Doubtful Tladianta

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

Among the garden exoticism the tladiant attracts attention. Gardeners - amateurs often call it red cucumber. This plant belongs to the pumpkin family, there are about 15 species in the tladiant family, whose homeland is considered to be Southeast Asia. In Russia, in the Far East, one of the species of tladianta is cultivated, which, according to the botanical nomenclature, is called dubious tladianta

Biological description

Red cucumber, first of all, is an unusual decorative fast-growing plant with fruits of 2 flavors: kiwi and pineapple. In appearance, the tladiant is similar to a herbaceous vine. The stem is thin, hairy, reaches 3 - 5 m in length, branches strongly along the support with the help of antennae. The leaves are a bit like cucumber-like, heart-shaped, whole-edged, pubescent on the outside, soft to the touch, light green. Tladianta is a perennial dioecious plant that blooms in summer. Male flowers are bell-shaped, five-lobed, golden-yellow in color, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, collected in inflorescences, female flowers are single, flat. The oblong fruits are small, similar in shape and size to small cucumbers, ripen in September and become soft, sweet in taste, red with subtle stripes. The pulp of the fruit is filled with a lot of dark seeds. Tladiant fruits are edible and suitable for fresh consumption, although they have a specific taste. The underground shoots of the plant form chains of large tubers that are not eaten. Thus, the usual tladiant cucumbers will not replace, but from a decorative point of view, it is of certain interest.

The development and fruiting of the dubious tladiana is associated with its pollinator - the bee of the genus Ctenoplektra, this insect never pollinates melons. But domestic bees do not notice the flowers of the dubious tladian, therefore, the fruits are better tied with artificial pollination. It is this fact that has led to the fact that vegetative reproduction prevails over seed reproduction.

Agrotechnics

Doubtful tladianta is perfect for vertical gardening of arbors, various fences, it can be used to create a hedge. Like all members of the pumpkin family, red cucumber prefers fertile, loose, drained soils with a slightly acidic reaction. Before planting seedlings in the garden, it is recommended to apply a small amount of mineral fertilizer.

If you decide to grow a Tladian from seed, please be patient. Initially, seedlings should grow, which are sown in March. Purchase at least 5 seeds to get both male and female copies. Before sowing, the seeds are kept in wet sand or peat at a temperature of + 1-5 degrees. For quick germination, you can also soak the seeds in warm water.

It's easier to grow a dubious tladian through tubers. For planting, choose a sunny place, possibly partial shade. Tladiant tubers are planted in open ground to a depth of 6 - 8 cm, shoots appear late, but when they appear, they grow quickly. Tladiant is a liana, prepare trellises for it, along which it will curl.

The male plant is the first to bloom, and the female plant flowers appear only in late July - early August. The female tladiandy plant has a large mass of greenery, in which the ovary is lost. For rich fruiting, pollinate the plant yourself using a soft brush or the male flower itself, touching the female pistil with the anther. To save energy, plant an ordinary cucumber next to the tladiant.

Tladianta winters well in the soil and tolerates frost. It is advisable to dig up the garden bed in the fall and remove excess plant nodules, otherwise you will get a strong thickening next year. Doubtful tladiant during the growing season forms nodules in the areas of the above-ground shoot and on all underground shoots, thereby forming a long chain of tubers. This plant can occupy a large area over several years, so spread control is required.

Application

First of all, the tladiant is dubiously beautiful and looks very impressive, decorating your garden. In a short time, this decorative liana will transform the corners of the garden area, luxuriantly wrap around an arch or an old tree. The fruits of the plant are eaten. Eaten fresh or cooked from tladiante jam, green fruits are pickled like cucumbers.

Due to its rich composition, which includes proteins, carbohydrates, fats, pectin substances, fiber, phytin, enzymes, the decoction of tubers has a healing effect. All parts of the plant are used in the form of an infusion. Healing solution is used for influenza, as an expectorant, choleretic, astringent, hypertension, headache.