Sea buckthorn: planting and care in open ground

Content

1 Principles of growing and caring for sea buckthorn
2 How to distinguish male from female sea buckthorn (photo)
3 How to plant sea buckthorn
4 Caring for sea buckthorn after planting
5 Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in the Moscow region
6 Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in Siberia
7 When and how to transplant an adult sea buckthorn bush
8 Flowering and fruiting of sea buckthorn
- 8.1 When and how does sea buckthorn bloom (photo)
- 8.2 For what year after planting does sea buckthorn bear fruit?
9 Growing sea buckthorn as a business
10 Diseases and pests
11 Conclusion

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn is simple. Even a novice gardener will not have difficulty getting a good harvest of berries if certain rules are followed. This article describes the principles of growing sea buckthorn, agricultural techniques and methods of working with this shrub. Its main diseases and pests are listed, and recommendations are given on measures to prevent and control them.

Principles of growing and caring for sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a low deciduous thorny shrub or tree of the sucker family.It is found quite often in the wild, especially in Siberia. Prefers light sandy and pebble soils, grows along streams and river banks.

You can plant sea buckthorn in your dacha both for decorative purposes and to obtain a harvest of berries. This plant is quite resistant to various diseases and pests. The agricultural technology for growing sea buckthorn is not particularly complicated. Of the mandatory procedures, only pruning is carried out, which is done to form a healthy tree or shrub, as well as for sanitary purposes.

How to distinguish male from female sea buckthorn (photo)

The peculiarity of the culture is that it is a dioecious plant, so the buds of sea buckthorn are male and female, and they are found on different individuals. It is by the buds that it is easiest to distinguish a male sea buckthorn plant from a female one. In male sea buckthorn they are located at the base of young shoots, in female bushes they are in the axils of the covering scales. Male buds are larger and collected in the likeness of spike-shaped inflorescences.

How to distinguish female sea buckthorn from male sea buckthorn - photo below.

Important! It is possible to determine the sex of a plant by its buds only after 3–4 years of life.

The difference between male and female sea buckthorn trees can also be detected by the shape of the leaves. The leaf plate of a male plant is flat, while that of a female plant is curved in the shape of a bowl. The differences between boy and girl sea buckthorn are also in the shape of the flowers and their color. Female flowers are yellowish, collected in inflorescences, male flowers are silvery, greenish.

You can also determine the sex of a shrub by the color of the crown at the end of spring. Male bushes have a characteristic bluish bloom, while the foliage of females will remain bright green.

A video on how to distinguish male sea buckthorn from female sea buckthorn is presented below.

How to plant sea buckthorn

When carrying out work, you need to follow some rules for planting sea buckthorn. Here's what you need to consider first:

One male plant can pollinate 5–8 female ones. A larger number of fruit-bearing trees will only be partially pollinated. Therefore, to obtain a good harvest, bushes are usually planted in a group, surrounding the male plant with female plants in a ratio of no more than 1:5.
Males die more often, so many gardeners increase their number relative to females for insurance.
For planting, it is best to choose seedlings of the same variety.
The root system of the shrub grows widely and is approximately twice the size of the crown.
The roots of the plant are at a shallow depth. Therefore, no agricultural work is carried out within a radius of 2 m from the bush. Neighboring plants are planted at the same distance from each other.

When planting bushes for decorative purposes, gender issues can be neglected. The distance must be maintained so that the roots of neighboring plants do not oppress each other.

When is it better to plant sea buckthorn: in spring or autumn?

It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Most gardeners agree that it is correct to plant sea buckthorn in the spring. However, this is not quite true. The timing of excavation work depends on many factors. You can plant sea buckthorn on your site even in summer, if before that it had been growing in a tub for more than a year.

Autumn planting can be carried out if it is known for sure that the seedling grew in the same area. If it is from more southern regions, the plant may wake up from hibernation in January–February and is guaranteed to die. Planting sea buckthorn seedlings in spring allows you to minimize risks.

How to plant sea buckthorn in spring

It is best to plant sea buckthorn in the spring in late March or early April. During this period, the bushes are at rest, and the soil has a good supply of moisture.

Planting sea buckthorn in autumn

You can plant sea buckthorn in the fall if the root system of the seedlings is closed. The optimal planting time is late September - early October. By this time, the leaves from the tree, as a rule, fly off. Therefore, all the plant’s efforts will be aimed at taking root. A step-by-step guide on how to plant sea buckthorn in the fall is no different from the spring, and is given below.

If the deadlines are missed, the seedlings can be buried and, after wintering, planted in a permanent place. The seedlings are placed in a ditch 0.5 m deep so that the crown faces south. After covering the bushes with soil, they need to be watered well. With the onset of the first frost, they are almost completely covered with earth, leaving only the tops of the branches, and then covered with spruce branches on top. When snow falls, they fill up the shelter.

Important! When planting seedlings until spring, you need to make sure that their roots are not tangled with each other.

Where to plant sea buckthorn on the site

The place for planting sea buckthorn should be open and sunny. You should not place it next to garden beds, otherwise there is a high risk of damage to the roots when digging. The plant tolerates this very painfully. It is necessary to plant sea buckthorn at a distance from buildings and fences so as not to shade the bushes. This culture does not like being in close proximity to other trees, so, as a rule, it is given a place at the edge of the garden on the south side.

What kind of soil does sea buckthorn like?

Sea buckthorn prefers light sandy soils and black soil. Acidity is best neutral.The soil should be moist, but not swampy, therefore places with a groundwater level above 1 m are contraindicated for sea buckthorn.

How to choose sea buckthorn for planting

For planting to obtain a harvest, it is better to choose varietal sea buckthorn. This is especially true for female plants. Male ones may well be wild. Plants are planted as two-year-old seedlings. By this time, their height should be 0.35–0.5 m, and the roots should be at least 0.2 m long. There should be 2-3 main roots, a sufficient number of small ones.

When examining a seedling, you need to pay attention to the condition of the bark. Detachments are not allowed. The brown color indicates that the tree is freezing; the chances that such a seedling will take root are almost zero.

How to plant sea buckthorn in spring: step-by-step instructions

Sea buckthorn seedlings are planted in specially prepared holes. They dig them in advance so that the soil has time to infuse and be saturated with oxygen. In order to properly plant sea buckthorn in the spring, planting holes must be prepared in the fall; for autumn, at least a month in advance.

When preparing holes, take into account the size of the root system of the seedling. Usually a depth of 0.5 m and the same diameter is sufficient.
Stepping back a little from the center, you need to drive in a wooden support to which the tree will be tied.
To the removed soil you need to add: humus - 1 bucket, river sand - 1 bucket, wood ash - 0.5 buckets, superphosphate - 0.2 kg.
Mix all ingredients well.
The seedling is placed in a planting hole so that the height of the root collar above ground level is 5–6 cm. The roots must be straightened and then covered with nutritious soil, lightly compacted to prevent the formation of voids.
After planting, the tree must be tied to a support.
The distance between seedlings when planting sea buckthorn in spring is at least 2 m.

Then the seedlings need to be watered abundantly, and the tree trunk circle should be mulched with sawdust, straw or grass.

A short educational video about planting sea buckthorn can be viewed at the link below.

What can be planted next to sea buckthorn

Only lawn grass can be planted under sea buckthorn. Nothing should be placed in the root system area (which is approximately two times the size of the tree crown). This is especially true for plants with a shallow root system (strawberries, currants); in competition for useful space, the aggressor sea buckthorn will simply strangle them. Therefore, next to the sea buckthorn, you can plant another tree of the same crop, but at a distance of at least 2–2.5 m, so that they do not conflict with each other.

Caring for sea buckthorn after planting

Caring for sea buckthorn in the spring for the first three years usually comes down to pruning. During this period, the plant forms in the form of a bush or tree. In addition, during dry periods, sea buckthorn can be watered and fed.

Rules for proper watering

In most cases, precipitation is sufficient for sea buckthorn. Watering is needed if the plant experiences moisture deficiency, especially during periods of lack of rain. The entire root zone should be moistened.

It must be remembered that excess water is just as harmful to this shrub as its lack. Therefore, watering should be moderate so that moisture does not stagnate in the roots.

Loosening, weeding, mulching, pruning

Usually the soil under sea buckthorn is not loosened so as not to damage the roots. Weeds are also not removed by the roots, but simply mowed down. Mulch the soil under sea buckthorn not with peat or humus, but with turf.This measure allows not only to retain moisture, but also prevents pest larvae from emerging from the ground.

In the first three years after planting, pruning forms the type of plant (stem or bush). Subsequently, it is necessary for the proper growth of the crown and to prevent its thickening. Twice a year, sanitary pruning is done to cleanse the plant of dry or diseased branches.

How to fertilize sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn growing on black soil does not need fertilizing. If the soil is poor, the plants can be fertilized a little. Sea buckthorn is fertilized in the spring by adding a small amount of nitrogen to the root zone. Usually, nitrophoska is used for this, simply scattering it on the ground. About once every three to four years, humus is added under the bushes, adding a little superphosphate to it.

Preparing the crop for winter

Most gardeners do not carry out any additional activities before the winter period. However, you can take certain actions to help sea buckthorn tolerate frost more easily. For example, insulate the root zone by laying it out with a layer of spruce branches and covering it with another layer of turf. To protect against rodents, tree-like sea buckthorn can be whitened in the fall and the trunk can be covered with a metal mesh.

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in the Moscow region

The climate of the Moscow region is quite suitable for growing sea buckthorn. To get a good harvest, it is recommended to plant cultivars bred for the conditions of this region. In total, there are more than 60 varieties of sea buckthorn in the State Register, and many of them are recommended for cultivation in the central regions of Russia. The most interesting of them are given in the table.

Variety name	Characteristics of the tree/bush	Number of spines	Berries, taste	Productivity, kg
Fragrant	Medium-sized tree.	Average	Large, red-orange. The taste of the berries is sweet and sour, with a pineapple aroma.	Up to 16
Botanical fragrant	A medium-sized tree with a spreading crown.	Few	The berries are orange-brown, in the shape of a rounded elongated cone. The taste is sweet and sour.	12–14
Botanical amateur	Medium-sized tree.	Few	The berries are yellow-orange, large, cylindrical in shape.	Up to 20
Lomonosovskaya	Medium-sized tree.	Few	The berries are oval, large, orange-red.	14–16
Moscow pineapple	Compact bush.	Few	The berries are shaped like a pear, dark orange with a characteristic red spot at the tip. The taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is pleasant.	Up to 14
Moscow beauty	Medium-sized, medium-spreading shrub.	Few	The berries are medium-sized, oval-round, orange with characteristic darkening at the ends.	6–7
Excellent	Medium spreading tree, compact	No	Orange, large, cylindrical.	To 10
Trofimovskaya	Tall bush. The crown is umbrella-shaped.	Average	Red-orange, large, sour taste with a weak aroma.	10–11
ES 2–29	Compact medium-sized tree.	Few	The berries are large, bright orange.	10–12

In addition to those presented, gardeners in the Moscow region can recommend such varieties as Lyubimaya, Moskvichka and Podarok Sad.

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in Siberia

Sea buckthorn is found in the wild in Siberia much more often than in the European part of Russia. For this region, varieties have been bred that are characterized by increased winter hardiness and productivity. The table shows several varieties that are recommended to be grown in Siberia.

Variety name	Characteristics of the tree/bush	spines	Berries, taste	Productivity, kg
Augustine	Low compact bush.	No	Orange, shaped like an egg. The taste is sweet and sour.	Up to 5
Openwork	A weak-growing bush with a compact crown.	No	The berries are bright orange, cylindrical, large.	Up to 7
Altai	Medium-sized compact bush.	No	The fruits are oval, bright orange, large.	5–7
Giant	A medium-sized bush with a pronounced leader and an oval crown.	No	The berries are cylindrical, orange.	To 10
Jam	A weak-growing bush with a rounded crown.	No	The fruits are orange-red, elongated. The taste is sweet and sour.	Up to 12
Elizabeth	Medium-sized bush with an oval crown.	Very little	The berries are orange, regular cylindrical in shape. The taste is sweet and sour.	12–15
Zhivko	Medium-sized multi-stemmed bush.	Few	The berries are medium in size, oval, orange-yellow, sour.	Average 13–15, can reach up to 20
Golden Siberia	Medium-sized bush. The crown is oval.	Very little	The berries are orange, regular oval in shape. The taste is sweet and sour.	12–14
golden cob	A weak-growing bush with a compact crown.	Few	Small-fruited variety, for technical purposes. The berries are small, oval, orange.	15–18
Darling	Medium-sized bush with an oval-flat crown.	A little	The fruits are oval, orange. Universal variety.	16–18

The number of sea buckthorn varieties suitable for cultivation in Siberian conditions is quite large. In addition to those presented, the following deserve attention:

Radiant;
Altai News;
Abundant;
Orange;
Panteleevskaya;
Excellent;
Dewdrop;
Tenga;
Chulyshmanka.

All of them are successfully grown in Siberia and have a well-deserved reputation. As for agricultural technology, planting sea buckthorn seedlings in the spring in Siberia will be no different from the same work in the regions of Central Russia.

When and how to transplant an adult sea buckthorn bush

Replanting an adult sea buckthorn tree is a very labor-intensive task, and even if all the nuances are followed, most attempts end in the death of the plant. Therefore, it is so important to immediately plant this shrub in the right place. It is relatively painless to transplant sea buckthorn in the spring to a new place under the age of 3 years. The plant must be dug up as carefully as possible, with all the roots and a clod of earth, and transplanted to a new place, without deepening the root collar.

After replanting, the bush is watered abundantly and the soil is mulched. Then part of the crown is cut off so that the plant spends more energy on survival. In the year of transplantation, the plant, as a rule, does not bear fruit.

Important! For better survival, root formation stimulants are added to the irrigation water, and the crown is sprayed with epin and zircon.

Flowering and fruiting of sea buckthorn

Both male and female sea buckthorn plants bloom. However, the purpose of these colors is different. Staminate (male) flowers produce pollen that pollinates female (pistillate) flowers. In place of the pollinated female flowers, fruits are set.

The ripening time of sea buckthorn greatly depends on the variety. The earliest berries can be picked in early August, the latest - in mid-September. A dry, hot summer will speed up ripening, while a cold and rainy summer will delay it.

When and how does sea buckthorn bloom (photo)

Both male and female bushes produce buds at approximately the same time. The very beginning of flowering strongly depends on weather conditions, for example, in central Russia, sea buckthorn blooms in the second ten days of May. This period lasts from one to two weeks. Flowering sea buckthorn (photo) - below.

Sea buckthorn flowers do not have nectaries, so they do not attract insects. This crop is pollinated only by the wind.

Important! Sometimes, in calm weather, the gardener himself has to work as a pollinator, cutting branches from a flowering male tree and fanning the female ones with them. Otherwise, pollination will not occur and there will be no harvest.

For what year after planting does sea buckthorn bear fruit?

After planting, sea buckthorn begins to bear fruit in the 4th year. Fruiting is considered full after 6 years of life. By this time, the tree is already fully formed and can spend all its vitality on the growth and ripening of berries.

Growing sea buckthorn as a business

Sea buckthorn oil is the most valuable product contained in the berries of this bush. It is widely used for both medical and cosmetic purposes. Sea buckthorn oil promotes tissue regeneration and is widely used in remedies for burns, cuts, etc. It is used to treat internal organs, gastritis, ulcers, colitis and other diseases.

Oil production is the main purpose of growing sea buckthorn on an industrial scale. For these purposes, special technical varieties have been bred. These include Claudius sea buckthorn, Baltic Surprise and some others. Technical grades contain 6.2–6.8% oil. Its amount in dessert sea buckthorn fruits varies and ranges from 2 to 6%.

Diseases and pests

Sea buckthorn is quite rarely affected by diseases and pests. Mostly old plants get sick, as well as those that are not systematically pruned. The crown of such bushes is too thick, air exchange is disrupted and fungal infections begin to develop. The weather also plays an important role in this.Excess moisture also contributes to increased morbidity.

The table shows the main diseases to which sea buckthorn is susceptible.

Name of the disease	Symptoms and consequences	Prevention measures
Common scab	Numerous black spots on leaves and shoots. In 3–4 years the bush dies completely.	Preventive spraying in early spring with a 3% nitrafen solution. Affected shoots should be cut out and burned.
Endomycosis	It appears on ripe fruits, they become soft and watery. Then the shell is destroyed, and the fungal spores are spread to other berries, infecting them.	Preventive spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Affected berries should be picked off.
Stem rot	The pathogenic fungus lives in the bark of a tree, causing it to separate from the trunk. The wood begins to stratify along the annual rings.	Removing the fruiting bodies of the fungus. Timely treatment of all damage to the tree bark with copper sulfate. Spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Ulcerative necrosis	It is recognized by characteristic swellings of the bark, which then burst along the trunk, exposing black wood.	The same as for stem rot.
Nectria necrosis	Numerous red or orange spore pads of the causative fungus appear on the bark.	The same as for stem rot.
Brown spot	Brown spots appear on the leaves, which then grow and merge.	Spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Removing infected shoots.
Septoria spot	Multiple rounded brown spots with a colorless center appear on the leaf blade.	Spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Removing infected leaves.
Verticillium wilt	Part of the crown or individual shoots turn yellow and die.	There is no treatment. The affected tree must be dug up and burned.
Blackleg	Caused by soil fungi. Recognized as black rot at ground level and slightly above. The affected plant simply rots in this place and falls to the ground.	Seedlings are more susceptible to the disease. It is recommended to plant them in a soil mixture with added sand (1:1), and also water them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Fruit rot	Berries affected by the fungus begin to leak and then mummify, remaining on the branch and serving as a carrier of the disease.	Spraying with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. Removing infected berries. The crown should not be allowed to thicken.

Sea buckthorn has few pests. These include:

sea buckthorn aphid;
sea buckthorn copperhead;
sea buckthorn moth;
spider mite;
gall mite;
sea buckthorn fly;
The fat roller is omnivorous.

To prevent the appearance and control of pests, bushes are treated with special means. Timely pruning is also important, since pests appear much less frequently on well-groomed trees with a properly formed, clean crown.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn is not difficult for any gardener. Minimal care is required for the tree, and the return is very high. Planting and growing sea buckthorn in your dacha means providing yourself with a supply of wonderful berries for the whole winter, which are not only tasty, but also very healthy.