Schisandra

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Schizandra (lat. Schizandra) - a genus of woody plants of the Schizandrov family. The genus includes 14 species, of which Schizandra is the most widespread. Schizandra has been known since ancient times; it is especially valued for its medicinal properties. In nature, the plant is found in China, Korea, Japan, Sakhalin and the Far East. Typical habitats are mountainous, broad-leaved, valley and mixed forests. Lemongrass is often found on forest edges, along rivers and streams, as well as in thickets of bushes. Cultivated plant species are grown on special plantations.

Characteristics of culture

Schisandra is a perennial deciduous liana up to 15 m high with a wrinkled, highly branching stem 1-2 cm thick, covered with longitudinal lenticels. The color of the stem of young specimens is yellowish with a shine, in adults it is dark brown. The leaves are dark green, paleish on the underside, simple, slightly toothed, petiolate, elliptical with a wedge-shaped base, arranged alternately. Petioles are pinkish-reddish, up to 3 cm long.

The flowers are unisexual, pinkish or white, fragrant, sitting on long thin pedicels. Lemongrass blooms from May to June. In the future, the receptacle grows together, forming a spike-shaped dense brush, consisting of 20-25 juicy spherical edible fruits of red color. Schisandra seeds are shiny, kidney-shaped, brownish, brownish or yellowish. The taste of the fruit is quite specific, sour-salty, sometimes bitter and even pungent. All parts of the plants give off a lemon scent when rubbed.

Growing conditions

At an early age, lemongrass are shade-tolerant, however, good yields of juicy berries give only in intensely lit areas. The composition of the soil for lemongrass is desirable as close to natural as possible. Sandy, moderately moist, drained, neutral or slightly acidic soils are optimal.

The culture of areas with stagnant melt water, as well as saline, heavy clay and swampy soils does not accept. Lemongrass positively refers to sites fertilized with diluted organic matter. The best predecessors are vegetables and herbs.

Landing

Lemongrass seedlings are planted in late April - early May or early October (in the southern regions). Saplings acquire two or three years old, they are the most viable. The planting hole is prepared in a couple of weeks, its depth should be about 40 cm deep and 50-70 cm in diameter. Drainage (broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay) is laid at the bottom of the pit, then a mixture consisting of sheet compost, humus and sod land (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1). It is advisable to add superphosphate and wood ash to the soil mixture.

When planting lemongrass near the walls of houses, fences and other buildings, the optimal interval should be taken into account - at least 1-1, 5 m. The distance between the plants should be about 1 m. Important: the root collar is not buried when planting, it should be located a few centimeters above the level of the soil surface. After planting, young plants are watered abundantly, and the near-stem zone is mulched with humus or peat.

Care

Caring for young lemongrass consists in slightly loosening, removing weeds, spraying in dry weather and shading from direct sunlight. An obstacle to the rapid evaporation of moisture and the appearance of weeds will be mulch, which is applied to the near-stem zone immediately after planting. Lemongrass will not do without trellises, arches, trellises and other types of supports, so when planting, you should take care of their installation, otherwise you will not be able to collect good harvests.

The culture is fed 2-3 times per season, and with the beginning of fruiting, all feeding is stopped. Lemongrass is distinguished by its rapid growth, therefore, pruning is considered the most important measure for caring for a plant, which boils down to removing dry, old, diseased and thickened branches. Shoots of the third order do not touch when pruning.