Zizifus (unabi) in central Our Country: planting and care, cultivation

The experience of growing jujube in the Moscow region is very important for gardeners who prefer planting plants that are both exotic and useful on their site. To understand what kind of plant we are talking about, you should list all the names. Jujube is known as unabi, jujube, chulon, ilanjida, Chinese date, jojoba.

At least one of them is known to every lover of fruit crops in the subtropical region. The jujube belongs to the buckthorn family. Fruits are considered the value of the plant, although unabi is also very decorative. For middle regions, the cultivation of low-growing picturesque types of jujube is typical, the height of which does not exceed 2-3 m.

Planting and caring for unabi in the regions

Previously, it was believed that the Chinese date is not able to survive in central Our Country, and even more so to bear fruit. Currently, winter-hardy varieties have been bred, which gardeners grow in areas with a continental climate.

Before planting a Chinese date in your region, a gardener needs to know information about the culture. Because it will be necessary to take into account not only the climatic conditions of the region, but also the growing season of the variety. Types of jujube are divided into groups according to the ripening time:

1. early ripe. Similar varieties of jujube ripen in autumn – the end of September or the beginning of October.
2. The middle-ripening. Such unabi are distinguished by later ripening – the second half of October.
3. late ripening. The fruits of jujube are ready for tasting from the end of October until the first December snows.

Based on this, late, and sometimes mid-ripening varieties of jujube should not be planted in the Moscow region and the middle lane. In this case, the plant will not have time to give nutritious fruits due to the rapid onset of cold weather.

The algorithm for planting shrubs does not have any special differences for the regions. Only the points of caring for the date differ, which depend on weather conditions.

The temperate continental climate dictates its own conditions for growing dates. For the regions of the middle zone and the Moscow region, shrub varieties of jujube or grafted on high boles are suitable. The unabi ripening period takes 2-4 weeks, with cross-pollination, flowering is long – up to 2 months.

Variety choice

Despite the fact that more than 400 varieties of unabi are known, not all are suitable for gardeners in cool areas. Early frost-resistant species are considered the optimal varieties of jujube for the middle lane and the Moscow region. They have time to bear fruit before the onset of frost. Among the most famous are Vakhsh, Candy, Moriger, Khurman, Sinit, Chinese 60, Lang, Ta-Yang-Zao. The most frost-resistant large-fruited ones are Burnim, Ulduz, Sochi 1, Ordubadi, Zogal, Chinese-93. Such types of Chinese dates can withstand temperatures down to -29 ° C.

If you plant medium-fruited or small-fruited ones, they will finish the growing season even earlier. Small-fruited ziziphus are the most fruitful and hardy. It is best to grow a date from the seed yourself.

Landing dates (in the Moscow region and in the middle lane)

The dependence of unabi on heat is well known. After all, the subtropics are the birthplace of the Chinese date. Therefore, gardeners in the Moscow region and the middle regions of Our Country are recommended spring planting of jujube. If the plant is planted in the fall, then the rapid onset of cold weather does not allow it to take root. At best, the jujube seedling will freeze, at worst, it will not survive the harsh winter.

Unabi planting begins in March, a more accurate date is determined by the weather conditions of the current year.

Site selection and preparation of soil

When choosing a place, the preferences of the shrub are taken into account. In the shade, jujube almost does not grow, so it will not be possible to wait for the harvest. Even in the presence of flowers, the fruits are not tied. Culture loves good lighting. Therefore, for jujube choose the sunniest part of the site.

Another requirement is the absence of drafts and cold winds. A suitable place is the southwestern and southern slopes. You can place unabi near buildings on flat ground. The main thing is not to plant Chinese dates in the lowlands.

The roots of the plant are powerful, so you should choose a place where there is no close occurrence of groundwater.

In order for the fruiting and growth of the shrub to be good, it is necessary to provide it with high-quality soil. Ziziphus prefers loamy, moderately moist soil. It should be fertile, but an overabundance of nutrients is not acceptable. The culture will react with a powerful growth of leaves, but will not produce fruits. If you plant a date on dry and poor land, then the harvest will be just as meagre. On acidic soils, lime is added (300 g / sq. M), sand (10 kg / m XNUMX) is added to clay soils.

The preparation of the pit for jujube is done in advance. It is necessary to dig a cube with sides of 1 m. Then add manure (3-4 buckets) and complex mineral components (200 g).

Pits are located at a distance of 3-4 m from each other. A single planting of jujube is only suitable for decorative purposes. The plant is self-fertile and requires cross-pollination to bear fruit. Therefore, in order to harvest dates, several varieties of unabi will have to be planted.

Rules of landing

The step-by-step description of the process looks like this:

1. Lay a drainage layer of 5-10 cm from crushed stone, expanded clay or broken brick.
2. Fill the jujube pit with fertile soil by 2/3 of the volume.
3. Form a mound.
4. A jujube seedling is installed on it, the roots are straightened. If the seedling was purchased from the ZKS, then it is transshipped along with an earthen clod.
5. Sprinkle with soil, shaking the unabi and compacting the ground. This must be done so that voids do not form between the roots.
6. The unabi grafting site is raised 5 cm above the ground surface.
7. Form a watering groove.
8. Pour 20 liters of water onto one Chinese date.
9. The near-trunk circle of jujube is mulched with a layer of straw or hay 10 cm thick.

In the first year, the plant forms a root system, and the vegetative part grows weakly. More about planting a Chinese date: 

Features of growing jujube in the Moscow region

The main focus during landing is the place. If you plant unabi in the Moscow region in a windy place, then the shrub will suffer from breakage of shoots and an additional decrease in temperature from the wind.

In autumn, it is recommended to sow green manure, then place date seedlings in a checkerboard pattern to improve crown illumination.

To ensure cross-pollination of jujube, several varieties should be planted. For example, through one tree.

Watering is needed for young unabi. The first year, date seedlings need 20 liters of water 5-7 times during the season. Adult dates get water well with the help of roots and do not need frequent watering. On the contrary, when heavy rains are pouring, the root system of jujube is covered with plastic wrap. Otherwise, overmoistening will lead to cracking of the fruit. But if there is no rain for a long time, then you need to water the dates 4-5 times a season. When the dates ripen, watering is stopped.

Loosening and mulching of unabi is done after watering.

For the first 3 years, jujube has enough nutrients introduced during planting. When the shrub is 4-5 years old, you need to annually apply 18 g of nitrogen in the spring, 10 g of potassium and 12 g of phosphorus in the fall. Then, from the 6th year, double the dose of elements. Foliar spraying of the unabi crown with the Vympel preparation (20 ml / 10 l) is performed 2-3 times per season with a frequency of 3-4 weeks. This improves the flavor of the date.

Pruning is needed for weakly branching unabi varieties to give the crown volume. Strongly branched thin out, especially in the inner part of the crown, to improve lighting. Unabi pruning is done in May to see new shoots and any damage. Adult unabi can be pruned in March.

Rules for growing jujube in central Our Country

Planting and caring for unabi in the middle lane do not have strong differences from the Moscow region. Dates tolerate the climate of the middle lane quite well if all activities are performed correctly:

1. Watering is needed unabi 3-4 times during the season before the formation of ovaries. Then the plant does not need excess moisture. The frequency of watering is increased for young seedlings up to 5-6 times. After absorbing moisture, the earth must be loosened and mulched. It is not recommended to dig the near-trunk zone of the unabi.
2. Top dressing is enough to make 2 times per season. You can use organic and mineral complexes. In spring, unabi need nitrogen components, in autumn phosphorus and potassium. This will allow the plant to overwinter well.
3. The formation of the crown is performed without a central shoot. It is cut to 80 cm in the first year of life of jujube. Branches of the second order are formed from the 3rd year, they are shortened by 2-3 buds. 2-4 most developed branches are left, the rest are cut out. In addition to such a scheme, the unabi crown must be thinned out and dry or broken shoots removed.

All activities are subject to change depending on the weather.

Preparing the crop for winter

The southern plant must be prepared for the cold season. To do this, young seedlings from spring are placed in a small greenhouse without a roof, stretching a transparent film on supports. In autumn, the plant is spudded to 1/3 of the height, the upper shoots are wrapped with covering material. Adult Chinese dates cover only in areas where the temperature drops to -35 ° C. To do this, spud the roots of the unabi and wrap the plant with non-woven material. The regenerating abilities of jujube are quite high. The shrub quickly recovers even when the shoots freeze.

Conclusion

Gardeners publish the experience of growing jujube in the Moscow region on forums or articles. Such information is very useful to read before planting a Chinese date. In this case, the plant will take root well and will bear fruit for many years.