The Irga shrub is a relatively new culture in summer cottages, but its popularity is growing year after year. When growing irgi, you can refine the site, since these shrubs have highly decorative qualities. In addition, high and beneficial features Irgi: its dark blue berries contain a lot of ascorbic acid, have a pleasant taste, and there are many tannins in the bark.

What Irga looks like: photos and descriptions of species

Irga is a fast-growing multi-stem shrub, reaching 2-2.5 m in height. Under natural conditions, it grows in the Crimea and the Caucasus on rocky sunny slopes, along forest edges, among bushes. In Europe, irga was introduced into culture 350-400 years ago, and in the USA and Canada - more than a hundred years.

Many amateur gardeners already grow irga on their site, and also more they are interested in the peculiarities of growing this plant, the value of berries. The attention of gardeners is attracted by winter hardiness, unpretentiousness and abundant annual fruiting of irgi, resistance to diseases and pests.

As you can see in the photo, the irga shrub has simple, dark gray-green leaves, brown-gray bark, white flowers, bisexual, collected in inflorescences-brushes:

Fruits are juicy, fresh-sweet, 8-15 mm in diameter, bluish-black with a delicate skin and waxy bloom, 6-12 pieces each. in the brush. By outward appearance the fruits are similar to black currants.

During abundant flowering in late April - early May, it is very decorative. Flowers withstand without damage spring frosts down to -5 ° C. The bush itself in winter time tolerates frosts down to -30? С, without hilling and shelter.

Irgi fruits are very tasty and healthy; in amateur gardens of the southern region of Russia they ripen at the end of May, simultaneously with early varieties strawberries and honeysuckle edible.

Starting from the end of May, they are removed during June at 3-4 receptions. Unpicked fruits on the branches dry up and do not fall off until October. They are readily eaten by birds.

There are three types of irgi in the gardens: alder-leaved, Canadian, blood-red. All of them have valuable nutritional, medicinal and decorative qualities.

Below are photos and descriptions of all these types of irgi.

Alder-leaved- is a multi-stemmed shrub up to 4 m high with a smooth dark gray bark. The leaves are elliptical, almost rounded, in autumn they turn bright yellow. The flowers are white, with a subtle scent. Fruits are purple, sweet, up to 15 mm in diameter and weighing up to 1.5 g. With good care, it can produce up to 10 kg of berries from one bush.

Canadian- a tree-like shrub with thin drooping branches up to 5 m high. Young leaves are pinkish, purple or coppery, dark red or orange in autumn.

Look at the photo, what the canadensis looks like - the flowers of this shrub are large, loose in the inflorescence:

The fruits are sweet, with a fleshy dark pink pulp, weighing up to 1 g. The maximum yield is up to 6 kg of berries from a bush.

Blood red- a slender shrub up to 3 m high with an ascending crown. Leaves are bright green in color; in autumn they change their color to orange. The flowers are large, with elongated petals. Fruits weighing up to 0.7 g, sweet, aromatic, pleasant to the taste, dark - Almost black. Productivity up to 5 kg of berries from one bush.

How to propagate irgu: planting and care (with photo)

Irga propagates by root suckers, dividing the bush and seeds. Shading tolerates at a young age.

The root system is fibrous, powerful, penetrates into the soil up to 2 m, therefore, it shows sufficient drought resistance and unpretentiousness to.

Before propagating irgu, prepare landing pits size 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 m and add there. After planting, when caring for an irga, the bushes are cut by a third.

Water and mulch abundantly with humus or sawdust. The best time planting - autumn. This plant lives up to 40 years, and begins to bear fruit annually and abundantly from 3-4 years, by 5-7 years it reaches a period of full fruiting.

In the process of growing irgu, it is necessary to remove weak, damaged branches, excess root shoots from fruiting bushes, leaving no more than two young shoots annually.

Excessively long shoots should also be shortened. Irgi bushes planted on the eastern side of the site protect the garden from the prevailing east winds.

Irga is responsive to good care, when feeding and watering it grows well and gives big harvest, up to 8-10 kg per bush.

In the fall, our attention will be drawn to the irgi bushes in their bright autumn clothes. The color of the leaves is unique.

They form inside the bushes, in shading, a range of yellow tones in the transition to orange. In the light, we see all the transitions from a red-orange color to purple and violet-brown with remnants of green-malachite areas near the veins.

Before planting an irga, keep in mind that bees will often visit your site.

This berry bush is a good honey plant.

Bees willingly sit on irgi flowers, which give them an early spring bribe, however, more pollen than nectar.

In the culture, the irga is not yet very widespread.

But it is unpretentious, successfully tolerates a sharply continental climate and at the same time gives stable and high yields of fruits.

To the soil is undemanding. When growing irgi, give the shrubs a sunny place, in shaded places they bear fruit much worse, although in 5-10-year-old plants this is not so pronounced.

Here you can see photos of planting and caring for irga on personal plots:

Why is irga and berry recipes useful?

The nutritional and medicinal value of the berries of this plant is very high. Why is irga useful and how can it be used?

The collected fruits cannot be stored for a long time. The usual shelf life is 2-3 days, during which time they must be processed or dried. You can dry the fruits in the sun. On warm sunny days, they dry out in 2-3 days. Dried fruits are used to prepare compotes, jelly, and filling for pies.

To make juice from fresh fruits, they should be sorted out, removing the spoiled ones, washed and dried (drying will increase their sugar content and improve the aroma). Then the fruits are passed through a juicer. The resulting juice is heated to a temperature of +80 ... + 85 ° C and poured into hot bottles or jars and immediately sealed. The juice made from irgi berries prepared according to this recipe has low acidity, so the juice of more sour berries is often added to it.

Jirga jam is made at the rate of 300 g of sugar per 1 kg of fruit. Excellent quality wine is obtained from irgi.

V folk medicine not only the fruits of the irgi are used, but also the leaves and bark, which contain many tannins. Decoctions are prepared from dried leaves and bark, which are used for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Leaves are harvested in spring or early summer, before the plant fades, and the bark in spring, during the movement of the juice, usually when thinning the bushes. Leaves and bark are dried under awnings with good ventilation.

Since ancient times, people have appreciated healing properties green plants. Among them are cute bush- Irga, berries, bark and leaves of which have a number of useful properties.

This deciduous shrub grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in North Africa and America, in countries Of the Far East, in the Caucasus and Crimea. It often grows in forest glades, in the mountains and among thickets of various bushes.

Irga feels great on any soil, with the exception of swampy areas where stagnant waters are present. The main thing is that there is enough light for the fruit to ripen. In such conditions, the berries are large, juicy and healthy. This is especially true for cultivated varieties. On average, up to 15 kg of berries can be harvested from each such bush during the entire period of fruit ripening.

General description of the shrub and its beneficial properties

The deciduous shrub irga confidently takes its place of honor in the dacha plots of greenery lovers. The plant looks especially attractive in early spring... When the first leaves appear on the branches, the bush is covered with delicate villi. From the outside, it seems that he is wearing a silver shawl, which gives the plant a unique charm. In the photo of irgi, you can see many cute flowers that adorn the spring shrub. They are pink or white.

When the inflorescences begin to fall off, along with them, the delicate villi that covered the green leaves disappear. Often, the leaf blade of a shrub can be olive or pinkish in color.

The bark of the trunk is usually gray or brown with a pinkish tint. It is slightly velvety to the touch.

Excellent medicinal properties possess the leaves and bark of the shrub. They are thoroughly dried, crushed and stored in a cool room. Useful substances are stored for about 2 years.

The plant is distinguished by a dense crown of simple green or gray leaves. During the fruiting period, on the bush, you can see miniature fruits with pink barrels, collected on one brush. Unripe berries are cream colored, and when ripe, they take on a purple or purple color.

Yergi berries have a pleasant taste. The delicate sweetness and juiciness of the fruit attracts young children and adults. Garden birds also love to feast on them, after which they spread the seeds of irgi throughout the district.

Berries should be picked from the bush only when ripe. Otherwise, they will lose their healing properties.

Irgi properties

Each fruit contains a huge number of nutrients:

• dietary fiber - up to 25 percent;
• glucose;
• fructose;
• vitamins: C, P, B;
• pectin;
• phytosterols;
• carotene;
• cellulose;
• various trace elements.

Each of these components has a beneficial effect on the human body.

The beneficial properties of irgi berries are manifested when it is used:

• to strengthen the intestinal walls;
• improving food digestion;
• with diseases of the heart or blood vessels;
• with a lack of vitamins;
• against tonsillitis or tonsillitis;
• to maintain a diet;
• as a sedative.

Often fruit juice this shrub credited to the elderly, for the good work of the heart. The inflorescence tincture helps to normalize sleep and blood pressure. In the presented photo, the berry of the berry is clearly visible its external features.

In cooking, the fruits of the shrub are used to make various drinks, preserves or jams. Raw berries are used as a filling for tartlets and even cakes. They make fragrant marmalade and purple marshmallows.

The fruits lend themselves to drying, while maintaining vitamin set... In winter, a decoction can be prepared from them to increase immunity.

To get the most out of the wonderful berries, you should take into account the contraindications and beneficial properties of the irgi. For example, if a person suffers from poor blood clotting, the fruits can harm him. This is especially true for those who work with various dangerous devices. When injured, it will be much more difficult to stop the bleeding.

Also, the berry is useful as a sedative, but its frequent use leads to a delayed reaction. This is something to think about for car drivers who are under constant stress. At a crucial moment, they can lose their vigilance and get hurt. Therefore, it is wiser to adhere to the golden principle - it is better to have a little bit of different things than to get hung up on one thing.

In order not to lose the ripe harvest of berries, it is advisable to install a scarecrow scarecrow on the bush. Otherwise, birds that love purple irgi fruits will replenish their vitamin reserves, and people will be left with nothing.

Acquaintance with the variety of varieties

Cute green plant that decorates country houses and summer cottages, attracts the attention of gardeners. In the photo, the irga is shown against the background of other park crops, as its bright highlight. According to some reports, there are about 25 species of this plant. Some of them are especially beautiful.

Irga canadian

A charming variety in the northern latitudes - Canadian Irga. Some people know it as a berry or grape of the northerners. From its wonderful fruits, a wonderful drink is prepared that looks like wine.

The shrub can grow up to 7 meters. Its elongated stems form a wide, dense crown. oval... The leaves of the bush are ovoid and of unusual color. When the plant is just blooming, they are brownish, in summer period- gray, and in autumn - reddish or golden.

To the touch, the leaf plate is soft with a delicate fluff, slightly rough. The shrub blooms in late spring with large white flowers, which are collected in graceful brushes.

Bush fruits resemble. Round light pink "apples", as they ripen, acquire first a blue and then a purple hue. Ripe fruits are covered with a wax coating. The taste is sweet, since the berries contain little acid and a lot of sugar.

There are in nature different kinds such shrubs. Descriptions of varieties of canadian irgi indicate all the delights of this useful plant:

Snow-white inflorescences are collected in brushes, on which they develop dark red fruits... As they mature, they become almost black in color.

If there is a desire to grow shrubs in an urban environment, "Ballerina" perfectly tolerates gas pollution. At the same time, the berries do not accumulate harmful substances.

Irga Lamarca

Large deciduous shrub - Lamarca's irga reaches up to 5 m in height. Differs in green oval leaves with a scalloped frame.

Inflorescences small size, white. They appear on the bush in huge numbers, which looks very beautiful. Lamarck's irgi fruits have useful properties, therefore they are widely used in cooking.

Irga ordinary

This fruiting deciduous upright shrub grows up to 3 m in height. It has a wide crown, consisting of thin branches. At first they are silver in color, but with age they acquire a brown tint. At the tips of young shoots, corymbose inflorescences are formed, resembling stars. The buds are usually white with a pinkish tinge. Bloom for about 10 days. During this period, the bush looks especially attractive against the background of other plants in the garden.

Irga ordinary can grow in one place for about 15 years. She is not afraid of strong winds, droughts or frosts.

Healing berries appear when the shrub is at least 4 years old. They are slightly smaller in size than artificially bred varieties. Color - dark blue, almost black with a whitish bloom.

Irga round-leaved

Deciduous garden shrub- round-leaved irga reaches 4.5 m in height. Its young shoots are slightly drooping. They are painted bright brown.

The leaf plate is 3.5 cm wide and 4 cm long on average. Top part it is colored dark green, the lower one with a pale white tint. V autumn period becomes scarlet and bright yellow. Elliptical shape, oval top. The edging of the sheet is notched.

Inflorescences in the form of corymbose brushes up to 10 flowers of white, yellowish or cream color. The berries on the bush appear first green, then scarlet. When fully ripe, they acquire a dark blue, almost black color. Each fruit is distinguished by a gray bloom. They have useful properties, slightly acidic in taste. Ripen gradually, starting in July.

Irga spiky

A shrub of this type during the flowering period resembles a fragrant bird cherry. It is a compact option ornamental plant height from 2 to 6 m.

Irga spicate has oval leaves with small notches. During flowering, they are practically invisible due to the many white or pinkish inflorescences. Later, the shrub is covered with medicinal berries with an unusual sweet taste.

Representatives of this variety live up to 30 years of age. This makes them leaders against the background of other fruit bushes.

Irga spikelet can withstand frosts above 15 degrees, for which it is valued by the inhabitants of Siberia.

Having met such a pretty plant, you will notice that it has a double benefit. This and original decoration suburban area, and a storehouse of nutrients at hand. Is it wise to walk past a magnificent garden squirrel? It's worth thinking about.

And the contraindications of which are presented in the article are a shrub up to 5 meters high, growing throughout Russia. It grows rapidly, you can get fruits 4 years after planting. Very productive, in July-August you can collect a large number of not only tasty, but also healthy berries.

It is worth noting that the fruits are fond of eating birds, therefore experienced tree during the fruiting period. The plant can live in one place for up to 40 years, it is unpretentious in care, it loves sunny places, it is undemanding to the quality of the soil. Resistant to frost, withstands negative temperature over -40 degrees. There are a large number of varieties, each healthy and tasty in its own way. How is Irga useful? You will find out about this by reading the article.

Irga is a tasty and healthy berry

The benefits of the berry have been known for a long time, therefore it is very widely used in folk medicine in the treatment of a huge list of diseases and for preventive purposes. Moreover, this medicine is delicious! What is the effect on the body and the contraindications of this berry have been studied for a very long time. As a result, it became known that there are still much more useful properties than contraindications. Let's discuss this.

How is Irga useful?

All parts of this wonderful berry, leafy part, bark are useful. Irga contains a huge amount of vitamins, folic and organic acids, pectin. It is used:

• with vitamin deficiency and to strengthen the immune system;
• for the prevention of heart attack, atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer, strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
• improving vision, preventing cataracts;
• with a sore throat;
• with purulent wounds (apply dressings moistened with juice);
• to lower cholesterol, blood sugar;
• with gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea and colitis);
• at stressful condition, to relieve nervous tension, in case of sleep disturbance;
• with stomatitis and periodontal disease. Rinsing with broth will eliminate the signs of these diseases;
• to normalize blood pressure and to enrich the body with vitamins;
• to reduce high pressure.

Irgi berries, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are well known, especially to adherents of a healthy lifestyle, contain a huge amount of vitamins and microelements in their composition. Here are just a few of them:

• Carotene helps to increase immunity and reduce to a minimum the risk of contracting infectious diseases, reduces the effects of adverse environmental factors.
• Pectin helps to remove heavy metals and harmful substances from the body that a person receives from food. Also, pectin helps with varicose veins and improves heart function.
• Vitamin P has the ability to strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

Contraindications

The reader already knows how the irga is useful for the body. Now is the time to remember about contraindications. It is worth noting that the use of irgi fruits in small quantities will not harm the body, but it is better to know in advance everything that can lead to negative consequences:

• People suffering from low blood pressure should exclude this berry from their diet, taking it will aggravate the patient's condition.
• It has a calming effect and drivers should remove irga from their menu before driving, otherwise it will reduce focus and attention.
• Fruit consumption is contraindicated in some forms of vascular dystonia.
• Individual intolerance. Allergic reactions after use can appear instantly, for example, sore throat.

Irga: useful recipes

The use of irgi, despite its many useful properties, in case of diseases will only be an addition to the main treatment, so if you feel unwell, it is better to first turn to specialists and, after the examination, take infusions and decoctions from the fruits of irgi.

How is Irga useful? Thanks to her useful qualities you can help yourself in the treatment of many diseases.

• For preventive purposes: pour 1 tablespoon of berries with 250 ml of boiling water, leave for an hour. Take as for signs of intestinal distress.
• To improve immunity: pour 2 tablespoons of dried berries with 500 ml of cold boiled water, leave to infuse for 8 hours. Bring to a boil and leave for another 2 hours. Drink half a glass 2 times a day. Effectively helps to boost immunity and improve night vision.
• With increased pressure: fill a half-liter jar with irgi flowers, pour vodka. In a dark cool place, leave for 2 weeks, then strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
• For bleeding gums: 1 tsp. Pour 250 ml of water of dried irgi berries, boil for 20 minutes. Rinse with broth oral cavity 2-3 times a day.

Irga with diabetes

The beneficial properties of irgi in diabetes are as follows:

• The tannins that make up the berries help with the healing of wounds and burns (which are extremely difficult for such patients to heal).
• Due to the large amount of vitamin P contained, it is possible to prevent heart attacks and varicose veins.
• The fruits have a sedative effect and normalize sleep, promoting calm, gentle sleep.
• Content a large number vitamins helps diabetics get rid of vitamin deficiency.
• Irga has anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory properties, which is also important for patients.

Recipes for diabetics

Pancreatic diarrhea in patients can be eliminated as follows: pour 2 tablespoons of dry leaves with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for about an hour. Take the prepared product 3 times a day, regardless of food intake.

Bleeding gums and wounds are treated with infusion of bark or irgi leaves. To do this, put 1 tablespoon of leaves (bark) in a thermos, leave for 40 minutes. Strain.

Berries, infusions and decoctions of irgi fruits are used in patients with diabetes mellitus in the treatment of most diseases.

It so happened that plants that require constant care and attention are always given the best place in the garden, and unpretentious modest bushes are always left a place in the backyards, because they absolutely do not care where to grow. A similar situation very often develops with irga, and yet this berry is not only a bottomless storehouse of vitamins, but also a wonderful ornamental shrub able to decorate any site. And all this is combined with ease of care, cultivation and reproduction. You will learn how to choose the right place for planting, which variety of irgi to choose and much more, including photos of varieties of this berry, from this article.

Varieties and varieties of irgi

Most of all, irga became widespread in European countries and North America... Only in Canada in last years breeders have developed many new varieties of irgi. In our regions, they are not yet available, but there are several species that are considered the most suitable both as an ornamental and as a berry crop.

Planting irgi

Irga is considered a long-liver, because the shrub grows for about 70 years, and its trunks eventually become like trees. You can choose absolutely any place for planting, because the irga is unpretentious and can grow in any shade, it is not afraid of winds and drought. If you have a sunny spot for a shrub, then it will be perfect, because in this case, the branches will not have to reach up in search of sunlight. But even if such a place was not found: the Irga will easily endure it. This berry is also not demanding on the soil. The main thing is that the place is not swampy. But it is worth remembering what more fertile soil, the healthier your plant and the higher the yield.

Advice. Gardeners advise against planting the game near the parking lot, because falling dark berries can leave marks on the car. In addition, they leave traces on the paths made of light stone.

The area for irgi can be prepared in advance by clearing it of weeds. Before planting, the site is dug up with the addition of phosphorus and potash fertilizers. For 1 sq. m accounts for up to 40 g of each type of fertilizer.

Blooming irgi

Saplings one or two years old are suitable for planting. If you are planning to plant several bushes, it is recommended to plant them in checkerboard at a distance of up to one and a half meters from each other. The layer of earth excavated from the hole must be mixed with sand and compost, adhering to a 3: 1: 1 ratio. At the bottom of the pit, you need to add a little humus, potash and phosphate fertilizers. Sprinkle the seedling with the previously made mixture and water it abundantly. When the soil has absorbed moisture, add earth, leveling the hole to the level of the surrounding surface, and mulch the soil on top. After the bush, you need to cut it so that no more than 4 buds remain on each shoot.

Plant care

Many gardeners argue that after planting an irgi, you can not remember about it until the very time when you need to harvest. But it will still be nice if the shrub gets your minimal attention. It consists in regular watering. Sometimes the plant requires pruning so that the beautiful ornamental shrub does not lose its visual appeal. And the rejuvenation of the bush is beneficial to the harvest. From time to time it is necessary to weed the weeds if they appear near the bush.

Advice. Irga has a very developed root system, therefore, experts recommend watering it only in drought, using a sprayer, at the same time washing away dust from the leaves.

Fertilization and feeding

The first irge fertilizers begin to be given when the shrub reaches 5 years old. Once a year trunk circle must be dug up with fertilizers. Necessary:

• superphosphate - 300 g;
• potash fertilizers without chlorine - 200 g;
• humus - 1 bucket.

An unpretentious plant is sometimes worth feeding

In addition, from spring to mid-summer, you can feed the game with liquid organic matter. Chicken droppings, diluted 1:10 in water, work well. One bush needs about 5 liters of solution.

Advice. Liquid fertilizers are best applied in the evening, after watering the shrub abundantly. Dry fertilizers are dug up together with the trunk circle, after which the plant is watered.

Reproduction of irgi

Irga propagates both by seeds and vegetatively, but it must be remembered that when propagated by seeds, only species characteristics remain, varietal ones are lost.

• At seed propagation it is enough to remove them from ripe berries and immediately plant them in the ground. Seeds should not be placed deeper than 2 cm. Also, don't forget to water them well and leave a layer of mulch on top. In winter, the seeds will undergo natural stratification and young shoots will appear in the spring. By the way, shoots can appear in the same autumn. Within two years, it is necessary to remove the weeds around the shoots, and in the third year the plants can be transferred to the main habitat.

Irgi seeds

• Another breeding method is green cuttings... To do this, cuttings up to 15 cm long are cut from an adult bush, on which all leaves are removed, except for the top two. The lower cut must be placed in a root-forming solution for the period specified in the instructions for the product, after which the cuttings must be rinsed cold water and put in a greenhouse at an angle. Sprinkle on top with a small layer of sand. The distance between the dome of the greenhouse and the tops of the cuttings should be at least 20 cm. When watering the cuttings, make sure that the water does not flow onto the root part, but is sprayed. The temperature in the greenhouse must be kept at 25 degrees and periodically ventilated. The soil is also best kept slightly moist. After three weeks, the cuttings are already rooted enough, and it will be possible to open the greenhouse during the day, and after some time, when the shoots get stronger, and at night. At this time, the cuttings can be transplanted into a small garden bed and add a little mineral fertilizer... Already next fall, young plants will be ready for transplanting to permanent place a habitat.

The easiest way to propagate irgi is green cuttings.

• Another way of breeding irgi is layering... For this, strong young shoots up to two years old are chosen. It is best to drip in early spring. First, you need to dig up the ground under the selected shoots, draw grooves in it and lay the shoots in them. The tops must be pinched. When the young shoots reach 10 cm from the buds of the dug-in branches, cover them with soil up to half. After a couple of weeks, the shoots will lengthen another 15 cm, again cover them with half of the earth. Already in the fall, you can transplant the rooted layers to the place you need, or you can do it next spring.

Diseases and pests of irgi

Irga has a fairly strong immune system, but still gets sick from time to time tuberculariosis... With this disease, the leaves of the plant first turn brown, after which they begin to dry out and fall off. Following the leaves, branches also undergo drying out, on which small red tubercles appear. If symptoms are found, it is necessary to cut off the diseased branches and burn, and spray the plant bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate. For prophylaxis, you can spray the shrub in the spring.

Rust damage

In addition to tuberculariosis, you can sometimes find on irga phyllostic spotting... It is also manifested by the wilting of the leaves on which they appear brown spots... The leaves must be burned, and the plant must be treated with Bordeaux liquid before flowering and after.

The third most common disease is gray rot ... It manifests itself by the appearance of spots on the leaves, which spread, the leaves begin to turn yellow, and then become covered with fluffy mold. gray and fall off. The reason for the appearance of this disease is most often an excess of moisture, therefore, first of all, eliminate the cause, if possible, if not, transplant the irga to a less humid place. For treatment and prevention, as in the first two cases, Bordeaux liquid can be used.

Signet moth

Irga, planting and caring for which will not bring you unnecessary hassle and will not take a lot of time, not only decorate your site, but also reward you with a lot of tasty and healthy fruits.

Growing irgi: video

Irga at their summer cottage: photo

Irga is a small shrub or tree that belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is unpretentious, so many gardeners try to grow it on their plots. The uniqueness of this plant lies in its beneficial fruits, which contain a significant amount of useful substances. Consider what irga is, its useful properties and contraindications.

Useful properties of berries

How is Irga useful? Its fruits are necessary for the human body, since they contain the following substances:

• vitamins C, PP, B;
• carotene, considered a powerful antioxidant;
• pectins - remove slags, heavy metals and other harmful elements from the body;
• organic acids;
• trace elements.

Thanks to this composition, irgi berries are actively used in the treatment of the following diseases:

1. High blood pressure. Irga is very useful for hypertensive patients, as it helps in short time reduce pressure. Also, these berries improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system as a whole, thinning the blood and strengthening blood vessels.
2. Angina. Irgi-based juice is actively used in folk medicine in the treatment of this disease. It helps eliminate infection as well as wound healing.
3. Stomatitis. Decoctions based on the fruits of this plant have an antimicrobial effect, so you can get rid of stomatitis or periodontal disease.
4. Diabetes. The use of berries helps to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. Therefore, they should be eaten with diabetes.

Also, the fruits of irgi should be used as a prophylactic agent to avoid the development of cardiovascular or colds.

Irga is useful for both the body of women and men. As for children, its berries help to strengthen weakened immunity, thereby preventing the development of colds in the cold season.

Irgi leaves: useful properties

In addition to the fruits of this plant, which have a beneficial effect on the human body, in medicinal purposes the leaves of the irgi are also used. If you make tea on their basis, then it calms down nervous system... The leaves also help fight the following ailments:

• high blood pressure;
• sleep disturbance;
• any diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

If we talk about the external use of irgi leaves, then in folk medicine they are used for such diseases:

• festering wounds;
• thermal burns.

To prepare a medicinal infusion of irgi leaves, you must use the following recipe: 3 tbsp. l. the main ingredient should be poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave to stand under the lid for about 3 hours. At the end of this time, take the strained infusion in 2 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day. In this case, it is required not to forget to monitor the blood pressure indicator.

The use of irgi berries

The fruits of the plant are actively used in cooking. Alternative medicine suggests using these recipes as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. Consider what can be prepared from these berries.

To make this not only healthy but also insanely delicious food you will need 1 kg of fruit, 1 kg of sugar, 3 g of citric acid and 1 glass of water. First you need to prepare the sugar syrup. For this, sugar and water are taken, put on fire. Bring this mixture to a boil. After that, the peeled and washed berries should be placed in syrup. Bring to a boil again. Leave on low heat, cook for 30 minutes, stirring constantly. A few minutes before readiness, you need to put in the jam citric acid. Ready dish can be poured into jars and rolled up or stored in the refrigerator after preparation.

Juice

In order for the juice from irgi berries to turn out more aromatic and sweet, it is necessary to rinse the fresh fruits and leave to dry on a clean cloth under the straight lines. sunbeams... So that it does not turn out to be too cloying, you can also add red currant when squeezing the fruit. It will give a pleasant sourness, which will make the drink more piquant.

Wine

Homemade wine made from irgi is very simple to prepare. This process takes place in several stages, namely:

1. Syrup preparation. You will need 1 kg of sugar and 2 liters of water. Water should be put on fire until it boils. After that, gradually add sugar, stirring the liquid constantly. It must be cooked for 10-15 minutes until the sugar dissolves completely.
2. Juice extraction and wort preparation. Irgi fruits are not very juicy, so you can soak 3 kg of berries in hot water at night. In this way, it will be much easier to squeeze juice out of them. From 3 kg of berries, approximately 1 liter of juice will be obtained. It is this amount that is needed for the subsequent preparation of wine. The juice should be poured into the syrup.
3. Fermentation. Pour the resulting liquid into a container with a narrow neck. Do not cover them with a lid. It is necessary to use plasticine, in which to make a hole for the tubes. They need to be positioned so that one end does not touch the liquid. Place the other end of the tube in a glass of water. Containers in this form should be kept warm for 2-3 weeks, until the juice with syrup turns light.
4. Infusion. After the completion of the fermentation process, the wine must be infused. To do this, strain the liquid, pour into a large bottle, which is then tightly corked with a lid. Leave for 3-4 months. After this time, a delicious and aromatic wine will be ready.

In order to make preparations for the winter, it is not necessary to cook the berries of this plant. They can also be used dried for preparing compotes during the cold season. Another option is freezing the fruit. Once thawed, they can be added to pies and other culinary creations. The berries have a pleasant taste and aroma, making the dishes more savory and rich.

Important to remember! Meals and drinks prepared on the basis of irgi should be consumed in moderation!

When the fruits ripen

After planting, the shrub begins to bear fruit only in the third year. To pick juicy and ripe berries, you should wait until early July. This period is the ideal time to harvest the plant. Sometimes growth can even drag on until August, if the shrub is overgrown.

Contraindications to use

Despite the fact that the berries of the plant are enriched with a significant amount of nutrients, they still have their own contraindications for use. These include:

• individual intolerance or hypersensitivity to fetuses;
• decreased blood clotting;
• low blood pressure, hypotension.

Also, irgi-based medicines have a calming effect, causing increased drowsiness. Therefore, for people who need concentration of attention, it is better to refrain from eating berries until the time for rest comes. After eating the berries, a person will feel a desire to sleep.