Siberian cedar is the abbreviated name for Siberian cedar pine. In nature, this powerful plant reaches a height of 35–40 meters, having a spreading tiered crown and a trunk diameter of up to 2 meters. The tree can rightfully be proud of its frost resistance; it can withstand cold temperatures down to -55 degrees. In comfortable, favorable growing conditions, the plant lives up to 600–800 years and grows well in central Russia and Siberia.
To land on suburban areas seeds and seedlings are most often used low-growing varieties– they are no less decorative, and the aroma of their needles is as useful as essential oils tall ancestors. The most popular of them: Recordist - with a dense crown in the shape of a ball, and Icarus, which has a pyramidal crown.
Collection of cones and preparation of planting material
Siberian cedar has inflorescences of both sexes on one tree: shoots of male cones are located at the base of the growth in the central part, and female shoots are located at the top of the crown. Flowering time: May-June. From the moment the buds form until the seeds fully ripen, one and a half years pass.
The ripening of cedar nuts consists of several stages:
- 1. At the end of spring - beginning of June, ovules form on the tree, flowering and pollination occur. During the summer, seeds form.
- 2. Throughout the year, the ovules store pollen and gradually become a pine cone.
- 3. Overwintered winter cones actively develop from the beginning of the next warm season and by mid-July they grow to 6–8 centimeters in length, the yellow color changes to brown-brown.
- 4. In September the ripening period comes to an end, Brown cones with an oily kernel become dry, and the seeds are easily separated from the scales with the intention of finding a place for growth. Ripe specimens fall to the ground at the slightest blow to the tree trunk.
Ripening dates may shift by a couple of weeks depending on the region, climatic conditions and the condition of the tree.
The seed method of propagating cedar is a very labor-intensive and very long process. To germinate nuts and successfully grow new ones from them, capable of independent life under open air seedlings will take several years.
You can collect cones for further planting of seeds in the fall or in the spring, when the collection of waterfalls that have independently fallen from the tree takes place. After this, shake the nuts out of the cones, place them in a container and pour hot water(not boiling water).
After an hour and a half, the seeds will need to be gently rubbed in your hands to wash off the resin and substances that prevent germination. The liquid after such a procedure will become very dark and must be drained. These steps: pouring and washing the nuts are repeated until the water stops taking on a dirty tint - about a day.
The next day, the seeds will be sufficiently saturated with moisture, and the most mature of them will sink to the bottom of the container. They will serve as good planting material in the future. If spring planting is planned, then the nuts, without drying, should be placed in glass jar with wet moss or river sand, filling it no more than 2/3. Holes must be made in the lid for oxygen access. In this form, the seeds are ready for stratification - cold treatment, by placing them in a cellar or refrigerator for 2-3 months.
After this period, the pine nuts should hatch - their shells crack and a small white root appears, then they can be sprouted. Some experienced experts advise soaking the seeds for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate before sowing in order to protect them from fungal infection and stimulate the appearance of sprouts.
Planting and growing cedar at home from seed
In order to grow cedar at home, it is important to follow step-by-step instructions describing the stages of development of young plants of this species. B prepared flower pot or the container is filled with a pre-steamed substrate: either peat and clean river sand in a 1:1 ratio, or soil for coniferous species. The seeds are buried so deep that top part the shell was located at ground level. Plantings are well watered and covered with glass or plastic film to create greenhouse conditions.
Nuts can be planted either in separate small pots or cups, or in a common spacious pot - cedar grows for quite a long time, and the plants will need to be transplanted into individual containers only after 3-4 years, when they reach a height of 15-18 centimeters.
On average, if preparation seed material was carried out in accordance with the recommendations, the seeds germinate after a few days. It is very interesting to watch the seedlings of cedars: the sprout gradually straightens and throws off the shell that it no longer needs, turning into a miniature “palm tree”. It is important to understand that cedar seeds never germinate all at the same time; the percentage of germination can be judged after a month. Typically germination is about 25–30% planting material.
The cover in the form of film or glass is removed from the pot after about 7–10 days, watering is done as the surface of the substrate dries.
Another equally popular and well-proven method of planting cedar seeds is to germinate nuts in wooden box or a box with sawdust and pine needles. The height of the container should be about 25 centimeters; there must be holes at the bottom for excess moisture.
Cedar pine seeds go deep into the substrate by 5–10 millimeters at intervals of 10–15 centimeters from each other. A thin layer of peat is placed on top to maintain moisture. For the winter, the box is placed on the balcony or outside.
Caring for seedlings and their subsequent transplantation
Cedar sprouts do not require much attention; they only need to moisten the substrate and maintain the temperature: room temperature in summer time and cool in winter. It is useful to feed one-year-old seedlings with natural immunostimulating agents - nettle infusion, for example.
Siberian cedar has a number of healing properties. Its needles release phytoncides that cleanse the air of harmful bacteria. In its natural habitat, cedar pine grows up to 40 m, but low-growing varieties have been bred for dacha farming.
Let's reveal all the secrets of how to grow cedar yourself.
Planting and growing Siberian cedar from seedlings
Siberian cedar pine belongs to evergreens. Healing properties possesses not only the needles of the plant, but also the resin, as well as the nut shell. IN folk medicine raw materials are used for infusions and decoctions. If you are planting cedar for medicinal purposes, then it is very important that the plant begins to bear fruit early. Therefore, it is better to purchase and plant a ready-made seedling.
Choose seedlings with a closed root system, but if there are none, you can buy another one. It is important to pay attention to the condition of the roots. Seedlings with an open root system are subject to higher requirements. Ideally, they dig them up right in front of you. The plant does not tolerate transplantation as well, so you need to preserve the earthen ball. If transportation is to be carried out, the root system is carefully packed in burlap, then wrapped in a bag. The earthen ball is moistened with water.
In order for the seedling to quickly take root in a new place, choose a tree no older than 6 years and create suitable conditions for it:
Choose a place for planting with good lighting, but without direct sun rays;
Dig up the area with the addition of peat, rotted manure, coniferous soil and humus;
Make the planting holes one third larger than the root system, and install a support for the seedlings.
If you plant not one cedar, but several, then you need to leave 3 to 8 m between them.
This optimal distance for growth and development. After planting, the seedling is tied to a support, watered well and mulched with pine litter.
At first, the soil is moistened every 3 days if there is no rain. After a year, you can apply nitrogen fertilizers for better growth.
How to grow cedar from seeds: step-by-step instructions with photos and basic rules
Cedar pine can be grown from seeds. This occupation is troublesome, requires special skills and knowledge, but it brings much More fun. Moreover, not every gardener can boast of growing cedar with his own hands. If you want to enjoy the process and have no other goals, then be patient.
Cedar seeds germinate slowly. Nuts from the supermarket are not suitable for germination; they will not germinate at all. Buy a pine cone or ready-made seeds from a specialty store.
Before planting, seeds need to be prepared:
Pour warm water over the seeds and leave for 3 days, changing the water periodically. Empty seeds will float, but good ones will swell.
Treat good seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours and dry.
Prepare a substrate for germination; it can be sphagnum, sawdust or peat.
Place the substrate in a container, moisten well and sow the seeds. Leave in the cold for 3 months.
Sow the germinated seeds under cover at school. Planting depth – 3 cm. Mulch the bed until shoots appear.
Preparation for sowing takes place in two stages; it is better to do this in the fall. After the seeds have swelled and you have selected quality ones, rinse them well and rub them with your hands. This is necessary to wash away resins and other substances that slow down the germination process. High-quality seeds are subjected to stratification for three months. It is better for it to pass in natural conditions. Bury the container with the seeds in the snow or put it in the cellar. In the spring, sort through the seeds, remove all the rotten ones and those that have not sprouted. Plant seeds with white sprouts in the school.
For planting, take many more seeds than you want to get seedlings. As you can see, many of them are discarded during the growing process. Cedar is grown in a greenhouse or under a film cover for up to two years, only after which the film can be removed. On permanent place seedlings are transferred only at the age of 6 years. All this time, tender sprouts need proper care.
Caring for cedar seedlings
Shoots appear in May and grow very slowly. They are demanding about air and soil humidity.
The first year of life, the sprouts are carefully watered, not forgetting to ventilate the greenhouse. If you do not adhere to this rule, the seedlings will be affected by the “black leg”.
Getting rid of this insidious disease will not be easy. At the end of the first year of life, the seedlings reach a height of only a couple of centimeters.
These are thin sprouts with a palm at the top. But the plants overwinter well and do not need additional shelter.
Cedar is a winter-hardy crop that tolerates temperatures down to -60 °C. If you insulate the sprouts, they will dry out.
Important! If you grow cedar seedlings at home in pots, after planting them in the ground, they must be covered with dry leaves. She still won't have time to adapt to street conditions.
In the second year, the sprouts will grow another 5-7 cm. You can start fertilizing. Use a liquid solution of potassium sulfate under each plant 3 times a season.
There is no need to dig up the soil under the seedlings; shallow loosening of the soil is sufficient. Cedar seedlings do not need special care, just standard procedures. By the end of 4 years of growing, they should gain 20-30 cm in height.
Cedar grown from seeds bears fruit late, at the age of 20 years. The first cones may be empty.
Transplanting cedar into open ground
When the seedlings reach 6 years old, they are transplanted into open ground. Follow the planting rules for seedlings with an open root system.
It is better to move plants to a permanent place in the evening or in cloudy weather; preserve the earthen ball as much as possible. Best time for planting - spring. If it turns out to be dry, the trees will have to be watered additionally. After that upper layer The soil is loosened so that a crust does not form.
Watch out for weeds and remove them on time. If their growth is not restrained, they will clog the root system of a fragile plant. Do not remove large weeds by the roots, otherwise you will damage the young roots of the tree, just cut them at the root.
Problems when growing cedar from seeds
Cedar seedlings are very sensitive to fungal diseases. The peak of the disease occurs in the spring. At this time, you need to carefully monitor the plants and carry out treatments on time.
To prevent disease in seedlings, do not plant them in wetlands or areas with high soil. groundwater. The needles begin to turn yellow and dry out.
Cedar seedlings also suffer from fusarium; in a short period of time, all seedlings will die. As a preventive measure, treat seeds and soil with approved preparations before planting, do preventive spraying and ventilate greenhouses in a timely manner.
Among the pests that harm young seedlings is the pine aphid - Hermes. You can notice its presence by the white coating on the needles. The aphid sucks the juice from the young needles, and the seedling dies. Get rid of pine aphids as if they were a common pest. Carry out a series of treatments with complex action insecticides.
How to grow cedar - "Homestead farming" N6, 1988.
"Cedar is a tree for children and grandchildren"
M. Ignatenko, candidate biological sciences, Honored Forester of the RSFSR, Leningrad
Siberian cedar (the correct botanical name is Siberian cedar pine)- an evergreen coniferous tree. This is true amazing plant It seems to have absorbed all conceivable useful qualities: decorativeness and healing properties, winter hardiness and durability. The main wealth of Siberian cedar is its nuts. Collected near Leningrad, they contained 61% fat, 20% proteins, 12% carbohydrates. Please note that these are nuts grown in the northwest of the country, where the weather is capricious. Nuts are very tasty, nutritious and healing. Even academician P.S. Pallas wrote 200 years ago: “in Switzerland they use pine nuts in pharmacies; milk is made from them, which is prescribed for chest diseases... they claim that they were used beneficially by consumptive people.”
Pine nuts contain vitamin A (growth vitamin), B vitamins (anti-neurotic), which improve cardiac activity and are generally necessary for normal activity nervous system. They are especially rich in vitamin E (tocopherol, which in Greek means “bearing offspring”). It is not without reason that in years of good cedar harvests the fertility of sable and squirrels increases significantly. Doctors claim that pine nuts contain substances that help improve blood composition, prevent tuberculosis, and anemia.
Cedar resin - resin- has embalming properties. For a long time, residents of Siberia and the Urals used it to treat purulent wounds, cuts, and burns. During the Great Patriotic War cedar resin was successfully used in hospitals to treat wounded soldiers. It protected wounds from infection and stopped gangrenous processes.
The needles are rich in vitamin C and carotene. It contains a lot of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, copper, cobalt.
Cedar wood is also valuable. Since it has bactericidal properties, cabinets made from cedar wood are not susceptible to moths. Wood is used to make about 10 thousand different products(pencil sticks, battery veneer, furniture, musical instruments).
The tree is beautiful with its green attire at any time of the year. The antimicrobial properties of cedar trees are also high. The air in its plantings is practically sterile.
Siberian cedar has been bred in our country for a long time. Cedars planted in the Moscow region, near Leningrad, Yaroslavl grow successfully; the age of some of them exceeds 100 - 200 years, they successfully bloom, bear fruit and produce mature seeds even in the Arctic. Many cedar trees have been planted by amateur gardeners on personal plots and in collective gardens. When breeding Siberian cedar, it is necessary to take into account that it cannot grow in dry sandy places, but prefers sandy loam or loamy, moist, fertile soils.
Cedar propagation vegetatively, by grafting cuttings onto Scots pine, but mainly by seeds. When tender, still immature shoots just emerge from the soil, birds (mostly crows) immediately peck them off. Therefore, plants have to be grown under plastic film.
Good results are obtained when sowing seeds in autumn. To do this, at the end of September - beginning of October, that is, a month before the soil freezes, the seeds are sown in prepared ridges and they are covered to protect them from mouse-like rodents spruce branches. And in the spring next year the seeds sprout vigorously.
When sowing seeds in spring Siberian cedar require mandatory stratification. To do this, they are soaked in warm water (25 - 300) for 4-6 days. The water is changed every 1-2 days. Then the seeds are mixed with well-washed river sand or peat chips and kept at room temperature. The mixture is periodically stirred and moistened. With this stratification, the seeds hatch in 50-60 days. The sprouted seeds are taken out into the cold and stored until sowing at a temperature close to zero. In spring, sowing is carried out in late April - early May (depending on weather conditions). For 1 sq.m. you can sow from 50 to 300 g of seeds. The depth of their planting is 3 - 4 cm. The plastic film that protects seeds and shoots from birds is removed only after the shells have fallen off the emerging shoots.
When the crops are thickened, the seedlings dive. As soon as the sprouts appear in the form of a bent knee, they are dug up, sorted, the roots are trimmed and planted under a peg on the ridges at the same depth at which they were. The planting pattern is 20x20 cm or 20x10 cm. You can pick seedlings in the second year after germination. If agricultural practices are followed, the survival rate of cedar seedlings after picking can be very high - up to 95%. 2-3 years after picking, good planting material with a developed root system is obtained, which contributes to better survival of seedlings after transplantation to a new location.
Plant Siberian cedar! He deserves to be bred both in the central regions of the European part of the RSFSR and in the north-west.
A. Klebanov.
Candidate of agricultural sciences Sciences, Ural Forestry Engineering Institute, Sverdlovsk
Many rural residents of Altai, Siberia, and the Urals plant cedar in their garden plots, on the streets and in public gardens. Cedar is the beauty and pride of the taiga. True, trees do not always take root, but sometimes they grow up to 25 m, their trunk diameter reaches 2 m. How similar is cedar to Scots pine. At first glance, you can't tell them apart from each other. But pay attention to the needles. In cedars it is surprisingly soft, long, triangular, collected in whorls of 5-6 pieces, and in Scots pine there are 2 and very rarely 3 needles. Cedar is famous for its longevity - it even lives up to 800 years. It is difficult, of course, to wait for the harvest. In forest plantations, it begins to bear fruit at 40-70 years, sometimes later, and in gardens, where timely care and feeding with fertilizers is carried out, at 15-20 years. But it continues to produce a harvest of seeds for about 250 years. Residents of taiga regions call cedar “breadfruit”.
Of course, the question comes up again and again: where to buy planting material?
In areas where cedar grows in the forest, in spring or autumn you can contact the nearest forestry or forestry enterprise and buy seedlings 2-5 years old. Sometimes, only with the permission of forestry workers, you can dig up cedar seedlings at skidding roads, loading areas, logging sites, oil pipeline routes, etc. Under no circumstances should you dig up cedar from under the forest canopy, in forest plantations, or in burnt areas. This is regarded as poaching and is punishable by a fine. But if you are allowed to prepare cedar planting material, dig it out carefully, preserving the roots as much as possible. Be sure to wet the soil properly and plant it on the same day. If this is not possible, then the seedling must be buried immediately. Significant damage, fragmentation of tap roots or their “drying” in air is the most common mistakes when planting cedar.
Another common mistake is planting single trees. It is known that everything coniferous trees Wind-pollinated, pollen from one tree is carried by the wind to another, promoting cross-pollination. If it occurs inside the crown of a tree, and there is no other plant of the same species in the neighborhood, then its seeds either do not set at all, or in the fall of next year (the seed development cycle of cedar lasts up to 18 months!) they ripen small and non-germinating. Therefore, cedar planting material must be from different places to prevent inbreeding. It is advisable to plant seedlings on the site immediately in a permanent place, sufficiently lit, better in groups in 3-4 trees, at a distance of 5-8 meters from each other. You can plant low-growing fruit trees and berry bushes between cedar seedlings. It is very good to sow lupine - this “biological fertilizer” will contribute to better growth and the development of cedar seedlings, will bring the beginning of its fruiting closer. It is advisable to systematically water the soil around the perimeter of the tree crown, simultaneously introducing mineral and, in the spring, organic fertilizers.
From the very first days after planting, it is necessary to take care of the shape of the crown. The most effective is the formation of the so-called " garden forms" - low-pubescent, spreading, it is good if the crown is multi-peaked, since female flower buds are laid along its periphery, mainly in the upper part. Lower branches to a height of 2-2.5 meters can be removed in the first 10-15 years of the tree's life, stretching pruning time by year. Use pruning shears to remove branches “flush" with the tree trunk. In this case, the wounds heal faster. To prevent infection with spores of wood-decaying fungi, cover the cut areas with garden varnish.
You can avoid pruning if you break off the lateral buds on the axial shoot in the first 3-5 years after planting a 2-3-year-old seedling. In this case, all nutritious and growth substances enter one central bud of the axial shoot. The growth of this shoot per season increases by 2-2.5 times, and the need to trim the side shoots subsequently disappears. It is advisable to break out side buds or trim side shoots in autumn-winter period, before the start of the growing season.
An indicator of good survival and growth of cedar seedlings is dark green needles, a spreading crown with needles 4-5 years old, the growth of the axial shoot in the first years is at least 5-10 cm per year.
And also keep in mind one feature of Siberian cedar. This tree species very sensitive to air pollution. That's why planting cedar is undesirable near large industrial enterprises with increased gas or dust content in the air. In addition, large seedlings require careful care, feeding with mineral and organic fertilizers. But in gratitude you will receive delicious, high-calorie pine nuts. And your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will remember for more than 200 years the Man who planted and grew this majestic tree.
Professor of Moscow State University of Linguistics, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. Sciences I.I. Drozdov
Any natural talent is fully revealed only in certain favorable conditions, with appropriate upbringing. Yes and Siberian cedar- only with appropriate attention and targeted care does it fully realize its rich natural capabilities.
In wild cedar forests, trees are not productive enough. Here they are formed under conditions of biogenosis - a unique plant complex with high environmental properties, opportunities for secondary use of forests and the production of valuable wood in mature forest stands. In the village cedar forests, unique cedar gardens formed and cared for by humans, trees are presented in all their splendor. Trees with lush, evergreen crowns perfectly decorate village landscapes, ennobling them with their colorful appearance. Phytoncides improve the health of the atmosphere; nut yields in the pine trees near the village are almost every year 5-6 times higher than the yield of forest plantations.
However, despite all the attractiveness of cedar, growing it is more difficult compared to other conifers (Scots pine, larch, spruce). Foresters call the culture of Siberian cedar the school of patience. Its seeds are distinguished by deep dormancy and they germinate only after a winter stay in the cold for at least 3-4 months. Cedar crops require protection from rodents and birds. The first ten years the cedar grows slowly, reaching a height of 1.5 m. However, in the future this breed is able to thank for attention to it. Cedar gets along well individual plots, near buildings. At 30 years old, it reaches a height of 9 meters, forms a lush crown reaching 3 meters in diameter. By this time, there is little space for spruce, Scots pine and larch, they are cramped on the site, and problems arise with their felling.
Siberian cedar reproduce mainly by seed method, less often - vegetative (grafting, rooting of cuttings).
It is preferable to import cedar seeds from the plains and low-mountain regions of Western Siberia. When breeding this breed in the European part of Russia, it is better to focus on spring term sowing (end of April, first half of May). To do this, the seeds are first prepared and stratified for at least 3 months in the cold, following the following procedure.
The seeds are soaked for 3 days, changing the water daily. During this period, benign seeds swell and sink to the bottom of the vessel. Empty and poor-quality seeds remain on the surface and are removed. Benign seeds are pickled in an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate. Then their seeds are mixed with a damp (50%) substrate (sand, peat, sawdust, conifers, etc.) in a 1:2 ratio and placed in the cold (under the snow, in the refrigerator, etc.). If the number of seeds is small, they can be placed in bags made of several layers of loose fabric. It is important that the seeds are moist throughout the entire period in the cold. They retain moisture well under snow; they need to be moistened periodically in the refrigerator. Seeds in bags can be placed in plastic bags without closing them tightly.
Before sowing, the seeds are separated from the substrate, again pickled in a strong solution of potassium permanganate (up to 24 hours) and dried for sowing.
It is better to plant them in a greenhouse, hotbed, etc. on a loose peat-soil substrate. Here the crops are reliably protected from damage by birds. In comfortable conditions, seed germination increases, seedlings grow 1.5-2 times faster than in open ground. Before sowing, it is advisable to add 1 g of superphosphate to the bottom of the sowing furrows per 1 meter, potash fertilizers- 0.5 g or wood ash- 2 g mixed with 20 g of peat. The distance between the sowing lines is 15-20 cm. The seeding rate is 30 g (125-150 seeds) per 1 meter. The depth of planting seeds into the soil is 3 cm. The surface of the crops is covered with a 0.5-1 cm layer of loose mulch (peat, sawdust or other covering material). During the season it is necessary to weed and loosen the soil 3-4 times. Before mass shoots appear (10 - 12 days), watering is required. Subsequently, the seedlings develop a fairly deep root system.
To protect crops from infectious damage to seedlings caused by the Fusarium fungus, in addition to preventive treatment of seeds, it will be necessary to water the seed furrows with the seeds sown in them with a 0.4% solution of potassium permanganate. When lesions appear, the stems of the seedlings turn red, a constriction forms, they fall and dry out. Control measures: during the first 2 weeks, seedlings are treated with a 0.4% solution of potassium permanganate 1 - 3 times with a solution consumption of up to 10 liters per 1 m2.
After 3 years, before their growth begins, the seedlings are dug up and transplanted into a tree school with a placement of 0.4 x 0.4 m, where they are grown for 3-5 years to obtain larger seedlings. It is allowed to store seedlings dug up before the beginning of the growing season for 2 weeks in the cold. Bunches of seedlings (50 - 100 pieces) are packed in damp burlap, then in plastic wrap and placed in a basement or in a snow pile, previously prepared under a layer of sawdust.
You can grow seedlings with closed roots, i.e. in peat, plastic or other containers prepared for seedlings with a height of at least 8 cm and a volume of 200 - 300 cm. The containers are filled with a substrate from a mixture of peat and loam (1:1) with the addition of granulated superphosphate - 50 g per bucket of the mixture (10 l), potassium salt - 25 g, dolomite lime 250 g.
The containers are filled with substrate in mid-April and placed on the ground in the greenhouse. After stratification, cedar seeds are washed, pickled for 24 hours in a 0.4% solution of potassium permanganate and germinated 7-10 days before sowing on damp sand or damp burlap.
Sprouted seeds are sown 1 in each container, covered with peat, sand or sawdust in a 1 cm layer and watered with a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate (5 liters per 1 m of container surface). Care consists of timely watering, loosening the surface of the substrate two or three times, and removing weeds. If foci of seedling damage (fusarium blight) are detected, they are watered with a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate. If several seedlings have died, empty spaces are supplemented with sprouted seeds or seedlings from additional crops.
Growing period is 2-3 years. In the first case, seedlings are grown for 2 years under a film covering, in the second - the first year in closed ground, the next 2 years in open ground with mandatory regular watering. The slightest overdrying of a small volume of substrate has a detrimental effect on plant growth. Grown seedlings are removed from containers or transplanted directly into peat pots into containers large sizes(paper-plastic milk bags, ceramic flower pots, plastic bags, etc.) or planted in the soil of a tree school (0.4x0.4 m) to germinate them and obtain 6-8-year-old seedlings.
Saplings 6-8 years old are more reliable than seedlings when transplanting cedar to a permanent place. In the tree school, they are dug up with a lump of soil (0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 m) and transferred to the planting site, having previously wrapped the lump with film or a damp cloth. Seedlings with a closed root system are freed from containers before planting.
Planting of seedlings is carried out in areas with previously loosened (dug up) not turfed loamy or sandy loam soil. The planting hole is dug 30% larger than the volume of the root systems of the seedlings. The removed soil is mixed with fertilizers (peat, humus, rotted manure, wood ash), it is advisable to add 3-4 handfuls of forest litter from under the coniferous forest. The latter contributes better development on the root systems of mycorrhiza (symbiosis of root endings and hyphae of forest fungi), providing good mineral nutrition to forest woody plants. The prepared substrate is poured into the bottom of the hole and the root system of the seedling is placed in its center so that its root collar (the boundary between the stem and the root system) is at the ground level of the site. Next, the hole is filled with prepared loose soil, compacted by trampling and watered (0.5 buckets).
Seedlings for seedlings are placed linearly or in groups with a distance between them of at least 3 m. When planting garden-type plantings, placement of seedlings 4x5 m or 5x5 m. This ensures a fairly complete light supply to the trees, promotes crown development and formation good harvest bumps in the future. With sparse trees standing, cedar begins to produce crops at the age of 18.
Caring for cedar seedlings
When appearing on young shoots white plaque(more often appears in humid weather) it is necessary to treat them with a solution laundry soap. It is diluted in warm water, the foam is whipped and then with a sponge or swab from soft fabric The affected shoots are thoroughly washed 2-3 times. Otherwise, with the active development of whiteness, the shoots may die. In this case, the tree does not die, but its annual growth is lost.
Vegetative propagation of cedar, most often by grafting cedar cuttings onto cedar or cedar onto Scots pine, is carried out to clone valuable selected forms (in terms of growth intensity, decorativeness, productivity), to accelerate the appearance of the first cones. From a cutting - a scion - taken from an adult tree from the upper female tier of the cedar crown, a mature plant develops. After 4-5 years, cones may appear on such a grafted tree.
Cedar cuttings can be rooted in special greenhouses, like blue spruce cuttings. But the technology of this process is quite labor-intensive. In general, vegetative propagation of cedar is a rather complicated matter, and it is better to leave it to specialists.
Cedar seed production is one of the main attractive qualities of this tree. In a free state, cedar grown from seed begins to form cones at the age of 18-20.
Siberian cedar is a monoecious tree; in the upper, most illuminated part of the crown there are female ovules, below - male strobili. The cedar "blooms" in June. The female “bumps” of raspberry-violet color are hidden in the needles near the apical bud of the shoot. Male “flowers”, orange-crimson in color, are collected in large “inflorescences” at the base of the shoots. After 3-5 days they turn brown and fall off. Pollen is carried by the wind. After pollination, the female cones close, become green-brown, grow to 2-3 cm and are called “winter cones” until the spring of next year. Fertilization and seed formation occurs from the end of August and throughout September. To ensure cross-pollination, it is advisable to have a group of cedars (3 or more). To increase the reliability of pollination of female “flowers” in young cedars, you can carry out artificial post-pollination: shake off the pollen of male “flowers” onto paper, place it in a jar and store it in the refrigerator for several days. As the female “flowers” open, apply pollen to them with a soft brush or gently blow them off a sheet of paper.
Cedar grows and bears fruit for several centuries. Near Yaroslavl, in the Tolga Monastery, about 50 cedars from the monastery garden, founded four centuries ago, have been preserved. Individual centuries-old fruit-bearing cedars are often found in Yaroslavl region. Near Suzdal, an alley of 150-year-old cedar trees is successfully bearing fruit. In the Ivanovo region, in the Ples tract near the town of Furmanov, a 120-year-old cedar grove (about 1 hectare) bears fruit and produces natural cedar regeneration. In the Moscow region, near the town of Dolgoprudny, in the Klyazminsky park forestry enterprise, there is a century-old grove of two hundred cedars. Near the town of Zaraisk in the Novinkovsky forestry of the Lukhovitsky forestry enterprise, a 25-year-old cedar plantation on an area of 3.2 hectares (about a thousand cedars) bears fruit abundantly. In the Dmitrovsky district near Yakhroma M.V. Tvelenev conducts observations in a half-century-old grove with an area of more than 3 hectares. It is possible to establish new cedar groves not only in Siberia, but also in the European region of Russia. This is not only possible, but also necessary to do.
More detailed information about the biology of Siberian pine, methods of its propagation and cultivation can be gleaned from the books:
- Bekh L.I., Taran I.V. Siberian miracle tree. Novosibirsk: "Science", 1979. - 126 p.
- Drozdov I.I. Introduced conifers in forest crops. M.: MGUL. 1998. - 135 p.
- Ignatenko M.M. Siberian cedar. M.: "Science", 1988. - 160 p.
- Krylov G.V., Talantsev N.K.; Kozakova A.F. Cedar. M.: Timber industry. 1983. - 216 p.
- Parfenov V.F. Complex in a cedar forest. M.: Timber Industry, 1979. - 240 p.
- Rodin A.R. Drozdov I.I. Guidelines on growing Siberian cedar seedlings. M.: VASKHNIL, 1978. - 30 p.
- Tvelenev M.V. Growing Siberian pine outside its natural habitat. M.: TsBNTUleskhoz 1974. - 16 p.
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Many people admire coniferous plants for their beauty and grace. In our climatic conditions You can grow different coniferous trees. They can be of various configurations. You can grow cedar from a nut at home. The main thing is to comply simple rules watering and care, then planting a cedar from a seed at home will not be difficult.
Special properties of wood
Cedar is an evergreen plant. It interests many amateur gardeners. The cedar tree has a beautiful appearance. Features of the plant:
When growing, plants adhere to special instructions, which are developed by specialists. Cedar grown from a nut at home turns out beautiful and can amaze any aesthete. With the help of this tree they ennoble country cottage area or a park. Root system powerful and extensive. main root surrounded by side branches. Thanks to them, the plant is firmly fixed in the soil. Thanks to the needles, a special microclimate is created around the trunk.
Seed material is collected under the natural growth conditions of the tree. To collect seeds, you don’t have to look for a pine forest. You can get them from the botanical garden or ask the forestry department. Often the seeds are obtained from cones. When collecting, you need to take into account that when long-term transportation The following processes can occur with cones:
Seeds, when in a cone, are protected from negative external influences and climatic conditions.
Seed material for planting should not be purchased in a store or market. There they are often sold for culinary dishes. In this case, the seeds are treated with hot oil and therefore become unsuitable for planting.
Correct selection of seeds
Often a novice gardener is interested in the question: is it possible to grow cedar from a nut at home? The answer is yes; with proper care, the seed grows into a beautiful and powerful tree with an even trunk and branches densely strewn with needles. To plant cedar in your garden plot, you need to purchase seeds from trusted sources. Correct selection seed material guarantees their 100% germination. Seeds are purchased in the following ways:
- Through the almanac of seeds.
- Through independent sellers.
- Through gardening.
- Through the institute and the department of botany.
- Through gardening communities.
Each method gives the gardener the opportunity to purchase high-quality planting material. To be sure of the quality of the seeds, several cones are ordered. When discharged, you need to pay attention to when they were collected. The optimal period is October or November. The average germination period is 2 years. To make the seeds easier to remove from the cone, you should pour boiling water over it, it will open. From the scales that remain after extracting the seeds, you can prepare a healing decoction used to treat many diseases.
Stratification process
When cedar is grown at home, many gardeners encounter difficulty stratifying the seed. This manipulation is necessary for the seeds to germinate better. . The procedure is carried out in several stages:
Every 2 weeks the bag is opened and the presence of mold or mildew is checked. The contents of the bag are moistened. If spoiled seeds are found, they are thrown away and the soil is replaced. After some time, the seeds begin to germinate. If they are sown in open ground in April or May, they will germinate within 12 months.
Another method of germination
To make the tree grow faster, various growth stimulants are used. They are used according to the instructions that come with the drug. By using fertilizers, we achieve rapid growth planting material and the health of the future cedar tree. Planting pine nuts at home is a little more difficult than planting them directly in open ground. Because the seedling requires a lot of light. If there is not enough lighting in the room, then special additional light lamps are used.
If the seedlings will winter indoors and not at home, then prepare for this in advance. The room should not be more than +10C. Usually like this temperature regime happens in a barn or glassed balcony. If the sprouts are kept warm, they will get used to it, and after transplanting into open ground they may die. Seedlings are often susceptible to a disease called “blackleg”. To prevent the sprouts from getting sick, they are treated with a fungicidal solution once every 14 days.
Sprout care
Planting cedar from a nut at home is not difficult, the only difficult thing is to correctly stratify and create the necessary temperature regime. Young cedar trees are constantly watered and fertilized so that the tree is powerful and fluffy. This plant will decorate any garden or park.
Cedar is a powerful tree; in natural conditions it grows up to 40 m in height. Bred for indoor cultivation decorative varieties. They do not require a large area of land, and they also bear fruit.
Planting methods
For planting, choose fresh nuts, removed from a strong and healthy cone without signs of mold. Grocery store nuts are not suitable for cultivation because they are subject to heat treatment.
Source: Depositphotos
Knowing how to plant cedar at home from a nut, you can grow a useful ornamental tree
To grow a tree, prepare nuts from a cone as follows:
- Wash the seeds in warm water to remove the resin using a toothbrush or sponge.
- Make a stratification: place the nuts in cold water for three days. Change the water daily. Floating seeds are not suitable for planting; seeds that have sunk to the bottom should be planted.
- On the 4th day, drain the water and mix the seeds with peat or sand. Moisten the resulting mixture and place it in wooden box with holes for air. Place the workpiece in dark room with an air temperature of +4 °C for 3–6 months. So you imitate winter conditions for a plant. Once every six months, take out the nuts to moisten the substrate.
- Soil for coniferous plants purchase natural soil from the store or bring it from the forest. Plant nuts in March-April in a small container up to 200 g. Deepen the nut into the ground 2 cm, sprinkle with sawdust or pine needles. Place the pot in a shaded place where the temperature does not exceed +18...+20 °C. Water the crops regularly without over-watering.
It is advisable to plant several seeds, because 10–15% of them remain viable. At proper care the first shoots appear after 60–90 days. Growth in the first 5 years of the tree’s life is slow; within a year the sprout grows 7 cm in height.
Growing and care
During the growth of seedlings, harden them and acclimate them to natural conditions. To do this, take the pot out into the sun to take air baths during the summer period. Plant hardened seedlings in nutritious, light, loose, well-drained soil.
When landing, make sure that:
- the root system was completely immersed in the ground;
- the roots were not damaged or bent.
They are planted using the transfer method: they are moved from one pot to another along with the root ball, which contains friendly organisms. This will increase the survival rate of the plant.
Growing a tree from a nut requires a lot of effort and patience. The Siberian plant will decorate garden plot for many years.