Actinidia is a whole genus of perennial woody lianas of the family Actinidiae originating from Asian countries. In total, there are about 40 varieties of this plant in nature. The fruits of some of them are edible and common. As, for example, the most famous representative of this kind of actinidia is Chinese, better known throughout the world as kiwi .
To grow on your garden site actinidia should take seriously to the rules of planting and care. We'll talk about what needs to be considered when selecting and growing this plant in this article.
Purchase of seedlings
Plant saplings can be purchased in special nurseries or in flower markets. When buying, you should pay attention to some points.
Obtain a planting material, the root system of which is securely protected by the ground or closed by a container. The roots of actinidia, remaining in the open air, are capable of perishing in just a few minutes.
The plant is dioecious. This means that for the culture you will need to acquire actinidia male and female. Usually one male plant is enough for several female lianas. It should also be noted that some plants are mutually pollinated only within their species. Before actinidia begins to bloom, you can not determine its sex, so it is recommended to buy plants from trusted suppliers.
Selecting a landing site
In nature, actinidia lianas are hidden in the penumbra of higher plants, so a similar place should be chosen for successful cultivation. Of the poles, which will vilate the vine, you can create a hedge around the perimeter of the garden or along the house. An excellent place for planting actinidia can be a wall of a shaded pavilion or an open veranda.
Despite the fact that actinidia is shade-tolerant, sunlight is still necessary for it. It plays a particularly important role in the formation and maturation of fruits. Therefore, it is best to place the vines facing west or east.
Planting and care
The optimal time for planting is the end of spring or the first days of summer. A couple of weeks before planting the seedlings, it is necessary to prepare a planting trench about half a meter deep and wide. At the bottom of the pit you need to lay drainage material , and on top of the soil, enriched with mineral fertilizers. Just before landing on the surface of the trench you need to lay out a few centimeters of ordinary land without fertilizers to protect the tender young roots from the burn. Before and after the transplant from the container, actinidia should be watered abundantly.
Proper cultivation of actinidia requires close attention to the seedlings in the first two weeks, until the plant has finally taken root in a new place. During this period, young actinidia should be covered from bright light with a cloth or paper.
Varieties of Actinidia
A very popular among gardeners is the hybrid actinidia self-fertilizing , planting and care for which is carried out according to the same rules as for dioecious plants. The harvest ripens in mid-September. Sweet fruit can reach a weight of 18 g. Yield - 8 kg per bush.
Actinidium colomicta is a dioecious frost-resistant variety. The berries are small, sour-sweet and ripen gradually. In general, one bush can get about 7 kg.
Actinidia is an argument - a vigorous dioecious liana. Fruits are sour-sweet, medium-sized, about 5-6 g, mature at the same time by the end of September. Productivity - up to 15-18 kg per bush.
Another hybrid is the actinidia of Kiev large-fruited , planting and caring for it also do not differ from the basic rules. Large juicy and sweet berries can reach a weight of 20 g, and a high yield of the hybrid will allow harvesting up to 20 kg from the bush.