Contents
Hawthorn occupies a special place among ornamental fruits and shrubs. Its fruits, leaves and flowers have always been used in folk medicine. Arnold’s hawthorn is a large-fruited variety common in many regions.
History of variety breeding
This plant was bred in America, but it also feels great in Our Country. The plant has a number of advantages for which gardeners appreciate it. At the same time, the plant has not yet been included in the State Register of Varieties.
Description of hawthorn Arnold
This is a woody plant that reaches 6 m in height. The fruits are large, 2–3 cm in diameter. The crown of the tree is up to 5 meters wide, wide, asymmetrical, transparent, there are zigzag branches. The spines of this variety reach 9 cm in length, which is much longer than most other varieties.
Fruit ripening occurs earlier, as does their fall. The fruits are large, the pulp is juicy, sweet and sour taste. Each fruit contains 3-4 seeds. Ripening occurs in September, and Arnold’s hawthorn blooms in May.
The leaves of the tree are broad, egg-shaped, with serrated edges. In autumn, the foliage changes color from bright green to yellow or purplish yellow.
Characteristics of a variety
The main advantage of this variety is its unpretentiousness. In addition, Arnold’s hawthorn is considered to be long-lived. His age reaches 120 years. The variety is used not only as single plantings, but also for hedges, as well as decorative group plantings.
Drought and frost resistance
The tree is drought tolerant and frost tolerant. As for watering, it is enough to water the shrub 2 times a month. In too dry summers, the frequency of watering can be increased up to three times.
And also the plant is frost-resistant, which allows it to be grown in almost all climatic zones. It is necessary to insulate for the winter only in the northern regions, where sub-zero temperatures remain below 40 degrees for a long time.
Yield and fruiting
The ripening of berries of this variety occurs in early September. The first yield occurs approximately 5 years after planting. An adult tree, with proper agricultural technology, produces 6 buckets of hawthorn fruits per season. Berries reach three cm in diameter and have several seeds.
Disease and pest resistance
Arnold’s hawthorn requires protection from pests and diseases. The most common diseases that these plants are susceptible to:
- Mučnistaâ rosa – expressed in the appearance of white or gray plaque on the leaves. As a result, the leaves curl. For treatment, a double treatment with known fungicides is used.
- buffy spotting – a common disease that leads to early drying and leaf fall.
- brown spotting – also destroys the leaves.
When the first symptoms of any disease appear, the plant must be treated with a fungicide.
Of the pests for Arnold’s hawthorn, the most dangerous are: aphids, scale insects, leafworms and hawthorn.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Arnold’s hawthorn is noticeable with its chic crown. This tree can reach a height of 6 meters. In addition, it has a number of other advantages:
- larger fruits;
- unpretentious in care;
- long-liver;
- several ways of reproduction;
- resistant to frost and drought;
- suitable for landscaping applications.
But the large-fruited variety also has its drawbacks:
- long spikes up to 9 cm;
- susceptible to many diseases;
- first harvest only after 5 years.
Planting and caring for Arnold’s hawthorn
In order for an American hawthorn tree to grow for more than 120 years, while bearing fruit with high quality, it is imperative to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology. Caring for Arnold’s hawthorn does not seem difficult, but there are nuances that must be taken into account. Then a beautiful, sprawling tree with large fruits will stand on the site for decades.
Recommended dates
You can plant hawthorn seedlings in spring and autumn. Autumn planting is considered more acceptable. In autumn, planting dates are calculated so that the seedling has time to take root before frost. The best option is to plant during leaf fall.
Selecting a suitable site and soil preparation
When choosing a place, it should be borne in mind that Arnold’s hawthorn loves sunny areas, and in the shade it bears fruit and blooms worse.
It is necessary to plant a seedling in the following mixture:
- 2 parts of sod land;
- 2 parts of humus;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part of the sand.
And also 40 g of lime must be added to the planting pit. In general, it is best to check the acidity of the soil. It should be at 8 pH.
At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer is needed, which consists of crushed stone and river sand. Both components in equal quantities in a layer of 10 cm.
The hole should be of such a diameter that the root system of the seedling fits and is free.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
It is important to properly plant a tree on the site, taking into account the neighborhood of other plants. In this case, you can both increase fruiting and improve the condition of the tree, and vice versa.
You can’t plant next to a hawthorn: an apple tree, a pear, a plum, a cherry, as well as other fruit crops that have common pests.
Excellent for the neighborhood with Arnold’s hawthorn, other varieties of hawthorn, its hybrid varieties, as well as dogwood and other berry crops.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Arnold’s common hawthorn is planted using seedlings. You can do this with seeds, but they will grow and develop longer, and fruiting will come later. Two-year-old seedlings with a healthy root system are suitable for planting. If the hawthorn has side shoots, they should be cut before planting.
Landing algorithm
Arnold’s hawthorn is planted in planting pits at a distance of 2 m from each other. The seedling is placed in the center of the prepared pit and covered with earth. The soil must be compacted. The root neck should be flush with the ground.
After planting, be sure to pour at least a bucket of water under the seedling. After planting, remember that young trees require careful watering.
Aftercare
In order for Arnold’s large-fruited hawthorn to grow and develop beautifully and please its owner with a rich harvest, it is important to properly care for it.
- Watering. Hawthorn should be watered once a month at the rate of 15 liters of water per tree. Younger plants need to be watered a little more often, especially in dry summers. If the summer is rainy enough, then watering is not required at all.
- Additional fertilizing. To get a rich harvest, you need to take care of good feeding. Every spring it is supposed to make nitroammophoska. Before flowering, for feeding, a bucket of liquid mullein is brought under each tree.
- Trimming. Two types of pruning are performed: sanitary, as well as shaping. Sanitary pruning is carried out annually. Its goal is to remove all diseased, withered, as well as frozen branches. When forming pruning, do not cut more than 1/3 of the length of the shoot. If you cut off more, then the plant will not be able to bloom and bear fruit normally.
- Preparation for winter. The plant is considered frost-resistant, and therefore does not require special preparation. It is enough to mulch the root zone with straw or hay.
Diseases and pests, control methods and prevention
Hawthorn Arnold in the description of the variety indicates several diseases that the tree is susceptible to.
- Rust. If suspicious spots are found, diseased shoots must be cut off immediately to avoid the spread of infection.
- Mučnistaâ rosa – Spraying with modern fungicides is required.
In addition to diseases, hawthorn is susceptible to attack by pests. From them, as a preventive measure, a soap solution helps, as well as a tobacco solution, which is supposed to spray a tree a couple of times a season.
After flowering, you can spray the tree again if the infection is too strong.
Application in landscape design
Arnold’s hawthorn in the photo and on the site looks very beautiful. This tree is used not only for obtaining delicious fruits, but also for decorating the local area. It is used in landscape design both in single plantings and in group plantings. Hawthorn looks beautiful in rock gardens, as well as in curly structures. Its crown can be formed in the form of a ball, pyramid, rectangle.
Conclusion
Arnold’s hawthorn is an American variety of a well-known healthy berry that has a large number of medicinal properties. Such a tree is suitable for use in landscape design. The fruits are quite large, the yield of this variety is large. It is important to correctly follow the rules of agricultural technology and water, feed and cut the plant in time, which can stand on the site for more than 120 years.
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