Content
Irga spiky, a description and photo of which are presented in this article, is a perennial shrub of the Rosaceae family. Nowadays, it is rarely found in garden plots, but this is completely undeserved.
In addition to its excellent appearance, this plant also bears excellent fruit, presenting gardeners with a generous harvest of delicious and healing berries.
General description of spicata
Irga spiky is a perennial shrub with a life cycle of about 30 years. It is widespread not only in North America, where it comes from, but also in Europe. It also grows in most of the territory of Russia. A description of the spikelet irgi and its main characteristics are given in the table.
Parameter | Value |
Culture type | Perennial deciduous shrub or tree |
Root system | Well developed, superficial |
Escapes | Smooth, straight, up to 5 m high |
Bark | Rough, red-brown in young shoots, greenish-gray in old ones |
Kidney | Oval, pubescent |
Leaves | Green, matte, ovoid, with a serrated edge. The length of the leaf is up to 10 cm, the width is up to 5 cm.There is a felt pubescence on the back of the leaf plate |
Flowers | White, numerous, small, collected in large inflorescences of 5-10 pcs. |
Pollination | Self-pollinated |
Fruit | Berries 5-8 grams, as they ripen, change color from pale green to raspberry and then to dark blue or black with a bluish bloom |
Irga spikelet has quite a few advantages over other garden shrubs. These include:
- high frost resistance;
- undemanding to the place of growth;
- good productivity;
- great fruit taste;
- versatility of the use of berries;
- shrub can be used as an ornamental or berry.
Irgi berries are consumed both fresh and processed. They can be used to make compotes, preserves, in North America they are used as raw materials for the production of fruit wines. Due to the content of vitamins of group B, C, PP and other microelements, the fruits can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Reproduction of spiky irgi
Insofar as irga spicate is a shrub, it can be propagated in all ways typical for this type of plant. These include the following breeding options:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- planting root shoots;
- dividing the bush.
In the process of growth, the shrub gives rise to numerous root shoots, therefore reproduction by planting root shoots is the least laborious method.
For propagation by seeds, you need to select large ripe berries. Seeds are planted in a nutritious soil under a film. The growth of seedlings in the first year can be up to 15 cm. When propagating by cuttings, young healthy shoots 30–35 cm long are used. They are kept in a root growth stimulator, and then they are also planted in the soil under a film.
For propagation by layering, the extreme shoots are bent to the ground, fixed with brackets and covered with soil. This place is intensively watered for one and a half to two months, which leads to the formation of new shoots. After that, they are cut off from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Dividing a bush is the most time consuming method. It is done when transplanting an entire plant no older than 7 years. In this case, the bush is completely dug out of the ground, part of its roots, along with shoots, are cut off and transplanted to a new place.
Planting spicata
Planting of spicata can be carried out both for decorative purposes and for obtaining a harvest of berries. Plants are often planted in a row to create a so-called "hedge" to protect the site from the cold wind.
Photo of spicata during flowering.
Site selection and preparation
Irga spikelet is extremely undemanding to the type and composition of the soil. Avoid only very wetlands with a groundwater level above 2 m. A strong shadow will not lead to the death of the plant, but the shoots will become very thinner, and the crop will not grow very plentiful. A good option would be to plant a spiky irgi along the border of the site on the north side.
When is it better to plant spike irga: in spring or autumn
Since the spikelet has excellent rooting ability and excellent winter hardiness, the season is not decisive. Autumn is considered a more favorable time.
How to choose seedlings
You can plant a seedling of the first or second year of life in a permanent place. It is better to choose seedlings with closed roots. If the roots are open, there should be no rot on them.
How to plant an irga spikelet
It is possible to plant a spiky irga in a row, in a checkerboard or dotted manner. For planting, you need to dig a hole with a depth of at least half a meter and a diameter exceeding the size of the roots. For good rooting, a mixture of sod land and humus is poured onto the bottom, adding 50 grams to it. superphosphate and 20 gr. potassium sulfate. The root collar is buried 4-5 cm.
The pit with the seedling is covered with turf soil, spilled with several buckets of water and mulched with peat.
Video about planting irgi and more.
The distance between neighboring bushes is made at least 2.5 meters. When landing in a row, it can be reduced to 1.5 meters.
Spike irga care
Irga spikelet does not require special care. If the shrub is planted for decorative purposes, you need to take measures to form the crown - pruning and cutting. To increase yields, you need to do not only pruning, but also top dressing.
Watering
Irga spikelet belongs to drought-resistant shrubs and does not need watering. It is advisable to produce it only during dry periods and during the setting and ripening of fruits.
Weeding and loosening the soil
Weeding of spicata is usually carried out regularly, together with the removal of root shoots. At the same time, loosening of the soil is done. A complete digging of the trunk circle is carried out in the fall, combining this with the application of fertilizers.
Top dressing of spicata during the season
Irga spiky does not need feeding if planted in good soil. If the soil is poor, you can feed the bushes several times per season:
- In the spring, in the period before the beginning of leaf blooming - any nitrogen fertilizer, for example, nitrophosphate, 30 g per 1 sq. m;
- In summer, during fruit setting - infusion of mullein or bird droppings 0.5 l, or urea 30-40 g per bucket of water;
- Autumn, after leaf fall - wood ash 300 g, superphosphate 200 g, potassium sulfate 20 g per 1 sq. m are introduced into the near-trunk circle in the process of digging.
Pruning
Pruning of spicata should be done regularly. It has several goals:
- crown formation;
- thinning;
- removal of sick, broken, dry branches;
- rejuvenation of the bush.
The formation of the crown allows you to compact the bush and make it more compact. It is used when planting irgi in a hedge. Thinning is done annually after the third year of life. For this, 3 strong annual shoots are left, the rest are cut out. In total, the bush is formed from 15 branches of different ages.
Sanitary pruning should be done in the spring before the leaves begin to bloom and in the fall after they fall. Rejuvenating pruning is the complete removal of shoots over 6 years old. They will quickly be replaced by the young.
Preparing spiky irgi for winter
Irga spikelet is distinguished by excellent winter hardiness and calmly withstands cold temperatures of -40 degrees and below. Therefore, no special measures are taken to prepare the shrub for winter. You can limit yourself only to sanitary measures, pruning and cleaning of fallen leaves.
What diseases and pests can threaten
Irga spikelet is rarely exposed to the invasion of pests and is extremely resistant to diseases. The only exception can be made by old and very neglected trees. The table lists the most common irgi diseases, as well as its pests.
| Disease / Pest | What amazes | Treatment and prevention |
| Phallistikosis | Leaves, covered with brown specks and die off | Infected foliage must be torn off and burned, the plant must be treated before and after flowering with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid |
| Septoria (gray rot) | Leaves, fruits become covered with gray fleecy spots and rot | Reducing watering or replanting to a drier place; treatment with Oxyhom, Topaz or Bordeaux mixture |
| Tuberculariosis (drying of branches) | The leaf plate and the ends of the shoots turn brown and dry | Cut and burn the shoots. In the spring, before the leaves bloom, treat the bushes with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid |
| Irish speckled moth | Leaves from moth secretions begin to crumble and dry out. | Spraying with preparations Fufanon, Karbofos |
| Irrigated seed-eater | Fruits, the larva eats the seeds and pupates in the berry |
Conclusion
Irga spiky, a description and photo of which were presented in this article, is an excellent bush plant suitable for growing in a variety of climatic conditions. It does not require special care, is unpretentious and can please not only with its beautiful appearance during the flowering period, but also with an abundant harvest of tasty and healthy berries. And even the most inexperienced gardener can plant and care for the spikelet irga.
