Some summer residents give a low rating to such a tree as sea buckthorn. They argue that the berries of such a plant are tasteless and difficult to pick. The tree gives rise to dense growth, which is difficult to get rid of even after uprooting the sea buckthorn. However, this characteristic is inherent exclusively in wild varieties.

Garden sea buckthorn is characterized by completely opposite reviews. It produces sweet and sour tasty berries that do not burst in the hands during harvest. They are canned and added to various dishes. It is also a well-known medicinal plant. advice from experienced gardeners will help you figure it out. The step-by-step instructions for carrying out this process will be discussed in detail below.

general characteristics

Studying the question of how to plant sea buckthorn, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features of this plant. It lives in nature on the shores of seas and rivers. Sea buckthorn belongs to the Lokhovy family. Both undersized and tall varieties are cultivated. Their leaves are gray-gray in color. They are thin and sharp. Flowering occurs before leaves appear. This process is not highly decorative. It may even seem that these are not flowers, but small leaves.

Most often, gardeners grow buckthorn buckthorn. It is widespread throughout the world. The willow sea buckthorn is also cultivated. In nature, this species grows in India and southern China.

Frost-resistant tree is considered sea ​​buckthorn. How to plant and grow plant, depends on the conditions of the climatic zone. If there are sudden changes in temperature during the cold period, the tree may freeze a little. This is especially noticeable on the rudiments of male inflorescences. Productivity is directly dependent on environmental conditions. Fruiting occurs in the 4th year of the tree's growth.

Sea buckthorn loves sunlight. If it is not enough, seedlings develop poorly. During the fruiting season, sunlight stimulates high yields. The berries have a sweet and sour taste. In garden species, the fruits are medium to large in size. They can be orange, reddish, or yellow-orange in color. Berries are eaten raw, preserved, added to various dishes. They are used for making cosmetics and medicines. Sea buckthorn oil is especially appreciated. It is prescribed in combination for the treatment of various ailments. The fruits enrich the body with vitamins and minerals.

Pollination features

Cultivated in gardens, sea buckthorn is divided into female and male trees. This means that they are similar when the wind blows. Therefore, it is important to have on the site not one, but several trees at once. It is also important to know at what distance to plant sea buckthorn. The seedlings should be close to each other. The distance between them should be between 5 and 10 m.

Determination of the sex of seedlings can be done in spring, autumn or winter. During this period, there are no leaves on the branches. Female kidneys are much smaller. They are covered with 2 scales. Male kidneys are large. They have about 5-7 scales covering the developing inflorescence.

One male plant can have from 1 to 8 female trees. It is important to assess which side the wind blows mostly in the spring. A male plant must be planted on this side. Female trees should be placed in a group on the site. They can surround the male sea buckthorn species. They can also be planted opposite.

Some gardeners claim that two male trees can be planted next to one female plant. This is due to the increased vulnerability of the latter to adverse weather conditions. Planting two plants increases the likelihood that at least one plant will survive. The female species are more hardy. Male trees can be very close to each other, literally at a distance of 1 m.

It is also important to consider with which you can plant sea buckthorn. The female seedlings must be of good quality. Male trees, on the other hand, can be wild. However, to improve the quality of the harvest, it is recommended to plant next to the female type of sea buckthorn varieties Dear friend, Alei or Ural. They take root well in the climate near Moscow.

Boarding time

Some gardeners may have a question about when to plant sea buckthorn. In spring or autumn the process is simpler. However, the first days after the snow melts are considered the most correct period for planting. According to experienced gardeners, plants planted in the ground in spring take root better. In the autumn period, the root system does not have time to prepare for future cold weather. Thaws and sharp frosts have a particularly negative effect on it. During this period, the tree begins to wake up from hibernation. With a sharp cold snap, it can freeze.

It is especially not recommended to plant in autumn plants not bred in this climatic zone. Otherwise, the sea buckthorn will be ready to wake up in January. The onset of frost can negatively affect its development.

An open root system may have when sold sea ​​buckthorn seedlings. When to plant such plants, the opinions of gardeners agree. They recommend doing this process as early as possible. In the first days of spring, sea buckthorn is required to be planted on the site.

The tree does not like transplants. If even an insignificant part of its roots is damaged, growth and development are noticeably slowed down. Therefore, early transplantation is indicated for young seedlings.

If sea buckthorn has been grown for more than a year in a container, you can plant it in open ground even in summer. In this case, the plant will easily endure the adaptation period. However, sea buckthorn, which grows in a tub for less than a year, is not recommended to be planted in open ground. In this case, it has not yet hardened its root system and may die.

Choosing a place for transfer

Having decided when is it better to plant sea buckthorn, you should consider the features of choosing a site for it. This should be a well-lit area. in the garden. It happens that he is given a place in the garden. This option is less preferable. The roots of the tree are shallow. Most of them are located at a level up to 40 cm underground.

The roots can grow far beyond the crown of the sea buckthorn. If vegetables are planted nearby in the garden, the tree can negatively affect their development. Also, the occurrence of roots close to the surface can lead to accidental damage to them when the owners decide to dig up the garden. The tree does not tolerate any root injuries.

Studying, where is it better to plant sea buckthorn, you should give her a plot on the edge of the garden or vegetable garden. Here there is a minimal risk of damage to the roots of the shovel. And the tree itself will not interfere with the growth of other crops on the site.

It is better to choose a place in the garden for the sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn feels good on light and fertile soils. Dislikes drought. The soil should be moist, but not waterlogged. Groundwater should not approach the surface closer than 1 m.

You should not plant plants where stone fruit trees grew recently. This will save the plant from diseases.

Considering, it is necessary to pay attention to the choice of her seedlings. The quality of the crop, its abundance will depend on this. Experienced gardeners do not recommend purchasing seedlings from unfamiliar sellers. In this case, it cannot be guaranteed that a pure plant variety will be planted on the site.

It is best to purchase biennial plants for transplanting. They have 3 to 5 main roots. Their length should be about 20 cm. There should also be a sufficient number of small, secondary roots. The trunk of a biennial sea buckthorn usually reaches 35-50 cm. Its diameter is approximately 7 mm. Several shoots depart from the trunk.

The bark should not flake off. It is elastic, free from defects and scratches. If the wood has a brown tint, this indicates freezing of the plant. They are not worth purchasing. Such seedlings practically do not take root.

Transplanting an adult plant

Having considered, where to plant sea buckthorn on the site, it is necessary to study the intricacies of this process. This plant is not cultivated by seeds. With this method of reproduction, varietal characteristics are lost. In this case, the fruits will not be so tasty, their collection will be difficult.

The transplant is carried out for cuttings or plants with root shoots. In the first version, the procedure can be carried out even in the fall. To transplant a tree with root shoots, you will have to show maximum patience and endurance. With such a transplant, it is extremely important not to harm the overgrowth.

Sea buckthorn roots can be several meters long. Therefore, digging them up for transplanting, it will not work at all not to damage the plant. To prevent withering of the plant, when replanting the root system, the aerial branches must also be partially pruned. In the current year, this will reduce the ability to bear fruit and develop rapidly. However, this method will save the strength of the plant.

To understand how to plant sea buckthorn in spring, it is necessary to consider the recommendations that apply to almost all. The diameter of the hole should be 50 cm, and the depth - 40 cm. The root collar should be at the level of ground shrinkage. It is not recommended to apply too much fertilizer. A bucket of compost and superphosphate is enough.

If the soil on the site has a high acidity, it must be calcified. For this, 500 g of slaked lime is used per 1 m² of area. For heavy loamy soils, increase air permeability. For this, the topsoil is mixed with humus and river sand in equal proportions. You can add 40 g of potassium salt and 250 g of superphosphate. After transplanting, the soil must be watered and mulched with a dry layer of earth.

Transplanting young cuttings

Sea buckthorn can also be transplanted with green young cuttings. This is a fairly effective way. In this case, it is also important to determine where to plant sea buckthorn... It is recommended to place a ridge of young seedlings under the crown of an adult tree. Here they will not be exposed to direct sunlight. However, the process of propagation by cuttings begins with growing the shoot in greenhouse conditions.

The transplant process is recommended to be carried out in the summer (at the beginning of June). To do this, cut a stalk about 15 cm long. Three leaves from the bottom must be removed. Then the cut is recommended to be treated with a growth stimulator. Such solutions are available for sale in specialized stores. Some gardeners do not use it.

For the cutting it is necessary to prepare a soil mixture, where to plant sea buckthorn will be most appropriate. For this, fertile soil is mixed with sand and peat. It is necessary to grow the plant in greenhouse conditions. The temperature should be around 28 ° C and the humidity should be 90%.

The stalk is regularly watered or sprayed with a spray bottle. When roots appear, you can feed the plant with mineral fertilizers. Then you can begin to gradually ventilate the greenhouse. After 2 months, the film can be removed completely. In the spring, matured cuttings are planted on the site.

Propagation by woody cuttings

Considering, how to plant sea buckthorn in spring, there is another interesting way to consider. Wood cuttings are also capable of taking root. They are prepared in autumn or winter. For this, several shoots are cut, the thickness of which exceeds 5 mm. So that they do not begin to develop ahead of time, seedling material is dropped in the snow.

In the spring, you can start the process of breeding sea buckthorn. Sections about 15 cm long are made from the blanks. They are kept in water for several days. If you leave the blanks here for 2 weeks, small roots will appear, and buds will begin to form.

The cuttings must be planted in fertile soil. They are deepened by about 15 cm. A shoot with 2 buds should remain above the ground. The cutting is grown in greenhouse conditions. The air temperature should be around 27 ° C. High humidity levels are maintained. When the plant is 50 cm tall, it is planted in open ground. Where to plant sea buckthorn on the site, should be determined with the recommendations listed earlier.

It is necessary to plant cuttings at a distance of 10 cm from each other. The soil is well compacted and watered abundantly. By autumn, the roots of the plant will be able to strengthen and develop sufficiently. The plant will be able to overwinter.

other methods

Sea buckthorn can be propagated by root shoots in the area. This is one of the easiest ways. Such shoots appear on the tree 4-5 years after planting. To take offspring for transplanting, they need to be separated from the mother plant with a shovel. Plants are planted in the ground and kept in greenhouse conditions. They are watered and kept at a sufficiently high temperature and humidity. Before planting, sea buckthorn must be tempered. They ventilate it, weaning it off the greenhouse climate.

Further, having determined, where to plant sea buckthorn, the shoot is planted in watered soil. By the fall, it will develop strong roots. During this period, you can transplant the plant to a permanent place of growth. However, this procedure is still recommended in the spring.

If the grower wishes to speed up the formation of offspring on the mother tree, he can prune the skeletal root. He is at some distance from the plant. The incision must remain open. Many offspring are formed here. By the second year, they have a developed root system. In the spring, they can be transplanted into a pre-prepared hole.

You can also graft cuttings to sea buckthorn. This process is most often done when a male tree has died. Cuttings of the opposite sex are grafted into the crown of a female plant. Literally in a year, the branches are developing well and will be able to pollinate the inflorescences. This method is also used with a limited area of ​​the site.

Further care

Having considered, how to plant sea buckthorn, it is necessary to provide her with proper care in the future. it is necessary to form a crown. At this time, the buds have not yet blossomed. The tops are cut off in the second year after transplantation.

After 4 years, the sea buckthorn needs pruning. Overgrown branches impede the development of the tree and reduce productivity. Therefore, when pruning, you should not spare even fruiting shoots. It is best to remove branches parallel to the trunk, as well as dry shoots. After 8 years of growth, such a procedure is extremely necessary. This allows the tree to rejuvenate, to avoid its vulnerability and susceptibility to various diseases.

It is also recommended to carry out sanitary cleaning of sea buckthorn. Dry branches are removed from the branches, and then the various holes are covered. Also, the fungus is removed along with the affected branches, and the treatment is carried out with special solutions. These simple steps allow you to grow sea buckthorn not only for economic, but also for decorative purposes. The tree will grow on the site for a long time, its yield will remain invariably high.

You should also pay attention to watering, timely feeding. Once every 2-3 years, it is necessary to apply 4 kg of organic fertilizers and 50 g of superphosphates under the sea buckthorn. In spring, a very small amount of nitrogen can be applied under the trunk every year. It is also recommended to make foliar dressing with a solution of urea (20 g) with water (10 l).

Sea buckthorn is a shrub of the Lokhovye family; it mainly grows along the banks of rivers and lakes. It can grow high in the mountains. It was used for treatment back in Ancient Greece. Then it was undeservedly forgotten. But now sea buckthorn is becoming popular again. It has been cultivated in Russia since the 19th century; varietal plants appeared only in the 30s of the last century.

If the question arose about how to plant sea buckthorn correctly, it means that the gardener has already made the right decision: this useful shrub is necessary on the site.

Immediately you need to decide on the botanical terminology: sea buckthorn can be called both a tree and a shrub. And now more about

Growing sea buckthorn - proper planting and care

Male and female

Sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant. This means that there are male and female trees. When choosing seedlings for planting, this circumstance must be taken into account first of all. It will not work to distinguish ladies from gentlemen on their own. This can be done during the formation of flower buds - they are much larger on male plants.

On the left are male buds, on the right is a branch of a female tree

Female kidneys are not only half the size, but they also have only 2 covering scales, and male kidneys have 5-6 scales.

If one fruiting tree on the site is enough, you still have to plant two: a female and a male. For more plants, the sex ratio looks like this: one man for three women. after planting, sea buckthorn begins to bear fruit at 4-6 years.

Video from the site Garden World

If you are still in doubt which tree is male and which is female, watch this video.

Sapling selection

How many trees do you need

For a family of 4 - 5 people, 3 fruit trees are enough. This means you need to buy 1 male tree and 3 female trees.

This refers to the constant year-round presence in the diet of this product in various forms: jelly, jam, juice, oil, freshly frozen berries, compotes.

How to choose the right one

1. The main rule when buying seedlings, both sea buckthorn and other plants, is not to buy from random sellers.

1. A standard seedling has 4–6 skeletal roots about 20 cm long; trunk with a diameter of approximately 7-9 mm and several shoots.

The bark should not have scratches, wrinkled areas or characteristic pronounced darkening, indicating frozen planting material.

1. Sea buckthorn propagates by seeds, root shoots and cuttings. The best purchased planting material is cuttings.

It is quite difficult for an inexperienced gardener to determine the type of origin. If you look closely at the root growth seedling, you will notice that the upper part is more developed than the lower one.

This only applies to female plants. The properties of the male plant do not affect the quality of the fruit. Therefore, they can be taken from friends or neighbors. The main thing is not to be mistaken with the gender and not to be confused. The shoots appear far enough from the mother tree. And if two plants grow side by side, then you can take the female for the masculine.

1. When choosing sea buckthorn, you need to give preference to zoned varieties, that is, those that were grown for a specific climatic zone.

Varieties that grow well, for example, in Altai, will bear poor fruit in the northwestern part of Russia, where the climate is unstable and thaws can be replaced by frosts.

As already mentioned, sea buckthorn wakes up very quickly after winter. In other words, it is very sensitive to thaws. Therefore, a plant that is intended for Siberia reacts differently to warming than a variety for a coastal humid climate.

1. The best option for buying the right seedlings is to choose a reputable nursery and rely on the advice of experienced professionals.

When to plant - planting dates

It is best to plant sea buckthorn in early spring. Over the summer, the seedling will strengthen the roots, get stronger and winter well.

When planted in autumn, plants may not take root for two reasons:

• the seedling is weak and may not survive frost;
• sea ​​buckthorn very quickly reacts with growth to high temperatures, therefore, in the event of an unexpected thaw, it will begin the vegetative period ahead of time and die with further cooling.

Landing place

The sea buckthorn root system has its own characteristics: the roots grow in width, reaching a distance of up to 5 meters from the mother tree. Moreover, in the soil, they lie only 15 - 20 cm deep. When choosing a place for a plant, this circumstance must be taken into account first of all.

It is better to plant a shrub away from the place where it is planned to dig up the earth. Otherwise, you can damage the roots, and this will reduce fruiting, and may even destroy the tree. In addition, intensive loosening of the soil in the area of ​​the sea buckthorn root system causes abundant growth of shoots, which makes the tree weak.

The best places for shrubs are around the perimeter of the site, in the farthest corners, where planting of vegetables is not planned.

Sea buckthorn is a light-loving tree. Therefore, it is desirable that the shadow from the outbuildings does not fall on the bushes. Given the small areas of personal plots, it is not easy to choose such a place. You need to observe carefully where the sun is at one time or another of the day, and choose the best landing option.

Soil preparation

It is necessary to prepare the soil for sea buckthorn in the fall.

1. Decrease in acidity

The land where the tree will grow must be leveled. Spread slaked lime over the surface at the rate of 250-400 g / m 2 and dig it up. Under trees and shrubs, the soil is always turned over onto the bayonet of a shovel.

Fertilizers can be applied 10-15 days after these measures.

1. Fertilizing the soil

Sea buckthorn needs organic fertilizers - humus, compost and manure.

From minerals, you can add superphosphate or complex additives. Such dressings are sold in ready-made combinations in specialized stores with instructions for use.

If the ground is heavy, which is often the case in clayey areas, then it is good to add sand at the rate of 2 buckets per 1 m 2.

You can lay fertilizers over the entire area of ​​the proposed planting or specifically in the holes for each tree. The distance between the recesses is 2 m. This option is much more economical than distribution over the entire site.

How to plant sea buckthorn correctly

1. Make holes at a distance of at least 2.5 m from each other in the same row. If there are many trees and there will be several rows, then there should be at least 3 m between the rows.

1. Dig holes about 30 - 40 cm deep and about 50 cm in diameter.

1. In the hole, build a small mound and plant a plant on the top of this elevation. Spread the roots neatly over the slopes and sprinkle with earth up to the root collar of the plant.

1. Arrange a near-stem circle (about 70 cm in diameter) around the seedling, into which pour water at the rate of 2 buckets per hole.

1. Cover the ground with peat or humus to retain moisture.

How to care for a young tree

A young plant does not require special care. Everything you need is laid in the hole when planting, so you do not need to fertilize the soil in the first year. Apply nitrogen fertilizers in a year.

Loosen the soil in the trunk circle carefully to a depth of no more than 5 cm. This is done to remove weeds and oxygenate the root system.

Crown pruning in young plants is not done.

Taking care of an adult tree

Pruning

Mature trees are pruned three to four years after planting. Dry and broken off branches are removed. Rejuvenating pruning can be done after 7 years.

In the bushes of one-year-olds, you can form a crown by cutting off the top.

Watering

If the spring is dry, water the trees before flowering. For watering, pour 3-4 buckets under 1 plant. And adult plants need 6-7 buckets of water.

Sea buckthorn loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water. In hot weather, water abundantly, but do not allow a swampy state.

In autumn, watering increases by one and a half times - for full fruiting for the next year, good water-charging watering is needed.

Top dressing

Once every 3 years, add humus to the soil at the rate of 1 bucket and a glass of ash per 1 m 2 of the trunk circle.

Disease protection

As you know, diseases are easier to prevent than to cure. In early spring, before flowering and in autumn, after harvest, the bushes are sprayed with a three percent solution of copper sulfate. You can also treat the branches with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid for disease prevention.

If during the ripening of berries pests appeared on the trees, then you need either the preparation "Fitoverm".

Reproduction

Undergrowth

This is the easiest way to breed sea buckthorn.

At the age of 4 years, root suckers appear on the tree, from which seedlings can be grown.

With the onset of spring, you need to chop off the sprout from the mother tree with a shovel, dig a hole, sprinkle it with earth, periodically watering it. By the fall, the seedling will have its own root system and it can be planted in a permanent place of growth.

It is important to remember here that the offspring does not retain the properties of the tree from which it was separated.

If you want to experiment with the growth and don't want to wait for the babies to appear on their own, the process can be accelerated. To do this, you need to find a skeletal root in the ground and cut it off near the tree. Leave the slice open on the outside. After a while, shoots form at this place, on which roots will appear.

The shoots must be separated from the mother a year before transplanting and can be planted in the spring.

This property of sea buckthorn saves it when it freezes. If suddenly your sea buckthorn is frozen, then just saw off it and wait until they grow back from the root.

Layers

Reproduction by layering is quite simple.

In this case, it is better to take the mother plant short and young. One of the lower branches must be bent to the ground and sprinkled. Put some object on top so that the process does not return to its original position. This should be done in early spring. By autumn, the branch will give roots and it will be possible to separate it from the mother and plant immediately, or wait for spring.

Seeds

At the beginning of autumn, ordinary beds are made, as for vegetables, with fertilizers and the addition of sand. Grooves are built with a depth of about 2 cm. The earth is tightly rammed in them.

With the onset of the first frost, the seeds are laid in the grooves at a distance of 1 - 2 cm from each other. Then they are carefully covered with humus at least 1 cm of layer thickness.

Can be planted in spring. In this case, you must first soak the seeds in water with a temperature of +25 degrees and wait about a week. Sprouted seeds are planted in the ground when the soil has warmed up to a depth of 3 - 5 cm. And only after 2 years the seedlings can be planted in a permanent place.

Cuttings

This is done in late autumn or early spring. Annual shoots are cut from trees at the age of 4-5 years and laid for storage in compliance with the temperature regime from 0 to +2 degrees.

At the very beginning of spring, cuttings are cut into a length of about 20 cm and a diameter of 0.5 cm.

Collect the cuttings in a bunch, tie and put in water for several days. After that, plant on the beds upside down.

In the fall, the plant will already be quite suitable for planting in a permanent place. But it's better to wait for spring.

Varieties

To navigate the varieties, you need to decide what you would like. In the nursery, you can voice your wishes using the following search criteria:

1. A variety for a specific region or climatic zone.
2. The richest in vitamin C.
3. Sea buckthorn with a high yield.
4. With the highest proportion of oil.
5. The content of carotenoids.
6. Winter-hardy variety.
7. With the best taste.

There are more than 60 varieties officially registered in the state register.

Canadian sea buckthorn or shepherdia

This shrub cannot be called a sea buckthorn, although it is also from the sucker family and very much resembles a familiar plant in appearance and properties.

The tree is about 7 meters high with a wide crown. A dioecious plant, like sea buckthorn.

The berries are small, 5 mm in diameter, but very aromatic. Slightly similar to red currants in appearance and taste.

Daurskaya

Low shrub about 3 meters. Frost resistant. Unlike many other varieties, it has no thorns. Gives a very high yield of berries.

Requires care. Doesn't tolerate weeds and other trees nearby.

If there is heavy soil or stagnant water on the site, it will not grow.

Altai

Very good for growing in Western Siberia. The name itself speaks of the regional affiliation. Few thorns. The berries are oval, bright orange, sweet. Easy to assemble.

Darling

This variety grows well in the Urals and in the Central region of Russia. Medium prickly. The fruits are orange, oval, with a dense skin. The taste is moderately sour. Very aromatic. High productivity. Winters well.

Useful video about the features of growing sea buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a wonderful and useful shrub and is easy to grow and reproduce. Grow in your areas, do not forget about proper care.

Delicious and healthy berries!

Sea buckthorn, despite its thorns, is loved by many gardeners. It grows as a shrub or a short tree, and already in the third year yields a harvest of very useful berries. The planting technology of this culture is not much different from the rest. However, there are biological features that you should pay attention to even before buying a seedling.

Choosing a place, time and seedlings

Sea buckthorn grows in the wild on the shores of lakes, flooded sections of rivers, mountain slopes up to an altitude of 2100 m. The culture is widespread in Siberia. It is planted to fix sandy soil, road slopes, ravines. And all because the sea buckthorn has a superficial root system that envelops the top layer of the earth, and it spreads far beyond the crown of the tree. Shoots can be found within a radius of 3-5 meters. In addition, this is a dioecious plant: if you want to get a harvest, then you need to plant at least two bushes: a male and a female. When planning a plot for sea buckthorn, be sure to consider these features.

Wild sea buckthorn usually grows near water bodies and on mountain slopes

Sea buckthorn berries are a natural multivitamin concentrate. They contain many vitamins: C, PP, B1, B2, K, E and carotene, organic acids: tartaric, oxalic, malic, as well as trace elements: manganese, boron, iron.

When to plant better

The best time to plant is in spring, before the seedling buds. Even an adult sea buckthorn overwinters poorly: during winters with little snow, the surface roots freeze out, some of the branches dry out. In addition, this culture has a very short dormant period; at the very first thaw, it dissolves its buds, which fall under severe spring frosts. And a young and fragile bush has even less chances to survive as a result of an autumn planting. He needs to adapt and take root well in a new site. It is impossible to do this in a short autumn. There are recommendations to plant sea buckthorn in the summer, abandoning the autumn planting. However, in summer it is better to buy seedlings with a closed root system, that is, grown in containers.

The choice of planting material

Most often, gardeners simply dig root shoots in their garden and generously share it with their neighbors. In most cases, a very thorny wild with small and sour berries grows from such planting material. The reason is that cultivated varieties are grafted onto wild ones, their root shoots repeat the properties of the rootstock, and not varietal ones. When buying seedlings, this also needs to be taken into account, unscrupulous sellers tend to use to their advantage the ability of the culture to give a lot of growth.

Features of the choice of sea buckthorn seedlings:

1. Buy only zoned varieties that are adapted to the climate in your region.
2. You need at least two seedlings: male and female, but usually 3-4 female saplings are planted on one male.
3. Male and female cannot be distinguished before entering fruiting, that is, until flower buds begin to form. Therefore, buy seedlings grown from cuttings. They both repeat the maternal properties, and are already easily distinguishable by gender.
4. The variety of the male seedling does not matter, it is needed only for pollination, there will be no berries on it. You can not buy, but take shoots from neighbors or in the wild.

In female sea buckthorn plants, the buds are small, arranged in pairs, male plants are larger, covered with many lentils

It is easy to distinguish between adult plants by sex if you have both representatives in front of you and they can be compared. In women, the kidneys are small and neat, arranged in pairs; in men, they are large, rough, covered with lenticels. Flowering takes place imperceptibly, even before the leaves bloom. In females, small green pistils appear in the axils of lentils one by one, less often 2-3, and in males - brown dusty stamens collected in a short spike.

If the plot is small or you want to plant only one sea buckthorn bush, then you can graft a stalk of a male plant into the crown of a female one. Another option: during flowering, cut off a branch with anthers in another garden or at the wild and hang it inside the crown of your sea buckthorn.

Video: how to distinguish a male sea buckthorn plant from a female

And one more feature when choosing sea buckthorn seedlings: there are round growths on its roots - nodules. Inexperienced gardeners take them for a sign of illness, refuse seedlings or cut off these formations. Meanwhile, underground nodules play an important role, with their help, sea buckthorn gets its own food - assimilates nitrogen from the air. In adult plants, such outgrowths reach the size of a hen's egg. According to the observations of gardeners, if a tree grows on fertile soil, then the growths are small, almost imperceptible, and on the poor, on the contrary, large.

Swelling on the roots of sea buckthorn is not a disease, but a biological feature of the culture

Place for sea buckthorn

Choosing a place for sea buckthorn is also not easy.

1. Plant in an area that you will not dig up, because the sea buckthorn roots spread up to 5 m in width from the tree. You cannot dig them out, pull them out or somehow injure them.
2. A place in the shade of fences, buildings and trees is not suitable. Sea buckthorn loves sunny areas.
3. You should not plant sea buckthorn along paths and near frequently visited places, the seedling will grow into a lush and thorny shrub or tree 3-5 m high.
4. A male plant can be located at a distance of 50–100 m, that is, even in a neighboring area, but between him and the female there should not be obstacles impassable to the wind in the form of houses, deaf high fences, hills, etc.

But it is better not to rely on neighbors and plant a male and 2-3 female seedlings at a distance of at least 2-2.5 m and a maximum of 50-100 m. You can position them relative to each other as you like: a triangle, a square, in one row. There is a practice of planting in different corners of the site. If some winds prevail in your region, for example, southeastern winds, then plant the male plant from this, that is, the leeward side.

Planting process

For sea buckthorn, it is not enough just to dig a hole, you need to dig the entire area that you allocated for it onto the bayonet of the shovel. Skeletal roots will spread in the top layer of the soil, and you need to fill it with fertilizers. For a one-two-year-old seedling, a plot of 2x2 m is sufficient. Scatter a bucket of humus or compost, 40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate on 1 m². If the soil is acidic, add a glass of dolomite flour.

Planting stages:

1. In the prepared area, dig a hole 40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.

   The planting pit should be 40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter

2. Pour drainage from broken brick, rubble or shell rock on the bottom with a layer of 10 cm.

   The drainage layer in the pit should be about 10 cm

3. On top of the drain, in the center of the hole, make a mound of the earth taken out during digging. If the soil is heavy clay, mix it with river sand and peat in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.

   Sometimes it is necessary to fill in the hole not the dug earth, but its mixture with peat and river sand

4. Drive a peg into the center of the mound, which will serve as a support for the seedling.
5. Place the seedling on the south side of the peg, on the top of the knoll, and spread the roots along its slopes. In this case, the root collar should be at the level of the horizon of the earth on your site. You can put the rail on top of the pit, it will serve as a level.

   The root collar of the seedling should be at the level of the ground horizon

6. Cover the hole with soil, tamping lightly and constantly holding the seedling at the desired level.
7. Make a watering hole.

   The seedling needs to be attached to the peg

Video: planting sea buckthorn in spring

If you need a transplant

If there is an urgent need to transplant the sea buckthorn to another place, then it is better to do this also in the spring, and while the tree is still small - 2-3 years old. An adult fruiting tree will not take root, since it is impossible to dig up all of its roots that have spread over the site. From own-rooted sea buckthorn, unvaccinated, it is better to take shoots and transplant it.

1. Dig up the young plant carefully.
2. Use your hands to rake the ground around to figure out how the roots are located and to identify the main mother from them, coming from the tree.
3. Cut off the main root at a distance of 20-30 cm from the seedling.
4. Plant the young plant as shown above.

The shoots and the mother plant have a common root, which must be cut during transplantation.

In the same way, young trees are transplanted, raking the top layer of the earth in order to have an idea of ​​the location of the roots. The less you damage them, the higher the chance that the sea buckthorn will take root. If the roots are damaged, then reduce the volume of the aerial part: cut off the branches, shorten the trunks. It will be easier for the sea buckthorn to settle down, and then it will quickly restore the crown.

The planting process itself is very simple, but there are many nuances when choosing seedlings and planning a site. Sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant, so one bush will bear fruit only if there is a male plant in the neighborhood, within a radius of up to 100 m. You also need to take into account the location of the roots: they spread horizontally and far from the tree, it will be impossible to dig the ground next to the sea buckthorn. So, before buying seedlings, you need to decide whether you have such a place in the garden and is it not a pity to allocate so much land for sea buckthorn.

Every year, sea buckthorn gives a high yield of berries, but in order for this to happen, you need to select high-quality seedlings and understand the features of caring for them. For planting, medium-sized seedlings are needed, obtained by cuttings. This makes it easier to distinguish between seedlings and coppice plants.

Sea buckthorn has male and female plant species, it is pollinated by the wind, so two seedlings should be planted close to each other. Distances of 5-10 m are enough for the plant to be well pollinated and bear fruit in the fall.

Gardeners advise planting one female plant and two male ones, since the male plant is more likely to die, and in general, two plants can pollinate a female seedling much better, there will be more berries, they will taste better. Male plants can be planted next to each other, at a distance of less than 1 m.

When is the best time to plant and replant sea buckthorn?

Early spring is considered the most favorable time for plant transplanting, the earlier the better. She does not survive the winter well if the conditions are not the most favorable. For example, the thaw period has a negative effect on the shrub, and the vegetation begins early in the sea buckthorn.

An earlier transplant is needed for plants with an open root system, as well as individuals that can damage or lose the root system or part of it during excavation.

Planting a seedling from a container into the ground is an easier process, but only if the plant has existed in the container for a year or more. In this case, its root system is resistant to soil, it is hardened by not the best conditions and will perfectly “get over” the period after planting.

Even if you do not have the opportunity to plant sea buckthorn in the spring, try to do it in the summer. Some people prefer the autumn period, after harvesting, but in this case, the root system of the plant simply does not have time to get stronger before the cold weather approaches. This could injure him.

Choosing a landing site

Sea buckthorn is planted in the garden or in the vegetable garden. If you are planting plants in your garden, you need to be careful not to get too close to the planting area. The garden soil is not quite suitable for this type of shrub, and the sea buckthorn itself, with its roots branching many meters around itself underground, can cause damage to plantings. They do not lie very deep, only 20-30 cm deep, which makes the root system easy to damage. Sea buckthorn does not tolerate root injuries, it begins to hurt.

Important: Plant the plant in a place where you will not need to work and dig up the soil around it. Most often, sea buckthorn is allocated a site at the edge of a garden or vegetable garden - near a fence or next to buildings.

It is also necessary to monitor whether the plant receives enough light. You should not plant it in a place where the sun does not fall, sea buckthorn needs light, darkened places do not suit it.

How to transplant an adult sea buckthorn?

Planting sea buckthorn is a simple process, since in its structure it has almost no differences from other fruit plants. Some gardeners like to use a lot of fertilizers, which does not in the best way affect the life of the plant in the future. Do not overdo it with organic and mineral fertilizers, a bucket of compost will be enough (for transplanting, but if you are planting a young seedling, then this will be a lot), superphosphate (if the soil in your area has the ability to acidify, then use double superphosphate).

If desired, you can use a compound fertilizer, although this is not the most useful option.

When transplanting sea buckthorn from one place to another, it is necessary to carefully dig out the main part of its roots. Since they are very long, several meters in length, it is unlikely that it will be possible to dig up the plant without damaging the roots at all. So that in a new place the sea buckthorn takes root better and does not start to fade due to a damaged root system, it is worth cutting off a part of the above-ground area of ​​the plant. Of course, this will reduce her ability to bear fruit this year, but in the future such a measure will be useful.

Planting young seedlings

Sea buckthorn - propagation by green cuttings

If the plant is already large and has many branches on the sides, then they can be removed, thus making life easier for the tree. Leave only the main trunk, it will quickly overgrow with new branches.

It is ideal to plant sea buckthorn at a distance of 1-1.5 m from the border of the site, the rows between the bushes of the sea buckthorn should be 2x2 m.The pit for planting should be 30-40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter.The bottom of the hole should be laid out with broken brick, a shell and crushed stone, the layer should be about 10 cm. On top of this layer, you need to pour fertile soil, and above - fertilizers (do not overdo it).

A young seedling must be at least two years old. It is worth planting it straight, it is best to first place a stake in the pit, which will serve as the basis for the correct installation of the seedling. If the tree is initially planted incorrectly, then later the trunk may bend very strongly, which will lead to the fact that the tree may be damaged in the future.

A newly planted tree should be watered abundantly and the soil at its base should be compacted.

How is sea buckthorn fertilized?

After planting itself, you do not need to be zealous, fertilizing the soil. At this time, the plant needs rest, and unnecessary actions can disturb it. Make sure that the sun is enough, clear the land around the sea buckthorn from weeds, the rest will be done by nature.

If your plant is already several years old, then there are certain fertilization and feeding patterns for sea buckthorn.

Some people are used to liming the soil before planting sea buckthorn, the dosage of lime depends entirely on the type of soil in your garden. But for all plants there are certain norms of nutrients that they should receive regularly.

We fertilize the soil according to the scheme

There is a scheme for fertilizing the soil in accordance with the goals of obtaining a certain amount of fruit.

An excellent way to fertilize sea buckthorn in spring and autumn is with a garden drill. With this device, holes are made 40 cm deep, between the roots of the tree. In this case, the distance from the trunk should be equal to 1 m. The hole is covered with pebbles and gravel, after which fertilizers can be supplied through it and filled with water. Thus, the minerals will seep much deeper into the ground, due to which the plant will be nourished and replenished with energy.

There are certain rules for using different types of fertilizer for sea buckthorn.

Important: sea buckthorn needs phosphorus to a greater extent than other substances, since it helps the formation of nodule bacteria that form on the roots.

Females require more care and, accordingly, they should allocate more fertilizer. Male plants are more unpretentious, they can grow in dark areas, in dry soil, and so on. But this does not mean that they do not need care - they do, but it can be less thorough.

Video - Secrets and subtleties of growing sea buckthorn

Further care of the plant

In the spring, before the first buds bloom, you need to form sea buckthorn bushes, giving them the desired shape, cutting off unnecessary branches. It is worth doing this a year or two after planting, since the aerial part of the tree during this period is already well formed.

More attention should be paid to 4-5 year old trees. During this period, there is no need to spare the fruit-bearing branches, the excess weight of the above-ground part interferes with the tree. It is best to remove shoots that grow parallel to the trunk, and it is also imperative to prune dry branches.

In older plants that bear fruit for 8 years or more, a period of diseases may begin, the branches dry out, and the fruits become less strong, which can lead to a pest attack on the plant. There are anti-aging pruning techniques that can help bring sea buckthorn back to normal and return it to its former fertility.

Interesting: in some areas, sea buckthorn is grown not for fruit, but for decorative purposes, therefore, branches are pruned regularly, because they give it the necessary shape, which can be either round or angular.

It is worth carrying out sanitary cleaning of sea buckthorn annually. It includes covering up various holes, cleaning dry branches and leaves, getting rid of the fungus. If the fungus has damaged most of the shrub, then it must be cut out and completely processed.

Picking sea buckthorn berries - shearing with scissors

Video - How to properly cut and shape sea buckthorn in the garden

Sea buckthorn is a healthy berry. The plant in natural conditions can be found near water bodies: rivers, lakes and even seas. The name suggests that the berries literally cover every free centimeter on the branch. You can grow sea buckthorn yourself on your own plot.