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Almonds belong to the Rosaceae family. The historical homeland of the culture is Central Asia; it grows wild in the Mediterranean. Through hybridization, varieties have been created that can be cultivated in regions with temperate climates. Descriptions of almond varieties will help you decide on the choice of type for a particular climate zone.
Variety of types and varieties of almonds
Ordinary almonds include two varieties. Bitter grows in the wild, produces nuts with a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid, the fruits of the crop are unsuitable for food. The wild variety of almonds is grown for pharmaceutical purposes. Sweet almonds are cultivated for the food industry; the kernels are consumed fresh or processed for confectionery.
The crop, depending on the variety, grows in the form of a shrub or tree, reaching up to 6 m in height. Reproduction occurs by seeds, layering, grafting or cuttings. The tree is used as a rootstock for peach.
When creating new varieties, the priority was to adapt the plant to low spring temperatures. The common type of plant blooms in early spring before the leaves form. The main flowering occurs in mid-March; some varieties growing in the subtropical zone begin to bloom at the end of February.
In Russia there are only a few types of wild almonds that are not afraid of low temperatures. They are used in breeding. Most of the created hybrids have a late flowering period and a long period of dormancy of the generative buds. If there is a threat of return frosts, such varieties are not at risk of flowers and ovaries freezing.
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.
Almonds
An endangered perennial plant found in Siberia and Buryatia. It grows as an ornamental shrub up to 1.8 meters high. Prefers calcined, calcareous soils. The plant is drought-resistant and can survive without water for a long time.
External description:
- leaves are narrow, oblong up to 2.5 cm, carved along the edges;
- flowers are simple, large, solitary, bright pink, bloom abundantly;
- medium-sized nuts are wide at the base, tapering upward (in the form of a drop), the surface is gray, densely covered with short hair.
Almond dwarf
The variety has several names: low, bean, steppe. A 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 steppe almonds during flowering. The crown is dense, shaped like a ball. The branches grow upright and produce many shoots.
External characteristics:
- leaves are lanceolate, oblong up to 5 cm, hard, glossy, with teeth along the edge;
- abundant flowering, bright crimson buds, dark pink flowers up to 3 cm in diameter with a tart aroma, bloom simultaneously with the appearance of leaves;
- The fruit is a drupe of gray color, has the shape of an elongated oval, tapering upward, densely pubescent, length - 2 cm.
It blooms in early April, flowering duration is 14 days, the fruits ripen in July. Found in Siberia and the Caucasus. The species includes two varieties: with white and pink flowers.
Almond Petunnikova
A perennial, deciduous shrub reaching a height of no more than one meter. The crown is dense, spherical. Distributed in Central Asia. It is a heat-loving plant and tolerates drought well. It will not grow in a temperate climate; it is prone to freezing of young shoots and root systems.
External description:
- the leaves are small, dark green, narrow, located at the ends of the shoots;
- flowers are light pink, large, simple;
- the fruits are small, orange or dark yellow, densely pubescent.
Flowering duration is 2 weeks from late April to mid-May. It begins to bloom at the age of three and 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, and is a honey plant. In the wild, it forms impenetrable thickets of low-growing bushes. Almonds grow up to 1.5 m in height.
Description of the plant:
- the crown is dense, branched, spherical;
- the 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 growing season.
Georgian
Almonds grow on mountain slopes, forest edges, and forest glades in the Caucasus. Combined into one species with steppe almond. Low-growing (1.2 m), perennial, deciduous shrub. Prefers neutral soils and 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 edges;
- the crown is dense, intensively forms young shoots and basal shoots;
- 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 the garden.
The best varieties of almonds
Descriptions and photos of the best almond varieties created by hybridization based on wild species are presented below. More often these are winter-hardy varieties with edible nuts. They are cultivated for fruit production and as a decorative area.
Dessert almond variety
The hybrid is created on the basis of Georgian almonds; it is not afraid of spring frosts, and the flower buds are resistant to low temperatures. The crop blooms in mid-May and bears fruit in September. Suitable for cultivation throughout the Russian Federation except for the risky farming zone.
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 the young shoots are slightly drooping.
- The plant is grown to produce fruit. The nuts are large with good taste and a thin brown shell; they ripen in July.
- Flowers are medium size, dark pink, sterile.
Pollinating varieties allow you to achieve high and stable tree productivity.
Almond variety Foros
This almond variety was created specifically for fruit production. As a result of the hybridization of three species, the plants received a drought-resistant species for cultivation 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; harvesting is carried out in September.
Slovenia variety almonds
The new generation hybrid Slovenia is the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders. It was bred for cultivation in temperate climates. The plant is drought-resistant with long-term dormancy of generative flower buds. It is in 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 thick hair.
The variety is mid-season; the tree begins to bear fruit in the 6th year. Gives stable, high yields, nuts ripen in September.
Victoria almonds
A seedling obtained from pollination of the Nikitinsky 62 variety and Ledebur almond. The resulting hybrid is high-yielding, with good immunity to low temperatures. This is one of the few varieties included in the State Register.
The heat-loving crop tolerates drought well and is zoned in the North Caucasus region. Available for cultivation in Central Russia. The variety bears fruits with good taste. The nuts are large, weighing up to 6 g. The stone is easily separated from the pericarp. It grows in the form of a tree with a dense, branched crown. It blooms with pink flowers in April, 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 drop in temperature has a detrimental effect on flower buds. A medium-sized shrub reaches two meters in height.
Description of the variety:
- the crown is spreading, the branches produce numerous shoots;
- densely leafy with long narrow leaves tapering at the top;
- flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, white;
- The fruits are dark yellow, medium 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 regions with temperate climates. The plant is the most frost-resistant among the representatives of the species. The winter rest period is long. The crop blooms at the end of May. It grows in the form of a tree up to five meters high. Cultivated for fruit production. Sweet nut with a high concentration of oils.
External characteristics:
- crown spreading, dense;
- the root system produces a large amount of shoots;
- the leaves are large, pubescent, with carved edges, dark green on top, the lower part is a shade lighter;
- blooms intensely with medium-sized flowers, white with a pink tint.
It bears fruit in July in the 6th year of growth, the crop is self-sterile, so pollinating varieties are required.
Dream
An ornamental variety created on the basis of a steppe species.A low-growing shrub up to one meter in height, valued for its abundant flowering. Frost-resistant, with a regular spherical crown shape. It is used for design solutions in the design of the territory.
Description:
- the leaves are long, narrow, dark green, ribbed along the edges;
- fruits are medium-sized, gray-green, densely pubescent;
- the flowers are large up to 6 cm, bright pink, bloom abundantly.
Leaves and flowers form simultaneously in mid-May. The fruits ripen in July.
Conclusion
A description of almond varieties and its varieties will help you choose a plant for planting on your site. If the purpose of planting is to obtain fruits, a tall crop is suitable; low-growing shrubs are used for design purposes. The plant is chosen taking into account the climate of the region, and the degree of frost resistance is always inquired about.
