2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Xanthoceras (lat. Xanthoceras) Is a monotypic genus of deciduous trees of the Sapindaceae family. Another name is Chekalkin nut. The only representative of Rodya is Xanthoceras sorbifolium (Latin Xanthoceras sorbifolium). Natural range - North Korea and North China. Today, xanthoceras is cultivated in Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Central Asia, the European part of Russia and Ukraine.
Characteristics of culture
Xanthoceras, or Chekalkin walnut, is a deciduous tree, less often a large shrub up to 8 m high. The crown is pyramidal. Branches are straight, thick, young shoots are covered with soft short hairs over the entire surface. Leaves are dark green, pinnate, alternate, consisting of 9-17 sessile leaves. The leaves are lanceolate, leathery, sharp-serrate, opposite, up to 5 cm long.
The flowers are relatively large, white, regular, set on short pedicels, collected in dense multi-flowered racemes up to 25 cm long, located on shortened lateral branches and at the ends of the shoots. The fruit is an elliptical or triangular-ovoid capsule containing large edible seeds of a dark brown or almost black color. When ripe, the fruits crack.
Growing conditions
Xanthoceras develops well and gives high yields on well-moist, fertile and drained soils without compaction. Loamy soils are optimal. Plants grow without problems in highly limed soils. The culture of stagnant water does not accept, especially for young trees. Xanthoceras is light-requiring, tolerates light shading. It is resistant to frost, can withstand frosts down to -30C.
Reproduction and planting
Propagated by xanthoceras seeds and root cuttings. Seeds are sown in early spring. In the fall, sowing is not recommended, since the seeds do not have a dormant period and germinate quickly. The culture is sown immediately to a permanent place, since it has a negative attitude towards transplants, which is directly related to a kind of root system. After collection, the seeds are stored in cool rooms in burlap. Seed germination is 50-66%. During germination, some seeds form etiolated plants, which die after 30-40 days. The seeding depth is 4-5 cm. Before sowing, the seeds are pre-soaked in warm water.
Root cuttings of xanthoceras are harvested in autumn or early spring. Trenches are dug around an adult tree, then part of the root lashes is cut off with a pruner, which are subsequently divided into lengths of 5-10 cm. When autumn harvesting, root cuttings are stored in boxes with wet sand in a cool room, but before that the material is tied into bunches and marked lower and upper ends. In the spring, the cuttings are planted in the ground so that the end of the root cutting rises 1-1.5 cm above the soil surface.
Care
Caring for xanthoceras consists in the standard procedures for most fruit and ornamental crops, or rather, weeding and loosening of the near-stem zone, watering during drought, fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers, preventive treatment against diseases and pests, and sanitary pruning. Young specimens are covered with non-woven material for the winter, and the near-trunk zone is mulched with fallen leaves or peat.
