During the year, all plants, both fruit and berry, go through two periods: vegetation and dormancy. Some botanists tend to distinguish also short-term phases. This is the transition from dormancy to vegetation in spring and vice versa in autumn. At this time, trees and shrubs should be prepared for the upcoming changes: in spring - for the period of fruiting, and in autumn - for winter rest. Vegetation of plants occupies the entire warm period. It begins in spring with bud swelling and ends in autumn with massive leaf fall.
Factors affecting this condition
The main conditions that determine the length of the growing season are daylight hours and air temperature. Of course, these two factors directly depend on the geographical location of the region. The frequency of the onset of the light period and the number of warm days are important. We can say that the vegetation of plants also depends on the variety, breed, agricultural technology and, of course, on natural conditions. Each species, be it an apple tree, a pear tree or a currant, has its own individual phenophases that will occur at different times.
Depending on the duration of illumination, the rate of increase or, conversely, the fall in temperature, the passage of this period may change over the years. As an example, the following facts can be cited: if the humidity of the earth and air is reduced, then the active period will be reduced.
What changes are observed during the growing season?
Vegetation of plants, or rather fruit and berry trees and shrubs, does not occur simultaneously. Bud opening is observed earlier in some species, and a little later in others. How does this happen? At first, the kidney swells. After that, the scales burst from internal pressure, and a green shoot, its apical part, becomes visible. Gradually, leaf denticles form, and then the leaf itself. So there is an escape. In the second growing season, buds form in the axils of the leaves. During the entire active period, young shoots accumulate a supply of minerals that will help them survive the dormant phase. These components will allow the shoots to continue their growth next year. This is when flower buds will begin to form.
Bud formation and flowering period
The vegetative period in shrubs and trees is about the same. In the axils of the leaves of young shoots, whichhave already survived their first winter, fruit buds are being laid. They can be both apical and lateral. This process ends after the organs of the future flower are formed inside: pistils and stamens.
In trees and shrubs of early-flowering varieties, buds form earlier. For example, in stone fruit breeds, it takes 2.5-3 months. But in an apple tree that blooms later, the budding takes from 3 to 3.5 months. But nevertheless, on each young shoot, the process of flower bud formation will finally be completed only in the spring of next year. It is then, and not before, that it will swell. After a short time, the flower will open. At the same time, on the same branch, the buds do not bloom at the same time. That is why the flowering period can last several days. This greatly increases the chances of pollination.
Agricultural activities
Vegetation of plants begins in mid-spring. All agricultural activities are associated with it. At this time, cultivated fruit and berry plants need additional care.
After winter, with the disappearance of the snow cover, all trees and shrubs live mainly due to the plastic material deposited in the root system and the ground part. It has accumulated throughout the previous year. Many mistakenly believe that in early spring, plants feed on minerals in the soil. If the tree does not have enough nutrients, then it is not able to begin the formation of flower buds. Therefore, next year's harvest can not wait. To avoid this, it is necessary to apply fertilizers to the soil not only in spring, but also in autumn. This is very important for good fruiting.
Fertilizing plants during the growing season
The vegetative period in the spring begins for gardeners with fertilizer application to the soil. This promotes growth, which will help to get a good harvest. Also, this cannot but affect the process of laying fruit buds. The more there are, the more abundant the harvest can be expected next year. But during the period of cessation of growth, the introduction of nitrogenous components into the soil will have a negative effect.
For almost the entire spring and early summer, all fruit and berry bushes and trees live not only on their plastic materials, but also absorb all nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the main thing is that at the time when the buds are laid, the plant receives as many mineral and organic substances as possible. The soil must be regularly fertilized. In addition, you need to monitor the thermal and water-air conditions.
Resting period
The vegetative period of plants ends in autumn after the leaves fall. But shrubs and trees can show some activity even after, for example, during thaws. During such periods, it is very important that the plant has enough nutrients. Where do they come from in trees and shrubs in deep winter? They accumulate them throughout the period under review. As a rule, by the end of a cold winter, this reserve is almost completelyrunning low.
In addition, plants lose moisture through the surface of the integumentary tissues of the branches and trunk. Everything is aggravated if the winter is windy. With strong gusts of wind, moisture loss can be critical. The process under consideration for trees in the spring may not begin. The plant is dying out. Not only branches can die, but the whole tree or shrub. To avoid this, it is necessary to moderately water fruit and berry plants in the fall, especially in dry years. These measures can mitigate the harmful effects of the wind.
Effect of irrigation on the growth of trees and shrubs
In some years, when there is a very hot summer, the growth of trees is delayed. They lack moisture. If heavy rains suddenly begin in the second half of summer, then this is not very good for the plant either. Due to the abundance of moisture, trees and shrubs give a strong burst of growth, and it is delayed. If the branches continue to grow, they will not prepare well for the winter period. We have already said what the vegetation of plants means. It includes the accumulation of nutrients, while the shoots must mature. If this does not happen, the plant may die. Therefore, the goal of gardeners in the fall is to prevent the secondary growth of shoots.
How to stop the growth of plants?
The vegetation period in plants is characterized by active growth. It begins in spring and lasts throughout the warm period until the first frost. Can it be paused? In autumn timemake it possible. To do this, it is necessary to dry the soil around the plants. To achieve this, you need to stop loosening the soil around trees and shrubs. For a while, the wildly growing weeds do not touch here. It is they who, with their root system, extract moisture from the ground, evaporating it with the surface of the leaves. Thus, they reduce the risk of trees freezing in winter. It is even more advisable not to leave weeds, but to plant cultivated grasses and flowers around and under the trees.
Apple tree vegetation
The beginning of the growing season of the apple tree is celebrated approximately 20 days after the average daily temperature is above +5 degrees. But, of course, it should be borne in mind that spring can be different: fast or protracted. Therefore, experienced gardeners set the beginning of this period as follows. They calculate the amount of heat for fine days. The vegetation of the apple tree will begin as soon as this figure exceeds +200 degrees. If you know the exact date when the temperature (daytime, of course) became more than +5, then it is quite simple to calculate the desired date by folding. Why is it necessary? Because during this period there is an active activity of the cambium, which means that this is the best time for vaccination.
Currant vegetation
Among all fruit and berry plants, currant is one of the first to start growing. Bud swelling on its shoots is noticeable in the first decade of April. In the southern regions, it occurs a little earlier than in the northern ones. Only 10 days pass from the beginning of bud swelling to the opening of buds. At the same time, there is no bushmore leaves. Flowering lasts no more than a week.
