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Among the large varietal variety of hawthorn, each gardener finds certain preferences for himself. Someone likes decorative varieties, but for someone it is preferable exclusively for nutritional and medicinal value. Toba hawthorn is a new hybrid variety of a plant that is distinguished by a change in flower color during the season.
History of variety breeding
Toba hawthorn was bred in Canada, this variety is not included in the State Register. Becomes popular because it is unpretentious, resistant to frost, perfect for the cold climate of our country.
Since the plant is a hybrid, it is grown exclusively by grafting in order to maintain its varietal characteristics in full.
Description of hawthorn Toba
This plant is a tree up to 4 meters high. The crown is dense, has the shape of a ball, looks very nice as a decoration of the house adjoining area.
This variety, compared with many others, has an advantage – there are practically no thorns on the shoots. The leaves are broad, ovoid, dark green on the outside and light on the inside.
In the initial period of flowering, the buds appear white, then the shade changes first to pale pink, then to a rich pink color.
The hybrid plant lacks stamens, pistils, and therefore the tree does not bear fruit, only flowers. For lovers of hawthorn jam, the variety is not suitable.
Characteristics of a variety
According to the description of the Toba hawthorn variety, it belongs to trees that love the sun. Unpretentious in care, the fruit gives a minimum amount, a small size. It is used in landscape design, more often as a single plant.
Drought and frost resistance
The frost resistance of Toba hawthorn is slightly lower than that of other varieties. In Our Country, the hybrid feels great in zone 5a. These regions include: Central Our Country, the Baltic States, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Minsk, Kyiv.
The soil for the normal development of the hybrid should be moderately moist. Strong watering, waterlogging the plant does not require. It is enough to water 2 times a month in the absence of rain. In a rainy summer, Toba will do without watering.
Yield and fruiting
Fruits are formed in a small amount, very rarely. Often the tree does not bear fruit. On the site it performs an exclusively decorative function, with its pink inflorescences it pleases the eye. When the flowering period begins, the tree resembles a snowy top, white flowers from the side look like a snow cap.
Disease and pest resistance
The hybrid variety is more resistant to diseases, fungal and viral infections. Hawthorn is worth protecting from pests. Hawthorn Toba is affected by spider mites, leafworms and apple aphids. That is why experts do not recommend planting apple trees, pears and other fruit plants next to the hawthorn. For prevention, it’s good to treat the tree with fungicides, and a soap solution or a tobacco mixture helps a lot from pests.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Toba hawthorn has positive reviews from amateurs and professionals of decorative ornaments. Among the main advantages of the variety:
- lack of spines;
- beautiful and lush flowering;
- unpretentiousness in care;
- resistance to frost and lack of watering.
But the variety also has disadvantages:
- lack of fruits;
- exactingness to light;
- reproduction is by grafting.
Most often, this variety is perfect exclusively for landscape design, since the tree still does not produce fruit.
Features of landing
Planting hawthorn varieties Toba for the most part does not differ from the standard planting of other varieties of this plant. It is important to choose a sunny open area that will be lit for most of the day. It is desirable that there are no tall plants nearby that cast shade, since the Toba variety does not tolerate shade and does not bloom well without the sun.
Recommended dates
Grafted Toba hawthorn seedlings can be planted in autumn or spring. But autumn dates until mid-September during the leaf fall are more acceptable. In this case, the seedling will have time to take root before the first frost and in the spring it will already enter the flowering period with might and main.
Spring time is optimal before the start of sap flow. It is important that the seedling does not fall under frost, otherwise it may die.
Selecting a suitable site and soil preparation
First of all, soil fertility should be taken into account. In order for the Toba hawthorn to take root perfectly and delight the owners with its flowering, it is necessary to dig a hole and properly prepare the soil. The place should first be selected with sufficient lighting, lack of shade, and also with loose soil. Soil acidity should not exceed pH = 8.
The soil must be mixed with humus, peat, and it is imperative to make drainage from broken bricks or crushed stone at the bottom of the pit. Drainage layer – 15 cm.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
Toba hawthorn is a very light-loving plant that does not tolerate shade for good flowering. Therefore, it cannot be planted next to shady and spreading trees, as well as in large group plantings. And also you can not plant a hybrid next to fruit crops that have common pests and diseases: apple trees, pears, plums, cherries.
If beds are broken not far from the hawthorn, then it’s a good idea to plant onions and garlic on them, which will scare away aphids from an ornamental tree.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Toba hawthorn belongs to rare varieties, and therefore is distributed only by grafted seedlings. When purchasing such planting material, it is necessary to carefully examine it. All roots should be healthy and free of signs of disease, dryness, lethargy, or mold. All diseased and defective roots should be removed.
Landing algorithm
The hole should be dug to a depth of 60-80 cm, and in diameter should exceed the volume of the root system. When planting, you need to carefully straighten the root system and set the seedling in the center of the planting hole. Top with earth and tamp down. The root neck should be flush with the ground. After planting under a young plant, 15 liters of water should be added. Approximately 7 cm, the root zone should be mulched with peat. So the plant will take root faster and will not be affected by frost.
Aftercare
Follow-up care after planting consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning, as well as proper preparation of the tree for wintering, pest and disease control. But hawthorn is easy to care for.
It is enough to provide watering once a month, even if the summer is dry. This does not apply to young plants that are just planted. They need to be moisturized more often 2-3 times a month. If the weather is rainy, then watering is not needed. Hawthorn does not like too waterlogged soil.
Trim to carry out sanitary and forming. Sanitary must be carried out after winter, to destroy frost-bitten shoots. Dried and diseased shoots can be removed at any time of the year, regardless of the season.
To top dressing Toba hawthorn is also undemanding. It is enough to fertilize the tree with cow dung before flowering.
It is also necessary to loosen the soil cover so that there is more air permeability.
Hawthorn is not required to be especially protected from frost for the winter. The variety is frost-resistant, and only in the northern regions it is necessary to mulch the root zone with straw or hay before winter.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
There are several methods to fight diseases. The best option is modern complex fungicides, which can be used not only as a remedy, but also for prevention. It is important to pay attention in time to the appearance of the first symptoms of diseases: spots, dried leaves, twisted leaves, discoloration and early fall of the cover.
Insecticides can be used as pest control, and a soapy solution is also suitable as a preventive measure. Experienced gardeners plant plants next to the hawthorn that have insecticidal properties.
Hawthorn Toba in landscape design
Hawthorn Toba in the photo looks no less magnificent than in life. This ornamental plant feels great both in groups and in single plantings. It can be formed in the form of a ball, rectangle, and also a pyramid. In plantings in large groups, the Toba hawthorn should be the largest so as not to lose light.
Alone, it can be used near artificial reservoirs, in the form of curly decorations, near arbors, as a frame for paths.
Conclusion
Hawthorn Toba is successfully used by both professionals in landscape design and beginners. It is only important to remember that the plant needs sunlight and it does not tolerate shade. In care, a rare variety of hawthorn is unpretentious, but requires the prevention of diseases and pests. Fruiting is not worth waiting for – this is an exclusively decorative specimen.
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