Medlar Caucasian - growing in the garden in the open field
Content:
Medlar is a beautiful subtropical garden plant that can be grown on your site. What it looks like, how to plant and care when the Abkhazian medlar ripens, and what needs to be done so that the fruits can ripen earlier - more on this below in the article.
Description of culture
Caucasian medlar (shesek, lokva or eriobotria) is easily grown in Russia, Georgia, Turkey, the Caucasus, although it does not cause much popularity. She does not need careful care, only watering and periodic feeding. It looks interesting in the landscape, it is combined with many plants, making up a single composition. Medlar, when ripe, does no harm to them, only benefit.
What does it look like
What does the Caucasian medlar look like?
Medlar in the Middle Lane in the open field in its natural environment reaches 8 m. It has large leathery and large leaves with a glossy upper and velvety lower surface. Flowers of white and cream color have a delicate pleasant aroma. With proper care of the medlar, the fruits are tasty and healthy from the flowers.
Many are often interested in medlar in Abkhazia when it ripens. This happens in the middle of summer. By the way, this happens at the same time when the figs ripen in Abkhazia.
General information about the plant
Medlar is a fruit plant. There are two varieties. There are Caucasian and Japanese. Despite the fact that both species have the same name, sometimes botanists classify them as different genera.
Plants appeared in Asia and Europe. Today, the fruit can be found in Algeria, Armenia, Crimea and some other regions of Russia with a hot climate. Sweet and sour astringent fruits of brownish red hue. Their average diameter is 3 cm when ripe.
Medlar leaves
Since the medlar at home is an evergreen plant, its leaves are green throughout the year, sometimes turning yellow and falling off. They contain a large amount of nutrients.
Growing Japanese medlar
Lokva japonica is a shrub plant shaped like a tree. It reaches a height of 5-8 m. It does not tolerate severe frosts, therefore it can be grown only at home or on the Black Sea coast, where the climate is subtropical.
The leaves of this variety are large and wide (30 cm long and 10 cm wide). The variety differs from the Caucasian one in that it has fluffy foliage.
Pruning
It is not necessary to cut the Japanese medlar, but it tolerates the procedure perfectly. You can only break dried branches and cones. Without pruning, the plant grows up to 1.7 m. It has a not very dense crown.
Pruning
Why is it worth growing the Caucasian medlar
Growing Caucasian medlar in the garden is an exciting experience. It is not only a beautiful garden culture that allows you to decorate the landscape, but also a useful medicinal plant that has:
- vitamin C;
- pectin;
- minerals (calcium, magnesium and potassium);
- organic acids.
Its fruits are useful only after full ripening. They help to increase the immune system, improve the state of the vascular system, remove phlegm, normalize blood circulation, improve the nervous and muscular systems, and stimulate intestinal peristalsis. They also have beneficial effects on hair, bones and nails.
The use of medlar in traditional medicine
Medlar during the season is actively used in folk medicine. Decoctions are made from it to normalize the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract, tinctures to eliminate inflammatory processes in the respiratory system. To achieve the maximum effect and remove asthma, cough and shortness of breath, puree with honey is made.
Decoctions
When to start collecting
Medlar can be harvested immediately after the fruits acquire a brownish-red hue and softness. It is stored for a short time. It is almost impossible to transport it, since it takes on a non-marketable appearance. Immediately after collection, it is eaten or sent to the refrigerator for a maximum of two days. To increase the shelf life, you can freeze it or make jam, dessert, juice from it.
Medlar in the middle lane in the open field
The Japanese variety can be grown in Central Russia, but just north of the Krasnodar Territory, eriobotria does not bloom. In the south, it has silvery fluffy leaves and delicious juicy fruits. In the north, it is almost impossible to grow it. However, you can use frost-resistant German medlar as a replacement.
Planting and caring for loquat in the open field
You can plant a medlar, or nispero, in spring or autumn. It all depends on the climatic conditions in the region. When planting in groups, it must be borne in mind that the distance between seedlings should be at least 4 m. Fruiting occurs independently, since eriobotria is a self-pollinated plant.
He loves the sun, therefore, it is necessary to grow a fruit tree not in a shaded area. It does not tolerate strong through winds, as well as frosts. It does not show special requirements for the soil, however, the growing season is successful on neutral and slightly acidic soil.
Landing
Planting seedlings
Saplings are planted in pre-dug soil from weeds, sprinkled with complex mineral fertilizer and bone meal. Step-by-step planting:
- A hole is dug twice the size of the root system of the seedling.
- A stake is dug into the hole. A seedling is placed at the bottom and buried in earth.
- Then the future tree is tied to a pin so that it grows with an even trunk.
- Watered abundantly with water.
When medlar bears fruit
With proper planting, if all conditions have been met, and the weather pleases with a favorable climate, then fruiting occurs in 3-6 years. As a rule, the first fruits ripen quickly, but in small quantities.
Diseases, pests and other growing difficulties
Medlar is a plant resistant to diseases and pests. Rarely, it is attacked by aphids and scale insects, caterpillars and fungal infections in the form of a sooty fungus. Preventive treatment with Bordeaux liquid and copper-containing solutions will help to avoid the appearance of diseases and pests.
Brown spots on the leaves
Brown specks on the leaves are evidence of the damage to the plant by the scabbard. These are hemiptera insects with a wax shield on their body. They destroy the leaves of the medlar, stems and rhizomes of the tree, which lead to its complete death. It is easy to deal with them: brush the leaves with a toothbrush and soapy water, kerosene emulsion or alcohol lotion.
Leaves dry
The leaves of the medlar dry out as a result of irregular watering and damage to the roots during transplantation.Also form brown spots on the leaves of the medlar disease of the home. In winter, they turn yellow as a result of a natural process. Old leaves fall off and new ones appear. To avoid abundant leaf fall, it is best to leave it in a cool place during the winter.
In general, the Japanese, Caucasian, rocky loquat is an unpretentious plant that can give delicious juicy fruits and decorate the landscape interior. Moreover, its berries are very useful in the treatment of many diseases.
