Mountain ash is beautiful during flowering, and with ripened clusters of berries on the branches. The fruits of this plant on a tree hold for a long time, even in winter. They are eaten and simply grated with sugar, and in the form of juices, jelly, jam, pastille, jam. Home remedies are also often prepared on their basis. Therefore, many gardeners in their area try to have at least one rowan tree.
The article will discuss ordinary mountain ash: properties, types, characteristics of reproduction.
About the features of mountain ash
As the famous song says, mountain ash was actually planted most often “near the tyne” (along the hedges and fences of garden plots). The tree created a slight shade that saved some beds from the bright sun (for example, cucumbers get bitterness in bright light). In addition, mountain ash, due to the close location of the roots near the surface of the soil, retains moisture well. And in the branches of this beautiful and cozy tree many birds willingly nest, protecting the garden crop from various insect pests.
It has long been noted that many nightshade crops (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant), growing in the vicinity of mountain ash, are not affected by late blight.
Varieties
In the mountain ash (photo presented in the article) there are many varieties obtained as a result of the work of breeders.
Mountain ash of this species has the fruits of a bitter taste. In the XIX century, breeders bred hybrid forms, the fruits of which are devoid of bitterness. Over a two-century history, many beautiful “descendants” of mountain ash have been created, united in the Moravian sortogruppa.
Summer residents are attracted by varieties with sweeter fruits, which are presented below.
- Scarlet large-fruited. It is the most valuable variety of common mountain ash. The weight of the fetus reaches 4 g. In appearance, red berries (juicy and without bitterness) are similar to cherries. The yield of one tree is 150 kg.
- Liqueur. The variety was bred by Michurin as a result of crossing black chokeberry with ordinary. It differs in resistance to frost and high productivity. Fruits are large (diameter 15 mm), black. Berries are used for making jam, compotes, liquors and tinctures.
- Bead. The variety is characterized by short stature and resistance to strong temperature extremes. The ruby red berries are similar to cranberries. Fruiting is annual and high-yielding.
- Home. Very large fruits (like plums). The tree is tall. It grows in Central Asia and the Crimea.
- Beauty. This variety was bred by crossing pears and ordinary mountain ash. The tree reaches a height of 5 meters, the crown is wide pyramidal. Fruits abundantly and annually. Fruits are orange-red in oblong shape, slightly tart in taste.
- Nevezhinskaya. Another tall and strong tree. Fruits are red and elongated, have 5 faces. Their taste is sweet with slightly perceptible bitterness.
- Sorbinka. The tree is distinguished by restrained growth. Large fruits have a yellow-red tint and taste good. The variety is fruitful.
- Grenade. The variety was obtained by crossing ordinary mountain ash with hawthorn. The berries taste sweet, slightly tart. In shape and color, they resemble garnets, only in miniature. The tree has a sparse crown, can grow up to 4 meters in height.
- Ruby. Dwarf mountain ash has a spreading crown. Its height is not more than 2.5 meters. Dark red fruits are faceted in shape, have a sour taste.
- Titanium. This variety was bred by crossing the pollen of 3 trees: pear, red-leafed apple tree and ordinary mountain ash. The height of the tree is medium, the crown is round. Mountain ash is resistant to frost. Faceted juicy sweet and sour fruits to taste.
- Hope. A small tree with red fruits that contain biologically active substances. This mountain ash quickly ripens and bears fruit abundantly. It is important to note that in order to get a good harvest, it is necessary to plant two trees, otherwise there will be no fruiting, since this plant needs cross pollination. If it is not possible to plant 2 trees nearby, other varieties can be grafted onto rowan.
Description
Mountain ash - deciduous tree or shrub. This is one of the varieties of the mountain ash, which is a relatively low-value, widespread fruit tree that attracts attention with its beautiful bright fruits even in winter.
The tree is tall with a straight trunk and a round crown. Alternately leathery leaves are painted bright green. Small flowers are cream, light green, pink or white. Shoots and trunk bark of gray-green color. The fruit is a juicy spherical apple (transverse diameter of about 1 cm) with rounded small seeds located on the edge. Berries have a slightly astringent, bitter taste.
Leaves acquire a beautiful orange or crimson color by autumn . In winter, clusters of berries of pink, scarlet, cream, yellow and brown colors are especially noticeable against the background of white snow. Shades depend on the rowan variety.
Under natural conditions, a tree can grow for more than 100 years. The highest yield of 35-year-old trees - from one such tree you can collect up to 100-150 kg of mountain ash.
The mountain ash belongs to the family Pink.
Growing conditions
In natural conditions, mountain ash grows in remote areas of the forest. In more lightened places, it well builds up a thick crown, and fruiting becomes abundant. Mountain ash is a practically unpretentious plant: it is not afraid of frost and drought, it is almost not damaged by diseases and pests.
Most of the species and varieties of this plant, including common mountain ash, are not particularly picky about the growing conditions. Under natural conditions, it can grow on poor soil and fertile. However, it was noted that trees growing on soils of different composition differ in growth and fruiting. Instances developing on light fertile soils grow and bear fruit better than those growing on heavy loam.
Landing
The best time to plant is autumn. In winter, the soil is well compacted and in early spring the plant begins to grow. Permissible planting in early April.
As noted above, it is best to choose a place with light and fertile soil. After planting a seedling in a prepared pit 60 x 60 centimeters in size, it is necessary to fill it with a mixture of fertile soil with the addition of about 5 kg of humus or peat compost, 100 g of potassium fertilizer and 200 g of superphosphate.
When planting mountain ash, the distance between the trees should be taken into account: between undersized - up to 2 meters, between tall - up to 4 meters.
Care
Mountain ash - a tree that gives a large number of young shoots, which appears annually at the root neck. These shoots should be permanently removed.
Weekly watering, loosening of the soil, weeding, periodic fertilizing, and also preferably forming a crown, are necessary for mountain ash. If the plant lags in growth and if its appearance worsens, it is necessary to determine the cause of the problem and spray the tree with the appropriate preparation. In dry times, it is recommended to mulch the parietal area, this will protect the roots of the plant from drying out and help maintain moisture.
Fertilizer
Mountain ash should begin to feed only from the third year of life. Fertilizing an annual rowan seedling with nitrogen-containing fertilizers can adversely affect its root system, which will lead to poor tree development.
It is recommended to make mineral fertilizers. The most effective is threefold top dressing. In early spring, before the buds open, it is necessary to apply potash, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers per 1 sq. Km. square meter by the tree. In summer, you can fertilize with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. In the autumn, phosphorus and potassium fertilizing is important for the plant. After pouring fertilizer near the trees, you should slightly dig up the soil, and then water the plants themselves abundantly.
Breeding
Mountain ash can be propagated in five ways: by seeds, root shoots, layering, cuttings (ligneous and green) and grafting on wild mountain ash. Vaccination on mountain ash gives fruiting already in the 3-5th year, and reproduction by root shoots and layering - in the 5-7th year.
The choice of propagation method depends on the shape and variety of the plant:
- budding (a method using a single kidney from a cuttings of a cultivated plant variety) and grafting with cuttings is used for mountain ash;
- layering mainly propagates low-stem forms;
- root offspring are used for root plants.
More details about vaccination propagation
Mountain ash - a plant for which the best way to reproduce is vaccination. The split vaccination method is best for her . In winter (in January) cuttings are cut, which bind into bundles and are dug vertically into the soil or into sand to a depth of about 15 cm. The annual seedling selected for early stock is dug out and cleared of soil in early spring. A cleavage of about 3 cm depth is made in the upper part of its root. Then, the strongest stalk with already developing buds is selected, and a double wedge cut is made in its lower part so that it coincides in size with the cleft. Further, the upper part of the handle is carefully cut at an oblique angle above the upper kidney. The graft is placed in a cleavage, the joint is wrapped with film, and the upper part of the graft is treated with garden var.
A grafted seedling is planted in a greenhouse. The junction should be on the surface of the soil. A mixture of peat and sand in equal parts is used as soil. Soil and air should be kept moist.
After complete splicing, the seedling can be planted in a permanent place in the open ground, cutting the sprouts on a stock.
Beneficial features
Not only berries have a beneficial effect, but also the bark, flowers and leaves of the plant. It should be noted that both black-fruited and red ordinary mountain ash are endowed with healing properties from ailments.
The plant has vitamins, has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, diuretic and laxative effects. Strengthens the immune system and blood vessel walls, lowers blood pressure, coagulates blood, heals kidneys, liver and other organs. It helps with colds, hemorrhoids, coughs, and also perfectly balances the metabolism in the body and treats all kinds of skin diseases.
Means from the berries of ordinary mountain ash neutralize the fermentation processes in the intestine, remove toxins, have a choleretic effect, heal ulcers, and help lower cholesterol. Fruits help with heart diseases and tumors. Mountain ash bark is endowed with excellent antibacterial properties.
Finally
Mountain ash of this species is a kind of classic of the Russian landscape. And in ancient times, the Slavs attributed this plant the ability to protect all the compound from all evil spirits.
And today, this rather spectacular plant is grown in parks and gardens. It is used both as a tapeworm and as an ornamental plant in wood-shrub compositions and in group plantings.