The homeland of felt cherry is the Far East, where there are severe, windy and frosty winters. Therefore, to prevent the plant from freezing, nature provided it with protection. This representative of the flora is covered with microscopic villi, similar to the paws of fir trees. Seen from the side, the plant really seems to be felt. However, when grown in milder climates, this clothing is quickly lost, although not completely. If you look closely, you can see the remains of the defense, which is still preserved by felt cherry. Planting and caring for this plant is quite complicated. However, they are worth it. Exotic appearance and delicious fruits compensate for all the worries a hundredfold.
Soil and placeThe plant grows best on light, well-drained, neutral soil. With increased soil acidity, lime must be added. If this representative of the flora grows on excessively moist soil, then it is likely that he will die. Felt cherry grows especially well in sunny places. Planting and care for it should be carried out taking into account photophilousness, because even slight shading is bad for the plant. The more light, the better.
Felt Cherry - Planting and Care
Plant a plant in spring or autumn. However, felt cherries take root in the best in spring. Planting and plant care should be carried out according to all the canons - it is very demanding. Saplings for this choose one-year or two-year-olds. Such a mixture is introduced into the pit: 3 buckets of organic, 30 g of potash and 60 g of phosphate fertilizers, 1 kg of lime. All this is thoroughly mixed. In cherries, the roots are cut to 25 cm and coated in a clay mash. After planting, you need to water the plant , slightly trample the soil and mulch it with peat. Fertilizers are applied every year after flowering. Once every five years, lime must be added to the soil. The center of the trunk must be thinned out annually, but at the same time leave the 12 strongest branches. The plant begins to bear fruit abundantly for 3 years.
The color of the fruit depends on the variety. It ranges from pink to dark red. If there is a plant whose fruits are very poorly stored, it is felt cherry. You can buy seedlings of this culture in specialized stores and horticultural centers. Watering the plant requires moderate - waterlogging the soil is not worth it. In order for the felt cherry to be successfully pollinated, there must be several varieties of it on the site, since self-pollination is impossible for this plant.
Breeding
The main method of reproduction of this representative of the flora is the sowing of seeds. To do this, wash the bones and dry them in the shade. At the end of summer, they are mixed with wet sand and stored until October in a cool place. Before winter, bones are planted in grooves. In early spring, the first shoots appear. With good care for the first year, the shoots are extended by half a meter. After a year, seedlings can be planted.
Felt cherries: diseases and pests
A plant can get a monilial burn. First, flowers and foliage begin to fade, then the entire branch dies. In a couple of years, a representative of the flora may die completely. To combat this ailment, felt cherry is sprayed with the preparation "Fundazol" (0.1%), and the affected shoots are cut with a part of healthy wood. For prevention, it is recommended to treat the plant with the drug during the growing season. Felt cherry can be affected by a scab. Treatment - spraying with insecticides.