How to plant almonds in the garden: methods and rules. Almonds - benefits and harms of inedible stone fruits (nuts)

Many people love almonds, the benefits of which lie in the presence of a large amount of nutrients in the nuts, which are very necessary for mental and intellectual development person. The harm is minimal, but more on that below. Almonds are the most valuable and very useful plant from the group of nut-bearing plants. The almond fruit is commonly called a nut, but it is actually the seed of the inedible almond fruit. The almond plant has an interesting duality: according to its biological characteristics and systematic position, it is a stone fruit fruit plant, according to the commercial characteristics of the fruit, consumption as food - nut-bearing.

Biological characteristics of almonds

The almond genus includes about forty species, but one species has become widespread as a garden crop - the common almond (Amygdalus communis L), which belongs to the family of multicolored almonds.

In our country, the almond culture has recently developed and is industrially widespread in the Crimea and Central Asia. Although it was brought to Crimea back in the 6th century. Asia Minor is considered the starting point for the distribution of almonds.

The ancient Phoenicians saw the image of the beautiful goddess Amygdala in a blooming pale pink tree; from her name came the generic name of this culture - amygdalus. Tajiks call it “bod”, Uzbeks call it “badam”.

How garden culture Almonds are now common in many countries and continents: Australia, USA (California), Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco), Yugoslavia and others.

Depending on the soil, the common almond in natural conditions has a height of 2 to 6 meters, that is, it can be in the form of a bush or tree. The crown is wide, oval, spreading, sweeping, rarely cylindrical. Branches without thorns, straight or deviated, with numerous small branches.

Winter flower buds are oblong-ovate, slightly pointed at the apex, rounded at the base. Vegetative buds are wide-conical, up to 5 mm long.

The leaves are dark greenish, sometimes with a bluish tint, soft (leathery in very dry areas). Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, monoecious. Five white petals with pink tint, base with carmine color, up to 36 stamens.

Fruit - consists of an outer pericarp, an endocarp (stone) - a nut, a seed (kernel). The fruit is slightly pubescent (sometimes naked), thick, green, and when ripe it cracks along the ventral suture. The seed (nut) is smooth, perforated, brownish-brown (rarely white, straw-light, fawn), varies in shape: compressed or swollen (two-seeded).

The kernel is protected by a brown thin durable shell - a nut shell; the inside is white, ovoid-lanceolate or oval, tastes sweet or bitter with a pleasant almond smell.

Almond buds are formed in July on one-year-old shoots. This is clearly visible: small green tubercles are visible in the axils of the leaves, which by the end of the month become larger buds, from which flowers and vegetative buds will develop.

When harvesting almond nuts, it is advisable not to damage the developing buds, since very active internal development flower buds. The soil is moistened (not flooded!), then loosened and fertilized.

In the spring, pink tips of future flowers appear before flowering. The flowers consist of five light pink petals, the bases of which are colored bright carmine. There are up to 30 stamens inside the petals. the pistil, consisting of an ovary at the base, ends with a stigma.

Since almonds are strictly cross-pollinated, the presence of insects is necessary. Nature created this plant so that the pollen of the tree’s own flower could not successfully pollinate the pistils of its own flowers, that is, the plant itself is sterile. This eliminates the deterioration of the offspring, which happens with self-pollination.

Almonds produce an amazingly large number of flowers, but out of tens of thousands of them, no more than 5-8% of fruits are formed on an adult plant.

Flowers are the main reserve of the seed harvest. In winter, when the temperature drops to minus 22 degrees, only part of the flower buds die. Even at minus 24 degrees, up to 20% of flower buds remain viable.

With normal pollination, young almond fruits quickly increase in size, and at the same time active growth of new shoots begins. After 2.5 months from the beginning of fruit growth, the amount of fatty oil in the seeds is up to 50% of its total amount.

Almonds - benefits and harm

Delicious almonds have long been revered as the epitome of wellness and health. Its kernel is a highly nutritious dietary and medicinal product. The kernel contains - 70% fatty oil, up to 15% carbohydrates, up to 35% protein. It is rich in proteins, perhaps this is the most protein-rich plant, not only among nut-bearing plants. One hundred grams of almonds contain 85 mg of sodium, 228 mg of sulfur, 451 mg of phosphorus, 4 mg of iron, 75 micrograms of vitamin A, 75 micrograms of vitamin B1, 600 micrograms of vitamin B2.

The benefits of almonds and the harmonious composition of the nut kernel give it excellent dietary and medicinal value. In terms of nutritional value, almonds are superior to meat, milk, fish, and all fruits and vegetables of temperate and subtropical zones.

It is a source of many nutrients for human mental and intellectual development. It has long been considered one of the most important foods for growing children. Almonds contain two vital substances that are beneficial for brain function - riboflavin and L-carnitine, which increase brain activity and, as a result, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Research has shown that almonds, as well as almond oil, are important for overall health, function nervous system person.

It is a fantastic source of many vitamins, minerals, and phosphorus is definitely one of them. Phosphorus affects the strength and durability of bones and teeth, and also prevents the occurrence of age-related diseases such as osteoporosis. Almonds are high in vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant.

Its importance for the health and beauty of the skin is well known. Massage using almond oil is often recommended for newborns. Almond milk is added to cosmetic soaps because of its established reputation for improving skin health.

Many people think that the word "fat" means something negative, but in fact, some fatty acids are essential. They can be very beneficial for our health. The body cannot create its own fatty acids, which is why we must obtain them from food sources. The benefit of almonds is that they contain two very important fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids. These fatty acids help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Fatty acid also help reduce “bad” cholesterol levels. They support healthy skin and hair. The presence of potassium and sodium in almonds help regulate and control fluctuations in blood pressure. Regular consumption of almonds protects the body from dangerous spikes in blood sugar that diabetics suffer from.

It contains folic acid, which helps reduce the risk of birth defects in newborns. It also stimulates the growth of healthy cells and tissue formation. Doctors regularly prescribe folic acid supplements to pregnant women to ensure proper development fetus

Unsweetened almond milk can be used if you are trying to lose weight. Monounsaturated fats, which contain almond kernels, reduce appetite and prevent overeating. Dietary fiber also contributes to your feeling of fullness, even if you eat only a few nuts. Research has shown that low calorie diet, which includes almonds, is useful for obese people and helps them lose excess weight. Finally, the dietary fiber contained in the kernels promotes consistent bowel movements, which also helps you lose excess weight. Overall health improves as dietary fiber helps remove toxins from the body.

A medicinal emulsion is prepared from the kernel - almond milk. According to Eastern medicine, beneficial features almonds are enhanced by figs and are superior to ginseng. With sugar it is very useful for asthma, pleurisy, hemoptysis, intestinal ulcers, bladder, increases male abilities, improves vision.

This is an excellent honey plant and valuable wood. Almonds are considered one of the earliest domesticated nuts. Throughout history, it has retained religious, ethnic, and social significance. Almonds are mentioned ten times in the Bible, where they are described as “the best of the best fruits.”

But even the most useful product may cause harm. Almonds and their nuts are strong allergens, so allergy sufferers should use them very carefully, since an excessive amount can cause not only severe allergic reaction, but even cause poisoning.

Do not eat unripe almonds - they have a high content of hydrocyanic acid, and this can also cause poisoning.

Well, a high calorie content contributes to weight gain - this, of course, is harmful for obese people.
It comes in two types, sweet and bitter. The sweet is used in many Asian dishes. A popular use for crushed sweet almond kernels is in the candy base known as marzipan.

Bitter is also used for cooking, but it must first be processed while still raw to remove the bitterness. Bitter almonds contain toxic amounts of hydrocyanic acid, which can be extracted from the kernels and processed into the poison cyanide. Eating a handful of unprocessed raw almonds can kill a person.

In addition to the world famous macaroons, cakes, salted or candied kernels, I recommend two recipes.

Almond cocktail: Grind 20 g of almonds with a porcelain mortar or pass through a meat grinder, add 200 ml of milk and 20 g of any fruit syrup, mix with a mixer, the cocktail is ready. Fruit syrup can be replaced with 15-20 g of jam - strawberry, raspberry, fig, unabi.

An almond cocktail will be especially beneficial when instead of syrup you use jam from figs, raspberries, strawberries, unabi and slightly warmed milk. This cocktail can be a medicinal drink for colds.

Almond cake. Mix the crushed cookies and almond kernels well, pour in condensed milk, place in a mold, and refrigerate for 35-40 minutes. Then sprinkle sugar and cocoa on top. The almond kernel for such a cake should not be crushed as much as for a cocktail.

And another video recipe for almond cake without flour:

Almond cultivation

Features of growing almonds: it grows even on rocky, slate, light clay, light sandy soils, but prefers deep, fertile, permeable soils. Almonds are undemanding to soil. But does not tolerate heavy clays or high standing groundwater, saline areas. On personal plots it is easy to increase soil fertility by applying organic fertilizers under deep digging.

This light-loving plant, with a lack of lighting, productivity decreases. It should not be planted in the shade of tall trees or buildings.

Under natural growing conditions, almonds reproduce by seeds. To preserve the grade, vegetative propagation is used - budding. The rootstock is obtained from the seeds of the bitter seed variety of almond. Seeds are sown before winter to a depth of 8-10 cm. Already in July, when proper care seedlings at the root collar reach 1 cm in diameter and are suitable for budding.

Two days before budding, the soil is well watered - after abundant watering, the bark peels off better. At the base, the stock of the rootstock is wiped from top to bottom with a piece of damp cloth, after which budding is performed. For budding, well-developed straight shoots with clearly formed eyes are selected.

In areas where winter temperatures reach minus 25 degrees, the strapping is not removed in winter; moreover, it is better to cover the budding area with earth, and in the spring, remove the strapping and cut it just above the grafting site (cut by eye). Overgrowth shoots of the rootstock are systematically removed.

On poor soils with weak seedling growth, fertilize mineral fertilizers, but better rotted manure at the rate of 4-5 kg ​​per 1 sq. meter. In a home garden, it is advisable to plant at least 2-3 plants for cross-pollination.

In the first year of planting, plants especially need careful care: watering, loosening the soil. Watch the plant - it will tell you what it needs.

If the soil on your site is very heavy, you can use peach, cherry plum, and plum seedlings as a rootstock. In 3-4 years you will already have a harvest.

Pruning is carried out by forming and thinning. I'm a supporter low growing trees. Dwarfism has many advantages: ease of care, a large number of plants in the same area, lack of mutual shading, much higher yield per area, the ability to cover plants for the winter.

Almonds increase their yield up to eighteen years, and after twenty-five years the yield decreases. Irrigation during the growing season contributes to a sharp increase in yield. To avoid frequent watering the soil surface can be mulched with grass, old sawdust, or any mulching material.

The ripening of almond fruits is determined visually by cracking of the pericarp along the ventral suture. The harvested fruits are cleared of the pericarp, which is used as feed for small livestock. Then the nuts are dried.

Despite the peculiarities of growing this crop, its production is second only to walnuts and hazelnuts. Those who love almonds are not afraid of approaching old age. Lovers of this nut at any age feel cheerful, light, and look boldly into the future!

Belongs to the Plum family. It is often called a nut, but in biological terms it is a stone fruit, a close relative of the apricot, the seeds of which are also edible. Almonds are native to the Middle East and South Asia, therefore they are a heat-loving plant.

Many varieties of almonds can only be cultivated in regions where winter weather is characterized by a short-term drop in temperature to 17-22 degrees, but frosts of 25 degrees and above can destroy flower buds.

is a shrub or small tree with developed roots. The above-ground part of the plant can grow up to 11 meters, and the underground part can go five meters deep. The crown can have a round, pyramidal, spreading shape, and sometimes the appearance of a weeping willow.

During flowering, the almond tree is densely dotted with white or pinkish flowers; in some varieties, the petals are bright pink and edged with a white stripe.

Each flower has five petals surrounding numerous stamens with a pistil. Almond blossoms occur in mid-spring and precede the blossoming of leaves. Flowering trees are endowed with a pronounced pleasant aroma, for which they are valued as early honey plants, capable of producing up to 38 kg of honey per hectare. Green leaves have an elongated shape and resemble leaves olive tree, but exceed them in size. To produce a harvest, almost all varieties need pollinators, so several trees should be planted on the site.

Unlike and, the pulp surrounding the seed is a rough, green, pubescent peel and is unsuitable for food. Darkening and cracking of this peel signals the maturity of the edible seeds, which are elongated and covered with depressions and grooves. But inner part The seeds are not edible in all varieties. Wild almonds have a bitter taste and contain toxic substances. From such seeds, valuable almond oil and milk are obtained, which are actively used in cosmetology.

The collection of sweet almond “nuts” occurs at the end of summer - beginning of autumn, when the pericarps crack. They are removed from the fruit and dried, after which they are tightly packed and sent for storage in a dry place. Almond trees begin to bear fruit in the third or fourth year of life and produce crops for 40-50 years, and the tree itself can live up to 85 years. Nutritional value almond kernel is equivalent to bread, milk and meat. “Nuts” contain 55-63% fatty oils, 23-35% proteins, up to 8% sugars, as well as B vitamins. Almonds may be preserved long time without losing its qualities, and almond oil does not burn at all.

To obtain a harvest of edible nuts, common almonds and its varietal varieties are cultivated. The choice of variety is influenced by the climatic conditions of the region and the possibility of self-pollination, which is inherent in very few varieties, for example, Nikitsky 62.

Also varietal characteristics affect the shape and size of trees, as well as their resistance to cold, diseases and harmful insects. The size of the seeds, the thickness of the pericarp and the amount of harvest depend on the variety.

Frost-resistant almond varieties:

• Primorsky - has good immunity to diseases, needs pollinators and is capable of producing up to 15 kg of “nuts” from one tree.
• Nikitsky 62 - capable of self-pollination and produces up to 13 kg of yield.
• Dessert - blooms in mid-spring and needs pollinators.

Varieties with average resistance to frost:

• Milos - has average immunity to diseases and produces about six kilograms of “nuts”.
• Alushtinsky - ripens early and produces large nuts, but needs pollinators.
• Steppe - has an average yield and good taste.

Varieties of heat-loving and drought-resistant almonds:

• Jubilee - late ripening, with a yield above average
• Sevastopol - late ripening with high yield, needs pollinators.
• Foros is a medium-ripe, large-fruited variety, resistant to pests and diseases, and needs pollinators.

Almond trees feel good in a well-lit place, do not make any special demands on the soil, love liming, tolerate urban conditions and grow very quickly.

Almond trees can be propagated in several ways: seeds, seedlings, layering and cuttings. The first method is the most labor-intensive, but allows you to feel the whole process. When growing an almond tree from a seed, you should remember that the crop does not always preserve the varietal quality of the fruit.

The place for planting seeds must be protected from strong winds; the soil must be fertile and well-drained. In dry climates, irrigation will be required:

• Seeds are sown in the spring; autumn planting increases the risk of seeds being destroyed by rodents.
• the ground should be dug or plowed deeply
• the bones are buried 11-16 cm

Before planting, seed material is necessary. To do this, the bones are placed in sand and kept for about a month, maintaining the temperature at a level of 1 to 10 degrees. The optimal time for this event is the first half of winter. But it needs to be carried out 20-25 days before sowing. If the roots of the seeds have sprouted strongly, they should be pinched to stimulate the development of lateral roots. When the seedlings reach 15 cm, they should be shortened using a sharp shovel. After which the plants are watered abundantly.

About six nuts will be placed on one meter, and if a permanent place is chosen and budding is carried out without subsequent replanting, then two nuts should be placed in one hole.

Budding is carried out at the end of summer to prevent premature germination of eyes.

The procedure is carried out near the root neck. For the winter, the budded seedlings are hilled up, which helps to avoid early germination and death of the plant from the cold. When the oculant grows 12-15 cm, it is spudded for fixation. As the oculant grows, the procedure is repeated, and the rootstock itself is freed from new shoots. In the first year, the crown shape is not formed. Young trees are dug up and transplanted to permanent place, if necessary.

The most common method of propagating almonds is to plant grafted seedlings. But you should purchase planting material from a trusted seller or nursery in order to get the tree of the desired variety.

It is also worth considering that most varieties require pollinators, so you should plant several different varieties.

Planting of seedlings is carried out according to a certain scheme, following simple rules:

1. Prepare planting holes, the size of which should be twice the size of the root. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom using crushed stone, broken brick and sand.
2. The holes are dug at intervals of at least three meters so that future plants do not interfere with each other’s development.
3. The soil for planting seedlings should be fertilized using superphosphate (about 500 grams per tree), rotted manure (4-5 kg), and also add lime.
4. The roots are evenly distributed along the bottom landing pit and a support is installed in the center.
5. The grafting site should not be immersed in the soil.
6. After planting, each seedling should be well saturated with water. As they grow, promptly clear the soil around the trees from weed and loosen.

In the first year of life, seedlings will grow slowly, because the plant directs all its forces to the development of the root system. But in subsequent years, the almonds will actively begin to grow and after four years they will delight you with their first flowering.

Almonds require special care immediately after planting, but in subsequent years they will need regular watering, timely pruning and fertilization:

• In the absence of precipitation, trees need to be watered at least once a week. Older individuals can get by with less frequent irrigation. You need to make sure that the root collar does not get wet, because it can quickly rot and the plant will die. It is reasonable to carry out watering using drip irrigation, which will eliminate many problems.
• Almonds need to be fed regularly. During the period of active growth, fertilizers enriched with nitrogen and potassium are applied to young trees. For mature trees, manure and ammonium nitrate in the form of solutions are suitable (a kilogram of manure and 0.2 kg of nitrate per bucket of water). At the beginning of spring, copper-containing fertilizers are applied once. Any fertilizers must be filled with water to avoid burns to the plant and to ensure uniform distribution of fertilizers.
• It is necessary to carry out formative and health-improving almond treatments. They are carried out after flowering. First you need to thin out the crown and remove damaged and dried branches.
• Also, grafted almonds need shelter for the winter to avoid freezing of the crop.

At the fourth or fifth year of life, almond trees produce their first harvest. After flowering, medium-sized hard fruits with a sour taste are formed. In some countries they are used as food. As the fruits mature, they begin to harden, become dark and crack. The drying of the shell serves as a signal to collect the “nuts”.

Like all plants, almonds can get sick and be attacked by insects. The plant is most susceptible to gray rot, rust, moniliosis, cercospora blight and cluster blight. All these diseases, including scab and orange spot, are fungal, so they need to be treated. Treatments are carried out twice a week.

As a preventive measure, almonds are treated with a one percent solution of Bordeaux mixture, and fallen leaves are also destroyed by burning.

Almond trees can be affected by budworms, plum moths, almond leaf sawflies and Samoyeds, as well as spider mites. Systemic insecticides are used against all insects, in addition to the latter, and spider mites are expelled with acaricidal preparations. Trees are treated several times in the spring, before flowering begins. As a preventative measure they lure natural enemies insects - birds, installing feeders in the garden. You should also burn fallen leaves and dig up the soil for the winter.

If you follow all the rules, you can grow a healthy fruit-bearing almond tree and enjoy healthy and tasty “nuts” that are very nutritious, but allergenic and not recommended for overweight people. And wild almonds can be used as a rootstock for peach and apricot, which will increase the drought resistance of these crops.

More information can be found in the video:

An almond tree, with proper planting and proper care, will bloom profusely every spring and decorate the garden when other plants are still dormant. Blooms in April or early May. Its branches are literally strewn with pink or white-pink flowers, exuding a unique aroma. If you plant several almond trees of different varieties nearby, then at the end of summer you can collect the fruits, which contain an edible, tasty seed inside.

Description of almond tree

Almond is a tree up to 6 meters high or a spreading shrub up to 3 meters in height. It begins to bloom early; in regions with a warm climate, flowers appear already in March, in the middle zone - in April or early May. Flowers appear on the branches first, and after they fall off, leaves appear. There are so many flowers on the shoots that the almond tree in spring looks like pink fireworks. The diameter of each flower is 2.5 cm and consists of five petals.

There are two types of almonds:

• bitter is a wild plant, its seeds are inedible;
• sweet is a cultivated plant whose nuts can be eaten.

The first fruits appear 4–6 years after planting, and abundant fruiting occurs after 10 years. IN favorable conditions it lasts up to 50-60 years. Almond is a long-lived tree; its maximum age can be 120 years.

Fruits set only with cross-pollination. A prerequisite is that the trees must be of different varieties and bloom at the same time. They are planted at a distance of 3-5 meters from each other. Pollinators are bees or other insects. Almond is a honey plant.

Requirements for growing conditions

The almond tree is sun-loving. Growing it in a shaded place leads to poor flowering.

The root system has several skeletal branches that go deep into the soil. This makes the plant drought-resistant. It does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots; the soil must be drained, loose, and breathable. Outdoor cultivation should be carried out in a place protected from winds and drafts. Almonds grow well on rocky soils with a high content of calcium and lime. Planting on acidic or saline soils is unacceptable - the tree may die.

Almonds – heat-loving plant. Cold-resistant species have been bred for cultivation in regions with cold winters.

• Steppe almonds are frost-resistant and overwinter without shelter at temperatures down to -25°. Its other names are low, Russian, almond or bobovnik.
• Three-lobed almonds are cold-resistant; in frosty winters, the ends of the shoots can freeze out; covering with agrofibre is required. After freezing it quickly recovers.

All these types are decorative. Their bones are inedible and can cause severe poisoning.

Seedlings grafted onto sloe or cherry plum are considered resistant to cold.

Features of cold-resistant almond species

Steppe almonds are considered the most winter-hardy. This is a low-growing shrub, its height does not exceed 1.5 meters. The branches are erect, the bark is gray-red. The steppe species is interesting because its pericarp is pubescent, as if covered with felt. The fruits decorate the branches all autumn.

The steppe species has a lot of root shoots, which are used for its propagation. Only sanitary pruning is required, which is carried out in early spring. This type undemanding to soil, tolerates polluted air, easily withstands drought - it requires minimal care. It is used for landscaping streets and courtyards in the city.

One of the common three-lobed varieties is “Pink Foam.” It has beautiful large double flowers of pink, crimson or purple color. The root system of this variety is superficial and highly branched. The “Pink Foam” variety is suitable for strengthening slopes and artificial embankments.

Planting almonds in the garden

Almonds are planted in prepared holes:

1. they are dug 60x60 cm in size, of the same depth;
2. drainage is poured onto the bottom, for which you can use crushed stone, chopped brick, stones, expanded clay;
3. for drainage - a layer of coarse river sand, it is compacted;
4. a mound is made from nutrient soil, and a long stake is driven into its center, which will serve as a support for the seedling;
5. the roots of the seedling are directed on different sides of the mound, making sure that they do not bend;
6. The hole is filled with loose fertile soil.

The root collar is left 1-2 cm above the soil level.

The soil mixture consists of 5 kg of humus or compost, 500 grams of superphosphate, 250 grams of lime and a small amount of river sand.

If you plan to grow several almond trees, then holes are dug at a distance of 5 meters from each other.

Preferably autumn planting seedlings, this guarantees their survival.

When planting in spring, the roots of the seedling must be smeared with a clay mash. This will retain moisture and prevent the plant from drying out. The tree trunk circle must be mulched, but the root collar should not be covered with mulch. Caring for a planted tree involves constant watering. Until the almonds take root, it is important to keep the soil moist. At the same time, you should not flood it: if it is too damp, the roots may rot.

Care

Caring for an almond tree is not difficult, but should be done regularly, especially in the first few years after planting.

Care includes the following activities:

• loosening several times a season to a depth of 15 cm - a crust should not be allowed to form on the surface of the soil;
• watering regularly, as the soil dries, but not more than 10 liters per day trunk circle;
• fertilizing twice a year: in the spring - nitrogen, in the fall - phosphorus and potassium;
• early spring and late autumn it is necessary to carry out moisture-recharging watering - in the fall, such care will help to endure the winter easier, and in the spring it will provoke lush flowering;
• pruning

Sanitary pruning is carried out after the snow melts. Cut out all broken, frozen branches. Formative pruning is carried out immediately after the flowers fall off. Remove branches that grow deep into the tree, cross each other and thicken the crown too much.

Old trees sometimes need rejuvenating pruning. In this case, all branches are cut off, leaving a stump. After some time it will be overgrown with young shoots.

In regions with cold winters, care includes preparing the almond tree for winter. To do this, in the second half of summer, buds are removed from the tops of the shoots. This accelerates the lignification of green young shoots and makes them resistant to frost. In cold winters, you need to throw agrofibre over the almond bush and press the ends of the cloth tightly to the ground.

Reproduction

The almond tree can be propagated by seeds, layering, grafting or shoots.

• The easiest way to propagate is by rooting shoots. It is carefully dug up and cut off from the mother plant along with the roots with a sharp shovel. It’s good if you manage to keep some of the soil on the roots - rooting will go faster.
• Reproduction by layering is possible for bush almond species. The lower branch, extending almost horizontally, is pinned to the ground in several places and lightly sprinkled with earth. Separation from the main plant is carried out the next year.

Growing almonds using the above methods is the most effective. Rooting occurs quickly, and all the characteristics of the mother plant are transferred to the seedling.

The grafting method is more complex, and inexperienced gardeners do not always succeed on the first try. Growing almonds from seeds takes a long time. Seed stratification and germination in a separate bed are required. Only three-year-old seedlings can be replanted to a permanent place. Maternal characteristics are not always transmitted when propagated by seeds.

conclusions

Suitable for growing in regions with cold winters decorative types almonds They winter well, recover quickly after freezing, and in early spring they become garden favorites.

" Trees

Almond is a tall tree or bush, which belongs to the genus Plum and the Rosaceae family. Many people think that almonds are a nut, but in fact they are not, they are a stone fruit.

The almond tree reaches a height of 4-6 meters, and the bush 2-3 meters. The rhizome consists of 3-5 skeletal roots, which are able to penetrate deep into the soil, thereby protecting itself from drying out.

The plant is quite branched, and it consists of two types of shoots, which include shortened generative and elongated vegetative ones.

Dark green leaves are attached to brown petioles and have a lanceolate shape with a pointed apex.

An interesting feature of almonds is that they begin to bloom in March or April, much earlier than the time the leaves bloom.

Flowers This plant consists of 5 petals painted white or light pink. On average, the diameter of one flower is 2.5 centimeters.

almond fruit- This is a dry and velvety drupe with a leathery and fleshy green pericarp.

After drying, the pulp is very easily separated from the edible seed, which is oval-shaped and long, equal to 2.5 - 4 centimeters. It is characterized by the presence of a large number of grooves.

The first fruiting occurs at 4-5 years of tree life, but it manifests itself in full force only at 10-12 years of age. At good care the bush bears fruit for 30-50 years.

In addition to receiving fruits almonds are also grown for decorative purposes. The pink or white foam of the flowers of such a tree not only decorates the garden in early spring, but also exudes a unique aroma.

Almond is a plant whose pollination needs to be taken care of in advance. There are two types of trees:

• the former need cross-pollination, therefore, at least 3 pollinators are planted next to the fruiting almonds, the flowering time of which must coincide;
• the latter are pollinated by bees, so it is advisable to have 2-3 hives next to the plant.

Initially, it was believed that almonds could only be grown in southern regions, but with the development of scientific technologies, breeders have developed varieties that, with proper shelter, can survive even the harshest winter.

Varieties

Sweet varieties of almonds are cultivated; the following types are especially popular:

• Anniversary— the variety blooms quite late and has good drought resistance. The skin is medium thick and the kernel is sweet, firm and dry;
• Ayudagsky– this variety is late-ripening and early-bearing, the first fruiting occurs already in the 3rd year of the tree’s life. The fruits, covered with a soft shell, have a dense, slightly flattened oval kernel of light brown color;
• Sevastopol– such almonds boast excellent resistance to heat and drought, and they also produce a huge amount of harvest. The shell of the fruit is soft, and the kernels themselves are dense, sweet, and colored white;
• Mangul- this late-ripening variety not afraid of drought. Hard and dense kernels with increased oiliness are covered with a soft shell. A distinctive feature will be good immunity to most diseases and pests;
• Dessert– such self-sterile almonds are well suited for growing in central Russia, because they are not afraid of return frosts and frostbite of flower buds. The shell is soft and rough. The oval-shaped kernels are very sweet and buttery. Primorsky or Spicy almonds are usually used as pollinators for this variety.

Rules for planting an almond tree in open ground

It is best to grow almonds from annual seedlings, which are placed in open ground at the beginning of March or at the end of November.

As a place to plant a plant choose sunny plot, protected from draft and gusty winds, almonds can also grow well in partial shade.

It is believed that trees planted in the fall take root better than those that were moved into open ground in the spring.

Before planting the plant, you need to prepare a hole. In the fall, two weeks before planting, pits are dug, the diameter and depth of which will be 50-70 centimeters.

If almonds are planted in groups, then the distance between individual trees should be 3-4 meters, and between rows 5-6 meters.

A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of each hole., consisting of crushed stone or gravel. Then fertile soil is placed in them, consisting of the following elements:

• 1 part sand;
• 2 parts humus;
• 3 parts leaf soil;
• 5-6 kilograms of rotted manure or humus;
• 500 grams of superphosphate;
• in the presence of acidic soil, an additional 200-300 grams are added to it dolomite flour or lime.

After the pit has infused sufficiently you can start planting a tree:

• Initially, a support 1-1.5 meters high is dug in the center of the pit;
• then a hill of earth is built around it;
• the seedling is placed on a mound so that the root collar is 3-5 centimeters above the ground;
• at the next stage the hole is filled up fertile soil, tamp and water thoroughly;
• as soon as the water is completely absorbed, the seedling is tied to a support and the soil is mulched with a 3-5 centimeter layer of peat or dry leaves.

When conducting spring planting the pit is also prepared in the autumn.

How to plant almonds correctly:

Almond care

Almond care consists of several standard procedures that must be followed when growing almost all fruit trees.

For best fruiting almonds need regular watering. Young plants are watered every 2 weeks, and adults once every 20-25 days.

Loosening the tree trunk circle has a beneficial effect on tree growth. The first time such work is carried out at the end of March to a depth of 10-12 centimeters.

Then, during the entire growing season, another 3-4 loosenings are carried out, but to a depth of 6-8 centimeters. It is also necessary to remove weeds in a timely manner.

Almonds are very responsive to fertilizing. Starting from the 2nd year of life, in late April-early May, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate or urea diluted in water are added to the trunk circle of each tree.

In the fall, the following mixture is added to the tree trunk circle for digging::

• 1 kilogram of manure;
• 20 grams of potassium sulphide;
• 40 grams of superphosphate.

During the first 5-7 years of tree life, it is recommended to grow green manure in the inter-row spaces.

In Siberia, you can grow bean, steppe, low or Russian almonds without shelter. IN central lane Three-lobed almonds grow well.

Trimming

At the beginning of spring, before the buds open It is necessary to remove all frozen, broken, diseased or deforming branches.

After flowering has finished, you can begin formative pruning., during which 3 tiers of skeletal branches are brought out:

• in the first year, three branches are selected, located 15-20 centimeters from each other and shortened to a length equal to 15 centimeters;
• the next 2-3 years, 3 tiers are formed on the central conductor, located at a distance of 20-30 centimeters;
• shoots that are insignificant for crown formation are pinched several times during the summer;
• the rest are cut to 50-60 centimeters;
• upon completion of work, the central conductor is shortened so that the distance between it and top tier equaled 55-60 centimeters.

In autumn, after the leaves have fallen, carry out sanitary and anti-aging pruning. That is, all dry, diseased, broken branches, growing in the wrong direction and thickening the crown are removed.

It is worth remembering that when pruning thick branches, the cut site must be treated with garden varnish.

Diseases and pests

The most common types of diseases found on almonds are:

1. Cercospora— initially, brown spots with a diameter of 2-4 millimeters appear on the leaves, on which you can see a gray coating. Then the center of the leaf dries out and falls off.
2. Scab is a fungal disease that affects leaves, flowers and shoots of a tree.
3. Rust- red spots appear on the upper side of the leaf, and brown pads on the inside. Over time, the leaves dry out and fall off.
4. Hole spot- the disease affects all parts of the tree. It can be detected on the leaves, because characteristic spots of red shades with a dark border along the edges appear on them.
5. Gray rot— brown spots and a gray fluffy coating appear on the shoots.

To get rid of diseases, it is necessary to remove and burn damaged parts of plants and treat with fungicides according to the instructions. The most popular drugs are Horus, Topaz, Champion and Oxychom.

Among the pests on almonds you can find such insects as seed beetle, aphid, leaf roller or spider mite.

To control pests, trees must be treated with insecticides, which include Actellik, Fufanon, Tagore.

Biotlin or Antitlin are used against aphids. Get rid of spider mite you can use the drugs Apollo, Agravertin or Fitoverm.

As you know, it is much better to prevent the occurrence of any trouble than to treat it, therefore Preventative measures will be extremely effective:

• in early spring, before buds form, the tree and the soil around it are treated with a 1 percent solution of Brodka liquid;
• after the end of leaf fall, the treatment should be repeated;
• the best preventive measure there will be compliance with agricultural cultivation techniques. This includes proper watering, weed removal and sanitary pruning.

The almonds are removed only after the green outer shell has darkened and can be easily separated from the kernel.

Using a flowering tree in landscape design

Almonds have a very beautiful and unusual flowering , for which it is often planted for decorative purposes. Early flowers can only decorate a waking garden and create a spring mood.

In addition, a correctly formed crown shape will help to use such trees to create an alley or simply as shading for rest areas.

The almond tree is amazing flowering plant , which in modern conditions can be grown in any corner of the country. If you follow all the recommendations correctly, you can get very tasty bone fruits.

Anyone who has visited the south in spring will never forget this enchanting sight: decorative almond trees, gardens and streets blazing with pink and white! Involuntarily, I want to give spring in my land a small piece of a distant country where I once visited!

Almond, which usually blooms in 4-5 years, is either a small tree or a shrub with leathery, dense, dark green leaves that fall in the fall, lanceolate in shape with a sawtooth edge. Together with a huge mass of thin branches, they create a compact, spherical crown. The decoration of the plant is the abundance of fruits. round shape with a stone that is easily separated from the “suede” three-lobed pericarp.

But before the fruits set, they must first be the ovaries of flowers, abundant in petals and stamens. They are very beautiful, large, often pink, less often white, simple or double, floating in the spring air like a “fluffy” cloud for 2 to 3 weeks. It is for them that almonds are planted - the fruits decorative forms almonds are inedible. The plant usually becomes covered with leaves after flowering.

This unpretentious appearance Plants from the plum genus feel equally good both in the country and in the city. He is heat-loving and light-loving too. It is also resistant to drought (due to the good development of the root system) and can live up to 130 years. Valuable honey plant.

Common almond

Long-lived, decorating the nature of Afghanistan, Iran, and the Caucasus. A tree from 3 to 8 m tall, similar to a cherry, with a reddish coloring of branches or a shrub, after shedding the petals of flowers with pink or red corollas, it becomes covered with oblong-shaped leaves.

Georgian almonds

Fruiting from the age of 7, this shrub is quite stable within Moscow. Reaches a height of about 1 meter, bright, large pink flowers turn into ripe bristly fruits with the onset of September days, surrounded by leaves up to 9 cm long. The shoots, which become lignified before winter, are calm about frosts.

Ledebour almond

A nursery of the Altai foothill valleys with large leaves of a dark green tone, blooming pink for 2 weeks and starting to bear fruit at the age of 10 years.

Almond (bean) low

Grows in Asia (in Siberia) and in Europe in the lowlands. The spherical crown of a deciduous bush is formed by straight gray and red branches with leaves abundantly covering them, narrow and appearing simultaneously with bright flowers pink tone, abundantly showering the bush for a week.

Low-demanding to soil, resistant to winter cold and drought, light-loving plant, easily tolerant of pruning. For propagation, both root suckers and layering, and seeds are used, or grafting is done.

This abundantly flowering and fruit-bearing decorative almond is grown by gardeners middle zone and forest-steppes of Siberia in the form of two forms: white-flowered and Hessler, which has large pink flowers.

Due to its high decorativeness, endurance and long flowering, garden hydrangeas in landscape design...

Almond Petunnikova

Places of growth - mountain slopes with stones, on which it forms dense thickets of bushes 1 m in height, having straight or splayed branches with many very shortened branches. The light fawn color of the bare shoots turns into a gray-brown color of the bark of the branches.

Single-growing pink flowers are replaced by linear leaves with pointed tops and a sharp or blunt serrated edge. A winter-hardy and drought-resistant plant, decorative both during the flowering period and with the onset of fruiting.

Triloba almond (Louisiania)

The bush has a spreading crown, fruitful dark gray shoots are covered with leaves, growing in tufts, densely hairy after deployment and bare subsequently.

Flowers simple structure 1.5 cm in diameter, colors from dark pink to red and crimson, growing on shoots in pairs. They appear on the bushes from the beginning of May and last for about 17 days, after which it is time for the leaves to unfurl.

Forms for decorating the garden:

"Captivity." A 2-meter-high shrub with a widely spread crown, bearing pink double flowers with more than 40 petals and a calyx of 10 sepals with a peduncle 10 mm long. Flowering in May lasts about 10 days and follows the unfolding of leaves.
"Kyiv". A profusely flowering bush or tree up to 3 m high with pink double flowers of thin pleasant aroma, covering it for 7 days at the end of April until the leaves unfold.
Flower growers almost never plant Louiseania triloba with a simple flower shape; it is a nursery of arboretums.

Plant almonds - it's not difficult

Landing time and place

Decorative almonds are lovers of sun and air. Therefore, plant it in the southern part of the site, in a sunny place, or at least in partial shade. It is better that he does not fall into the shade of trees growing nearby for more than 2 hours a day. You also need to choose a place protected from winds and especially from drafts.

Evergreen, unpretentious and spectacular conifers- a great way to give the territory a unique image....

It is necessary to plant in the spring with the establishment of stable warmth, so that the beginning of the growing season does not coincide with the time of the last spring frost.

Prepare the pit

Almonds will not grow on acidic and saline soils, with close groundwater levels. It is necessary to clear the place where planting is planned from tall plants that can immerse the seedling in their shadow.

Holes are dug for planting several bushes or trees - a lonely tree will have no one to pollinate and there will be no fruit on it. Plants are pollinated by insects, so an apiary would be a good neighbor for an almond orchard.

But you shouldn’t be afraid of stones on the site, because in natural conditions almonds grow on rocky mountain slopes strewn with rubble.

Features of the landing process

Almonds are planted either late in the fall or during the first fine weather spring days, annual seedlings(this is easier) or with bones. It is not worth planting almond seeds in the fall - they will be chewed off by mice.

Seedlings should be planted in holes:

• according to the 7x4 or 7x5 pattern (at least 3 m between pits);
• depth of at least 30 cm;
• with sand and crushed stone poured onto the bottom.

Support for the seedling is placed immediately: until the few but strong almond roots have established themselves in the soil, it is necessary.

Almonds should not be planted in heavy clay soil- loam is more suitable. It is necessary to add lime and compost (humus), sand and leaf soil to the soil for planting.

You can grow almonds by grafting them onto peach, cherry plum, plum, sloe, and bird cherry.

Propagation of decorative almonds

It is quite easy to propagate almonds using seeds, layering, root suckers, and stump shoots. But the easiest way to do this is using cuttings.

Segments of stems harvested in July, having 2-3 nodes, are immersed for rooting in a mixture of 1 part sand and 2 parts wet peat; When landing, one node remains on the surface. Then the rooted cuttings are transplanted into nutrient soil.

Almond care

Watering

Watering according to the principle of necessary sufficiency: a bucket of water under the root, not allowing the soil to dry out - if it is “overwatered,” the root collar of the plant will rot, and “underwatered” will not bloom for so long.

Top dressing

In the spring, you can mulch the plant with manure, feed it with ammonium nitrate or other nitrogen fertilizers. In the fall, double superphosphate and potassium sulfate are applied (nitrogen-rich fertilizers are stopped around July).

Trimming

Mandatory sanitary pruning- removal of dead and diseased branches. Pruning, which almonds tolerate well, is needed to form a bush. It is usually carried out after flowering.

Old almond stems, which die off by the 7th year, must be removed; they will be replaced by root shoots that appear after 3 years of the plant’s life.

Wintering

One-year-old seedlings are covered for the winter with lutrasil or straw (dry leaves) to a height of 15 cm. cold winter Almond flower buds freeze at the ends of the shoots. If there is excess snow, the root collar may dry out.

Pests and diseases

The main pests are caterpillars of the leaf roller and plum moth, as well as aphids; the former eat the leaves, the latter suck the juices out of them and prevent the buds from developing. Help with aphids ladybugs, it is better to collect caterpillars by hand or use pesticides.

Also, do not forget about, which does not disdain any of the plants. To combat it, Antikhrushch and other insecticides are suitable.

Almonds can also be affected by diseases: moniliosis (spraying helps Bordeaux mixture) And gray mold(affected branches need to be pruned before the spore pads form).

Landscape design with almonds