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Almond belongs to the Rosaceae family. The historical homeland of culture is Central Asia, it grows in the wild in the Mediterranean. Through hybridization, varieties have been created that can be cultivated in regions with a temperate climate. Description of almond varieties will help determine the choice of species for a particular climatic zone.
Variety of types and varieties of almonds
Ordinary almond includes two varieties. Bitter grows in the wild, gives nuts with a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid, the fruits of the culture are unsuitable for food. A 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 culture, depending on the variety, grows in the form of a shrub or tree, reaching up to 6 m in height. Propagation occurs by seeds, layering, grafting or cuttings. The tree is used as a peach rootstock.
When creating new varieties, the priority was the adaptation of the plant to low spring temperatures. The common species of the plant blooms in early spring before the formation of leaves. The main flowering occurs in mid-March, some varieties growing in the subtropical zone begin to bloom at the end of February.
In Our Country, there are only a few types of wild-growing almonds, which are not afraid of low temperatures. They are used in selection. Most of the created hybrids with a late flowering period and a long dormant period of generative buds. If there is a threat of return frosts, such varieties are not threatened with freezing of flowers and ovaries.
Types of almonds
The culture deserves attention, many species of almonds growing in the wild are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Almond stalked
An endangered perennial plant found in Siberia and Buryatia. It grows as an ornamental shrub up to 1 meters high. Prefers calcined, calcareous soils. The plant is drought-resistant, can do without water for a long time.
External description:
- leaves are narrow, oblong up to 2,5 cm, carved along the edge;
- flowers are simple, large, solitary, bright pink, flowering is plentiful;
- nuts of medium size are wide at the base, tapering upward (in the form of a drop), the surface is gray, densely pubescent with a short pile.
Almond dwarf
The variety has several names: low, beaver, steppe. Perennial, deciduous shrub up to 1,5 m. Due to the decorative effect during flowering, the variety is used in landscape design. The photo shows steppe almonds during flowering. The crown is dense, formed in the form of a ball. The branches are upright, give many shoots.
External characteristic:
- leaves 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 gray drupe, has the shape of an elongated oval, tapering upwards, densely pubescent, 2 cm long.
It blooms in early April, flowering lasts 14 days, fruits ripen in July. Found in Siberia and the Caucasus. The species includes two varieties: with white and pink flowers.
Almond Petunnikova
Perennial, deciduous shrub, reaching a height of no more than one meter. The crown is dense, spherical. Distributed in Central Asia. Treats heat-loving plants, well transfers a drought. It will not grow in a temperate climate, it is prone to freezing of young shoots and the root system.
External description:
- the leaves are small dark green, narrow, located at the ends of the shoots;
- flowers are light pink, large, simple;
- fruits are small, orange or dark yellow, densely pubescent.
Flowering time is 2 weeks from late April to mid-May. It begins to bloom at the age of three, bears fruit after five years.
Almond Ledebour
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, is a honey plant. In the wild, it forms impenetrable thickets of stunted shrubs. In height, almonds grow up to 1,5 m.
Description of the plant:
- the crown is dense, branched, spherical;
- leaves are large, oblong, glossy, ribbed along the edge, dark green;
- blooms profusely with large pink or light maroon flowers, reaching 3,5 cm in diameter.
Flowering lasts 21 days, begins in May. The fruits ripen at the end of August. The shrub begins to bear fruit after 10 years of vegetation.
Georgian
Almonds grow on mountain slopes, edges, forest glades of the Caucasus. Combined into one species with steppe almonds. Low-growing (1,2 m), perennial, deciduous shrub. Prefers neutral soils, tolerates high air temperatures well. Frost-resistant, feels comfortable in Central Our Country.
External characteristics:
- leaves are large up to 8 cm, hard, with a smooth surface, serrated along the edge;
- the crown is dense, intensively forms young shoots and root 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. Grow as a hedge in the backyard.
The best varieties of almonds
Description and photos of the best varieties of almonds created by hybridization based on wild species are presented below. More often these are winter-hardy varieties with edible nuts. They are cultivated for fruits and as a decorative design of the territory.
Almond variety Dessert
The hybrid was created on the basis of Georgian almond, it is not afraid of spring frosts, flower buds are resistant to temperature drops. The culture blooms in mid-May, bears fruit in September. Suitable for cultivation throughout the territory of the Federation except for the zone of risky farming.
External characteristics:
- It grows in the form of a tree up to five meters in height.
- The crown is compact, not sprawling, dense, the ends of young shoots are slightly lowered.
- Grow the plant to produce fruits. Nuts are large with good taste and thin brown shell, ripen in July.
- Flowers are medium sized, dark pink, sterile.
Pollinator varieties allow achieving high and stable tree yields.
Almond variety Foros
This variety of almonds was created specifically to produce fruits. As a result of 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.
Almond varieties Slovenia
A hybrid of the new generation Slovenia is the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders. Bred for cultivation in temperate climates. The plant is drought-resistant with long 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:
- fruits are large, intensely pubescent with thick pile.
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
Seedling obtained from pollination of the variety Nikitinsky 62 and Ledebour’s almond. The resulting hybrid is high-yielding, with good resistance to low temperatures. This is one of the few varieties listed in the State Register.
The heat-loving culture tolerates drought well, zoned in the North Caucasus region. Available for cultivation in Central Our Country. 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 in April with pink flowers, 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 adversely affects flower buds. Srednerosly shrub reaches two meters in height.
Description of the variety:
- the crown is spreading, the branches give a numerous number of shoots;
- densely leafy with long narrow leaves, tapering at the top;
- flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, white;
- fruits are dark yellow, medium size.
Flowering lasts 21 days, starting in April. Nuts ripen in July. The variety is widely used in the design of plots.
Nikitsky 62
A popular variety for temperate regions. The plant is the most frost-resistant among the representatives of the species. The winter holiday period is long. The culture blooms at the end of May. It grows in the form of a tree up to five meters high. Cultivated for fruit. Sweet nut with a high concentration of oils.
External characteristic:
- crown spreading, dense;
- the root system gives a large number of shoots;
- leaves are large, pubescent, with carved edges, dark green above, the lower part is a tone lighter;
- It blooms intensively with flowers of medium size, white with a pink tint.
It bears fruit in July for the 6th year of growth, the culture is self-fertile, therefore pollinating varieties are required.
Dream
Decorative variety created on the basis of the steppe species. Low-growing shrub up to one meter in height, valued for violent flowering. Frost-resistant, with the correct spherical shape of the crown. It is used for design solutions in the design of the territory.
Description:
- leaves are long, narrow, dark green, ribbed along the edge;
- fruits of medium size, gray-green, densely pubescent;
- flowers are large up to 6 cm, bright pink, flowering is plentiful.
Leaves and flowers are formed simultaneously in mid-May. The fruits ripen in July.
Conclusion
A description of the varieties of almonds and its varieties will help you choose a plant for planting on the site. If the purpose of planting is to obtain fruits, a tall culture is suitable; for design purposes, low-growing shrubs are used. The plant is chosen taking into account the peculiarities of the climate of the region, they are always interested in the degree of frost resistance.
