Content
Almonds belong to the Rosaceae family. The historical homeland of culture is Central Asia; it grows in the wild in the Mediterranean. By hybridization, varieties have been created that can be cultivated in regions with a temperate climate. A description of the varieties of almonds will help to determine the choice of a species for a particular climatic zone.
Variety of types and varieties of almonds
Common almonds come in two varieties. Bitter grows in the wild, gives nuts with a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid, the fruits of the culture are unsuitable for food. A wild type of almond is grown for pharmaceutical purposes. Sweet almonds are cultivated for the food industry, the kernels are consumed fresh or processed for confectionery.
The culture, depending on the variety, grows in the form of a shrub or tree, reaching up to 6 m in height. Reproduction takes place by seeds, layering, grafting or by cuttings. The tree is used as a rootstock for peach.
When creating new varieties, the priority was the adaptation of the plant to low spring temperatures. The common plant blooms in early spring before the leaves form. The main flowering occurs in mid-March, some varieties that grow in the subtropical zone begin to bloom in late February.
In Russia, there are only a few species of wild-growing almonds, which are not afraid of low temperatures. They are used in breeding. Most of the created hybrids have a late flowering period and a long dormant period of generative buds. If there is a threat of recurrent frost, such varieties are not threatened with freezing of flowers and ovaries.
Types of almonds
The culture deserves attention, many types of almonds growing in the wild are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Stalked almonds
An endangered perennial plant found in Siberia and Buryatia. It grows in the form of an ornamental shrub up to 1.8 meters high. Prefers calcified, calcareous soils. The plant is drought-resistant, it can do without water for a long time.
External description:
- leaves are narrow, oblong, up to 2.5 cm, carved along the edge;
- flowers are simple, large, solitary, bright pink, profuse flowering;
- medium-sized nuts, wide at the base, tapering upward (in the form of a drop), a gray surface, densely pubescent with a short nap.
Dwarf almonds
The variety has several names: low, bean, steppe. Perennial, deciduous shrub up to 1.5 m. Due to its decorative effect during flowering, the variety is used in landscape design. The photo shows the steppe almonds during flowering. The crown is dense, formed in the form of a ball. The branches are upright, give many shoots.
External characteristic:
- leaves are lanceolate, oblong up to 5 cm, hard, glossy, with teeth along the edge;
- profuse flowering, bright crimson buds, dark pink flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with a tart aroma, bloom simultaneously with the appearance of leaves;
- drupe fruit of gray color, has the shape of an elongated oval, tapering upward, densely pubescent, length - 2 cm.
Blooms in early April, flowering duration 14 days, fruits ripen in July. Found in Siberia and the Caucasus. The species includes two varieties: with white and pink flowers.
Almond Petunnikov
Perennial, deciduous shrub, reaching a height of no more than one meter. The crown is dense, spherical. Distributed in Central Asia. Refers to heat-loving plants, tolerates drought well. It will not grow in temperate climates, prone to freezing of young shoots and root system.
External description:
- leaves are small, dark green, narrow, located at the ends of the shoots;
- flowers are light pink, large, simple;
- fruits are small, orange or dark yellow, densely pubescent.
Duration of flowering 2 weeks from late April to mid-May. Begins to bloom at the age of three, bears fruit after five years.
Ledebour almond
Distributed in Altai in the foothills, steppes and meadows. Prefers fertile, moderately moist soils. It belongs to frost-resistant varieties, grows in open areas, blooms profusely, is a honey plant. In the wild, it forms hard-to-pass thickets of low-growing shrubs. Almonds grow up to 1.5 m in height.
Description of the plant:
- the crown is dense, branched, spherical;
- leaves are large, oblong, glossy, ribbed along the edge, dark green;
- blooms profusely with large pink or light burgundy flowers reaching 3.5 cm in diameter.
Flowering lasts 21 days and begins in May. The fruits ripen at the end of August. The shrub begins to bear fruit after 10 years of vegetation.
Georgian
Almonds grow on mountain slopes, forest edges, forest glades of the Caucasus. Combined into one species with steppe almonds. Low-growing (1.2 m), perennial, deciduous shrub. Prefers neutral soils, tolerates high air temperatures well. Frost-resistant, feels comfortable in Central Russia.
External characteristics:
- leaves are large, up to 8 cm, hard, with a smooth surface, serrated along the edge;
- the crown is dense, intensively forms young shoots and root growth;
- flowers are large up to 5.5 cm, bright pink;
- drupes up to 1.5 cm, ovoid, gray-green, pubescent.
The plant blooms in April before the leaves appear, the fruits ripen in July. Georgian almonds are used in breeding. Grown as a hedge in a personal plot.
The best varieties of almonds
Description and photos of the best varieties of almonds created by hybridization based on wild species are presented below. Most often these are winter-hardy varieties with edible nuts. They are cultivated for fruit production and as a decorative decoration of the territory.
Dessert almond variety
The hybrid was created on the basis of Georgian almonds, it is not afraid of spring frosts, flower buds are resistant to a drop in temperature. The culture blooms in mid-May, bears fruit in September. Suitable for growing throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, except for the zone of risky farming.
External characteristics:
- It grows in the form of a tree up to five meters in height.
- The crown is compact, not spreading, dense, the ends of young shoots are slightly lowered.
- The plant is grown for fruit. Nuts are large with good taste and thin brown shells, ripen in July.
- The flowers are medium-sized, dark pink, sterile.
Pollinating varieties allow to achieve high and stable tree productivity.
Foros almond variety
This variety of almonds was created specifically for fruit production. As a result of hybridization of three species, the plants obtained a drought-resistant species for growing in the North Caucasus region.
This is a tree of medium height (up to four meters) with a wide-oval, spreading, dense crown. The fruits are large, the shell is soft, the kernel is well separated from the pericarp. The leaves are dark green, pubescent. The tree blooms in May with medium-sized pink flowers.The variety belongs to trees with an average ripening period, the harvest is carried out in September.
Almond varieties Slovenia
A new generation hybrid Slovenia is the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders. Bred for cultivation in temperate climates. The plant is drought-resistant with long dormancy of generative flower buds. It is at the stage of experimental cultivation.
Description:
- tree up to 5.5 m high;
- the crown is dense, spherical;
- blooms profusely with pink flowers:
- the fruits are large, intensely pubescent with a dense pile.
The variety is mid-season, the tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 6. Gives stable, high yields, nuts ripen in September.
Victoria almonds
A seedling obtained from the pollination of the Nikitinsky 62 variety and the Ledebour almond. The resulting hybrid is high-yielding, with good immunity to low temperatures. This is one of the few varieties listed in the State Register.
The thermophilic culture tolerates drought well, it is zoned in the North Caucasus region. Available for cultivation in Central Russia. The variety bears fruit with good taste. Nuts are large, weighing up to 6 g. The stone is easily separated from the pericarp. Grows in the form of a tree with a dense, branched crown. It blooms in April with pink flowers, the fruits ripen in August.
White sail
The variety was created for breeding in the southern regions. The plant tolerates drought well, even a slight decrease in temperature has a detrimental effect on flower buds. The medium-sized shrub reaches two meters in height.
Description of the variety:
- the crown is spreading, the branches give a large number of shoots;
- densely leafy with long narrow leaves tapering at the top;
- flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, white;
- fruits are dark yellow, medium in size.
Flowering lasts 21 days, starting in April. The nuts ripen in July. The variety is widely used in the design of plots.
Nikitsky 62
A popular variety for temperate regions. The plant is the most frost-resistant among the representatives of the species. The winter rest period is long. The culture blooms at the end of May. It grows in the form of a tree up to five meters high. Cultivated to produce fruits. The nut is sweet with a high concentration of oils.
External characteristic:
- the crown is spreading, dense;
- the root system gives a large amount of growth;
- leaves are large, pubescent, with carved edges, dark green above, the lower part is a tone lighter;
- blooms intensely with medium-sized flowers, white with a pink tint.
Fruiting in July at the 6th year of growth, the culture is self-fertile, therefore pollinating varieties are required.
Dream
An ornamental variety based on the steppe species. A low-growing shrub up to one meter in height, appreciated for its exuberant flowering. Frost-resistant, with a regular spherical crown shape. It is used for a design solution in the design of the territory.
Description:
- leaves are long, narrow, dark green, ribbed along the edge;
- fruits of medium size, gray-green, densely pubescent;
- flowers are large, up to 6 cm, bright pink, abundant flowering.
Leaves and flowers form simultaneously in mid-May. The fruits ripen in July.
Conclusion
A description of the varieties of almonds and its varieties will help you choose a plant for planting on the site. If the purpose of planting is to obtain fruits, a tall culture is suitable; low-growing shrubs are used for design purposes. The plant is chosen taking into account the peculiarities of the climate of the region, they are sure to be interested in the degree of frost resistance.
