Planting and caring for sea buckthorn

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn is easy. Even a novice gardener will not be difficult to get a good harvest of berries, subject to certain rules. This article provides the principles of growing sea buckthorn, agricultural practices and methods of working with this shrub. Its main diseases and pests are listed, as well as recommendations for prevention and control measures are given.

Principles of growing and caring for sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a low deciduous thorny shrub or tree of the loch family. In the wild, it is found quite often, especially in Siberia. Prefers light sandy and pebbly soils, grows along streams, along river banks.

Sea buckthorn can be planted in the country both for decorative purposes and for harvesting berries. This plant is quite resistant to both various diseases and pests. Agrotechnics for growing sea buckthorn is not particularly difficult. Of the mandatory procedures, only pruning is carried out, which is done to form a healthy tree or shrub, as well as for sanitary purposes.

How to distinguish sea buckthorn male from female (photo)

A feature of the culture is that it is a dioecious plant, therefore the kidneys of sea buckthorn are male and female, and they are located on different individuals. It is by the kidneys that it is easiest to distinguish the male sea buckthorn plant from the female. In male sea buckthorn, they are at the base of young shoots, in the female bush – in the axils of the covering scales. Male buds are larger and collected in the likeness of spicate inflorescences.

How to distinguish female sea buckthorn from male – photo below.

The difference between the male and female sea buckthorn tree can also be found in the shape of the leaves. In the male plant, the leaf plate is flat, in the female plant it is curved in the shape of a bowl. The differences between the sea buckthorn of a boy and a girl are also in the form of flowers and their color. Female flowers are yellowish, collected in inflorescences, male flowers are silvery, greenish.

You can also determine the sex of a shrub by the color of the crown in late spring. Male bushes have a characteristic bluish bloom, while the foliage of female individuals will remain bright green.

A video on how to distinguish male sea buckthorn from female is presented below.

How to plant sea buckthorn

When carrying out work, you must follow some rules for planting sea buckthorn. Here’s what to consider first:

1. One male plant can pollinate 5–8 female plants. A larger number of fruit-bearing trees will be pollinated only partially. Therefore, in order to obtain a good harvest, bushes are usually planted in a group, surrounding the male plant with female plants in a ratio of no more than 1:5.
2. Males die more often, so many gardeners for insurance increase their number relative to females.
3. For planting, it is best to choose seedlings of the same variety.
4. The root system of the shrub grows widely and is about twice the size of the crown.
5. The roots of the plant are at a shallow depth. Therefore, no agrotechnical work is carried out within a radius of 2 m from the bush. Neighboring plants are planted at the same distance from each other.

When planting bushes for decorative purposes, gender issues can be neglected. The distance must be maintained so that the roots of neighboring plants do not oppress each other.

When is the best time to plant sea buckthorn: spring or autumn

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Most gardeners agree that it is right to plant sea buckthorn in the spring. However, this is not quite true. Excavation time depends on many factors. You can plant sea buckthorn on the site even in summer, if before that it had been growing in a tub for more than a year.

Autumn planting can be carried out if it is known for sure that the seedling grew in the same area. If it is from more southern regions, the plant may wake up from hibernation in January-February and is guaranteed to die. Planting sea buckthorn in the spring with seedlings allows you to minimize the risks.

How to plant sea buckthorn in spring

It is best to plant sea buckthorn in the spring in late March or early April. During this period, the bushes are at rest, and the soil has a good supply of moisture.

Planting sea buckthorn in autumn

You can plant sea buckthorn in autumn if the root system of seedlings is closed. The optimal landing time is the end of September – the beginning of October. By this time, the leaves from the tree, as a rule, fly around. Therefore, all the forces of the plant will be directed to take root. A step-by-step guide on how to plant sea buckthorn in the fall is no different from spring, and is given below.

In case of violation of the terms, the seedlings can be buried, and after wintering they can be planted in a permanent place. The seedlings are placed in a ditch 0,5 m deep so that the crown is turned to the south. After covering with earth, the bushes need to be well watered. With the onset of the first frost, they are almost completely covered with earth, leaving only the tops of the branches, and then covered with spruce branches on top. When the snow falls, they fill up the shelter.

Where to plant sea buckthorn on the site

The place for planting sea buckthorn should be open and sunny. You should not place it next to garden beds, otherwise there is a high risk of damage to the roots when digging. The plant tolerates this very painfully. It is necessary to plant sea buckthorn at a distance from buildings and fences so as not to obscure the bushes. This culture does not like close proximity to other trees, therefore, as a rule, it is given a place on the edge of the garden on the south side.

What kind of soil does sea buckthorn like

Sea buckthorn prefers light sandy soils and black earth. Acidity is best neutral. The soil should be moist, but not swampy, so places with a groundwater level above 1 m are contraindicated for sea buckthorn.

How to choose sea buckthorn for planting

For planting in order to obtain a crop, it is better to choose varietal sea buckthorn. This is especially true for female plants. Men’s may well be wild. Planted plants with two-year-old seedlings. By this time, their height should be 0,35–0,5 m, and the roots should be at least 0,2 m long. There should be 2-3 main roots, and a sufficient number of small ones.

When examining a seedling, you need to pay attention to the condition of the bark. Detachments are not allowed. The brown color indicates the freezing of the tree, the chances that such a seedling will take root are practically zero.

How to plant sea buckthorn in spring: step by step instructions

Sea buckthorn seedlings are planted in specially prepared pits. They are dug in advance so that the soil has time to infuse and be saturated with oxygen. To properly plant sea buckthorn in the spring, planting pits need to be prepared in the fall, for autumn – at least a month in advance.

1. When preparing the pits, the size of the root system of the seedling is taken into account. Usually a depth of 0,5 m and the same diameter is sufficient.
2. Stepping back a little from the center, you need to drive in a wooden support, to which the tree will be tied.
3. Add to the excavated soil: humus – 1 bucket, river sand – 1 bucket, wood ash – 0,5 buckets, superphosphate – 0,2 kg.
4. Mix all components well.
5. The seedling is placed in the planting hole so that the height of the root neck above ground level is 5-6 cm. The roots must be straightened and then covered with nutrient soil, lightly tamping to prevent the formation of voids.
6. After planting, the tree must be tied to a support.
7. The distance between seedlings when planting sea buckthorn in spring is at least 2 m.

Then the seedlings need to be watered abundantly, and the trunk circle should be mulched with sawdust, straw or grass.

A short educational video about planting sea buckthorn can be viewed at the link below.

What can be planted next to sea buckthorn

Under sea buckthorn, you can only plant lawn grass. Nothing can be placed in the zone of the root system (which is about two sizes of the crown of the tree). This is especially true for plants with a shallow root system (strawberries, currants), in competition for the usable area, the aggressor sea buckthorn will simply suffocate them. Therefore, next to the sea buckthorn, you can plant another tree of the same crop, but at a distance of at least 2–2,5 m, so that they do not conflict with each other.

Sea buckthorn care after planting

Caring for sea buckthorn in the spring for the first three years comes down, as a rule, to pruning. During this period, the plant is formed in the form of a bush or tree. In addition, during dry periods, sea buckthorn can be watered and fed.

Rules for competent watering

In most cases, sea buckthorn is enough precipitation. Watering is needed if the plant is deficient in moisture, especially during the absence of rain. Moisturize the entire root zone.

It must be remembered that excess water is just as harmful to this shrub as its lack. Therefore, watering should be moderate so that moisture does not stagnate in the roots.

Loosening, weeding, mulching, pruning

Usually, under sea buckthorn, the soil is not loosened so as not to damage the roots. Weeds are also not removed by the roots, but simply mowed. The soil under sea buckthorn is mulched not with peat or humus, but with turf. Such a measure allows not only to retain moisture, but also prevents pest larvae from leaving the ground.

In the first three years after planting, pruning forms the type of plant (stem or bush). Subsequently, it is necessary for the proper growth of the crown, preventing its thickening. Twice a year, sanitary pruning is done in order to cleanse the plant of dry or diseased branches.

How to fertilize sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn growing on black soil does not need additional feeding. If the soil is poor, the plants can be slightly fertilized. Top dressing of sea buckthorn in the spring is carried out by introducing a small amount of nitrogen into the root zone. Usually, nitrophoska is used for this, simply scattering it on the ground. About once every three to four years, humus is added under the bushes, adding a little superphosphate to it.

Preparing the crop for winter

Most gardeners do not carry out any additional activities before the winter period. However, there are certain steps you can take to help sea buckthorn weather the cold more easily. For example, insulate the root zone by laying it with a layer of spruce branches and covering it with another layer of turf. To protect against rodents, tree-like sea buckthorn can be whitened in autumn and the trunk can be covered with a metal mesh.

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in the Moscow region

The climate of the Moscow region is quite suitable for growing sea buckthorn. To get a good harvest, it is recommended to plant cultivars bred for the conditions of this region. In total, there are more than 60 varieties of sea buckthorn in the State Register, and many of them are recommended for cultivation in the central regions of Our Country. The most interesting of them are shown in the table.

In addition to those presented, gardeners of the Moscow region can recommend varieties such as Favorite, Moskvichka and Gift to the garden.

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn in Siberia

In the wild, sea buckthorn is found in Siberia much more often than in the European part of Our Country. For this region, varieties have been developed that are distinguished by increased winter hardiness and productivity. The table shows several varieties that are recommended to be grown in Siberia.

The number of sea buckthorn varieties suitable for growing in Siberia is quite large. In addition to those presented, the following deserve attention:

• Radiant;
• News of Altai;
• Abundant;
• orange;
• Panteleevskaya;
• Excellent;
• Dewdrop;
• Money;
• Chulyshmanka.

All of them are successfully grown in Siberia and have a well-deserved reputation. As for agricultural technology, planting sea buckthorn seedlings in spring in Siberia will not differ in any way from the same work in the regions of Central Our Country.

When and how to transplant an adult sea buckthorn bush

Replanting an adult sea buckthorn tree is a very laborious task, and even if all the nuances are observed, most attempts end in the death of the plant. Therefore, it is so important to immediately plant this shrub in the right place. Relatively painlessly, you can transplant sea buckthorn in the spring to a new place at the age of 3 years. The plant needs to be dug up as carefully as possible, with all the roots and a clod of earth and transplanted to a new place, without deepening the root collar.

After transplanting, the bush is watered abundantly and the soil is mulched. Then a part of the crown is cut off so that the plant spends more energy on survival. In the year of transplantation, the plant, as a rule, does not bear fruit.

Flowering and fruiting of sea buckthorn

Both male and female sea buckthorn bloom. However, the purpose of these colors is different. The staminate (male) flowers produce pollen, which pollinates the female (pistillate). In place of pollinated female flowers, fruits are tied.

The ripening time of sea buckthorn is highly dependent on the variety. The earliest berries can be picked in early August, the latest – in mid-September. Dry, hot summers will speed up ripening, cold and rainy ones will delay them.

When and how sea buckthorn blooms (photo)

In both male and female bushes, buds appear at about the same time. The very beginning of flowering is highly dependent on weather conditions, for example, in central Our Country, sea buckthorn blooms in the second decade of May. This period lasts from one to two weeks. Sea buckthorn bloom (photo) – below.

Sea buckthorn flowers lack nectaries, so they do not attract insects. This crop is pollinated only by the wind.

What year after planting does sea buckthorn bear fruit?

After planting, sea buckthorn begins to bear fruit already for 4 years. Full-fledged fruiting is considered 6 years of life. By this time, the tree is already completely formed and can spend all its vitality on the growth and ripening of berries.

Growing sea buckthorn as a business

Sea buckthorn oil is the most valuable product contained in the berries of this shrub. It is widely used for both medical and cosmetic purposes. Sea buckthorn oil promotes tissue regeneration and is widely used in remedies for burns, cuts, etc. It is used to treat internal organs, gastritis, ulcers, colitis and other diseases.

Oil production is the main purpose of sea buckthorn cultivation on an industrial scale. For these purposes, special technical varieties have been bred. These include sea buckthorn Claudia, Baltic Surprise and some others. Technical grades contain 6,2–6,8% oil. Its quantity in the fruits of dessert sea buckthorn is different and ranges from 2 to 6%.

Diseases and pests

Sea buckthorn is quite infrequently affected by diseases and pests. Mostly old plants fall ill, as well as those that are not systematically pruned. The crown of such bushes is too dense, air exchange is disturbed and fungal infections begin to develop. The weather also plays an important role in this. Excess moisture also contributes to increased morbidity.

The table shows the main diseases that sea buckthorn is susceptible to.

Sea buckthorn has few pests. These include:

• sea ​​buckthorn aphid;
• sea ​​buckthorn sucker;
• sea ​​buckthorn moth;
• spider mite;
• gall mite;
• sea ​​buckthorn fly;
• omnivorous leafworm.

To prevent the appearance and control of pests, the bushes are treated with special means. Timely pruning is also important, since pests appear much less frequently on well-groomed trees with a properly formed clean crown.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for sea buckthorn is not difficult for any gardener. Tree care is minimal, and the returns are very high. To plant and grow sea buckthorn in the country means to provide yourself with a supply of beautiful berries for the whole winter, which are not only tasty, but also very healthy.