The best ways to propagate a peach and agricultural practices
Gardeners have recently taken a great interest in planting exotic trees. They are also engaged in breeding garden peach. The fruits have excellent taste. They are grown by seed and vegetative methods: cuttings, layering, grafting. Each method has positive and negative sides. With little experience, gardeners, by grafting, improve the taste, get different fruits from one tree.
Peach breeding features
Peach is a heat-loving plant. The landing site is chosen sunny, protected from northern winds. He loves the culture of drained land, does not tolerate swampy, acidified soils. When choosing a seedling, the region is taken into account. Trees take root better in the area where they are cultivated.
Peaches are planted in spring, autumn. In warm regions, seedlings are planted in the fall. The root system is pruned, the ground part is not touched. The plant manages to adapt before the onset of frost. In the spring they are actively growing. If the planting was carried out in the spring, then they use an air-permeable material, protect from the scorching sun rays. The soil is kept moist.
Spring planting is carried out in an area with a long spring. The earth should warm up. The optimum temperature is 12-15 degrees. The crown of the seedlings is cut to 80 centimeters, the side shoots are cut by 1/3, the root system.
After planting, peaches require care: watering, feeding, crown formation, sanitary pruning. Also fight against diseases, pests. In order to protect, preventive measures are taken.
Peach breeding methods
Peach trees are propagated by the seed method, vegetatively: by air layering, grafting, cuttings of a garden peach.
Seed method
Planting material is taken freshly harvested. Seed germination lasts 1 year. For spring sowing, seed stratification is required within 3 months.
The peach seed is dipped in water. The solution is changed every day. After 5 days, the seed is freed from the shell and planted in open ground at a distance of 10 centimeters from the fence, the depth is 7. The soil is dug up and fertilized before planting. The plantings are covered with a layer of grass.
Shoots will appear in the spring. During the season, the seedlings are periodically watered, fed, removed weeds, and fought against diseases and pests. A young plant stretches 1.5 meters over the summer, side shoots appear.
In the fall, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. Prepare a pit 40x40x40 centimeters. The size guideline is the root system of the seedling.A flat plate is driven into the hole. Use as protection against burns.
The bottom is covered with a drainage layer (15 centimeters): sand, rubble. A layer of fertile soil is poured on top. Straighten the root, sprinkle the trunk 2/3 of the depth. Spill with water. As soon as the liquid goes into the ground, sprinkle the trunk with the next layer. The root collar should protrude 3-4 centimeters above ground level. The bush is watered again, covered with a layer of mulch. Fruits with the seed method will appear in 5-6 years.
Cuttings
Peach propagation is carried out by green, lignified cuttings. Branches are harvested in the morning, in cloudy weather. Green cuttings are placed directly into the water. For rooting to be successful, a root formation stimulator is used: honey, Heteroauxin, succinic acid.
Twigs with 3-4 leaves are planted in the substrate in such a way that they stand. The leaves are cut in half. Cover the cuttings with banks. Cuttings are planted at home. For successful rooting, the following actions are necessary:
- keep in a bright place, protect from direct sunlight;
- keep the soil temperature at the level of 18-25 degrees;
- maintain humidity. For this, water is poured into a tray. As soon as rooting occurs, the amount of water in the pan is reduced. The appearance of new leaves will be a signal that the cuttings have taken root;
- periodically air the cuttings;
- keep the substrate moist, but not wet.
After rooting, the containers are taken out into the garden and buried in the ground. The landing site should be shaded or "openwork". Water the cuttings as needed. After 30 days, they are pulled out with a lump of earth and planted in a permanent place. The site for planting is prepared in advance: they dig up and add organic fertilizer.
Vaccination
A positive result of reproduction by vaccination is obtained if certain requirements are met:
- take into account the compatibility of the rootstock, scion;
- the air temperature does not drop below +5 degrees during vaccination;
- select the maturation time of the stock, scion;
- the stock before grafting should be in a state of sap flow, the scion, on the contrary, at rest.
Wild plum and felt cherry are chosen as a stock. Rootstock seedlings are suitable for 1-2 years of age. Cuttings are harvested in autumn, 35-40 centimeters long, with 2-3 buds. The lower part is immersed in water, sand until spring. Storage place - basement.
Successful inoculation depends on the bevel cut. The steam is cut at an angle. Cannot be corrected. For this, a sharp knife is prepared. The length should be three times the diameter of the cuttings. The graft and rootstock are connected and wrapped with plastic wrap.
After 30 days, the branch is cut above the graft. The procedure stimulates the growth of the kidneys. As soon as the stalk grows to 20 centimeters, the bandage is removed.
Air layering
For propagation of a peach in the country, a strong branch is chosen by air layers. Age - 2-3 years, thickness - from a pencil. The specimen is picked up half lignified. On the selected branch, a layer of bark is cut in the form of a ring. Fruit buds above the cut are removed. Dress the bottle upside down. Pour the substrate: moss sawdust, earth. The incision is placed one third of the bottle from the bottom. The structure is fixed with improvised means.
The importance of the substrate should be monitored, watered periodically. As soon as the roots appear, the structure is disassembled and the peach is transplanted to a permanent place.
Which way to choose?
Seed propagation of a peach does not require special skills. Trees grow hardy and disease-resistant. The disadvantage is that maternal traits are not always inherited, the harvest will be in 5-6 years.
When propagated by cuttings, peaches enter fruiting earlier (2-3 years) and retain their maternal characteristics. The disadvantage is strict growing requirements.
Grafting increases yields, improves quality, increases fruit size. One tree bears fruit of various species and fruits.Rare varieties are also preserved. The disadvantage is the high requirements for the selection of scion and rootstock.
The layering method allows you to get fruits in 3-4 years, does not require special skills.
Factors act on the choice of the reproduction method: preservation of maternal traits, obtaining a quick harvest, growing several species on one tree, excellent taste.
What varieties are worth propagating?
Preference is given to zoned varieties.
- In Central Russia, the Belgorod and Dneprovsky varieties are famous.
- In the southern regions, the Juicy, Reliable, White variety has taken root.
- Among the early maturing varieties, low, spreading trees are popular: White Swan, Redhaven.
- Mid-season varieties: Collins, Golden Moscow, Sibiryak, Kremlin.
- Among the columnar peaches, the Golden Triumph variety, the Jubilee of the Capital, is propagated.
