Any garden cannot be imagined without fruit and berry shrubs. Shrubs, unlike fruit trees have an important advantage - they are able to bear fruit from the first years of their lives.
In addition, the berries of shrubs have a significantly larger set of vitamins and useful microelements than the fruits of large trees (which are mainly filled with various sugars).
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General issues of planting fruit and berry crops
Many gardeners allocate much larger areas to fruit trees, and shrubs are short-sightedly "oppressed", giving them plots on a residual basis. The reason for such actions seems to be simple and understandable - the yield of fruit crops in comparison with shrubs in the same area will be slightly higher.
Fruit bushes in the area
However, this approach is fundamentally wrong, because, as noted earlier, the usefulness of berry crops can be significantly higher than that of fruit crops. The same vitamin C in any berry per unit weight is several tens of times greater than, for example, in apples (in currants - 40 times, in rose hips - 120 times).
There are various schemes for planning garden plots; they take into account the terrain, the location of buildings and objects, the quality of the soil, and many other factors. The design of each particular garden is unique, but the general recommendations are approximately the same - the area allotted in gardens for fruit bushes should be about 1/4 - 1/3 of the entire plot.
Fruit and berry crops
Planting shrubs begins with the layout of the site, the selection of crops and the preparation of a place for their landing. Choosing a location is perhaps the most important point in the entire process. Plants should be in the most suitable and convenient place, as they will grow on it for 10 to 15 years. It is necessary to take into account all the nuances associated with the illumination of plants, the level of soil acidity, their compatibility with neighbors, etc.
Usually, shrubs are planted in rows, in one or two lines. In some cases, when shrubs perform, in addition to being fruitful, also a decorative function, they can be planted in different parts of the garden. So, for example, raspberries or wild roses can be used to decorate unsightly areas.
Not the last role is played by the level of groundwater in the area. Most shrubs do not tolerate too wet soils or too high groundwater levels. However, in this matter, the situation with shrubs is simpler than with trees - creating drainage for them or adding a few tens of centimeters of earth is a very real task, given the not too large dimensions of the root system in comparison with it in trees.
only trees and shrubs can be planted
Soil acidity may also need to be corrected. Most of our soils are moderately acidic, and some types of shrubs require neutral or even alkaline soil. Changes in the level of acidity should be taken care of not only when planting plants, but also periodically carry out its correction. This can be done by adding lime or dolomite flour for alkalization or peat / nitrogen fertilizers for acidification.
Planting fruit and berry bushes is mainly carried out in the fall. This is a standard procedure and its meaning is that after the winter period of dormancy, the plant will be more stimulated to develop and grow rapidly.
Below are the most popular crops, which are grown in garden plots of a temperate climate and their most characteristic features are described.
Gooseberry
Gooseberry
One of the most popular plants in our gardens. It is a small shrub no more than 1.2 m tall with grayish or brownish bark and scaly, rounded leaves. The plant is extremely unpretentious and all care for it comes down to timely watering and thinning.
Gooseberry valued primarily for easily digestible sugars (up to 14% by weight) and an abundance of free acids - citric, malic, etc. And besides, it's just delicious. It is used in a variety of dishes, ranging from jam to wine.
Gooseberries are able to tolerate light shading, in addition, they love moist soil. The root system of the gooseberry is located no deeper than 40 cm, therefore, in most cases, groundwater will not spoil its roots.
The yield of the plant is up to 25 kg per bush.
Currant
In fact, it is a relative of the gooseberry, but it is more demanding to care for. There are several varieties: red, black and white.
The plant prefers sunny areas located in lowlands with moist soil and protection from the wind. It is recommended during planting and annually for digging in the fall to bring a bucket of manure under the plant. Unlike gooseberries, it prefers slightly acidic soils with a minimum pH of 6.5 to 6.0.
The root system of the plant is located deep enough, more than 1 m; therefore, the level of groundwater is critical for it (especially since the plant prefers lowlands). Blackcurrant prefers heavy loamy soils, red and white - light loam and sandy loam.
Raspberries
Raspberries
Actually raspberries is a semi-shrub. Raspberry stalks have a two-year life cycle. The first year there is a vegetation, accompanied by accelerated growth. In the second year, generative buds bloom on plants, flowers and fruits appear; after that, the shoots die off.
The underground part of raspberries is an extensive perennial rhizome, occupying significant areas.. In fact, it is located under the entire "raspberry" area and mainly raspberry reproduction is carried out vegetatively due to its growth. The roots are located at a depth of up to half a meter.
Raspberries love light, well-ventilated and drained soils. Soils that are too heavy for the plant are harmful, they must be diluted with sand. However, the soil must be sufficiently fertile and rich in humus.
The soil for the plant can be any (except for salt marshes and excessively chlorinated), this does not affect reproduction and vegetation in any way. However, raspberries achieve the best yields on alkaline soils with a pH level of at least 7.5.
Sea buckthorn
Depending on the method of stem formation in youth, both shrub and stem forms of this plant can be obtained. Trees reach 3 m in height, bushes - no more than 1.5 m. Sea buckthorn grows best on light sandstones or sandy loams, but it can also be grown on light loams. Heavy soils require the addition of sand.
Sea buckthorn needs to be fed with organic fertilizers. Humus and compost must be applied in the form of mulch with a layer of up to 5 cm; the total amount of 3-5 kg per plant.
The yield of the plant is up to 23 kg per bush.
Rose hip
Rose hip
Rosehip bush can reach 3 m in height.The long arched branches of the plant are covered with thorns, hence its name. There are many varieties of this plant, in particular, all roses are its decorative forms.
Rose hip prefers sunny or partial shade areas with good ventilation. The soil must be fertile with sufficient dryness; the plant does not tolerate moisture stagnation. Neutral sandy loams or loams (pH from 5.5 to 7.5) are best suited for wild rose. Some species (rose hips) like more acidic soils.
Tolerates moderate drought. Needs regular pruning and thinning bush. The optimal number of branches per bush is from 10 to 15. Branches older than 4-5 years should be cut off completely.
Hawthorn
A rather unpretentious plant that does not need any specialized care. Lives for a very long time (up to hundreds of years), begins to bear fruit after 10 years of life. Able to grow profusely, creating impenetrable hedges; often used as a fence plant. Also, like many other cultures, depending on the method of formation of the stem in youth, it can be formed both as a bush and as a tree.
He loves sunny places, he does not tolerate shade very well - flowering and fruiting even in partial shade is much worse than in the sun. Able to grow in any soil. Drought tolerates mediocre, needs moderate but regular watering.
One of the features of hawthorn is that it can act as a rootstock for various crops - from shrubs to fruit trees (including apple and pear trees).
Honeysuckle
It is a very hardy and unpretentious culture with early ripening. It can grow in one place up to 25-30 years. Tolerates frost down to -50°C. Flowers and buds withstand short-term cooling down to -10°C. Some species have curly shoots and can be used to decorate walls up to 3 m high.
It grows well on flat and sloping sites in the sun and in partial shade. In the shadow the plant hardly blooms. Can grow on any soil except sandy and marshy; soil acidity does not matter.
Needs moderate watering, no more than 4 times per season. Top dressing is performed at the beginning (compost, humus) and at the end of the season (rotted manure and wood ash). Starting from the age of 6, the plant needs regular pruning.
viburnum
Prefers open sunny areas, but can grow in partial shade. Ornamental varieties prefer light soils, fruitful - heavy. In any case, the area where the plants are grown should not have stagnant water. It is not demanding on soil acidity, it grows equally well on acidic and alkaline soils.
Planting a plant requires the introduction of humus or peat. In addition, the application of organic fertilizers is mandatory twice during the season - in spring and autumn. Humus is preferred, but compost and peat are allowed.
Watering should be regular, but moderate; a large amount of water in one irrigation is bad for the root system. The groundwater level should be no higher than 1 m.
Barberry
The shrub is often referred to as ornamental, however, it may well be used as a fruit-bearing one.The yield of adult plants can exceed 10 kg per bush. Barberry berries contain many microelements and vitamins, in terms of diversity they “outstrip” even currants.
Prefers open sunny areas with alkaline soils. Loves light soils, uncritical to the degree of their fertility. Does not tolerate high (closer than 50 cm to the surface) groundwater.
Needs regular pruning of old branches. Cut points must be treated with garden pitch.
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It is difficult to imagine a modern garden without the presence of fruit bushes in it. These plants not only bring a significant variety to the human diet, but also perform a significant part of the decorative functions assigned to green spaces.
The yield of shrubs is less than the yield of fruit trees, however, their fruits have early ripeness and are mostly ready for harvest in the first half of summer.
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