ripening period is medium (starting from July). The plant is winter-hardy, undemanding to moisture and nutrition, but on fertile, moderately moist soil, the size and taste of berries improves markedly.
The variety of irgi Slate has attractive characteristics, in the description of which the early ripening of berries (June), large-fruitedness (up to 12 mm), rich sweet taste, and enviable winter hardiness appear. These qualities are especially valuable for regions with short summers and cold winters. Another plus is friendly ripening and simultaneous return of the crop.
The Canadian Smoky shadberry variety has become almost classic. A tall sprawling tree is literally strewn with full tassels of large aligned fruits of a dark blue color. The berries have a balanced amount of sugars and acids, which gives them a very pleasant, incomparable taste. The highlight of the variety is an extremely high yield. Smokey belongs to the late group, so the generative buds are practically not damaged by return frosts and give a plentiful ovary. In Canada, it is an industrial grade.
Irga Honeywood is also a classic, but large-fruited. Its juicy fleshy fruits, reaching a diameter of almost 2 cm, have a balanced taste and pleasant aroma. Attractiveness is added by high productivity and the ability of the plant to bear fruit for 2–3 years after planting an annual seedling. In terms of large-fruitedness, the Canadian varieties Northline, Mandan, Forestburg, Linnese are on a par with Honeywood.

The dignity of the Ballerina is not only in a slender silhouette, but also in delicious berries

Productive and "friendly" Martin

The fruit brush of the Smokey variety is not some 5–6 berries, but a whole “grape” bunch

A distinctive feature of Irgi Slate is blue-black, large fruits

Note! Irgu Canadian Lamarck is often considered a variety, although it is a species close in botanical characteristics. Among the characteristics of this plant that are attractive to the gardener, decorativeness is in the first place. As a tapeworm, it will decorate the lawn, set accents in group plantings. The shrub lends itself well to shearing.

Growing shadberry in the regions of Russia

Canadian Irga is such an unpretentious plant with a high natural potential for survival in adverse conditions that most of its varieties are successfully cultivated in Ukraine and Belarus, they are suitable for the Baltic States, the Moscow region and other regions with a cold climate.

In the middle lane

The main problem of growing fruit and berry crops in this region is not so much the frosty winter as the unstable spring weather. Protracted thaws, return frosts often lead to freezing of flower buds, and gardeners are left without a crop. This does not threaten Irga, since most of its varieties are resistant to spring temperatures down to -7⁰ C, which is normal for the middle lane.

In outskirts of Moscow

Canadian Irga, with proper planting and minimal care in the Moscow region, will delight you with chic flowering and a plentiful harvest of sweet fruits. The weather here allows the berry to collect the right amount of sugar and acquire a pleasant specific taste and aroma. Rave reviews from amateur gardeners received varieties:

Pambina;
Smokey;
undersized up to 1.5 m Northline;
high-yielding Sturgeon;
time-tested Thyssen;
rare Mengdan, etc.

A chic bush of Smoky shadberry in the Moscow region

In the Urals and Siberia

Irga grows and bears fruit even where apple and pear trees cannot stand, therefore its large-fruited varieties are a godsend for Siberia and the Urals. It is no coincidence that a tasty and healing berry is called a northern raisin.

The Canadian varieties Slate, Mendan, Pembina, domestic cultivars Krasnoyarskaya, Syurpriz have passed the test of Russian frosts and received a residence permit in this region. Some gardeners are trying to grow the Bluessan variety, but its frost resistance ends at -35–37⁰ C.

Features of growing shadberry in central Russia:

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Irga Canadian is a very decorative and abundantly fruiting shrub. Its berries are not only tasty, but also very healthy. The plant is valued by gardeners for its general unpretentiousness, high productivity, immunity to many common diseases and pests.

Description of Canadian irgi

Irga is a deciduous tree-like shrub from the rose family. In nature, it is mainly distributed in North America. There, without any care, it grows like a weed, including on the roadsides, as well as on the edges of forests, mountain slopes. In Russia, some varieties are found in the Crimea, the Caucasus. The period of productive life of the shrub is quite long, at least 45–50 years. At the same time, it is characterized by rapid growth and precocity. The first harvest is taken already 3–4 years after landing in a permanent place, by 8–10 years, the irga reaches the maximum possible indicators. On average, you can count on 20-25 kg of berries from a bush. They ripen in the first half of July.

The first crop of shadberry is harvested already 3–4 years after planting in a permanent place.

Since the temperate climate is ideal for shadberry, it is intended by nature for cultivation in most of Russia. High frost resistance allows her to winter without special shelter, not only in the Moscow region, but also in the North-West region. As practice shows, the plant survives and bears fruit even in the forest-tundra, tundra.

Irga Canadian, cultivated by gardeners since the 17th century, is known by many different names. At home (in Canada), it is called a word borrowed from the language of the Aboriginal Indians - "Saskatoon". Other nicknames are “northern grapes”, “wine berry” (irga is widely used for home winemaking), “shady shrub”, “children's”, “healthy” or “June berry”, “cinnamon” (due to its resemblance to small black grapes) .

The average height of an adult plant reaches 2–7 m. At the same time, he can have 20-25 trunks. The shoots are long, with a smooth bark, slightly drooping under their own weight. Young branches cast reddish or brick, then gradually turn brown. The crown is spreading, in the form of an ellipse or umbrella.

The leaves are not too large (up to 10 cm in length), ovoid, soft to the touch. The surface of the leaf is rough on both sides, pubescent with a short soft “pile”, due to which it seems to be covered with silvery hoarfrost. Young, freshly blossomed leaves are painted in olive color with a brown undertone, in summer they are characterized by a bluish-gray or pinkish tint, and by autumn they acquire a very effective crimson hue interspersed with crimson-crimson, dark purple and orange-gold. The edges are cut with small "teeth".

The leaves of the canadian shadberry change color during the season

The root system of the irgi is well developed, but superficial. Most of the roots are located at a distance of 40–50 cm from the surface of the earth, some go 90–100 cm deep. But in diameter they grow up to 2–2.5 m.

It is extremely difficult to uproot the irgu completely, even if you specifically set yourself such a goal.

In autumn, the Canadian irga looks very impressive.

Flowering occurs in the last decade of April or the first days of May. It lasts 12-15 days. The shrub at this time looks very impressive.

Irga is a good honey plant, attracting bees and other insects to the site. Its name in Latin (Amelanchier) means "to bring honey."

Flowers rarely suffer from spring frosts, they can withstand a short drop in temperature to -5ºС. The buds are collected in beautifully falling brushes of 5-12 pieces. Almost everyone is a future berry. Petals are snow-white or vanilla-cream.

Canadian shadberry flowers attract many pollinating insects to the site

The fruits of the irgi are rounded, in the shape of an almost regular ball. Ripe berries are colored inky purple with a bluish bloom, a little underripe - dark blue, unripe - pink. The crop does not ripen at the same time, so on the bush you can see the fruits of all three shades at once. Of all the types of irgi, it is the Canadian one that has the best taste. The pleasant sweetness is due to the high content of sugars and the low content of fruit acids.

The crop of Canadian shadberry ripens gradually, over several weeks.

Irgi berries are suitable for home canning, but apples, red or black currants are added to jams, compotes, jams to give a slight sourness. Irgi juice is very useful for the heart and blood vessels. But it will not be possible to squeeze it out of freshly picked fruits. Berries should be allowed to lie in a dry, dark place for 5-6 days. If you leave it there for 1.5–2 months, the irga will turn into something similar to raisins.

Irga, alone or together with other berries and fruits, is widely used in home canning

Varieties popular with gardeners

Most of the varieties grown in garden plots are bred in Canada, but Russian breeders also have their own achievements. The most popular are the following varieties:

Pembina. The bush is almost spherical, 4.5–5 m in diameter, very decorative at any time of the year. It is distinguished by the reluctant formation of root shoots, which is, in principle, atypical for shadberry. Berry diameter - 1.4–1.5 cm;
Smokey. One of the most popular varieties, almost a standard. At home, it is grown on an industrial scale. Differs in high immunity. It grows up to 4–4.5 m. The shoots are clearly drooping, the crown is in the shape of an umbrella. It blooms only in the last decade of May, when the probability of return spring frosts is already minimal. The average diameter of the fruit is about 1.5 cm. The berries are very sweet, juicy, without astringency. Productivity is high - more than 25 kg from an adult plant;
Northline. The bush consists of at least 25 trunks, upright shoots. The height is about 4 m, the crown diameter is 5.5–6 m. The average diameter of the berries is 1.6–1.7 cm, unlike most other varieties, they ripen at the same time. Their shape is not round, but rather ovoid. Fruits can be harvested not only manually, but also mechanically. The formation of root shoots is very plentiful. For the highest possible yield, a pollinator variety is needed;
Sturgeon. Spreading shrub, 2.5–3 m high. It is distinguished by high productivity and excellent fruit taste. Berry brushes are very long, resembling grapes;
Thiessen. It grows up to 5 m in height, the crown is wide, sprawling. The plant blooms early, the crop ripens at the end of June. The berries are large, 1.7–1.8 cm in diameter, sweet, with a slight sourness. The pulp is very juicy. Fruiting stretches over several weeks. Frost resistance up to -30ºС;
Martin. One of the clones of the Thiessen variety. A compact shrub up to 3 m high and 3–3.5 m in diameter. The average fruit diameter is 1.5 cm or more. The yield is not too high, the formation of root shoots is moderate. Fruiting is friendly. The variety has a high immunity against diseases, rarely affected by pests. The berries ripen 1.5–2 months after flowering;
Sleith. One of the earliest varieties, the berries are almost black. They differ in excellent taste and aroma. The average fruit diameter is 1.2–1.4 cm. Fruiting is friendly. Winter hardiness at -32ºС;
mandam. A variety of medium ripening, a low shrub, up to 3 m. It bears fruit stably. Berries with a diameter of more than 1.5 cm, no sour taste;
ballerina. Shrub tall (6 m or more), shoots strongly drooping. The berries are juicy and very sweet, hints of almonds are guessed in the aroma. It tolerates adverse environmental conditions well, grows and bears fruit even in the city;
Nelson. An almost spherical shrub with a diameter of about 4.5 m. The berries are not too large, 1.2–1.3 cm. The pulp is very juicy, with a tart aftertaste and slight sourness. The variety has a genetically built-in immunity to rust, blooms 7-10 days later than most varieties of shadberry, respectively, less often falls under return frosts;
honeywood. The height of the bush is about 5 m, the diameter of the crown is 3.5–4 m. The first crop is harvested already 2–3 years after planting. The berries are dark blue, turning purple as they ripen. They can be both spherical and slightly flattened. The average diameter of the fruit is about 2 cm. The brushes are long (each with 9–15 berries), reminiscent of grapes. The pulp is very fragrant, with a slight tart aftertaste. Few basal shoots, flowering later. Fruiting stretches for 2-3 weeks;
JB-30. Crown with a diameter of 5.5-6 cm, the height of the bush is about the same. Berries taste almost indistinguishable from wild shadberry, but much larger - about 1.7 cm in diameter. Perfectly ripe fruits are painted in dark blue, the yield is about 20 kg per bush;
Bluff. One of the latest achievements of Canadian breeders, among amateur gardeners, it is still not widely distributed. The berries are not too large (1–1.2 cm in diameter), but they are ideal for processing due to the fact that their seeds are very small. The taste is pleasant, slightly tart;
Prince William. The bush is compact, with a diameter of no more than 2.5 m. The variety is highly cold-resistant and decorative. In autumn, orange-scarlet leaves stay on the plant until the first frost. The average diameter of a berry is 1.2 cm;
Pierson. Canadian variety. The plant is powerful, multi-stemmed. Differs in intensive formation of basal shoots. The average fruit diameter is 1.8 cm or more. The taste qualities are excellent. It blooms late, the harvest ripens in early August;
forestbourgh. A bush about 4 m high, at first erect shoots gradually droop. Basal shoots are not formed too much. Berries with a diameter of 1.4–1.6 cm, collected in dense brushes of 8–13 pieces. The fruits ripen together. Winter hardiness up to -40ºС, the variety is also resistant to drought. Immunity against diseases and pests is high;
Krasnoyarsk. Russian variety of late ripening. The bush is not very tall, 3.5–4 m. The berries ripen in the last decade of July or early August. It depends on how warm and sunny the summer is. Differs in winter hardiness at the level of -40ºС and more. The fruits are 1.8–2 cm in diameter, the taste is pleasant, sweet and sour.

Photo gallery: Canadian shadberry varieties popular with gardeners

There is a Lamarck shadberry, which is often characterized as one of the Canadian shadberry varieties. But in fact, this is a separate type of plant. Irga Lamarck is most often used in landscape design, a flowering plant looks very beautiful.

Irga Lamarka is widely used in landscape design

It differs from the Canadian one in a larger size of flowers, profusion of flowering and a copper-red tint of young leaves. Irga Lamarka also bears fruit, but her berries are small (up to 1 cm in diameter), and the yield is not too high - 5–7 kg per adult plant.

planting procedure

Irga is an unpretentious plant. This also applies to the choice of planting site and soil quality. It tolerates shade well, does not suffer from cold northern winds, therefore hedges are often formed from tall shrubs along the perimeter of the site, thus protecting other plantings. Next to the irga, you can place other berry bushes - raspberries, gooseberries, currants. In an open place, the culture also grows well, but it does not like direct sunlight.

Canadian Irga will easily endure penumbra, the bright sun for her is not the best option

Irgu is planted both in spring and autumn. It depends on the climate in a particular region. If it is moderate, then spring is more suitable. Over the summer, the plant will definitely have time to adapt to new living conditions. In areas with a subtropical climate, landing can be planned for September and even for the first half of October, being sure that at least 2–2.5 months are left before the first frosts.

Seedlings bought in the fall can be stored until next spring without compromising quality. They are planted in a container filled with wet sawdust or a mixture of peat and sand, which is removed in a dark place with a temperature slightly above 0ºС. There are other ways - to dig the seedlings in the garden, placing them at an angle, and then pour a high snowdrift on top, or simply wrap them in several layers of breathable covering material and throw them with snow.

Canadian shadberry seedlings are most often purchased in the fall, at this time there is more choice.

A pit for irgi is prepared in advance, at least a few weeks before the planned landing. About 50 cm deep and 60–65 cm in diameter are sufficient. From fertilizers, humus (15–20 l), simple superphosphate (200–250 g), and potassium sulfate (70–80 g) are added to the upper layer of fertile soil.

Coarse river sand (about 10 liters) and a layer of drainage at the bottom will help to make the soil looser.

A deep landing pit for irgi is not needed

With the simultaneous planting of several plants, at least 2–3 m are left between them. If it is planned to form a hedge, the irgu is planted in a checkerboard pattern with an interval of 50–70 cm. A sufficient area for feeding an adult plant is 6–10 m².

Irga does not impose special requirements on the quality of the soil, however, the ideal option for it is light, but fertile loamy or sandy loamy soil. If the soil is very poor, the shrub in search of food will begin to grow very actively in breadth, forming a huge amount of basal growth, which is almost impossible to eradicate. The acid-base balance for the shadberry does not matter, but it does not treat acidic soil very well. If groundwater lies closer than 2–2.5 m from the surface, it is advisable to find another site, otherwise the roots may begin to rot.

When planting irgi, the root neck should be deepened by 5–7 cm, and the seedling itself should be tilted at an angle of approximately 40–45º. This contributes to the active formation of adventitious roots. The tree must be watered abundantly (10–15 l). Then the soil in the trunk circle is mulched. The shoots of the seedling are cut, shortening by about a third. Each should have 5-6 growth buds.

Video: landing irgi

culture care

Care consists in keeping the near-stem circle clean, periodically loosening the soil, fertilizing and watering. The need for shelter for the winter depends on the varietal qualities of a particular variety.

Watering

Frequent and plentiful watering of the irge is not needed. The plant has a developed root system, so it may well do with natural precipitation. The exception is very hot and dry weather. In this case, the Canadian irgu is watered every 7–12 days, spending 20–30 liters per adult plant. The preferred method is sprinkling. It allows you to wash off the dust from the leaves of the shrub at the same time as watering.

If there is a technical possibility, the irgu is watered by sprinkling, simulating natural precipitation.

The optimal time for the procedure is early morning or late evening. If the bright sun shines, the drops of water remaining on the leaves can play the role of lenses, the shrub will get sunburn.

Fertilization

If all the necessary fertilizers have been applied to the planting pit, in the first 3–4 years of being in the open field, the Canadian irga can do without additional feeding. Then, every spring, 15–20 g of any nitrogen-containing fertilizer is distributed in the near-stem circle during the first loosening (you can prepare a solution by diluting the same amount in 10 liters of water). At the end of September, the plant is fed with phosphorus and potassium so that it can properly prepare for winter. To do this, use simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate (20–25 g each) or complex preparations (AVA, Autumn). A natural alternative is wood ash (about 0.5 l).

Wood ash is a natural source of potassium and phosphorus

Irga gratefully responds to any fertilizers, especially organic ones, by increasing the growth rate and increasing yields. Starting from the moment when flowering ends, it is advisable to water it every 3-4 weeks with infusions of nettle leaves, dandelion, fresh cow dung or bird droppings. The nutrient solution is not applied directly under the roots, it is better to make several annular grooves, stepping back from the trunk about 0.5 m. About half an hour after feeding, the bush is watered abundantly so as not to burn the roots. When moisture is absorbed, the soil is gently loosened.

12-15 days after flowering, foliar top dressing using trace elements can be carried out. In 10 liters of water, dissolve 1-2 g of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate and boric acid.

pruning

Irga is distinguished by its growth rate, therefore it needs periodic pruning. But you should not abuse this, the culture does not tolerate the procedure too well.

Most often it is formed as a multi-stemmed bush. This configuration is provided by nature itself, it only needs to be tweaked a little. To do this, during the first 4–5 years after planting in the ground near Canadian shadberry, all shoots are cut to the point of growth, leaving only 2–3 of the most powerful and developed. An adult shrub, therefore, should consist of 15–20 branches of different ages.

The productive life of the Canadian shadberry is long, so it needs rejuvenating pruning about once every 10–12 years. The signal for this is a sharp decrease in the growth rate of shrubs - no more than 10 cm per year. In this case, it is imperative to get rid of all no longer fruitful, weak, deformed, elongated shoots. All other branches are shortened to 2–2.5 m. There is another option for rejuvenation - every year, completely cut off the two oldest shoots.

A radical way to trim the Canadian irgi is to leave only stumps from the shoots

If the cut diameter is more than 0.5 cm, it must be disinfected with a 2% solution of copper sulfate and carefully covered with garden pitch.

In the Canadian irgi, growing in a hedge, all available shoots are shortened by 10–15 cm annually. This stimulates the shrub to more intensive branching.

Sanitary pruning is carried out every spring. It is needed to get rid of broken, dried, frozen branches during the winter. They also remove those that grow down and deep into the crown, thickening it, breaking the neat outlines of the shrub.

Preparing for winter

Irga Canadian - frost-resistant culture. Therefore, in regions with a subtropical climate, she definitely does not need shelter for the winter. There you can limit yourself to cleaning the trunk circle from debris and updating the mulch layer.

But in the European part of Russia, for example, in the Moscow region, the situation is different. There, winters are both quite warm, snowy, and abnormally cold, with a minimum amount of precipitation. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and protect young seedlings by covering them with suitable-sized boxes stuffed with hay, sawdust, and shavings. Adult specimens at the base of the shoots are covered with a layer of peat or humus about 25 cm high. As soon as the snow falls, a high snowdrift is built at the roots.

Common diseases and pests

Irga Canadian by nature has a high immunity, therefore, it rarely suffers from pathogenic fungi and pests. The main threat to crops is birds. The only way to reliably protect berries from them is a fine-mesh net thrown over a bush. But this is not always possible due to the size of the plant. All other methods (scarecrows, shiny ribbons, rattles) give only a short-term effect, for 2-3 days, no more. Birds quickly realize that these objects are not able to cause them any harm.

The net is the only reliable way to protect the shadberry crop from birds

But still occasionally, if the summer is very cold and rainy, the following diseases can develop:

tuberculosis. Leaves and young shoots acquire an unnatural red-purple hue, dry quickly and wither. Small reddish-pink "warts" may appear on the branches. All branches, even slightly affected, are cut and burned. The shrub is sprayed twice with an interval of 7–12 days with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or copper sulphate;
gray rot. On the shoots at the base and in the places where the leaf petioles are attached, “weeping” black-brown spots spread on the fruits, gradually covered with a fluffy light gray coating with small black blotches. Most often, the cause is abundant watering, so it is immediately stopped. Shrub and soil in the trunk circle are dusted with sifted wood ash, crushed chalk, colloidal sulfur;
leaf spot. The spots can be of various shades, from almost white to dark brown. It depends on the specific type of fungus causing the disease. For the fight, any copper-containing preparations are used (Topaz, Skor, Horus). Usually, if the problem is noticed at an early stage, 2-3 treatments with an interval of 5-7 days are sufficient.

Photo gallery: Canadian diseases affecting Irga

The most common pests of irgi are usually not able to cause significant damage to the shrub. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be fought.

seed-bearing Adults lay eggs in fruit ovaries. The hatched larvae eat the seeds from the berries and pupate in them. Damaged fruits shrivel and fall off. For prevention, the plant is sprayed immediately after flowering with Karbofos, if suspicious symptoms are found, they are treated with Karate, Actellik or Fufanon;
moth moth. Caterpillars feed on plant tissues, eating narrow passages in the leaves. Damaged leaves turn yellow and fall off. After harvesting, for the prevention of irgu, they are sprayed with Lepidocide or Bitoxibacillin. Also, Kinmiks, Mospilan, Konfidor-Maxi are used to combat motley;
leaflet. Most often, the pest manifests itself in early summer. Adults lay eggs in leaves, folding them into a tube. 3-5 days before flowering, the bush is sprayed with a solution of Nexion or tincture of wormwood, tobacco chips. They fight with adults with the help of Alatar, Bitox, Binom.

Natural potential of Canadian shadberry

Note! Species representatives of the Canadian shadberry begin to bear fruit at the age of 5, varietal shrubs are characterized by precocity - they give the first berries already at 2–3 years.

The biological characteristic of the irgi contains clear signs of endurance and unpretentiousness.

Like most fruit crops, it is photophilous.
For development, it does not need a lot of heat, withstands frosts in the range of 40–50⁰ C.
Not afraid of spring frosts even during the swelling of flower buds.
Feels comfortable on soils with a minimum content of nutrients.
Drought-resistant, does not need regular watering.
Self-fertile, with abundant ovary.

And a few words about the decorative value of culture. If the irga is ordinary or common in the middle lane, it is more suitable for hedges, group plantings, then the Canadian irga is a soloist, the “first beauty”, capable of outshine many. Graceful trees look like slender dancers, depending on the time of year in snow-white, dark green berries with purple beads, crimson outfits.

Irga Martin is a second-generation hybrid derived from the Thyssen variety. I took only the best features from the parental form - large (ø15 mm) juicy berries with a great refreshing taste, early ripening, stable yield, compact bush with a moderate amount of shoots. Unlike the Thyssen variety, it is characterized by a friendly ripening of berries, resistant to pests.
Irga Prince William is not as large as the previous variety, but has a number of other advantages, including high frost resistance and decorative effect. In autumn, the foliage turns an intense red-orange color and does not fly around for a long time, pleasing the eye with a bright outfit. Suitable for small gardens - the plant is characterized by a compact crown and a height of no more than 2.5 m.
Irga of the Pembina variety, on the contrary, belongs to large shrubs. In adult form, it is a sprawling multi-stemmed tree up to 5 m high and with the same crown diameter. Taking into account the large berry (ø15 mm), stable and high yield of one plant is enough to provide a family with fresh fruits and prepare a vitamin supplement for the winter. Gardeners appreciate the variety for a small amount of root shoots.
Irga Canadian Ballerina was named for her graceful silhouette and decorative properties. The variety is tall, large-fruited (berries ø12 mm), the pulp is juicy, sweet, with a slight aroma of almonds. The fruit ripening period is medium (starting from July). The plant is winter-hardy, undemanding to moisture and nutrition, but on fertile, moderately moist soil, the size and taste of berries improves markedly.
The variety of irgi Slate has attractive characteristics, in the description of which the early ripening of berries (June), large-fruitedness (up to 12 mm), rich sweet taste, and enviable winter hardiness appear. These qualities are especially valuable for regions with short summers and cold winters. Another plus is friendly ripening and simultaneous return of the crop.
The Canadian Smoky shadberry variety has become almost classic. A tall sprawling tree is literally strewn with full tassels of large aligned fruits of a dark blue color. The berries have a balanced amount of sugars and acids, which gives them a very pleasant, incomparable taste. The highlight of the variety is an extremely high yield. Smokey belongs to the late group, so the generative buds are practically not damaged by return frosts and give a plentiful ovary. In Canada, it is an industrial grade.
Irga Honeywood is also a classic, but large-fruited. Its juicy fleshy fruits, reaching a diameter of almost 2 cm, have a balanced taste and pleasant aroma. Attractiveness is added by high productivity and the ability of the plant to bear fruit for 2–3 years after planting an annual seedling. In terms of large-fruitedness, the Canadian varieties Northline, Mandan, Forestburg, Linnese are on a par with Honeywood.

Note! Canadian Irgu is often considered a variety, although it is a species that is close in terms of botanical characteristics. Among the characteristics of this plant that are attractive to the gardener, decorativeness is in the first place. As a tapeworm, it will decorate the lawn, set accents in group plantings. The shrub lends itself well to shearing.