Content
Ziziphus Candy is a shrub or tree with a spreading crown. The variety was bred by breeders in the Crimea. The culture is recommended to be cultivated in natural conditions. They are also used for growing in containers.
Description of the variety of ziziphus Candy
Ziziphus variety Candy is an ornamental plant. Under natural conditions, it reaches a height of 5 m, in containers - up to 3 m. In the second method of cultivation, the growth of the main shoot is limited by pruning. Its lifespan is 60 years in containers, 150 years in natural conditions. Unabi is the second name of the plant, it has 2 types of branches:
- The main - form the skeleton of a tree. They are brown in color with thorns, 3 cm long. Their shape resembles a broken line.
- Seasonal - leaves grow on them. The branches are green, straight.
Ziziphus of the Candy variety forms a rounded dense crown. During the cold season, the tree sheds leaves and seasonal branches. It is considered a branchy plant.
Unabi leaves are large, oval, with pronounced longitudinal venation.
Forms small flowers of the five-membered type. They can be assembled in bundles of 5. Each bud lives for a day. They do not bloom at the same time, so the flowering period is extended in time.
Consequently, the fruits do not ripen all at once. Biological readiness occurs in 60-80 days. They are removed during the period of technical maturation. The harvested fruits ripen.
Ziziphus of the Candy variety forms brown-reddish fruits of an oblong or oval shape. They are covered with a thin skin and have a juicy sweet pulp. Contains useful substances:
- ascorbic acid and other vitamins;
- leukoanthocyanins;
- sugar;
- P-active compounds.
Pollination features
Unabi Candy is a cross-pollinated plant.
A feature of cross-pollination between different varieties is considered to be the lack of coordinated readiness of pollen and pistil for fertilization. The pollen can be ready in the morning after the flower opens, and the pistil in the evening. Or the degree of readiness for pollination of the flower organs may be exactly the opposite. The pistil is ready in the morning and the pollen in the evening.
Frost resistance of culture
Ziziphus of the Candy variety is suitable for growing in central Russia. It has small fruits, these varieties are more hardy. Experienced gardeners recommend forming a plant in the form of a bush. It is easier to prepare it for the cold season. Ziziphus well tolerates April frosts, winter frosts down to -25 degrees. A tree damaged by low temperatures quickly and easily regenerates its crown.
Yield
Ziziphus Candy belongs to high-yielding varieties. The fruits are small - from 4.5 to 6 g. But there are a lot of them, so much so that foliage is not visible behind them. Gardeners collect up to 60 kg from one tree.
The Ziziphus variety Candy begins to bear fruit in 4 years. With careful care, it produces fruits for 2-3 years. The productive stage begins at the age of 10-15 years.
Application of leaves and fruits
Ziziphus is considered a culture that is used to improve health and prolong youth. Ziziphus leaves are used to prepare a cough suppressant. They are used to prepare ointments for the treatment of skin abscesses.
Ziziphus fruits are used for various purposes.Eat them fresh. They are used to prepare:
- jam;
- jam;
- jams;
- compotes;
- dried fruits.
The fruits are used for colds. They have a positive effect on the work of internal organs: liver, heart, kidneys, stomach. They practice making a soothing tea and a blood pressure-relieving decoction. Fruits are able to remove cholesterol, metabolic products, heavy metals from the body.
Growing features
Ziziphus of the Candy variety is an exotic plant, but unpretentious. Seed propagation is long and troublesome. Therefore, gardeners purchase ready-made seedlings. Determined for a permanent place in May. They also practice autumn planting, but spring is still preferable. Reduces the risk that the unabi will not take root and suffer from low temperatures. The seedling develops slowly for the first year. Over time, it forms a wide crown, so the distance between neighboring bushes is 2-3 m.
Where can you grow
Ziziphus varieties Candy are successfully grown in Central Russia. In the temperate zone there are snowy winters. The bush is cut to the level of the snow cover. It is more difficult for him to survive the first years, when the root system is still weak. But the bush itself for the winter will be completely covered with snow, which will help it survive the cold period.
For planting Ziziphus varieties Candy choose a sunny place protected from drafts. In the shade, the yield will be low. Unabi tolerates partial shade well.
Soil requirements
Ziziphus of the Candy variety is undemanding to the soil. Grows well on loose loamy and gravelly soil. Unabi does not tolerate heavy and saline soils. Under these conditions, sand is added to the clay during planting, and lime or gypsum is added to saline soils. The culture does not like highly moist areas. The roots go deep into the ground, with high humidity, they rot, the tree will die. Drainage is made to drain water. To avoid excessive moisture, soil is poured in the form of a hill - up to 1.5 m. Zizyphus is planted on it.
Planting and care rules
Before planting, a pit of 100 by 70 cm is prepared. Fertilizers are introduced into it - 200 g. Humus or vermicompost is added. When placing the ziziphus variety Candy in a certain place, perform the following actions:
- Prepared soil is poured onto the bottom of the pit, 2/3.
- Place the seedling on the ground, straighten the roots. If a ziziphus with a closed root system is planted, it is moved along with a lump of earth.
- Fall asleep the roots, shake it periodically so that voids do not form. The earth is lightly tamped.
- The place where the grafting was carried out is left above the ground at a height of 5 cm. According to other sources, the grafting site of the plant is buried 10 or 20 cm into the soil. This is done in case the winters are very cold, there are threats of death of the above-ground part of the unabi. Then a new crown of a tree can be formed from the recessed part with buds.
- They make a near-trunk ditch, pour up to 20 liters of water.
- The soil surface is mulched.
Planting is carried out when the daytime temperature is positive, it is kept within + 10-12 degrees. Shouldn't be negative at night. Under such conditions, ziziphus of the Candy variety will take root well. After that, aerial shoots will also grow.
Further care involves removing weeds. The culture does not like the neighborhood with them.
Watering schedule
Ziziphus Candy is drought-resistant. Unabi are rarely watered, during a period of complete absence of rain. Water is poured a little. Excessive moisture has a detrimental effect on the culture. During fruit setting, excess moisture is harmful, so the moisture is completely stopped.
In the year of planting, watered up to 5 times per season. Moisture is essential for good survival of the unabi.
Top dressing
Ziziphus variety Candy responds to feeding. Fertilizing during planting provides it with nutrients for 2-3 years.
At 4-5 years old, the tree is fed at least 2 times during the season.Use "Kristalon" - take 20 g of funds for 10 liters of water. In its absence, in the spring, nitrogen-rich substances are introduced in the amount of 18 g. In the fall, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are used. Take 12 and 10 g, respectively.
For a 6-year-old tree, the mass of fertilizing substances is doubled.
The crown of ziziphus is sprayed with Vympel 2 times during the season. To 10 l of water add 20 ml of the product. It helps to increase the amount of sugar in fruits.
Do I need to cut Ziziphus Candy
Pruning of Ziziphus variety Candy is carried out in order to give the crown the desired shape. They start pruning after 1-2 years from planting. More often they form a bowl-shaped or fan-shaped crown. To get this result, from 4 to 6 main branches are allowed on the tree. They should be evenly spaced around the trunk. It is shortened, leaving 20 cm. All other branches are cut to the same level with it. In the future, sanitary pruning is performed. Branches are removed, the growth of which is directed inward, they make the tree look ugly. Remove dry and broken branches.
Preparing for winter
Young ziziphus of the Candy variety is prepared for winter. The trunks of the trees are piled up, the top is closed. Adults unabi shelter if winter temperatures are down to -35 degrees. The root system is covered with foliage, grass. Later, when the snow falls, it will also serve as a shelter. Even if Ziziphus of the Candy variety freezes, it will quickly recover.
Diseases and pests
Ziziphus Variety Candy is resistant to various kinds of lesions. The tree practically does not get sick. But he can be struck by a Unabium fly. It was recently identified, similar to the cherry pest. The fruits serve as the place where she lays her eggs. Later, the larvae make passages in them, leave their excrement, this deteriorates the taste of the fruit. The fact that the pest has started is recognized by the carrion. For prevention, the soil is dug up near the tree.
Ripening fruits can be pecked by birds, so you need to protect them from them.
Conclusion
Ziziphus Candy is a completely unpretentious plant. With a minimum of effort, you can have a luxurious tree in your garden with healthy and tasty fruits. The Candy variety is adapted for the conditions of Russia.
