There is probably no gardener who does not know irgu. As a child, we picked it from the bush and ate it by the handful. Now I am over 40 years old, and the bushes from which we picked berries still bear fruit. True, they have grown greatly, thickened, and the berries on them have become small. We do not perceive shadberry as a fruit crop. They collect it from time to time and even plant it outside the fence, leaving it without care. Of course, under such conditions the berries become smaller. I want to stand up for the shadberry and tell you how to grow it large.
Irga loves watering
Let me start with the fact that I also didn’t notice my shadberry for a long time. I collected berries only in compote to give it beautiful color. It grew in the corner of the garden and people often forgot to water it. Then they decided to build a shed in the garden, and the serviceberry bush had to be replanted. The place was found near a large tank into which water was collected during centralized irrigation. When we were not there, the water from the tank overflowed just under the serviceberry bush. How she has changed! The berries have become larger and more juicy. Now it was a pity to leave them to the birds. To preserve the harvest, they hung shiny rain and tinsel on the branches. Flapping in the wind, they scared away the birds. Now we use old computer disks.
Berries are very healthy
The taste of serviceberry is bland, so many people do not appreciate it. However, berries contain a lot of useful substances (more on them a little later). I'll tell you about my own positive experience. My first son was allergic to all red berries. Naturally, we didn’t give them. But one day they didn’t pay enough attention, and the kid plucked a shadberry that was hanging on the lower branches of the bush. To our surprise, there was no allergic reaction. We started giving our son fresh berries and juice squeezed out of them. Since then I have come to respect Irga even more. I began to feed it, like currants and gooseberries, and prune it, preventing it from thickening. Irga immediately thanked her: the berry harvest has increased. Now there is enough of them not only to eat, but also to make jam. For sourness we add currants and gooseberries.
Look for varietal shadberry
I first learned about varietal shadberry three years ago. I found a photo on the Internet where the shadberry was compared to a cherry. At first I didn’t even believe that such berries existed, they were so large.
But this year I saw a large shadberry in one garden. A little smaller than cherries, but still much larger than everyone else. The owner of the garden was not there, and I could not ask for cuttings. But now I know for sure that large-fruited varieties exist, I will look for them at exhibitions and in nurseries. They say that there are such people at the Timiryazev Academy. 
Irga is a drought-resistant crop. But with a lack of watering, the berries become smaller. If you don’t want to water the shadberry on purpose, plant it near a pot of water or where you often drain water (not soapy water). On sandy soil, a location near the roof drainage will work.
About varieties
To know which varieties to ask for, I researched information on the Internet. It turns out that varieties are often called different types serviceberry I also encountered this. At the exhibition you ask what varieties you have, and they answer you: Canadian and spicate. These are the most common species cultivated in our country.
In Canada and the USA, shadberry is considered a full-fledged fruit crop. They obtained large-fruited varieties with a berry diameter of 16-18 mm (this is exactly the size of a cherry). In addition to varieties with dark berries (Foresburg, mandam, pembina), there is a white-fruited variety - altanglou.
Here are a few more varieties.
Smokey produces unusually aromatic and sweet fruits the size of a large cherry (14 mm). Bush 2-3 m high.
Slate- variety early date maturation. The tree is short, 1.5-2 m. The berry is large, oblong. The taste is purely sweet.
Thiessen and Martin- very strong, productive varieties. early flowering, large fruit up to 17 mm.
Northline- excellent taste of berries with a diameter of 16 mm. Flowering is 4-8 days later than other varieties.
Frostberg- has long racemes with large, fleshy, sweet fruits, the bush is 2.5-3 m in height.
Krasnoyarsk- late ripening variety. Tree up to 4 m. The berry is above average size, pear-shaped. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness, very good.
All varieties are self-fertile. They begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.
Reproduction
Irgu is propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Large-fruited varieties can only be grown in the second way - root suckers, green cuttings or grafting.
On sale you can find varietal shadberry grafted onto rowan or seedlings of shadberry. When growing grafted plants, the lower growth from rowan or wildflower must be regularly removed. Usually two-year-old seedlings are sold. By the third year they are already blooming.
When sowing seeds, the large-fruited property is not preserved. But the berries may still be larger than those of ordinary serviceberry. Seedlings bear fruit in 4-5 years.
To grow a large shadberry, plant it in a bright place, water it enough and cut out excess growth, avoiding thickening of the crown.
Advantages of serviceberry
The plant is undemanding to soil fertility, drought-resistant and frost-resistant. In the northern regions, where many varieties of apple trees freeze out, serviceberry successfully overwinters and bears fruit consistently. At least in our conditions (north of the Nizhny Novgorod region), we were never left without a harvest.
I don’t know what kind of irga we have. Of the common species, the most winter-hardy are the spiked serviceberry and the profusely flowering one. They tolerate frosts down to -50 C.
Serviceberry has almost no pests (yet); it does not need to be sprayed, like other garden crops, against various diseases.
In spring, the serviceberry blooms beautifully with white flowers collected in clusters. And in the fall it turns red-orange and wonderfully decorates the garden. Sometimes fall color is subtle. This may be due to the characteristics of the species or to planting in the shade. In the sun, irga can be very bright. Created decorative varieties with particularly showy foliage - Helvetia, Altaglow, Regent.
Beneficial features
Irga is an excellent multivitamin. It’s not for nothing that they call it “northern raisins”. In terms of carotene content, it is superior to cherries and blackberries, and in vitamin C - to apple trees.
It is important that there are few acids in shadberry, so it can be consumed by people for whom sour berries (including Victoria) are contraindicated. Irga is useful after radiation therapy and antibiotic treatment; the pectin of the berries perfectly removes various toxins from the body. An infusion of irgi flowers has a strengthening effect on blood vessels, making their walls more elastic, which helps prevent varicose veins and heart disease (myocardial infarction).
Serviceberry berries are useful for improving the central nervous system (they improve sleep and relieve increased excitability).
If you have hypertension, you need to regularly consume shadberry, it will help normalize your blood pressure. It also contains a substance that prevents the development of atherosclerosis.
M. Pluzhina, Kirov
Number of impressions: 23541
Widely known and popular in the Northern Hemisphere ornamental plant Canadian serviceberry. It is also called northern grapes or wine berries, as a tasty and aromatic low-alcohol drink is prepared from it. This crop does not receive the attention it deserves from our gardeners. Perhaps this is because little is known about it. But anyone who has ever seen a plant in bloom and tasted its delicious and healthy berries, will definitely want to plant shadberry in your garden.
Irga Canadian: features of the species
Ornamental shrub - Canadian serviceberry, depending on the variety, can grow from 2 to 7 meters in height. This is an upright crop with long, smooth shoots that droop slightly, forming a wide oval crown. Young growth is slightly reddish in color, while older branches are the usual brownish color.
The leaves of the Canadian serviceberry, ovoid in shape, grow up to 10 cm in length. They have an unusual color. When they bloom in spring they are brownish-green. In summer they acquire a bluish tint. And with the onset of autumn they become crimson-golden. At this time, the bush looks especially impressive. The leaves are soft to the touch, slightly rough, covered with a delicate fluff.
The Canadian serviceberry blooms in late spring with large snow-white flowers. The buds do not last long, from a week to 10 days. Individual flowers are collected in drooping clusters of 5-12 pieces. They go especially well with reddish young shoots. Almost every flower forms an ovary, so irga is one of the generously fruiting plants.
Irga Canadian produces excellent taste and healing properties fruits resembling rose hips in shape and size. They are round, as they ripen, they turn light pink and then dark blue with purple tint color. Ripe berries have a bluish, waxy coating. They are edible. Unlike other types of this crop, the fruits of the Canadian serviceberry are sweeter than others, since they contain a large amount of sugar and very little acid. Birds love them. Therefore, in order to keep the harvest intact, you need to throw nets or other protection from birds over the bush.
The plant's berries look beautiful against the foliage all season long. At first these are pinkish beads, entwining the bush in an original way. Then deep blue drops splashed across the branches. If birds do not peck at them, they are preserved until severe frosts, when the foliage has already flown off and bare shoots remain.
Irga Canadiana is one of the best representatives of its family. It is distinguished by excellent frost resistance, is unpretentious in maintenance, and is undemanding to the composition of the soil. However, in order for the plant to bloom beautifully and luxuriantly and produce a harvest of berries with excellent sugar content, it must be placed in an open area that is well lit during the day. Although, having planted a bush in the shade of other plants, over time the gardener will observe that the serviceberry will outgrow everyone and rise above its rivals. And it grows quickly, reaching optimal sizes already for 3-4 years.
To highlight the decorative features Canadian serviceberry, trim it and give it a beautiful oval shape. This makes the plant even better; young shoots with fruit buds are formed.
Irga Canadian: popular varieties
Slate- the most famous variety among gardeners is Canadian serviceberry. This is an early crop with black juicy fruits, very large in size. Its berries are characterized by increased sugar content, therefore they have excellent taste and aroma.
The Slate bush must be protected from birds, otherwise you will not be able to taste the fruits. From a decorative point of view, this is a wonderful view. The plant is 1.5-2 meters tall and has a wide crown with slightly curved light gray shoots. The branches are covered with bright, green, slightly elongated leaves with a dense structure. In autumn, the bush changes its green outfit to a luxurious bright red dress.
Variety "Mandam" is one of the mid-season shrubs of Canadian serviceberry. The shrub grows up to 3 meters in height and has a spreading crown. Forms large, flat-round berries without sourness. It has high productivity even in unfavorable years. Winter-hardy and unpretentious. 
Variety "Ballerina" bred by breeders on the basis of wild-growing Canadian serviceberry. It is a tall, deciduous, up to 6 m, shrub with long shoots that hang to the ground with age. The high decorativeness of the plant is achieved due to the color of the foliage, which varies from bronze to at a young age turns green, and by autumn turns purple.
Magnificent snow-white flowers, similar to large stars, are collected in lush inflorescences. The flowers are replaced by dark red and then almost black berries. They ripen juicy and sweet at the end of July. This variety grows excellently in urban environments, withstands air pollution without accumulating harmful components in the fruits.
Variety "Krasnoyarsk"- a product of domestic breeders - specially adapted for cultivation in difficult conditions Middle zone, Siberia and North-West. Its most important advantage is its excellent winter hardiness. It belongs to the late-ripening varieties, in which the fruits ripen at the end of July.
This variety can be grown as a shrub or a low tree up to 4 meters. It has especially large berries, reaching 1.5 cm in diameter. They are sweet, with a pleasant sourness. The Canadian serviceberry variety “Krasnoyarsk” is famous for its high yield.
Irga Canadian: application
The berries of the Canadian serviceberry contain a large number of useful substances that have a beneficial therapeutic effect for various diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They create a general strengthening effect, reduce high pressure and normalize cholesterol levels. Irga is an excellent product that saves from sclerosis.
The berry is eaten fresh at the moment of its ripening, frozen or dried in the oven, and used as a filling for pies. Wine made from serviceberry is especially tasty. It has a pleasant sweetness and delicate aroma.
As you know, there is no dispute about tastes, some like sweeter fruits, others sour, some prefer the flesh to be bright and attractive, while others prefer an average amount of anthocyanins or their complete absence. But there are still some average taste characteristics, using which we can say that some fruits are tasty and others are not.
Let's look first at the types of serviceberry, and then at its varieties for these very taste characteristics. Why did we decide to touch on species?
Because it is still not so easy to get pure-quality planting material for shadberry in our country, while the species is most often propagated by simply sowing seeds and freely sold in nurseries.
Varieties, as you know, can only be propagated vegetatively, which is not so easy to do with shadberry. Its cuttings do not root well enough, and grafting onto rowan, although it helps to obtain a full-fledged planting material, still leads to certain difficulties associated with a decrease in the productive age of plants and the presence large quantity root growth, which will need to be removed annually, or even several times a year.
There are 4 common cultivated species: shadberry, blood-red, Canadian and alder. The first to ripen are the fruits of the spiked serviceberry, then the Canadian one comes, a little later the alder-leaved serviceberry, and the last to please us is the blood-red serviceberry.
With this in mind, you can create a sort of fresh produce conveyor belt by planting all four species on your garden plot and enjoy the fruits plucked from the branch for a long time, because, alas, it will not be possible to preserve them in their original form - the fruits last no more than a couple of days. But is it worth planting all these species on your site, taking into account the taste of their fruits?
Let's figure it out, and at the same time analyze the taste characteristics of those varieties that were obtained using these species, because just the name of the varieties without reference to the “parent” is unlikely to tell you anything.
Irga spicata
So, irga spica.
Its fruits are the smallest in size among the indicated species, 0.5 g - this is already considered quite good for it. But it’s not the mass; the taste of the shadberry fruit is more than mediocre, although they contain quite a lot of sugar. The not very outstanding taste of the fruit also contributed to the fact that not a single variety has been bred using the serviceberry. At VNIIS named after. I.V. Michurin (Michurinsk) employees of the department of berry crops obtained several selected forms from free pollination of the Canadian serviceberry, but the very first tasting assessment showed that they were never destined to become varieties.
Irga blood-red
Next in line is the blood-red shadberry. As we have already said, its fruits are the last to ripen. They have unusual shape– they are slightly flattened, like blueberries, and interesting feature– they are never eaten by birds. Why would this be? It turns out that the fruits contain a small amount of seeds, which many birds feed on, and have a very mediocre taste. In this case, it can’t even be called sickly sweet, it’s simply not at all. The fruits are dense, like rubber, the pulp contains almost light juice and when eating ripe fruits, it seems as if you are chewing a completely unripe berry, but, alas, it will never get better. But the fruits of the blood-red serviceberry produce quite a lot of juice, because the fruits contain little pectin and the juice does not “curdle”, like other types of serviceberry. When other juices, such as apple juice, are added to the juice, a multivitamin drink with very interesting taste characteristics is obtained.
Irga blood-red is more productive in varieties, with its participation such masterpieces as Holland and Success. The first variety is English, its fruits weigh about 0.7 g and do not have a pleasant taste (it, like the species, is mediocre).
But the second variety in our small list - Success - is not without reason translated from English as “success”, its fruits weigh about 0.8 g and they taste much more pleasant than the fruits of the species. Their taste is rated by tasters at 4.6 points, which is not bad, but it can be described as sweet and sour and quite pleasant, refreshing, even reminiscent to some of the taste of cherries.
Irga canadensis
Let's move on to the Canadian shadberry. This species forms the largest fruits of the four we named, however, its cluster is very loose and there may be only a few fruitlets in it. They are simply swept away by birds even before the berries are fully ripened, at which time they turn from brown-red to dark blue.
These berries are considered one of the best in terms of taste characteristics, their taste is almost perfectly balanced, both sweetness and acidity are clearly felt in it, and everything would be fine if not for one drawback - this type of serviceberry is characterized by rather weak winter hardiness, even in Central Russia It can freeze quite a bit. But this fact does not bother Canadian breeders at all, and perhaps the largest number of varieties have been obtained using the Canadian serviceberry. There is no point in naming them all and listing the taste characteristics of the fruits for the simple reason that it is almost impossible to get them, but those that are most widespread and easily accessible should be mentioned.
I would like to start with the wonderful, if not magnificent, Honeywood varieties. It is not for nothing that its name contains the word “hani”, which means “honey”. The fruits can truly be called honey, they are tasty, sweet, but at the same time not cloying, like the serviceberry, but harmonious and pleasant. Fans of “sour” foods will enjoy the fruits of this variety Parkhill For those who want to chew the pulp, feeling its density and pleasant taste, the variety is suitable Pembina Those who adore large fruits that are pleasant to pick and that are suitable for dessert and for all types of processing can be recommended to plant the most common variety in Russia on their plot Meeting. Well, for those who prefer the traditional sweet taste of serviceberry fruits, coupled with their very good mass, we advise you to choose the variety Traditional.
Irga alnifolia
And finally, the real leader both in terms of the taste characteristics of the fruit and in the number of varieties obtained with its participation is the alder serviceberry. The fruits of this species are large (average weight 1 g), tasty, the harmony of acid and sugar is most clearly felt in them, as well as the pleasant honey aroma of serviceberry.
The fruits are juicy (however, due to the huge amount of pectin, juice can be obtained from them only by slightly withering for 24 hours in an open place) and have a high content of anthocyanins, thanks to which the juice can be used as a natural and safe food coloring.
Of course, varieties obtained from serviceberry alnifolia cannot be ignored, and in first place I would like to put the first Russian variety selected by VNIIS named after. I.V. Michurin, which has already been transferred to the State Survey and whose name will very soon appear in the State Register, - Starlight Night. The variety is named so because of the color of the berries - they are dark, almost black, with tiny dots reminiscent of stars in the night sky. The variety will delight you with delicious fruits with a harmonious content of acid and sugar, and their luxurious weight (1.8-2 g), and a large number of fruits in the cluster (up to 14 pieces), and their ripening closer in time, thanks to which the harvest can be harvested maximum twice.
But we also shouldn’t forget about the good old, well-proven varieties. The best of them in terms of fruit taste are Altaglow, producing fruits with a very attractive aroma, and Forestburg, the fruits of which contain simply an insane amount of Sugars - up to 11 mg%, as well as Mandan– with fruits that have unusually juicy pulp, and of course, Smokey- the most common Canadian variety, the fruits of which are ideal for making delicious wine.
So, we hope that from this huge list you will choose a species or variety that suits your taste, and do not forget that even one tree can be placed on the plot, because the self-fertility of the serviceberry is close to 100%, so the pollinating varieties are perfect for it Not needed.
Types of serviceberry - photo
Useful properties of serviceberry
Irga is an underrated crop
For areas with harsh climates, irga has no equal in endurance. It can withstand cold temperatures down to -50°C, and the flowers do not mind spring frosts down to -7°C. Durable, lives up to 70 years. It is practically not damaged by diseases and pests, tolerates drought well, grows well and bears fruit in partial shade.
Irga is self-fertile, high-yielding, and begins to bear fruit early. Already at the age of four, the serviceberry bush will delight you with a considerable amount of berries, and by the age of 10 the harvest increases to 10-15 kg per bush. The fruits ripen gradually (from mid-July to early August), which is very convenient for fresh consumption. They are not only tasty, but also healing. In a word, the culture is wonderful in every sense, but underestimated by gardeners.
Soil and place
Irga is undemanding to soil. It thrives on both sandy loam and heavy loam. It likes moderate humidity, since the powerful root system, going 2 m deep, regularly supplies the above-ground part with water. That is why in lowlands, in areas with close occurrence groundwater, develops and bears fruit poorly.
A permanent place for shadberry can be anywhere, even inconvenient, somewhere near a fence or behind outbuildings. To speed up the growth of new shoots, when planting, the seedling is buried 5-7 cm compared to its previous position. The soil is watered, mulched, and the shoots are cut, leaving 4-5 buds.
Formation and feeding
Irgu can be formed either in the form of a bush or as a separate tree. More often, the first option is chosen. In the first 2-3 years, all strong shoots are left, in subsequent years, 2-3 are added, the rest are cut out. The formed bush should have 10-15 branches of different ages.
If the planting pit has been filled according to all the rules, then in the first years you can do without additional fertilizer. But starting from the 5th-6th year, when the harvest becomes noticeable, it is recommended to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. In the first year, 2-3 buckets of humus are added to each plant, the next - 100 g of superphosphate, 50 g of ammonium nitrate and 30 g of potassium fertilizers.
Treat and medicine
Serviceberry fruits contain sugar (up to 12%), pectin, fiber, coloring and tannins, organic acids, vitamins C and B, beta-carotene, minerals. Thanks to this, they have a wide range of medicinal properties.
Fresh berries help adults with insomnia, and children with restless sleep, having a calming effect on the nervous system. The juice can be gargled for a sore throat and used in the treatment of purulent wounds. A decoction of the fruit is used to rinse the mouth for stomatitis and periodontal disease. And an infusion of them thins the blood and improves heart function, preventing the formation of blood clots.
Berries can be used to prevent and treat liver and kidney diseases, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. By strengthening the walls of blood vessels, they help reduce “bad” cholesterol and reduce the likelihood of a heart attack.
The astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of the juice help in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and colitis. It relieves pain and reduces inflammation, so it can rightfully be considered a diet drink.
But in medicinal purposes It's not just berries that are used. Flowers, leaves, and even bark are healing. The berries are harvested as they ripen, the flowers in May, and the bark in the fall, after the leaves have fallen.
Irga in the home medicine cabinet
For medicinal purposes, infusions and decoctions are prepared from the fruits and other parts of the plant. The methods are very different.
So, for stomach and intestinal disorders, take an infusion prepared as follows: 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dried berries is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused for 30 minutes and drunk as vitamin tea.
But an infusion of irgi flowers is used for heart failure and hypertension. They say that it works no worse than medicine. A handful of flowers is poured into 500 ml of boiling water, left for 2 hours, then filtered and drunk 2-3 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day.
For pancreatitis accompanied by diarrhea, an infusion of leaves with astringent properties is prepared: 1 tbsp. spoon per glass of boiling water (brewed like tea). Drink 0.5 glasses 3 times a day.
: Growing serviceberry - nostalgia for...: Growing serviceberry - planting and...
Irga is a shrub that is known to every gardener. It looks beautiful in any garden and is completely easy to care for and plant. It withstands frosts perfectly, the North Pole could withstand it, and besides this, it has a number of beneficial properties. The varieties of serviceberry are very diverse, so the serviceberry is an excellent ornamental tree and can decorate any garden. There are several dozen of them.
Irga takes root in various climatic conditions. This could be the northern region or the Urals. This is a very “tenacious” plant. IN natural conditions can live about 50 years. Each year it produces fruits whose total weight ranges from 5 to 10 kg, depending on the variety. When the trunk dies, it is replaced by a new one.
The berries themselves have different size, one variety is large-fruited, the other may differ in the purple color of the berries.
Spiked
One of the species is the shadberry. She has rather small fruits compared to her “relatives”. The berry weight of 0.5 g is a very good result for this variety.
This shrub does not stand out with its bright taste. It seems that the sugar content is quite high, but it is quite difficult to call the shadberry a juicy, tasty berry.
It grows preferably on rocky coastal areas; it can be found in rocks, on ledges, and in mixed forests. As a rule, it does not grow much in height, on average it is 50-70 cm. 
Irga spicata can propagate by shoots, cuttings, seeds or dividing bushes. If you use seed propagation, then before the process itself they are stratified for three months at a temperature of +1+5C.
In the case of propagation by cuttings, most of them take root and take root. This variety tolerates drought and frost well. There is no need to cover for the winter.
Due to its small size, the shrub often acts as decorative tree. Distinctive feature is the presence of fluff on young leaves, the back side.
The same felt is observed on the tops of the ovaries and pedicels. In autumn it does not change leaf color, like most varieties. As a rule, the bush is densely strewn with berries that have a dark and rich color.
Blood red 
Another varietal variety is the blood-red shadberry. Compared to other species, it begins to bloom late, and the fruits ripen later than others. The berries are shaped like blueberries, they are slightly flattened. An interesting fact is that birds do not eat them because they contain a large number of seeds, which, to put it mildly, do not taste very good.
The berry itself is dense and rubbery. It produces a lot of juice, since the pectin content is low and the liquid almost does not coagulate. Juice can be mixed, for example, with apple juice. It turns out to be a very interesting taste.
Round-leaved 
Irga roundifolia has olive bark and is small in size. This is a deciduous shrub. It has an ovoid leaf in shape. The flowers are dazzling white, which bloom in May, when the branches are still completely bare.
This plant loves a lot of light and if it grows in forests, then in thinned ones. It can be found on the edges of the forest, on southern rocky slopes.
Irga oval survives severe frost well. When it begins to ripen it becomes red in color, over time it turns blue and eventually turns into a black, deep, rich tone berry. They usually ripen from the end of July.
The taste of the round-leaved serviceberry is fresh and sweet. They make delicious jam or jam from it. Can be processed into juices or used for jelly, jelly, compote. Additives to wine or liqueurs are made from dried berries. And can be used as food coloring.
Canadian
Canadian serviceberry is a large tree. Its height can be 12 meters and is distinguished by the red tint of its shoots. It has beautiful white tassel inflorescences, and the berries are purple, dark and rich in color. 
It often serves as a decoration for the landscape, as by autumn the leaves turn crimson in color. This variety is planted in the spring or before the onset of winter. The most effective way Propagation is considered to be by cuttings or using rhizome shoots. Very easy to care for, requires almost no watering, shelter in and tolerates frost well. Easily lends itself to decorative haircuts.
It is considered an excellent honey plant and easily takes root in polluted areas and in urban environments.
This variety is distinguished by its rather dense and strong wood, which makes it possible to make interior items from its raw materials.
Alder
This shrub loves moisture very much and unlike its “brothers”, which tolerate drought and are indifferent to watering. Young shoots are round in shape and descend to the ground. The berries are large, with a diameter of 10 to 15 mm. From a fruit growing point of view, this is a valuable shrub.
In nature, it is found on the banks of rivers, streams, and on wet slopes. But it does not take root in swampy areas. It can reach about 9 meters in height. 
It is best to plant the plant in autumn or spring. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Although cuttings take root with difficulty and require a lot of effort and their own characteristics. Regular watering is required and tolerates winter well. It can take root in urban conditions, and shows maximum fruiting 5 years after planting.
Video “Description”
From the video you will learn a lot of interesting things about Irgu.
Beneficial features
Irga is characterized by a number of useful qualities. It is an excellent preventive berry for viral diseases. Perfectly replenishes the reserves of vitamins and minerals in the body. Even with heat treatment, the berries retain their benefits; the fruits are stored for quite a long time.
If you have problems with cardiovascular processes, this berry is recommended for consumption. It contains beta-sitosterone, which helps lower blood cholesterol. But its benefit also lies in the fact that it helps prevent varicose veins, heart attacks, and reduces negative impact electromagnetic radiation. The latter is especially true for all residents of megacities.
Despite the significant benefits it brings to the body, there are a number of indicators under which this berry should not be consumed.
Abundant intake of fruits increases drowsiness, when combined with its use medicines you should be careful, it is best to take it before bed.
Hypotonic patients should stop using it; it significantly reduces blood pressure. In addition, it helps increase blood clotting. If there is a predisposition to thrombophlebitis, then the use of serviceberry berries should be discontinued.
An interesting species is the tree serviceberry. It is also called “Robin Hill”. This variety has beautiful pinkish buds. Like other plant varieties, the irga endures the winter “with dignity.” Another beautiful one decorative look- This is a profusely flowering irga, it resembles a round-leaved one, but its flowers are larger.
Irga Pembina is also very beautiful variety, like shadberry Krasnoyarsk. Garden irga is widely popular. She is unpretentious and does not require much attention and time.
Irga Canadiana is a very interesting fruit and ornamental culture. Deciduous shrub with a height of 1.5 to 8 meters is beautiful at any time of the year. In the spring, the serviceberry looks attractive during bud break, when it seems to be shrouded in silvery-white frost.
Later, during flowering, it is covered with clusters of fragrant white flowers, surrounded by bees. Until mid-summer, the bush is decorated with clusters of blue-violet berries. Until late autumn, the decoration of the shrub is the foliage, which gradually changes color from green to crimson. Against a snowy background winter garden Burgundy-brown branches look impressive.
Let's start, perhaps, with a description of Irga - a fast-growing, early-fruiting, long-lived shrub. The crop begins to bear fruit after planting in the third year. The lifespan of serviceberry is 40-50 years. Frost resistance is excellent, tolerates frosts down to 40 degrees without loss. In the conditions of the Moscow region, it does not need shelter for the winter. The plant also does well in more northern areas. Well-growing bushes are very light-loving and, if planted too densely, they stretch upward and bear fruit poorly.
The root system of the shrub is superficial, the bulk of the roots are located at a depth of up to 40 cm, some go down to 1 m. The radius of distribution of the root system reaches 2 m.
The irga blooms in late April - early May, for 10-15 days. The flowers can withstand short-term spring frosts down to -7 °C.
The shrub is not picky about soil quality and is drought-resistant. Saskatoon grows quickly - already in the third year after planting it begins to bear fruit, and at the age of 8-10 years the period of full productivity begins. The productivity period is 20-30 years with an average yield of 8-10 kg of berries per bush.
The advantages of the shrub are early and abundant fruiting; the self-pollinating nature of the plant ensures annual fruiting. Irga is unpretentious to growing conditions, very winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
Beneficial features
Serviceberry berries are a good multivitamin containing vitamins C, B2, carotene, pectins, anthocyanins and trace elements (cobalt, copper, lead). The fruits are useful in the treatment of hypo- and avitaminosis, for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.
Medicinal properties of serviceberry berries
- calm the nervous system, useful for insomnia and restless sleep;
- increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and strengthen them;
- used to prevent myocardial infarction and varicose veins (prevents the formation of blood clots);
- have a general strengthening effect, lower high blood pressure and normalize cholesterol levels;
- used for the prevention of peptic ulcers and as an anti-inflammatory agent for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- The berry is useful in the fight against sclerosis;
- juice from fresh berries has astringent properties, so it is used to gargle when the throat is inflamed.
Types and variety of varieties
Irga is from the Rosaceae family and has more than 25 species. The most common of them are:
- Irga canadensis– a shrub with drooping branches up to 6 meters high. Valued for its very sweet, tasty berries weighing up to 1 g. Productivity up to 6 kg/bush. The greenery is lush, very good in a hedge when planted every 2 meters. This is a fast-growing shrub with an annual growth of up to 40 cm in height and width.
Over the past 60 years, Canada has been a center for breeding the best varieties serviceberry The most popular among gardeners are:
- Pembina– the height and width of the bush reaches 5 meters. The crown is spreading. The advantage of the variety is the formation of a small amount of root shoots.
- Smokey– shrub up to 4.5 m high, crown shaped like an open umbrella. A variety with a late flowering period, which allows it to avoid loss of ovary during late spring frosts. Smoky's berries are large, up to 14mm in diameter, with a wonderful aroma. The berries are the sweetest of all available varieties, fleshy and without astringency.
- Northline– a medium-sized multi-stemmed bush with vertical trunks. The berries are very large, up to 16 mm in diameter, blue-black with a waxy coating; the ripening of non-cracking berries is uniform. The variety produces a lot of root shoots. Needs a pollinator.
- Sturgeon– a multi-stemmed spreading shrub up to 3 m high. A high-yielding variety, the berry clusters are long, the fruits are large and sweet.
- Thyssen– a shrub reaching a height of 5 m with a highly spreading rounded crown. This is the earliest, early-fruiting variety. The size of the berries with excellent taste reaches 17mm in diameter. The fruits are aromatic with a slight sourness. Due to the uneven ripening of berries, the harvest period is extended in time. Frost resistance up to – 28 °C.
- Irga Lamarca is a large shrub or small tree up to 8 meters high. The crown has a round shape. Unlike the Canadian serviceberry, it grows more slowly, with annual growth of no more than 25 cm in height. The Lamarck irga is very beautiful during the flowering period and in the crimson decoration of the foliage in the fall.
The trunks acquire a beautiful sinuous shape when regular shaping is performed. Such trees look good in single plantings and alleys.
Often in gardens you can also find shadberry and shadberry, they are decorative and their fruits are also eaten, but they are smaller in size and the taste of the berries is low.
Conditions for planting, growing and care
The irga is undemanding in terms of growing conditions and is not fussy about care.
In the garden or on personal plot it can be planted on the north side, as its multi-stemmed bushes retain snow and protect from cold northern winds. It is good to plant raspberries, currants, and gooseberries next to it; it will serve as good protection for them.
You can plant shadberry in both spring and autumn. The seedlings are planted in the prepared hole 5-10 cm deeper than they grew before, this will promote the growth of more basal shoots. After planting and abundant watering, the soil around the seedlings is mulched, the plant is cut to about 1/3 of its height, leaving no more than 5 well-developed buds. Plants are planted every 2-3 m, and when creating a hedge, it is preferable to plant them in a checkerboard pattern every 0.5-0.7 m in rows and between plants.
Further care consists of watering during dry periods, loosening the soil around the bushes and fertilizing. Irga is responsive to fertilizers. During the season, it is advisable to feed it monthly with liquid organic fertilizers(infusions of mullein or bird droppings) combining them with watering and foliar feeding with microfertilizers. The plant will thank you.
Trimming
If you decide to form a plant in the form of a multi-stemmed bush, then in the first years after planting it is necessary to remove all weak shoots, leaving 2-3 of the strongest zero shoots from the root shoots. A well-formed bush consists of 10-15 branches of different ages.
When the annual growth of shoots is no more than 10 cm, begin rejuvenating pruning, which consists of removing all weak and very elongated shoots. The rest are cut to a height of up to 2.5 meters. All areas of large cuts must be treated with garden varnish.
To make the Canadian serviceberry more decorative, its crown should be shaped into an oval shape when pruned. The result of such pruning will be the powerful growth of young shoots with the formation of fruit buds.
Irga Lamarck is formed into a tree with 3-5 trunks, the rest of the basal shoots are removed throughout the season. The branches are shortened annually.
When using Canadian serviceberry to create a hedge, it is necessary to cut it annually, shortening the annual growth by 10-15 cm. Annual pruning will contribute to better branching.
Reproduction
You can propagate the Canadian shadberry in several ways:
Pests and diseases
Serviceberry Canadian is resistant to major fungal diseases and pests. It can be affected by currant leafroller caterpillars and roseate leafroller caterpillars. They damage leaves and gnaw the tops of young shoots. To control pests when processing the garden, you must not forget to spray the serviceberry bushes.
During the ripening period of the berries, great harm is done to it by birds, who also love to feast on its juicy and tasty berries. To avoid crop loss, young bushes can be covered with a net. When the plants are already large, there are enough berries for everyone.
Vitamins for future use
The irga bears fruit annually and abundantly, but its berries ripen unevenly and therefore they are collected in several stages.
The shelf life of collected berries is short, only 2-3 days, if stored in a cool place (basement or refrigerator).
Compotes, juices, jams, jelly, wine are prepared from sweet serviceberry berries, they are dried and frozen. Due to their low acid content, serviceberry berries do not have a bright taste, but they have a very bright color. In connection with this, they are very good to add to compotes of apples, pears and other fruits that do not have a pronounced color.
Particular attention should be paid to dried serviceberry fruits; they can easily replace expensive raisins. Dried berries retain their properties for a long time. They are stored in closed glass jars.
Characteristic of serviceberry is the poor release of juice from fresh berries. After 5-7 days of storage, the juice yield during processing will be up to 80%.
Blanks
The juice from irgi berries is good for the eyes, heart, throat, and blood vessels. The prepared juice is used to prepare fruit drinks, drinks, and jelly.
Juice with sugar
The berries, which have been lying in a cool place for a week, are washed, the juice is squeezed out, and mixed with sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Heat the juice over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, without bringing to a boil. The heated juice is poured into glass jars or bottles, sealed and stored in a cool place.
Natural juice
The juice is squeezed out of the prepared berries, poured into liter jars, pasteurized for 15-20 minutes and sealed with lids.
Thanks to its medicinal, taste and decorative qualities, the Canadian serviceberry deserves a place of honor in the garden or dacha. The care is minimal, but the benefits and pleasure are abundant.
