Content
Among ornamental fruits and shrubs, hawthorn occupies a special place. Its fruits, leaves and flowers have always been used in folk medicine. Arnold's hawthorn is a large-fruited variety common in many regions.
History of variety selection
This plant was bred in America, but also feels great in Russia. The plant has a number of advantages for which Russian gardeners value it. However, the plant has not yet been included in the State Register of Varieties.
Description of Arnold's hawthorn
It is a woody plant that reaches 6 m in height. The fruits are large, 2–3 cm in diameter. The crown of the tree is up to 5 meters wide, wide, asymmetrical, transparent, and has zigzag branches. The spines of this variety reach 9 cm in length, which is significantly longer than those of most other varieties.
Fruit ripening occurs earlier, as does their fall. The fruits are large, the pulp is juicy, sweet and sour taste. Each fruit contains 3–4 seeds. Ripening occurs in September, and Arnold's hawthorn blooms in May.
The leaves of the tree are wide, ovoid, with jagged edges. In autumn, the foliage changes color from bright green to yellow or purple-yellow.
Characteristics of the variety
The main advantage of this variety is its unpretentiousness. In addition, Arnold's hawthorn is considered durable. His age reaches 120 years. The variety is used not only as single plantings, but also for hedges, as well as decorative group plantings.
Drought and frost resistance
The tree is drought-resistant and can tolerate frost. As for watering, it is enough to water the bush 2 times a month. In too dry summers, the frequency of watering can be increased up to three times.
The plant is also frost-resistant, which allows it to be grown in almost all climatic zones. It is necessary to insulate for the winter only in northern regions, where sub-zero temperatures below 40 degrees remain for a long time.
Productivity and fruiting
The berries of this variety ripen in early September. The first yield occurs approximately 5 years after planting. An adult tree, with proper agricultural technology, produces 6 buckets of hawthorn fruits per season. The berries reach three cm in diameter and have several seeds.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Arnold's hawthorn requires protection from pests and diseases. The most common diseases to which these plants are susceptible:
- Powdery mildew - is expressed in the appearance of a white or gray coating on the leaves. As a result, the leaves curl.For treatment, double treatment with known fungicides is used.
- Buff spot - a common disease that leads to early drying and falling of leaves.
- Brown spot - also destroys leaves.
When the first symptoms of any disease appear, the plant must be treated with a fungicide.
The most dangerous pests for Arnold's hawthorn are aphids, scale insects, leaf rollers and hawthorns.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Arnold's hawthorn is noticeable with its luxurious crown. This tree can reach 6 meters in height. In addition, it has a number of other advantages:
- larger fruits;
- easy to care for;
- long-lived;
- several methods of reproduction;
- resistant to frost and drought;
- Suitable for use in landscape design.
But the large-fruited variety also has its disadvantages:
- long spines up to 9 cm;
- susceptible to many diseases;
- The first harvest is only in 5 years.
Planting and caring for Arnold's hawthorn
In order for an American hawthorn tree to grow for more than 120 years and bear fruit well, it is imperative to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology. Caring for Arnold's hawthorn does not seem difficult, but there are nuances that must be taken into account. Then a beautiful, spreading tree with large fruits will stand on the site for decades.
Recommended timing
You can plant hawthorn seedlings in both spring and autumn. Autumn planting is considered more acceptable. In autumn, planting dates are calculated so that the seedling has time to take root before frost. The best option is to plant during leaf fall.
Selecting a suitable location and preparing the soil
When choosing a location, you should take into account that Arnold's hawthorn loves sunny areas, but in the shade it bears fruit and blooms worse.
The seedling must be planted in the following mixture:
- 2 parts of turf land;
- 2 parts humus;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part sand.
You also need to add 40 g of lime to the planting hole. In general, it is better to check the acidity of the soil. It should be at pH 8.
At the bottom of the pit, a layer of drainage is required, which consists of crushed stone and river sand. Both components in equal quantities in a 10 cm layer.
The hole should be of such a diameter that the root system of the seedling fits and is free.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
It is important to plant the tree correctly on the site, taking into account the proximity of other plants. In this case, you can both increase fruiting and improve the condition of the tree, and vice versa.
The following cannot be planted next to hawthorn: apple, pear, plum, cherry, as well as other fruit crops that have common pests.
Excellent for proximity to Arnold's hawthorn, other varieties of hawthorn, its hybrid varieties, as well as dogwood and other berry crops.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Arnold's common hawthorn is planted using seedlings. You can do this with seeds, but they will grow and develop longer, and fruiting will occur later. Two-year-old seedlings with a healthy root system are suitable for planting. If the hawthorn has side shoots, they should be trimmed before planting.
Landing algorithm
Arnold's hawthorn is planted in planting holes at a distance of 2 m from each other. The seedling is placed in the center of the prepared hole and covered with earth. The soil must be compacted.The root collar should be flush with the ground.
After planting, be sure to pour at least a bucket of water under the seedling. After planting, you need to remember that young trees require careful watering.
Aftercare
In order for Arnold's large-fruited hawthorn to grow and develop beautifully and delight its owner with a rich harvest, it is important to properly care for it.
- Watering. Hawthorn should be watered once a month at the rate of 15 liters of water per tree. Younger plants need to be watered a little more often, especially in dry summers. If the summer is rainy enough, then watering is not required at all.
- Top dressing. To get a rich harvest, you need to take care of good feeding. Every spring he plans to add nitroammophoska. Before flowering, a bucket of liquid mullein is applied under each tree to feed it.
- Trimming. There are two types of pruning: sanitary and formative. Sanitary pruning is carried out annually. Its goal is to remove all diseased, dried, and frozen branches. When formative pruning, you should not trim more than 1/3 of the length of the shoot. If you cut more, the plant will not be able to bloom and bear fruit normally.
- Preparing for winter. The plant is considered frost-resistant, and therefore does not require special preparation. It is enough to mulch the root zone with straw or hay.
Diseases and pests, control methods and prevention
For Arnold hawthorn, the description of the variety lists several diseases to which the tree is susceptible.
- Rust. If suspicious spots are detected, diseased shoots must be pruned immediately to avoid the spread of infection.
- Powdery mildew — Spraying with modern fungicides is required.
In addition to diseases, hawthorn is susceptible to attack by pests. As a preventive measure, a soap solution helps against them, as well as a tobacco solution, which is supposed to be sprayed on the tree a couple of times a season.
After flowering, you can spray the tree again if the infestation is too severe.
Application in landscape design
Arnold's hawthorn looks very beautiful in the photo and on the site. This tree is used not only to produce tasty fruits, but also to decorate the local area. It is used in landscape design both in single plantings and in group plantings. Hawthorn looks beautiful in rock gardens, as well as in figured structures. Its crown can be formed in the form of a ball, pyramid, or rectangle.
Conclusion
Arnold's hawthorn is an American variety of a well-known healthy berry that has a large number of medicinal properties. This tree is suitable for use in landscape design. The fruits are quite large, this variety has a large harvest. It is important to correctly follow the rules of agricultural technology and timely water, feed and prune the plant, which can stand on the site for more than 120 years.
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