Aronia is an actual Native American plant that is widely grown in Europe for fruit production. A native plant, growing from the North America ecosystem, Aronia bushes have adapted to grow in developing zones 3 to 7. It’s a perennial, deciduous, self pollinating, self-supporting shrub.
Benefits
There are many benefits of developing an aronia plant on your property. It’s a very decorative and resilient plant. It’s adapted to the natural ecosystem; it’s better able to withstand invasions from diseases and insects in addition to the natural variations in the climate compared to non native plants. Native aronia plants need little care once established in your premises. The flowers are self pollinating (apomictic), thus just 1 plant is required to produce fruit. Full of antioxidants, Aronia creates among the healthiest berries on Earth. The Viking and Nero varieties are fruit manufacturers and can be a significant source of income for a small farm.
Basics
- Aronia does best in full sun but will also grow in colour
- Aronia plants do best in a slightly acidic soil with an optimum pH range of 6.1 to 6.5. They however will grow in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil with a pH range from 5.3 to 7.8. Some report the optimum pH range is 6 to 7. A pH of 7 is neutral and higher is alkaline and reduced is acidic. Blueberries in comparison demand a well-drained soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.2.
- Have a soil sample from your area examined by your county agent if there is any uncertainty about your soil conditions and amend soil as needed. Aronia will grow in various kinds of soil, Sandy, clay, loamy.
A well prepared soil before beginning the plantation is a fundamental necessity and will have an effect on fruit production and the start of fruiting. For poor soil adding organic material like manure is recommended before planting aronia plants.
Placement
The planting area must first be cleared from weeds. This will make the cultivation of the young plants simpler in the initial years since young aronia plants are sensitive to weeding to a high level. Another choice is to utilize landscaping cloth or layers of paper to control weed growth during the first 3 or 4 decades of plant development. Consider using permeable landscape fabric to control weeds if an excessive amount of labor must control weeds otherwise. Weeds are among the most significant factors in reducing farm productivity. At blueberry Croft farm and nursery landscaping fabric is used to help control the weed issue. The landscaping fabric or news papers will need to be covered with mulch to a depth of approximately 2 to 4 inches. Landscaping cloth prevents the development of most weeds (although some grasses will grow through them) and they will allow normal oxygen and water exchange. Use a coarse-textured mulch material to cover the landscape cloth. At 4 to 5 years old, aronia will have developed a good root system and lots of additional new canes because of its suckering character making it powerful enough to fend weeds out and then you just have to mow in the rows between plants. It’s a tap-root which makes it somewhat drought tolerant once it’s established.
When practical, particularly when precipitation levels are reduced or access to water is limited, you need to use water-efficient trickle irrigation or soaker hoses. Water plants a couple of times per week to keep soil moist, not wet if there’s not enough rain. Prepare yourself to water during prolonged periods of warm sunny, windy, dry spells. To assist roots develop allow soil to dry quite a few inches deep before irrigating.
Final Word
The soil has to be kept moist, especially during the very first two decades after the plant is planted. Use a thick mulch of leaves or other mulch after planting to help retaining moisture and suppress weeds. Aronia will take about 5 years to achieve whole productivity but should begin producing some berries the next year.
Keep them watered particularly while the plants are getting established. Newly planted aronia should have sufficient soil moisture until their roots are established.
Lack of water for plants producing fruit is among the most crucial elements in reduced fruit yield and berry size. Aronia plants can endure over saturation more efficiently than other plants.
