Actinidia - autumn care and preparation for winter: pruning, winter shelter

Actinidia vines are rarely found in gardens in our country. This is due to their high sensitivity to cold, as this exotic plant originates from the southeastern regions of Asia, where the climate is much milder. Therefore, actinidia must be carefully prepared for winter frosts starting in the fall. To ensure the vine blooms again in the spring, it must be properly pruned and protected from frost.

General tips for preparing actinidia for winter

Actinidia's survival during winter frosts in the Russian climate depends entirely on proper autumn care. To protect against common diseases and prepare for the cold, a number of essential measures are taken.

Watering and fertilizing

Actinidia is a moisture-loving plant, so for optimal growth, the soil should be kept constantly moist. However, it's important to avoid overwatering the vine. Stagnant moisture at the roots will kill the vine. Therefore, when planting the vine, ensure good drainage is provided in advance. Watering the vine in the fall is only necessary if there has been a prolonged period of dry weather. In this case, 60-80 liters of water are required per vine.

For autumn feeding of exotic actinidia, use fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium or organic matter. At the same time, dig the area around the trunk to a shallow depth. For each square meter, 2 kg of rotted manure or 15 g of potassium salt and 50 g of superphosphate are sufficient. You can also use ready-made multi-component nitrogen-free fertilizers and add two buckets of compost.

Autumn pruning

Autumn pruning is done based on the vine variety. For actinidias that produce fruit only on short branches, the crown is pruned more intensively to stimulate fruiting. Other varieties, on the contrary, produce fruit on long vines, so even light pruning reduces yield.

When pruning, take into account the structural features of the actinidia. The vine has three types of shoots:

• vegetative, not involved in fruit formation;
• on vegetative-generative trees, berries are formed only at the ends of branches;
• The main crop is formed on the lateral shoots of a generative nature.

When pruning, in addition to determining the type of branch, take into account that berries are formed only on one-year-old branches.

The need for pruning

With the arrival of autumn, experienced gardeners begin pruning this exotic vine. Failure to do so can cause problems with plant development and reduce yields.

Actinidia pruning is necessary in order to:

• the crown was not too dense;
• improve resistance to diseases;
• stimulate the growth of young shoots;
• improve crop yields;
• to give the liana a more attractive appearance.

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Pruning period

Actinidia can be pruned when the sap is not flowing. The best time for this procedure is late fall, when the plant has already shed its leaves, or early spring, before the buds have swollen. If you wait until April, when the sap begins to flow, the cuts will leave unhealed wounds, and the plant may die.

In autumn, pruning is performed after the leaves have fallen and nighttime temperatures have consistently dropped below freezing. This typically occurs in October or November, depending on the climate zone.

Correct pruning technology

Actinidia is a fast-growing plant. Therefore, it requires regular pruning to prevent the crown from becoming too dense. This procedure increases the vine's resistance to disease and improves its survival during winter cold.

Pruning of actinidia in autumn is carried out in the following order:

1. All shoots with damage, signs of disease or drying out are cut off, leaving two living buds.
2. Branches that have been bearing fruit for three years are also cut back and replaced with younger ones. The age of the shoot in this case is determined by the shade of the bark.
3. Vegetative branches are shortened to a length of 50 cm.
4. Old shoots that do not produce a large number of fruits are cut to a ring.
5. In subsequent years, the crown is simply thinned out and damaged branches are removed.

If these instructions are followed correctly, even beginners can prune actinidia. As a result, the plant will produce a good harvest and become more decorative.

Care after pruning

After pruning the actinidia, rake up all fallen leaves along with any remaining plant material, remove it, and burn it. There's no need to fertilize the vine at this time. After clearing the area, prepare the actinidia for winter storage.

Shelter for the winter

Most actinidia species are heat-loving and do not tolerate winter cold well. Therefore, in our country, actinidia kolomkita is most commonly grown, as it can withstand temperatures from -23 to -35 degrees Celsius without additional protection. Other varieties are less common and cannot be grown in Russian winter conditions without additional protection.

Regardless of variety, young vines no more than 2-3 years old are covered. This is due to the root system's close proximity to the surface. Furthermore, the bark on young shoots is very thin and does not provide adequate frost protection. Mature actinidia are covered as needed, depending on climate conditions and the vine species. This is achieved by mulching the soil and covering the lower part of the trunk.

Selection of material

To create a shelter, use special agrofibre or suitable natural materials. To protect the shallow root system from the cold, the area around the trunk is mulched with suitable organic material: fallen leaves, straw, pine branches, or sawdust. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to combine several types of shelter. For example, cover the soil with straw or sawdust, and secure pine branches on top to protect the natural material from being blown away by strong winds and to trap snow.

Industrially produced nonwoven materials have recently come into use. Due to their properties and convenience, they have quickly gained popularity:

• they do not change their properties under the influence of temperature fluctuations and precipitation;
• allow air and moisture to pass through well;
• do not rot or become moldy;
• resistant to mechanical abrasion;
• durable.

Shelter order

Work on insulating the vines begins after the leaves have fallen and cool weather sets in. First, cover the roots with mulch. To do this, apply a suitable natural mulch in a 50-cm-radius circle around the trunk. Then, untie the vine from its support, twist it into a neat bundle, and place it around the trunk. To protect the actinidia from rodents, place mouse poison or bunches of dried dog mint around it. Then, completely cover the vine with sawdust or fallen leaves and cover it with pine branches.

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To protect against severe frosts, agrofibre is additionally used. The vine is bundled and wrapped in it several times, and only then are mulch and spruce branches added. Mature actinidia varieties that require winter insulation are partially covered. To do this, mulch the soil and cover the trunk with natural material to a height of 20 cm, then lay spruce branches on top.

The covering is finally removed in April. However, if the region experiences frequent recurrent frosts, the plant is wrapped in spunbond or lutrasil to protect it from freezing.

Preparing for winter in different regions

Winter weather varies across different regions of Russia. This should be taken into account when covering mature vines for the winter. In the Moscow region and central Russia, the winter-hardy Actinidia kolomkita can be left uncovered. For other varieties, cover them with mulch and secure coniferous branches over them.

In the Volga region, the vine is laid on a prepared bed of mulch. Sawdust or fallen leaves are sprinkled on top and covered with agrofibre or roofing felt. To protect against mice and other rodents, poison is placed nearby.

In the harsh Siberian climate and the Urals, all varieties of actinidia are completely covered for the winter. To do this, the vines are gathered in a bunch and placed on a layer of mulch and covered with old rags or rags. A plastic sheet is placed on top, followed by a 20 cm layer of soil.

Possible errors

Gardeners don't always perform proper preparatory work, which can lead to damage or death of the vine. Common mistakes include:

1. Applying the same fall pruning method to all varieties can result in reduced yields or a complete lack of fruit. The plant may stop growing or die completely.
2. Closing the vine too early, as well as performing the work too late, causes the death of the plant.
3. Pruning during sap flow results in damage not healing for a long time and the vine dying.

Conclusion

Properly pruned and protected actinidia for the winter, the vine will remain viable until the following season. As a result, the plant will grace the garden all summer long and produce abundant fruit.