Irga differs from all plants in its unusualness. It can be grown for decorative purposes, or you can harvest tasty and healthy berries in the summer, make jam, compotes from them, and make amazing wine. And what we call berries are not berries at all. What kind of plant is this and how to grow it?

Description of the serviceberry

A hedge of serviceberry protects the area from the winds

Reproduction

The irga reproduces in several ways:

• shoots from a bush;
• dividing the bush;
• cuttings;
• seeds.

Vegetative propagation

Reproduction using root shoots is the most in a simple way. Dig up last year's shoots that are at least 0.5 cm thick and at least 10 cm long, with good roots. They are planted vertically in prepared holes to a depth of 5–7 cm and watered regularly.

The bush is divided at the age of no later than 7 years. They cut it into pieces, each of which must have at least two healthy and strong shoots and a sufficient number of roots.

A more complex method of propagation is cuttings.

1. In summer, cuttings are taken from the tops of branches of five- and six-year-old bushes. The length of the cuttings should be 10–15 cm. Leaves are removed from below, leaving 2–4 leaves at the top.
2. Sections of cuttings are immersed in root solution for 6 hours, then washed clean water. The consumption rate of root is 1 g per 1 liter of water.
3. The plants are placed in a greenhouse with a temperature of no more than 25ºC obliquely with a distance between them of 3–4 cm. The prepared clean soil should be covered with a layer of sand 4 cm high.
4. Water carefully using a fine sieve and cover the greenhouse with a dome 15 cm high. The soil should always be slightly moist.
5. At the end of the second or third week, the cuttings take root, and the greenhouse dome is gradually removed, first only during the day, then left open for a day.
6. Three-week-old cuttings are planted in a garden bed for growing. At the beginning of growth, they are fertilized with slurry and water in a ratio of 1:8; you can use mineral fertilizer - ammonium nitrate in the amount of 30 g per bucket of water. Care is the same as for adult plants.
7. The following autumn, the resulting seedlings are placed in a permanent place.

Irgi cuttings are germinated using root

Sowing seeds

The seeds are extracted from ripe fruits in late summer. It is better to sow them immediately, in September-October. The seeds are very small, 1 g contains about 170 of them.

1. Before sowing, you need to rinse with cold water several times so that the pulp and unripe seeds that float to the surface of the water are completely separated.
2. Sow seeds to a depth of 1–2 cm at the rate of 2 g per 1 linear meter. Shoots appear in the spring, some - a year later.
3. In the phase of 3–5 true leaves, the plant needs to be picked.

Care

Caring for irga is not difficult. The main thing is to follow the rules of watering and fertilizing, as well as to prune the plant on time.

Watering

The first time after planting, you need to keep the root zone moist and water regularly, taking into account the weather. The appearance of a growth of 5–10 cm means the development of new roots. From this time on, watering is reduced to moderate.

Using mulch makes it possible to water less often.

Plantings of irgi are not covered in winter; they can withstand frost down to −40ºC.

To prevent mice from damaging the plant, an old nylon stocking is useful, which is used to wrap the lower part near the root. Two years after planting, they begin to mulch the tree trunk circle with humus annually.

Fertilizer

In the fourth year of planting the bush, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers begin to be applied every autumn:

• 300 g superphosphate,
• 200 g of potassium chlorine-free fertilizer,
• 1–2 buckets of humus.

Fertilizers are applied when digging into the tree trunk circle.

In spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied:

• 50 g of dissolved ammonium nitrate,
• 5 l of 10% solution of bird droppings.

This is quite enough to ensure abundant fruiting and good development of the bush.

Trimming

The serviceberry bush should not be thickened. A well-formed bush has no more than 15 shoots of various ages. To form a bush, it is pruned and thinned every autumn. At the same time, old and diseased branches, broken, weak and growing inside the bush are removed.

The growth must be removed in a timely manner. Immediately after planting, you can leave several strong shoots, and when the bush has a lot of stems, leave no more than two young ones, and cut out the two oldest ones. Pruning of shoots is done close to the ground. This pruning rejuvenates the bush and does not reduce yield.

In young plants, vertical shoots are shortened by a quarter of the growth to obtain a more luxuriant crown.

Video: growing serviceberry

Diseases and pests

Despite its resistance to diseases, shadberry is sometimes affected by diseases such as:

• tubercularosis - drying out of branches;
• septoria - gray rot;
• phyllostictosis spot.

Septoria can occur from excess moisture in the roots. In this case, watering should be normalized or replanted higher from groundwater. If diseased shoots are found, they are cut off and burned.

In spring, the plant is sprayed with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Can be used for treatment with Topaz, Oksikhom, Kuproksat.

Pests of the serviceberry are the seed eater and moth. To combat them, Actellik, Karbofos and Fufanon are used.

Birds love the fruits of the serviceberry, which causes significant damage to the crop. To scare them away, they use Christmas tree tinsel like rain, which is hung on the branches.

Features of growing serviceberry in Ukraine

It is not easy to buy varietal planting material in Ukraine, so it is preferable to propagate it by seeds. Seedlings are a more accessible and cheaper planting material. At the same time, the quality of the fruit and the productivity of the mother plants are preserved.

The following types of serviceberry are grown in Ukraine and Russia:

• oval;
• alder;
• Canadian;
• spicate.

Irga as a rootstock

You can graft a pear onto the serviceberry, and several varieties at once due to the many flexible stems that make up the serviceberry bushes. Heat-loving varieties are grafted even in cold regions, since the graft can be bent to the ground and protected from frost.

Fruiting of grafted varieties begins quickly, but the scions do not last long due to incomplete compatibility. We have to vaccinate them again.

Serviceberry always has new stems when old ones need to be removed, so the fruiting process is not interrupted.

Irga is a fruit plant that does not require chemical treatments. Its fruits are environmentally friendly and very healthy. She is not afraid of drought or severe frosts. Its maintenance is minimal. Planting it on your site will not be difficult. Shall we try?

Irga is an interesting representative of the apple genus. Externally, the small tree looks elegant and noble. Irga is popular in gardens all over the world. Cultivation in our country began not so long ago, but every year it becomes more and more popular. Every gardener who decides to plant a unique plant on the site should know how to plant and care for irga. AND If the care is of high quality, the plant will delight you with sweet fruits in the summer.

At the beginning of spring, the shrub is covered with tender leaves with significant pubescence. From afar, the plant appears like an air cloud. With the advent of flowering, the crop changes into “clothes” of a white or light pink hue. At the moment of flowering, the crop looks beautiful. Green or olive leaf blades are also pleasing.

Features of the bush:

Irga enters the fruiting period quickly, provided that its cultivation and care in the country are carried out in compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. The plant is also famous for its impeccable drought resistance, frost tolerance, for a long time fruiting.

A gardener should know how to plant shadberry correctly, since the crop has powerful, branched roots and numerous shoots. For successful cultivation, you need to accurately follow the general recommendations of professionals and maintain optimal conditions.

Planting serviceberry

When determining how to care for irga in the spring so that there is a good harvest, it is necessary to study in detail the secrets of agricultural technology. Proper maintenance, of course, begins with determining the time to complete gardening work and choosing a suitable site.

Pre-planting work:

Where is it better to plant shadberry on the site - in places with deep groundwater. The root of the plant goes 3 meters deep, and in close waters it suffers from getting wet. An oppressed root is not able to ensure the full development and ripening of the crop.

Before planting a shadberry seedling, you should first prepare the area. In spring, the place is cleared of weeds and kept fallow for proper rest. 2 weeks before gardening work, the soil is dug up to a depth of 15-20 cm. It is advisable to add phosphorus-potassium preparations to increase the nutritional value of the soil. They are scattered at the rate of 40 g per square meter. m.

After the site is prepared, the gardener should plant a young tree. The work will not be difficult. It is optimal to plant plants at the age of one or two years. When cultivating several specimens in one place, the shadberry is planted in a checkerboard pattern. The seedlings are placed at a distance of 1 meter from each other. The wells are medium sized. Optimal indicators are 60x60x60 cm.

Technique for planting irgi:

Advice! Young specimens should be planted with a slight deepening of the root collar.

What kind of soil does irga like? The plant grows well in all soils. Particular attention is paid to the nutritional value of the soil mixture, to maintain which organic matter and microelements are regularly added.

Upon completion of all gardening work, the tree is carefully and abundantly watered. As soon as the water enters the ground and the soil settles, it is necessary to add more soil and mulch its surface. Peat, dry leaves or sawdust are used as mulch. At the end - leaving only 15-20 cm from the soil surface. Shoots must have 4 developed buds for development.

Irga care

Agricultural techniques for growing irgi are carried out in accordance with the recommendations of professionals and do not require special care. Many gardeners, having planted a crop in their garden, forget about its existence until the harvest period. Nevertheless, the plant still needs attention, albeit minimal.

Care measures:

Particular attention is paid to nutrition, because the shrub prefers an abundance of useful components. Irga is fed:

• Under an adult plant, 300 g of superphosphate, 200 g of potassium, and 20 liters of humus are added every spring. Fertilizer is applied during the process of digging the tree trunk circle, departing 30 cm from the root collar.



• In the spring and until the end of June, it is advisable to add organic matter. Chicken manure is used, which is diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. Apply 5 liters of solution under an adult bush after watering or rain. It is not recommended to add organic matter to dry soil, as it burns the root system.



• In August or September, potassium preparations and phosphorus-containing products are added. Caring for irga after harvesting involves adding 200 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate and 1 kg of wood ash.

Nitrogen is not used in autumn.

Shrub care also includes it. When cultivating a plant, it is worth remembering that it painfully tolerates any manipulations with moving, since the root system goes deep into the soil. That is why the area for cultivation is chosen very carefully.



In autumn, irga also requires the gardener's attention. The bush needs to be pruned. Carry out sanitary and rejuvenating cleanings. And after the leaves fall, they are removed from the area to prevent development.

The crop overwinters in open ground without additional shelter. It perfectly withstands severe frosts down to minus 40 degrees. Thanks to this feature, shadberry is grown in all regions of the country.

• More than 60 varieties of this amazing plant grow in nature, but only a small part of them are cultivated in the garden. The most popular are: Spicy, which grows in the form of a tree, up to 5 meters high. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests, and is frost-resistant.



• The first harvest is harvested in October from a 4-year-old seedling.



• Alder is a shade-tolerant variety native to North America. Purple fruits ripen in late summer - early autumn. Canadian - a large shrub 6-7 meters high. The fruits are distinguished by their sweetness and interesting purple hue with a light dusting.
• Ordinary - shrub, no more than 3 meters high. The fruits delight with their ripening in early autumn. They have a bluish-black tint with a slight bluish tint.

"Currant"- this is the name of serviceberry gardeners often use in conversation. It arose due to the similarity of the dried berries of the plant with grapes from the currant group.

Growing irgi in the country- many gardeners consider it a labor-intensive process and abandon this idea. But it’s very in vain. This berry is very tasty and, moreover, it contains a lot of vitamins. With proper and easy care, the bush produces a harvest every year.

Jams, jams, marmalade, juices and fine foods are prepared from the fruits of the serviceberry. Home wine. You just need to remember that the berries become juicy only after lying scattered in a thin layer for a week after picking. They are very easy to dry and use in this form all winter, adding them to compotes, jelly, and culinary products. This plant was once used in alley and roadside plantings, for decorative, windproof purposes, and for snow retention. It is especially beautiful in autumn.

There are 25 species of serviceberry in the world, living in natural conditions in the temperate zone of Europe and North America. Irga is a shrub that, thanks to its numerous trunks, forms dense thickets up to 6 m high. Flower racemes are very similar to bird cherry, with small flowers without a pronounced aroma.

Russian gardeners most often grow Canadian shadberry (A. canadensis). The description of Canadian serviceberry should begin with the fact that it has ovate leaves up to 10 cm long, when blooming they are brownish-green, felt, bluish-green in summer, and in autumn they are painted in crimson-golden tones. It blooms for 7-10 days, abundantly covered with drooping clusters of 5-12 white flowers, contrasting well with the young reddish shoots. The fruits are round, dark purple with a bluish bloom, sweet, edible.

Irgu was first cultivated in England in the 16th century. The Dutch made delicious wine from it, reminiscent of Cahors. And in the 19th century, the first industrial plantings appeared in the USA and Canada.

The fruits of the Eastern European wild serviceberry (A. rotundifolia) do not exceed 10 mm in diameter. The North American species - alnifolia (A. alnifolia) - is larger-fruited (up to 16 mm), and in cultivated varieties the fruits reach a diameter of 18 mm, for example, in the Giessen variety. When ripe, the berries are first red-violet, then bluish-black with a waxy coating, juicy and sweet. A variety with white fruits, Altaglow, is also known.

Look what the irga looks like in the photo described above:

In Russian gardening, irga plays a modest role, spreading exclusively thanks to amateur gardeners. Limited plantings are available only in the Ural region. There are no domestic varieties, foreign ones are practically not widespread. The attitude towards serviceberry as a secondary fruit crop is explained by two circumstances. The first is the extended period of fruit ripening in the cluster, which is why it is necessary to carry out 3-4 harvests. Secondly, during the period of fruit ripening, it is subject to massive bird raids. Therefore, reviews of this culture are often negative.

How to plant shadberry correctly?

Before planting shadberry– you need to choose the right place for it on the site. Irga is an unpretentious plant that can grow on a variety of soils - from sandy to heavy clay. Only high groundwater and swampy areas depress it. It bears fruit better in a sunny place (the berries are larger and sweeter), but it also works well in the shade, for example, on the north side of the house. To produce berries, it is enough to start one tree, since the flowers are self-fertile. But it’s better to plant 2-3 serviceberry plants taken from different places to ensure full cross-pollination.

See how the shadberry is planted in the photo, which illustrates the whole process:

Extremely frost-resistant, serviceberry is not afraid of snowless, windy winters and therefore, like no other fruit crop, corresponds to the harsh northern conditions. It is not harmed by frosts even below -40 °C; the flowers tolerate significant return spring frosts (down to -5 °C and below). In very harsh winters, deep roots help the plant survive. The wide development of the root system allows the shadberry to receive nutrients not only from great depths, but also from a large area.

If all the rules for planting irgi and caring for it in the open ground are followed, then it usually forms numerous shoots and, growing into a dense bush by the age of 10, retains snow well. This is the most suitable plant for windy places. You can try to graft shadberry onto a hawthorn or rowan tree and grow it in the form of a tree.

How to grow shadberry to form a hedge- This is a question many gardeners ask. In this case, the plants are planted every 1 m, and with normal planting the distance between them is 2.5 m. In the first 10 years, the irga practically does not need any care, you only need to pick the berries in July-August. An older tree may have reduced growth (less than 10 cm). Then the bush needs to be thinned out, leaving 10-12 of the best trunks. For tall plants, upward growth is limited by carrying out anti-aging pruning at a height of 2-2.5 m. Annually or every other year, the shadberry is fed with the usual doses of organic and mineral fertilizers for fruit crops - otherwise the fruit will be crushed.

When growing irgi and caring for it, you need to be prepared for the fact that in wet years the fruits can be significantly affected by gray rot. No other diseases were noted. Damage by caterpillars of leaf rollers and hawthorn is usually not widespread and does not cause significant damage to plants.

Some gardeners are skeptical about growing serviceberry. They say it’s impossible to save the harvest, everything goes to the birds. Indeed, when the berries ripen, fieldfare thrushes are right there - methodically pecking at the berries as they ripen, so that after the raid of a robber flock, only green fruits that have not yet ripened remain on the branches.

To preserve the harvest, you have to cover the plants with nets, and this is labor-intensive and expensive. But there is another way out: plant the shadberry close to the house and buildings, and also reduce the crown by systematic pruning. The bravest birds will, of course, get the berries, but only a little. Follow the tips and tricks for protecting berries from birds and you will always have a great harvest.

5 ways to propagate irgu

Reproduction of irgi is carried out in 5 ways: by separating shoots, root cuttings, seeds, and grafting from the bush. In summer, green cuttings from annual growth can be rooted. Of course, the most quick way to obtain a fruit-bearing plant - replanting a shoot or even an adult tree in spring or autumn. In a year or the same year it will bear its first fruits.

How to propagate shadberry if it is not possible to get such seedlings or green cuttings? You can collect ripe berries, keep them for a week in a cool place at above-zero temperatures, then separate the seeds and sow them to a depth of 1-1.5 cm in a nursery or in a box with an equal amount of sand, humus and turf soil. The box is kept in the garden in a shaded place. Usually shoots appear on the 10-15th day. In the phase of 4-5 true leaves, the plant must be picked. The disadvantage of seed propagation is the late entry into fruiting of such shadberry - only at the age of five.

On two-year-old seedlings of serviceberry, you can graft a pear tree. A pear grafted onto a shadberry becomes short-growing (dwarf).

There are many species of trees or shrubs that are rare in our areas; they “come from” the countries of the northern hemisphere. One of these representatives flaunts in my garden - my favorite, Canadian serviceberry.

Photo of the bush: behind the greenhouse on the north side

Description

Belongs to the Rosaceae family, apple subfamily. No wonder its fruits
resemble small apples measuring 0.8 - 1.6 centimeters, bright pink, bluish in color when ripe.

Varieties and species differ from each other in size, height of the bush or tree, from 1.5 to 5.5 meters, leaf shape (ovoid with or without teeth), and taste.

All species have one common property - extreme frost resistance. Irga
withstands frosts of 50 degrees. This is the most frost-resistant tree of all fruit trees.
our gardens!

Landing location and features

You can plant it where it is convenient not for her. And for us, is the groundwater high?
or low, is the soil fertile or so-so, is the place open to the north winds.
Condition: in order for the harvest to be high, it is necessary to plant a tree or bush in the sun or partial shade; there will be no berries in the shade. Although one of my serviceberry bushes is illuminated only by the western sun, I am not complaining about the harvest.

There is no need to dig a full hole when planting; the root system is superficial, rarely
reaches half a meter, but the roots spread up to two meters wide.

When you plant, put a glass of complex fertilizer, or a bucket of compost, or just an armful of weeded weeds into the hole; water, mulch the tree trunk circle with mowed or plucked grass.

The time for planting is spring or autumn, while the bush is shortened by 4-5 buds for better development and formation.

Photo of the Pembina variety - this is what it looks like in the spring after being planted and pruned in the fall of last year.

The same seedling a year later.

In our country, Canadian shadberry is more common. Its height is up to 4.5 meters, its tasty fruits are small in size. To get larger ones, up to 1.8 centimeters in diameter, others are grafted onto the Canadian one; cuttings can be ordered from nurseries and grafted onto your tree.

You can buy already grafted seedlings, but know that they are no better in taste than those already on your irriga, and in size... just water more (but not more often), cut out excess branches and root shoots.

What kind of care is needed

Irga practically does not require it.

Water rarely, but abundantly. if you forgot to water, forgive me.

Graft

Vaccination on a new variety is justified, in my opinion, simply by interest creative person, or some kind of necessity. For example, if you graft the Canadian serviceberry Pembina variety, a tall, beautiful tree will grow, but the Regent variety will be only 1.2 meters high.

Planting and caring for irga in open ground

This bush can be used if there is little space in the garden or as a hedge. True, a fence made of grafted shrubs is a great luxury and there is a high risk of breaking the graft.

How to trim

It must be remembered that irga blooms on last year's shoots. If you
If you cut off the tops, don’t expect a harvest next year. Here you need to endure
a certain balance between young branches and “old” ones. Remove a small amount of excess each fall.
If too many tall mature shoots have formed, you can cut the trunks at the required height, then lateral shoots will form, which are thinned out when
necessary.

Propagation by cuttings

You can propagate shadberry by seeds, cuttings, shoots.

I like the way better
propagation by green cuttings. In the summer, cuttings of about 5-7 buds are cut, we remove the lower two leaves, and cut the rest in half. We stick it into moist soil with added sand, water it, cover it with jars, halves of plastic bottles will do.

We plant the cuttings in a shady place, I would also advise covering them
spunbond. Now all that remains is to water it periodically. Leave it like this until
next summer, then plant in a permanent place. The fruits will appear in the third year.

Useful properties of berries

Their taste is unusual for our gardeners; it is sweet, but slightly bland. Berries like this
It is useful that birds prefer shadberry to other garden delicacies. There is no need to be upset about this - there are so many fruits that there will be enough for people.

Serviceberry berries (also called northern raisins or currants) contain phytoncides. fiber, tannins, anthocyanins, trace elements copper, cobalt, iron. There is vitamin C, many B vitamins, as well as P - active vascular and heart strengthening compounds. This alone makes irgu necessary for any person.

The fruits contain a compound called beta-sitosterol, which lowers cholesterol levels and
Coumarins - protection against sclerosis.

Berries reduce blood pressure and have wound-healing properties.

A decoction of the bark and leaves of currant is used to make lotions for varicose veins and phlebitis. To do this, pour 100 g of raw material into a glass of boiling water and keep it in a thermos for 2 hours.

Eat more irgi in the summer, contraindication - allergies are rare. Decrease
pressure occurs smoothly, so you just need to reduce the amount you eat.

For those who don’t want to part with cinnamon in winter, I suggest freezing northern raisins or drying them in the oven. You can bake a wonderful pie from frozen fruits.

Here is the recipe: melt 60 grams of margarine, add 100 g of granulated sugar, 1 egg, half a teaspoon of soda and 4 tablespoons of sour cream or fermented milk product. Mix everything and add enough flour to make a soft, but not liquid dough.

Place it in a mold, make sides, and cover the rest of the area with frozen serviceberry berries. For spiciness, add chopped Antonov apples, or raspberries, even cottage cheese, as far as your imagination allows. Bake for 40 minutes or less at 220 degrees. Look at the photo: delicious, I recommend it!

Irga Canadian, video:

Varieties of serviceberry - descriptions of the best large-fruited varieties of Canadian serviceberry

Among the variety of varieties of serviceberry, Canadian varieties stand out primarily for their large fruit, productivity, the color of the flesh of ripe berries, and the timing of flowering and ripening. It is these qualities that have earned them their popularity. Nowadays, about 80 varieties of serviceberry are known (read more about the selection of serviceberry here).

There are widespread varieties that are grown in all areas of crop cultivation and varieties that are found much less frequently. This does not always mean that they are worse. Some of them were obtained relatively recently and are still undergoing variety testing. For the other part, nurserymen were unable to find a suitable propagation technology - and it is difficult to purchase seedlings of these varieties. It should be noted that the serviceberry does not reproduce so easily (more about the reproduction of the serviceberry here).

When compiling a description of serviceberry varieties, we proceeded from the following premises:

• height - the height of an adult shrub is given
• yield - may vary from year to year - low yield 2250 kg/ha, high yield - 6730 kg/ha
• taste - determined by tasting

Varieties

• Martin
• Nelson
• Northline
• Pembina
• Smoky
• Thiessen
• Honeywood
• Less common varieties (Bluff, Buffalo, Elizabeth, Forestburg, Killarney, Lee#3, Moonlake, Parkhill, Pearson II, Regent, Sturgeon, Success, Thiessen RS, Timm)

Descriptions of varieties

Martin

Berries:

• great taste, refreshing and juicy
• 15 mm in diameter and more

Productivity: average.

Tree: 3 m high, 4 m wide. The crown is rounded. The degree of formation of root shoots is moderate.

Usage:

Distinctive features: less extended period of berry ripening.

Obtained in the province of Saskatchewan from the Thiessen variety.

To the list of varieties

Nelson

Berries:

• tart, with pronounced sourness and juicy pulp
• 13 mm in diameter
• when fully ripe, the skin is dark blue

Tree: height 4.5 m, width 4.5 m.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Features: is resistant to juniper rust. Flowering and ripening dates are one week later than other varieties, which avoids damage to flowers by spring return frosts.

To the list of varieties

Northline

Berries:

• rich, sweet taste
• 16 mm in diameter
• when fully ripe, the skin is dark blue

Productivity: high

Tree: 4 m high, 6 m wide.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Features: The variety is suitable for both manual and mechanized harvesting. Produces seedlings that are very uniform in their properties. It begins to bear fruit earlier than other varieties.

To the list of varieties

Pembina

Berries:

• When fully ripe, they acquire a dark blue color.
• 14 mm in diameter

Tree: 5 m high, 5 m wide. The crown is vertical, slightly spreading. Forms a small amount of root shoots.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Features: a small amount of shoots make this variety one of the best for growing in garden plots.

The variety is decorative.

To the list of varieties

Smoky

Berries:

• sweet, without astringency, with a pleasant aroma
• with fleshy pulp
• 14 mm in diameter

Productivity: very high.

Tree: 4.5 m high, 4.5 m wide. The crown is vertical, spreading.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Blooms later than other varieties, which avoids damage to flowers by spring return frosts.

Gives abundant growth.

To the list of varieties

Thiessen

Berries:

• excellent taste, often described as juicy and refreshing
• 17 mm in diameter
• dark blue when fully ripe
• ripen unevenly

Productivity: high.

Tree: 5 m high, 6 m wide. The crown is rounded and spreading. It produces few shoots.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Features: non-simultaneous ripening of berries makes the variety more suitable for self-harvesting. Early flowering makes the variety vulnerable to damage from spring return frosts.

To the list of varieties

Honeywood

Berries:

• aromatic with tartness
• when fully ripe, dark blue with dark purple skin
• berry diameter 13-15 mm
• large brushes

Productivity: very high.

Tree: 5 m high, 4 m wide. The crown is spreading.

Is your shadberry not growing yet? Be sure to plant it!

It produces few shoots.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Blooms later than other varieties and potentially less susceptible to damage by spring return frosts.

Fruit ripening is extended.

To the list of varieties

JB30

Berries:

• dark blue when fully ripe
• average berry size 17 mm in diameter
• the taste of the fruits resembles wild shadberry

Productivity: high.

Tree: 5 m high, 6 m wide. The crown is compact. It produces few shoots.

Usage: The fruits are used for fresh consumption and for processing.

Distinctive features: compact crown, large berries.

To the list of varieties

Less common varieties

Variety	Berry size	Taste	Productivity	Peculiarities
Bluff	11 mm	good, balanced, moderately tart	average	the best variety for processing - due to its small seeds and the fact that it retains taste and aroma
Buffalo	11.1 mm	perfectly balanced sweet and sour	average	severely affected by leaf spots
Elizabeth	13.8 mm	sweet	average	produces little growth
Forestburg	12.5 mm	great	high	late ripening, severely affected by leaf spots
Killarney	large	great	very tall	the variety has been little studied
Lee #3	up to 16 mm	sweet, with a bright aroma	—	fruits with few seeds
Moonlake	16 mm	sweet and soft	average	yield varies greatly from year to year
Parkhill	average	sweet and soft	medium or low	small bushes resistant to destructive diseases
Pearson II	12.4 mm	similar to the Smoky variety	high	very susceptible to fungal diseases
Regent	13 mm	tender, very sweet	average	distinguished by decorativeness
Sturgeon	large	good	good	the variety is still little studied
Success	10.8 mm	good	low	Very resistant to fungal diseases
Thiessen RS	15-18 mm	good	high	restrained growth of bushes
Timm	large	very sweet	—	the variety is still little studied

To the list of varieties

Irga spicata and round-leaved, from the Rosaceae family, has been known in Europe since the 16th century. In landscape design they are used as a flowering ornamental crop and for hedges. In this article we will tell you about growing irgi and propagation in different ways, and we will give advice on caring for the shrub.

Gardeners middle zone Saskatoon is successfully grown for its healthy fruits, which contain many vitamins and useful substances. A self-fertile bush, 2–2.5 m high at the age of 10 years, produces a yield of up to 15 kg. It is extremely unpretentious, but on rich soils the quality of the berries is much higher. Popular for its ease of propagation - seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush.

Reproduction of irgi by seeds

Serviceberry berries ripen gradually. For sowing, it is important to select ripe or even slightly overripe fruits. To separate small seeds from the pulp, the berries are lightly pressed and washed several times. The seeds that float are unripe and are not suitable for sowing; they are poured out along with the water. Prepared seeds can be immediately planted in open ground.

Serviceberry seeds suitable for sowing

Conditions for sowing seeds:

1. The soil mixture is sandy loam with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction.
2. The place is well lit.
3. Protection from wind and frost.

Seeds sown in late summer germinate in the spring of the next calendar year. Over the winter they undergo natural stratification and germinate in April.

It’s not scary if seedlings appear in the fall. For the winter, they need to be covered with dry grass or straw, a layer of 15–20 cm.

You can sow shadberry in the spring. Then the seeds need to be prepared, from the fall, keep them in damp sand, but in a dark place, at a temperature of +50. Gardeners recommend placing serviceberry seeds in a damp cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide three months before sowing and keeping them cool in a plastic bag.

Seeds are sown in grooves, the width between which is 20 cm. 2 g of seeds are consumed per linear meter (140 pieces in 1 g). Place at a depth of 2 cm. The sprouted shadberry is picked at the stage of 2 - 3 leaves. Species plants are propagated in this way, because varietal qualities are guaranteed to be preserved only through vegetative cuttings or dividing the bush.

Planting seedlings in a permanent place

Next spring, the grown seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. Irga has a powerful root system, so the space for the bush is provided taking into account its maximum size: crown diameter 3 m, root depth 2 - 2.5 m. Based on this, the conditions should be as follows:

Table No. 1. Conditions for planting irgi in a permanent place.

When planting, the seedlings are not buried, but after the soil settles, they are mulched with dry humus, lower peat, and mown grass. After planting, the shoots are shortened, leaving 4–5 buds, to balance the root system with the ground one. "

Tip #1. Do not plant shadberry near open parking lots. Fallen berries leave permanent marks on cars.

Timing of propagation by green cuttings

1. Smokey;
2. Northline;
3. Thyssen;
4. Honeywood;
5. Altaglow.

Cutting sequence:

Grafting with varietal cuttings

From the seeds of the species shadberry, you can grow a rootstock for grafting a variety. Two-year-old rowan seedlings are well suited for this purpose. The basis can be the root shoots of these crops. Vaccination is carried out in the spring, when active sap flow begins. "

Grafting technique:

1. The rootstock (growing in the ground) is cut at a height of 10–15 cm.
2. The scion is formed:

• choose a lignified shoot with a diameter of up to 1 cm;
• the top is removed with an oblique cut;
• The lower part of the cutting is cut under the bud to a wedge of 4 cm.

1. On the rootstock, using a sharp garden knife, make a vertical cut in the middle of the shoot.
2. Insert a wedge into the split so that the cut of the scion coincides with the rootstock along the bark.
3. Press tightly and wrap with insulating tape. Lately it began to be replaced with cling film, tape or special strips for vaccination.
4. The graft is covered to preserve moisture and temperature.

Grafting irgi with cuttings

In about a month it will be clear whether the vaccination has taken root. This can be determined by the new leaves that appear from the scion buds. If the rootstock grows shoots, it must be removed urgently, otherwise the graft is in danger of degenerating and instead of a varietal shadberry you will get a species one.

Reproduction by dividing the mother bush

Most often, this is a forced method of propagation, for example, when a bush is transplanted from one place to another. The timing for such work is early spring before the buds swell or autumn, when the shadberry has dropped its leaves, but no later than two weeks before frost. Before dividing, the ground part is thinned out, removing all old branches, and young branches are shortened by 1/3.

When digging up shadberry, it is important to remember that its roots grow to a depth of 2 m or more, and the same in diameter. It is clear that it will not be possible to preserve all the roots, so the maximum possible dimensions are 1 m wide and 70 cm deep.

The extracted bush is freed from the ground and divided into 2 - 4 parts. To do this, use a hacksaw or an ax, because the thickness of the main roots reaches 5 cm or more. The delenka must have no less than two full-fledged shoots.

Reproduction by dividing the mother bush

Tip #2. The prepared parts are planted in a new place in the same way as seedlings. The planting pit for transplantation is twice as large as the roots.

Rules for transplanting bushes to a new location

Sometimes the initial place for the shadberry is chosen poorly, and as it grows, it takes up much more space than expected. There may be other reasons why it needs to be transplanted. Shrubs up to five years of age tolerate this procedure more easily; older plants take root less well.

In order for the irga to take root in a new place, you need to dig it up with a lump. The older the bush, the larger the com. You can manually move the root system with soil 50 x 50 x 50 cm. For a lump with a diameter of 1 m, special equipment is required.

Irga grows in light soil; to preserve it during transportation, you need to tightly wrap the roots along with the soil with cloth on the sides and tie them tightly. Place a flat support, such as a sheet of plywood, under the bottom of the lump and lift the bush with it. In this form, they are transported to the planting site and lowered into the prepared hole. Carefully release the lump from the backing and winding. cover the roots as with normal planting.

Water generously to moisten the lump and the soil around it. The amount of water is the same as the volume of the planting hole.

Shrub pruning to improve harvest

Irga is an unpretentious plant and can adapt to any conditions. But if we're talking about the harvest needs to be taken care of. A bush without supervision will grow densely, the leaves take away nutrients from the fruit and the berries become small and not sweet. To improve the quality of the harvest, shadberry is pruned like any other garden shrub. "

• In the fall, sanitary pruning is carried out, dry, old, diseased and broken branches are completely removed. Sections with a diameter greater than 1 cm are coated with garden varnish or special paint against pathogens and pests.
• In spring, shoots that grow inside the bush are shortened or cut off. Adjust the height for convenient fruit picking. In general, they are formed so that all branches are illuminated evenly and do not shade each other.

Main pests of serviceberry

1. Peeled off is the name of a species of deciduous moth, which is dangerous for Irga. The caterpillars gnaw away the leaves and shoots so much that the bush looks like it has been stripped. Pests become more active in the spring with the onset of sustained heat. In the short period before they turn into a pupa, they manage to cause significant damage to the bush.
2. Another pest, the winter moth, has a later development period.
3. The threat to Irga, as well as to the entire Rosaceae (aka Rosaceae) family, is represented by leaf rollers. One of them is rose. Damages leaves by rolling them into a tube. A weakened plant produces a modest and not tasty harvest.

   Types and varieties of serviceberry

   Roseate leaf roller caterpillar

   Table No. 2. Pest control products.

   To control pests, chemical insecticides are used: Binom, Atom, Bi - 58, Di - 68 Novy, Rogor - S, Desant, Teldor, Zagor, etc. Bacteriological preparations that are safe for humans and plants are represented by Akarin, Lepidocil, Bitoxibacillin, Fitoverm.

   Tip #3. You can get rid of aphids using the Bros. sticky belt.

   Mistakes when growing serviceberry

   Mistake #1. Failure to observe the required interval when planting.

   Irga grows quickly and thickly. If you don’t initially leave 4 m between the bushes, they will intertwine and will have to be replanted over time.

   Mistake #2. Neglecting pruning.

   Unregulated growth results in leaf dominance to the detriment of yield.

   Mistake #3. Planting in the shade.

   Irga is an unpretentious plant, it will adapt to any conditions, but if the goal is a harvest, then the bushes need to be planted in the sun. Irgu is grown in the shade for decorative purposes.

   Category “Questions and Answers”

   Question No. 1. I planted the shadberry in the far corner of the garden; I don’t go to the dacha every week. During my absence, a mass of growth had formed around the bush. Why? And what to do with it.

   Your serviceberry grows in poor soil, so it has grown in search of food. If you do not plan to expand the plantation, dig up the shoots, fertilize the bush with organic matter and mulch so that less moisture evaporates, and along with it, fertilizing.

   Question No. 2. I heard that shadberry is planted in hedges. Is it so?

   Exactly. Irga grows as a free, flowering hedge, or as a trimmed hedge. In the shade and in the sun, on fertile soils and poor ones. Not a bush, but a gardener's dream.

   Question No. 3. Do you need two serviceberries on the site for pollination, like sea buckthorn?

   No no need. Irga, unlike sea buckthorn, is a self-fertile plant. Fruits well alone.

   Question No. 4. Have you heard that irga is called something else?

   Absolutely right. She has many names: Pirus, Korinka, Karisha, Corica, Northern grapes, Children's berry, Wine cherry.

   Question No. 5. Is it true that you can’t plant shadberry near an orchard?

   Right. As plants of the same botanical family, they have common pests, therefore, if possible, it is better to keep the shadberry away.

   Irga - “Queen of Backyards”: planting and caring for a beautiful and useful shrub

   Irga in the Russian garden: beauty and benefits with minimal care

   Not a single berry garden can boast of such an abundance of names that different parts The picturesque and hardy irgu was honored with light. Shady bush, wine berry that brings honey, currant - this is not a complete list of the names of this interesting crop. The shrub of the genus serviceberry from the Rosaceae family, which includes more than 20 species, is widespread throughout the world.

   North America is considered its homeland, where it grows everywhere, but the Eurasian continent has long been developed by it. About 10 types of crops are cultivated in Russia, the most common of which are Canadian serviceberry, spicate, and blood-red.

   Virtues of culture

   The unpretentious shadberry is accustomed to taking care of itself on its own. It is surprisingly winter-hardy, takes root well on any soil, except obviously swampy, and can withstand any weather conditions - it is not afraid of stormy winds, sweltering heat, or thunderstorms. A very developed root system, capable of going two or more meters deep, as well as spreading horizontally at the same distance from the bush, made the shadberry almost invulnerable.

   It grows quickly, tolerates pruning well, and is not afraid of shading or gas pollution. In addition, it produces annual harvests that are tasty and very healthy berries, recommended as a prophylactic for diseases of the heart, blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract.

   Irga is a long-liver, grows well and bears fruit for up to 70 years. The shrub has very powerful shoots. In terms of thickness, they are more likely to be trunks, of which there can be up to 25 in a bush. If desired, using formative pruning, it is easy to create a beautiful standard tree by choosing the strongest shoot.

   Although the bush of this crop is very decorative - it is compact and quite dense. This culture is not prone to spreading; the branches extend from the trunks at a very acute angle, often running upward parallel to the trunks. The height of the irga can reach 7-8 meters. An excellent honey plant, it is magnificent during flowering.

   Irga - planting and care

   Landing technique

   Irga is an undemanding crop, frost- and drought-resistant, can grow on any soil and combines high decorative qualities with an annual abundant harvest, and is also excellent as a hedge. Planted on neutral fertile soils in open sunny or slightly shaded areas, serviceberry produces record yields.

   The technology for planting irgi, like any berry plant, begins with preparing the planting site: when digging, add two buckets of humus per 1 square meter to the soil, prepare standard holes measuring up to half a meter deep and wide. Having filled a little more than half of the hole with prepared soil, a 1-2-year-old seedling is placed obliquely, deepening its root collar by 7-10 cm, covered with earth, compacted and watered well. The shoots are cut to a height of 10 cm, leaving several viable buds on each. Planted at an angle, it will give strong growth faster. The irga takes root perfectly; it can be planted both in spring and autumn.

   Irga is often used as a green hedge; in this case, the bushes are distributed in a checkerboard pattern, maintaining an interval between plants in rows of 1.0 to 1.8 m and planting in deep furrows. To simplify crop care, the soil surface under the bushes is mulched with humus.

   Care and reproduction

   Irga successfully bears fruit, even if there is only one bush growing on the site. The berries begin to ripen from the beginning of July. With fairly regular watering during the growing season, fruiting of the serviceberry is activated, and yields increase significantly. Irga, whose care comes down to periodic watering and annual removal of aging trunks and broken branches, is surprisingly resistant to pests and diseases, so it does not need spring treatments.

   It is a unique culture with the stability of a strong wild animal.

   The shrub is easily propagated by seeds. They are sown in fertilized areas and watered generously. From the seedlings that appear in the fall, quite high-quality annual seedlings are obtained the following year. Often, overripe berries falling from the bush into the fertile layer provide equally excellent planting material a year later. Almost all varieties of serviceberry produce good shoots, capable of reproduction with careful transplantation.

   Trimming

   Often gardeners do not pamper the shadberry by pruning, and in vain. The crop usually grows quickly and for more comfortable picking of berries, the shrub should be limited in growth by pruning at a height of up to 2.5 m. It is better to form the plant with a multi-stemmed bush from strong basal shoots; weakened branches are completely removed.

   In the first few years, all sprouted strong shoots are left, and from the 3rd-4th year - two or three annually. A well-created bush consists of 10-15 branches of different ages. Subsequently, excess branches, weakened, broken and aging branches are cut out and gradually replaced with new shoots. If the growth of the bush has slowed down, light revitalizing pruning is necessary: ​​every 4-5 years, all aging trunks are cut out, replacing them with 2-5 year old ones.

   These are the main stages of caring for this magnificent crop, which surprises the whole season: in the spring with riotous flowering, in the summer with a scattering of purple and black-gray berries, in the fall with red gold foliage.

   Features of planting irgi and further care for it

   

   Irga is a fruit and berry shrub (small tree) that grows wild in the Northern Hemisphere. It is distinguished by its hardiness and frost resistance, thanks to which it has become one of the favorite garden shrubs for Russian summer residents. In total, there are up to 25 species of this plant, however, no more than 10 are suitable for planting on a site. Among them are I. vulgaris, I. spicata, I. Canadian and some others. Planting irgi and caring for it in the future is not only a procedure for rooting a seedling. For regular fruiting, the shrub needs to be provided with a well-lit place, fertile soil and not to forget about sanitary pruning.

   Choosing a place on the site for growing shadberry

   The shrub prefers well-lit open areas, but can also grow in the shade of trees with finely dissected leaves (rowan, sea buckthorn). In the shade of broad-leaved trees, its shoots will stretch out, and fruiting will become less abundant.

   The irga does not have any special requirements for soil, but it will grow well in sandy or loamy soils. Perhaps the main requirement is the fertility of the substrate. If there is a lack of nutrients, there will be a lot of root growth around the bush, which will have to be cut down periodically. It is not recommended to plant shadberry in areas with high groundwater levels, because the roots go deep into the ground (2-3 meters).

   

   Irga - planting and caring for it is simple, but preparatory work should begin six months before purchasing a seedling. Experts advise rooting a seedling in the fall; it is believed that frost-resistant types of fruit and berry crops take root better this way and grow faster the following spring. The site is dug up in May to a depth of 20 cm, while adding phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, 40 g of the substance per 1 m² is enough.

   Planting a seedling of serviceberry

   Seedlings are purchased from nurseries; the plants must be no more than 2 years old, otherwise the survival rate will drop sharply. When planting several specimens, it is necessary to maintain a distance; depending on the type and variety of plant, it should be from 1 to 1.6 m.

   When growing serviceberry, a planting hole is dug of impressive dimensions - 60x60x50 cm, where 50 cm is the depth. The top layer is laid in one direction, and the bottom in the other. Fertile soil (top layer) is used to prepare the substrate:

   • garden soil - 3 parts,
   • river sand – 1 part,
   • humus or compost - 1 part,
   • potassium fertilizer – 140 g,
   • phosphate – 350 g.

   

   If necessary, drainage is placed at the bottom of the planting hole. Then, the prepared substrate is partially filled in and a small elevation (hill) is formed from it. This will make it easier to straighten the roots of the seedling. Having positioned the shadberry, the hole is filled up. The main thing is not to cover the root collar with soil. The soil is compacted and watered abundantly (at least 8 liters for each bush). After some time, the earth will settle, and it will be necessary to add nutrient substrate to the root collar of the bush. Only after this the circle around the trunk can be mulched with humus, peat or wood chips.

   After planting the irgi, care begins with pruning. The branches are cut to a level of 15–20 cm, leaving at least four healthy buds on each.

   Features of caring for irga

   The shrub does not require any care at all, so the gardener will need a minimum of action: watering (occasionally), fertilizing and pruning.

   

   Watering and fertilizing

   The root system of the shrub is well developed, going to a depth of more than two meters, so the shrub does not need watering. The only exceptions are particularly dry periods. In this case, it is recommended to carry out the procedure after 16.00 hours, when the sun is no longer so active. Experts advise watering the bush not at the root, but using a spray nozzle on the hose. This will not only moisten the soil, but also refresh the greenery by washing away dust particles. After watering, it is advisable to weed the weeds and loosen the soil. If mulch is laid on the ridge, then there is no need for weeding and loosening.

   Growing serviceberry on a personal plot does not require frequent application of fertilizers. If a sufficient amount of organic matter and minerals was added to the digging, then the first fertilizing is carried out only when the shrub reaches five years of age. Once a season, the following components are added to the digging:

   • humus – 1.5–2 buckets,
   • superphosphate – 280 g,
   • potash fertilizer – 180 g.

   

   When applying fertilizers, it is necessary to retreat about 25 cm from the root collar. As the bush grows, the dosage should be increased.

   In the spring-summer period, you can carry out 2 more feedings with organic matter. A solution of chicken manure in a ratio of 1:15 has proven itself well. Organic matter should be added only after rain or watering to protect the roots of the plant from chemical burns.

   Pruning serviceberry

   Pruning is an integral part of caring for irga after planting a seedling; however, you should not radically prune the bush. Decorative pruning may only be required for low-growing specimens, while large shrubs will become increasingly difficult to prune as they grow. The first procedure is carried out no earlier than a year after planting. The most favorable time is early spring, while the plant is dormant.

   When pruning for the first time, you need to carefully examine the bush and select several of the strongest stems from the root shoots. They will act as the basis. The remaining shoots are cut down. Next, every year 2 old shoots are removed and 2 young shoots are left to grow. This pruning technology will help to quietly rejuvenate the shadberry, with virtually no loss of harvest. Every year, vertical shoots (by ¼) and lateral shoots are pruned so that the bush grows not only upward, but also in breadth. Excess root shoots, dry and broken branches are removed in a timely manner.

   

   When growing shadberry, you need to take care of it during pruning. When removing old, woody branches, the cuts should not be left open. The best remedy- regular Oil paint on natural drying oil. If the procedure is carried out at above-zero air temperatures, then you can use garden varnish.

   Caring for irga in autumn

   The shrub winters well even in harsh climates, so there is no need for shelter. At the end of the summer season, they only carry out sanitary pruning, dig up the area and apply the required amount of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Then the garbage (branches, fallen leaves) is raked into a heap and burned. This completes the autumn care for the irga.

   

   Diseases and pests of serviceberry

   Most gardeners can attest that growing serviceberry is a real pleasure, it grows well and rarely gets sick. However, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the list of possible diseases and pests.

   The most common diseases are: tubercular disease (gradual drying of leaves), gray rot and leaf spot.

   Irga Canadian varieties are the best

   For treatment, a solution of Bordeaux mixture, Topaz and other drugs are used. They are also recommended to spray bushes in the fall for preventive purposes.

   Among the pests you can find the shadberry seed eater and the moth. If the seed eater feeds on fruits, then the moth, or rather its caterpillars, infest the leaves. To combat them, various insecticides are used: Actellik, Karbofos and others.

Since ancient times, people have valued healing properties green plants. Among them we can highlight a nice shrub - serviceberry, the berries, bark and leaves of which have a number of useful properties.

This deciduous shrub grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in North Africa and America, in the countries of the Far East, the Caucasus and Crimea. It often grows in forest clearings, in the mountains and among thickets of various shrubs.

Irga feels great on any soil, with the exception of swampy areas where standing water is present. The main thing is that there is enough light for the fruit to ripen. In such conditions, the berries are large, juicy and healthy. This is especially true for cultivated varieties. On average, up to 15 kg of berries can be collected from each such bush during the entire period of fruit ripening.

General description of the bush and its beneficial properties

The deciduous shrub serviceberry confidently takes its place of honor in the summer cottages of greenery lovers. The plant looks especially attractive in early spring. When the first leaves appear on the branches, the bush is covered with delicate fibers. From the outside, it seems that he is wearing a silver shawl, which gives the plant a unique charm. In the photo of the serviceberry you can see many cute flowers decorating the spring shrub. They come in pink or white.

When the inflorescences begin to fall off, the delicate fibers that covered the green leaves disappear along with them. Often the leaf blade of a shrub can be olive or pinkish in color.

The bark of the trunk is usually gray or brown with a pinkish tint. It feels slightly velvety to the touch.

The leaves and bark of the bush have excellent medicinal properties. They are thoroughly dried, crushed and stored in a cool room. Nutrients last for about 2 years.

The plant is distinguished by a dense crown of simple green or bluish leaves. During the fruiting period on the bush you can notice miniature fruits with pink barrels, collected on one cluster. Unripe berries are cream-colored, and when ripe they turn violet or purple.

Serviceberry berries have a pleasant taste. The delicate sweetness and juiciness of the fruit attracts young children and adults. Garden birds also love to eat them, after which they spread the seeds of the serviceberry throughout the area.

Berries should be picked from the bush only when ripe. Otherwise, they will lose their healing properties.

Properties of serviceberry

Each fruit contains a huge number of useful substances:

• dietary fiber – up to 25 percent;
• glucose;
• fructose;
• vitamins: C, P, B;
• pectin;
• phytosterols;
• carotene;
• cellulose;
• various microelements.

Each of these components has a beneficial effect on the human body.

Beneficial features Serviceberry berries appear when they are used:

• to strengthen the intestinal walls;
• improving food digestion;
• for diseases of the heart or blood vessels;
• with a lack of vitamins;
• against sore throat or tonsillitis;
• to maintain a diet;
• as a sedative.

Often, the juice from the fruits of this shrub is attributed to older people for good heart function. Tincture from inflorescences helps normalize sleep and blood pressure. In the presented photo of the serviceberry berry, its external features are clearly visible.

In cooking, the fruits of the bush are used to prepare various drinks, preserves or jams. Raw berries are used as a filling for tartlets and even cakes. They make fragrant marmalade and purple marshmallows.

The fruits can be dried, while preserving their vitamin set. In winter, you can prepare a decoction of them to boost immunity.

To get the maximum benefit from eating wonderful berries, you should take into account the contraindications and beneficial properties of serviceberry. For example, if a person suffers from poor blood clotting, the fruits can harm him. This is especially true for those who work with various dangerous devices. If you get injured, it will be much more difficult to stop the bleeding.

The berry is also useful as a sedative, but its frequent use leads to a delayed reaction. Car drivers who are under constant stress should think about this. At a crucial moment, they may lose their vigilance and get hurt. Therefore, it is wiser to adhere to the golden principle - it is better to have a little bit of different things than to get hung up on one thing.

In order not to lose the ripe berry crop, it is advisable to install a scarecrow scarecrow on the bush. Otherwise, the birds, who love the purple fruits of the serviceberry, will replenish their vitamin reserves, and people will be left with nothing.

Getting to know the variety of varieties

A cute green plant that decorates country houses and cottages, attracts the attention of gardeners. In the photo, the shadberry is shown against the backdrop of other park crops, as its brightest highlight. According to some information, there are about 25 species of this plant. Some of them are particularly beautiful.

Irga canadensis

A charming variety in northern latitudes is Canadian serviceberry. Some know it as wineberry or northerner's grape. From its wonderful fruits a miracle drink is prepared, which is similar to wine.

The shrub can grow up to 7 meters. Its oblong stems form a wide, dense oval-shaped crown. The leaves of the bush are ovoid in shape and have an unusual color. When the plant just blooms, they are brownish, in summer they are bluish, and in autumn they are reddish or golden.

To the touch, the leaf plate is soft with a delicate fluff, slightly rough. The shrub blooms in late spring with large white flowers, which are collected in graceful clusters.

The fruits of the bush resemble. The round, light pink “apples” first turn blue and then purple as they ripen. Ripe fruits are covered with a waxy coating. The taste is sweet, since the berries contain little acid and a lot of sugar.

In nature there are different kinds such bushes. Descriptions of varieties of Canadian serviceberry indicate all the delights of this useful plant:

Snow-white inflorescences are collected in brushes on which dark red fruits develop. As they ripen, they become almost black.

If you want to grow shrubs in urban conditions, “Ballerina” tolerates gas pollution well. At the same time, the berries do not accumulate harmful substances.

Irga Lamarca

A deciduous large shrub plant - Lamarck's serviceberry reaches up to 5 m in height. It is distinguished by green, oval-shaped leaves with a serrated frame.

The inflorescences are small, white. They appear on the bush in huge numbers, which looks very beautiful. The fruits of the Lamarck serviceberry have beneficial properties and are therefore widely used in cooking.

Irga common

This fruiting, deciduous, erect shrub grows up to 3 m in height. It has a wide crown consisting of thin branches. At first they are silver in color, and with age they acquire a brown tint. Corymbose inflorescences resembling stars are formed at the tips of young shoots. The buds are usually white with a pinkish tint. They bloom for about 10 days. During this period, the bush looks especially attractive against the background of other plants in the garden.

The common irga can grow in one place for about 15 years. She is not afraid of strong winds, droughts or frosts.

Healing berries appear when the bush is at least 4 years old. They are slightly smaller in size than artificially bred varieties. Color – dark blue, almost black with a whitish coating.

Irga roundifolia

Deciduous garden shrub - Irga rotundifolia reaches 4.5 m in height. Its young shoots are slightly drooping. They are painted bright brown.

The leaf blade is on average 3.5 cm wide and 4 cm long. The upper part is painted dark green, the lower part has a soft white tint. In autumn it turns scarlet and bright yellow. The shape is elliptical, the top is oval. The leaf frame is jagged.

Inflorescences in the form of corymbose racemes with up to 10 flowers of white, yellowish or cream color. The berries on the bush appear first green, then scarlet. When fully ripe, they acquire a dark blue, almost black color. Each fruit has a gray coating. They have beneficial properties and a slightly acidic taste. They ripen gradually, starting in July.

Irga spicata

A shrub of this type during the flowering period resembles fragrant bird cherry. It is a compact version of an ornamental plant with a height of 2 to 6 m.

Irga spica has oval leaves with small serrations. During flowering, they are practically invisible due to the many white or pinkish inflorescences. Later, the bush is covered with healing berries with an unusual sweet taste.

Representatives of this variety live up to 30 years of age. This makes them leaders among other fruit bushes.

Irga spica can tolerate frosts above 15 degrees, for which it is valued by the inhabitants of Siberia.

Having become acquainted with such a pretty plant, you will notice that it has double benefits. This is both an original decoration for a summer cottage and a storehouse of useful substances at hand. Is it wise to pass by a magnificent garden serviceberry? It's worth thinking about.