2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Satsuma (lat. Citrus unshiu) - a plant that is one of the varieties of mandarin and represents the Rutaceae family. Satsuma is quite commonly known as the unshiu mandarin and is native to the Far East, including Japan and China.
Description
Satsuma is an evergreen tree of relatively small size, endowed with a spreading crown. In the open field, the crown of satsuma can reach a height of two to three meters, and the height of the crown of a plant grown at home usually does not exceed one to one and a half meters. Slightly drooping branches of this culture are characterized by the absence of thorns and the presence of a smooth green bark.
Dense dark leaves are distinguished by a slightly elongated oval shape and are endowed with distinctly protruding veins. Towards the tops, the leaves taper, and the average lifespan of each leaf is approximately two to four years.
Satsuma blooms usually in May - its numerous flowers are folded into small groups (no more than four or six pieces in each). And oblong white flowers appear on short twigs of last year.
Fruit formation on satsum occurs without pollination. They differ from other tangerine varieties in their rounded and slightly flattened shape. The peel lags behind the fruit without much effort, and the weight of each fruit reaches an average of seventy grams. By the way, the skin of the satsuma fruit is very delicate and cannot withstand long-term transportation.
Satsuma begins to bear fruit when it reaches three years old, and the harvest usually falls at the end of October.
Application
The fruits of satsuma are of great benefit to the human body. True, this fruit is not recommended for allergy sufferers - it contains substances that can cause allergic reactions.
Dried satsuma peel is often used instead of orange peels as a bitter-spicy gastric remedy, as well as to improve the taste of medications used.
Growing and caring
Due to the fact that satsuma fruits do not contain seeds, this culture is propagated mainly by grafting on seedlings of various citrus crops (most often on lemon seedlings). As a rule, it takes several months for the rooting of cuttings - in order to avoid such a laborious process, many gardeners prefer to purchase already grafted satsuma.
Satsuma growing at home practically does not need watering in winter - only if the earth begins to shrink, it can be slightly moistened. But from April to September, she needs abundant watering and high-quality feeding. Until the satsuma reaches the age of seven to eight years, it needs to be transplanted every year, and after this time it is transplanted only once every two years.
Satsuma grows best in sunny, bright rooms. Nevertheless, like most other subtropical crops, in the winter season it needs coolness - a temperature range of four to ten degrees ideally meets this requirement.
Sometimes satsuma can be affected by pests such as mealybugs, citrus red mites, or various species of scale insects. This culture is also affected by diseases - with a deficit or an excess of moisture, satsuma leaves are attacked by spotting, which inevitably leads to their gradual abscission.
In general, satsuma is distinguished by a fairly large endurance and tolerates frost rather easily. Moreover, on the territory of Russia and Western Europe, it is bred mainly in room conditions.
