Schisandra chinensis: growing and caring for a plant in the open field. Chinese lemongrass and the best recommendations for growing it How to plant lemongrass in autumn

Surprisingly, there are only two varieties of lemongrass:

1. Firstborn. The variety was bred by breeders in Moscow and is characterized by resistance to frost. The plant is medium-sized, the length of the vine reaches two meters. The bunch consists of 22 berries that ripen towards the end of summer.
2. Garden-1. This lemongrass was bred in Ukraine, medium-sized variety, vine length 1.8-2 meters, large berries, about 28 in a brush. Ripe by early September.

Active work is underway to breed other varieties with earlier fruiting.

If you want to know how to properly plant and care for rudbeckia, click here.

Read about planting and growing a sapling in the article -

Planting a plant

Inspired by the idea of ​​growing this outlandish liana on the site, having learned about the varieties and their characteristics, the question arises: where to start? How to plant lemongrass most successfully, so as not to regret the time and money spent later?

Location selection

The choice of a landing site for lemongrass must be approached thoroughly, taking into account both the characteristics of the plant and the layout of the site. The plant prefers slightly shaded places with deep groundwater. The best way– placement on flat areas in the shade of buildings or trees.

1. Right next to the trees. First, the creeper will interfere with them normal growth. Secondly, the powerful root system of the tree absorbs moisture from the ground, causing its deficiency in magnolia vine.
2. Near the walls of the house. The reason is the abundance of precipitation flowing from the roof and stagnating near the foundation. There is an excess of moisture, which adversely affects the plant.

The soil should be fertile, light. In heavy clay soil the plant develops slowly, the situation can be corrected by the introduction of sand, calcium sulfate and manure.

If you plant lemongrass correctly, then for 5-6 years it will delight you with its fruits.

Landing features

Lemongrass develops faster from a seedling, so when buying planting material it is better to stop at this option. It should be borne in mind that the plant does not tolerate transplantation well, it is better to plant it in a permanent place.

On the fertile layer excavated from the area in square meter, you need to add about 65 kg of humus, 2-3 buckets of sand, 40-45 g of nitrogen, 150-155 g of phosphorus. Mix.

For landing, it is better to use a ditch, half a meter wide and deep. First, arrange drainage using stones, broken bricks, crushed stone. Arranged above the drainage seats in the form of cone-shaped tubercles from previously prepared earth. The distance between the landing sites is about a meter.

You need to inspect the seedling, choose a strong shoot and cut it into three buds. Shorten to 20 cm and coat the roots with clay. Place the plant on a mound, carefully straightening the roots. Cover with prepared soil, slightly compacting it. Plentifully, in the amount of three or four buckets, pour.

Planting work is best done in the fall.

You can not plant seedlings one by one. Better when there are three and more plants, while effective pollination of flowers occurs, which guarantees yield.

Care

Watering

Mature plants are undemanding to watering. However, it must be remembered that they come from the Far East, where high humidity prevails. Therefore, in the hot season, it is necessary to spray with water.

top dressing

Starting from the third year of life, plants need mineral fertilizer. For this, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus are used. Fertilizers are applied in the form of mulch, which is mixed with a rake with soil, watered

pruning

It consists in removing dried and weak shoots in the fall. At this time of the year, overgrown lashes can also be removed. In summer, pruning is undesirable, with the exception of removing dense young growth.

Collecting lemongrass fruits

Reproduction features

Lemongrass reproduces by all vegetative means.

seeds

In autumn, it is necessary to collect seeds, soak for several days in water. On the prepared bed, make shallow grooves, sow, sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of 1-2 cm. During the winter, the seeds will undergo natural stratification.

Seedling care consists in timely watering, weed removal and shading with mesh or gauze. You can plant a grown lemongrass three years after sowing.

layering

The plant produces root layers, which are carefully separated from the vine and transplanted to a permanent place. In this case, more thorough watering and care of the plant is necessary, which at the time of transplantation has practically no root system.

You can’t dig up all the offspring, otherwise the lemongrass will die.

cuttings

Remaining after autumn pruning cut the old shoots into pieces, 20 cm long. Place in the snow. In the spring, put in water, about three-quarters. After a few days, plant in the soil. Care consists in removing weeds and abundant watering. The plant will be ready for transplanting in two years.

Diseases and pests

An amazing fact: cultivated lemongrass does not get sick. In addition, it is not touched by pests and birds, which are repelled by the smell of the plant.

Read useful information about growing broom

A perennial liana with a sharp lemon smell and a fabulously inexhaustible supply of usefulness - all this is schizandra or Chinese magnolia vine, the cultivation and care of which is suburban area will require patience, perseverance and the ability to find mutual language with a naughty pet.

Chinese lemongrass - description

A native of the Far East, the Chinese garden lemongrass belongs to the lemongrass family. It is a large woody plant with a stem up to 15 meters in length. For full-fledged growth and fruiting, lemongrass needs a support, for which it uses bushes and trees growing nearby, twisting them around in a clockwise direction. The leaves are elliptical, pointed, dark green above and light green below. Pale pink flowers with a pleasant aroma appear in May to give way to berry brushes in early June.

In its small berries, Chinese magnolia vine, the cultivation and care of which cannot be called problem-free, is fraught with so many benefits that they more than pay off all labor costs: malic, citric and tartaric acids, essential oils, vitamins C and E, zinc, titanium, iron, molybdenum and calcium. Tinctures and preparations from this plant are used in folk and traditional medicine to treat hormonal disorders, nervous and physical exhaustion, and reproductive problems.

Chinese lemongrass - planting

Growing on a schizander site is possible in several ways, the simplest and most affordable of which is cuttings. As the experience of gardeners from different corners of the post-Soviet space, two-three-year-old cuttings of Schisandra chinensis perfectly take root, since they have well-developed roots in small sizes. The landing site must meet the following requirements:

1. Sufficient illumination. Chinese lemongrass loves sunlight, but at the same time does not feel very good in the sun. Therefore, its cultivation is best done in partial shade, where it will receive sunbathing for at least 8 hours a day.
2. Low groundwater. Growing Chinese lemongrass is possible on small hills, where its roots will not be threatened by flooding and decay.
3. Possibility to install a support. Although lemongrass is able to actively develop without support, its presence is an indispensable condition for fruiting. You can also plant this vine near the fence or wall of the house, stepping back about 1.5 meters from it so that the water from the roof does not erode the roots and makes care easy.
4. wind protection. The warm south wind, lemongrass, like other vines, is not terrible. But the winter cold winds are quite capable of putting an end to the cultivation of Chinese magnolia vine, freezing flower and growth buds.

How to plant Chinese lemongrass?

Let us consider in detail how to plant Chinese magnolia vine. For guaranteed fruiting, several cuttings of Chinese lemongrass are planted, the cultivation and care of which begins with the arrangement of a small trench. The seedlings in it will be located at a distance of 1.5 meters from each other, and the depth should be at least 40 cm. For a single planting, a medium-sized hole should be prepared (approximately 50 * 50 * 50 cm). The bottom is covered with a significant layer of drainage - broken brick, expanded clay or pebbles mixed with sand, and then filled with fertile soil.

The cutting is set so that its root collar is level with the edge of the hole. After planting, the seedling is watered and shaded if necessary. The surface of the soil around is covered with a thick layer of organic mulch: humus, or sawdust. As the land dries out, watering is carried out, and in especially arid conditions, spraying. If everything is done correctly, the first step in the care and cultivation of lemongrass can be considered successfully completed.

When to plant Chinese lemongrass?

In the question of whether Chinese lemongrass will take root on the site, planting and care play a paramount role. It also depends a lot on the time of planting: in regions with a warm climate, it is produced in the fall (October), and in more severe weather conditions - in the spring (April). For planting work choose a cool cloudy day. After planting in bright sunny weather, the seedlings will need to be further shaded to protect against burns.

How to grow Chinese lemongrass?

Exotic Chinese lemongrass cultivation and care should receive regular and caring, while remembering the main features of this plant:

1. Fast growth rates. To maintain them, the plant needs a lot of nutrients in the soil and regular abundant watering. So that the vine is not overly thickened, regular pruning should be carried out.
2. The superficial location of the rhizome. The root of Chinese magnolia vine lies at a depth of about 20 cm, so it is better not to loosen the soil around it or do it very carefully.
3. The need for support. Chinese lemongrass, which is grown to obtain a crop, must necessarily rely on a trellis, at least 2 meters high. Without it, the plant will look like a small bush and will not be able to form an ovary.

Chinese garden lemongrass - soil

A gardener who decides to breed Chinese lemongrass at home, first of all, needs to choose the right soil composition for him. This vine needs loose soil, which is well permeable to water and air, while being saturated with nutrients. A mixture of soddy soil with leafy humus is optimal. When planting, it will not be superfluous to add wood ash (500 g) and superphosphate (200 g) to the pit.

Pruning Chinese lemongrass

When pruning Chinese magnolia vine, which cannot be cared for without a regular haircut, the following recommendations should be followed:

1. For the first time, lemongrass is pruned after 2-3 years, when the plant begins to actively build up the aerial part. Of the actively developing shoots, 6-7 of the strongest are selected, all the rest are removed, cut off flush with the ground.
2. Sanitary cleaning is carried out in late autumn, removing all dry and broken shoots, and branches that thicken the crown.
3. Spring pruning is practiced only in the most advanced cases, because this can lead to the death of the plant as a result of sap loss.
4. At the age of 15-20, old shoots are cut off, replacing them with new root shoots.

Chinese lemongrass plant - watering

It is possible to successfully grow Chinese magnolia vine in the country only by bringing its living conditions as close as possible to natural ones - high humidity. An adult vine is watered after the soil has dried, using at least 5-6 buckets of water per plant. In addition to watering, young magnolia vines also include regular showers in care, spraying with warm, settled water. After water procedures the trunk circle is covered with mulch to conserve moisture in the soil.

How to feed Chinese lemongrass in the garden?

Which Chinese lemongrass will grow and how soon it will please with the first harvest, in addition to care, to a large extent depends on the amount of nutrients in the soil. Since the plant is large, you simply cannot do without regular top dressing:

1. The first feeding is carried out in early spring in the third year after planting, scattering saltpeter over the soil surface, and then mulching with peat or humus.
2. In the summer, Chinese lemongrass is fed with infusion of organic matter (mullein or chicken manure), and before wintering, wood ash (100 g) and superphosphate (20 g) are embedded in the soil.
3. Creepers that have come into fruition are fed throughout the season: nitrophos in the spring, droppings or manure in the summer and potassium sulfate with superphosphate in the fall.

How to propagate Chinese lemongrass?

Lemongrass Chinese reproduction allows any means: seeds, cuttings and shoots. In the latter case, you should simply bend the young growth that has appeared to the ground in early spring, pin it and gently sprinkle it with loose fertile soil. After 4-5 months, its own root system is formed, after which the process can be cut off from the mother liana and relocated to a permanent place. For cuttings, tops cut from young shoots are used, rooting them in a shkolka, and then planting them in a permanent place.

Growing Schisandra chinensis is a pleasure. After all, this decorative liana is able to decorate any corner of the garden.

It is used to create hedges, decorate gazebos and decorate arches.

The decorativeness of the liana is preserved throughout the season, which gives the landscape a special flavor.

From early spring, lemongrass is covered with juicy green foliage, flowering begins later.

During this period, white flowers adorn the shrub. The flowers are replaced by bright red fruits of lemongrass, which look very beautiful against the background of already yellow foliage.

Schisandra chinensis is known not only for its beauty, all parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine. Drinks from it give strength, fight depression, drowsiness and overwork. So growing lemongrass is “practical beauty.”

Growing Schisandra chinensis: all about planting, soil and timing (photo)

It all starts with planting a vine and creating a support. You need to grow an elegant shrub on a solid hedge, which can serve as: a fence, an arch, an arbor.

Selecting a landing site

The place for the creeper should be warm, protected from cold winds. It is best to give preference to the western or eastern side of the site, where the plant can be in partial shade. The bright scorching sun will only harm the plant, and you can’t wait for beautiful fruits in the full shade.

soil for lemongrass

The composition of the soil is important when growing lemongrass. It is necessary to create all conditions as close to natural as possible. For planting a seedling, you need to use light soil, preferably forest. Heavy loams are not suitable for planting lemongrass. Such land must be prepared in advance.

Planting a seedling

The pit for planting the plant should be spacious so that the root system is freely located in it. As a rule, landing pits are prepared in the following sizes: 50 cm in diameter and 60 cm deep. At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer must be laid, which will not only provide outflow excess water, but it will also help the horses to adhere well to the soil, which is important when growing vines.

To backfill the pit, I use fertilized soil, adding sand, humus, compost, ash and superphosphate to it. After planting, the soil must be well compacted, watered and mulched. Mulch can be sawdust, peat, fallen leaves or humus.

When planting a seedling, you need to monitor the level of the root collar, it should be flush with the ground. Deepening of the root collar is unacceptable.

When to plant a seedling

The optimal time for planting a seedling is spring, the end of April - the beginning of May. In the southern regions of the country, planting lemongrass is allowed in the fall, in October. Seedlings should be strong, with a well-developed root system. As a rule, 2-3 year old vines are chosen for planting. It is in such a shrub, despite its small stature, that the roots are well developed. The distance between plants must be at least 1 meter, otherwise adult vines will drown out each other.

Lemongrass Chinese care: watering, fertilizing, pruning (photo)

Decorative liana takes root very quickly in a new place, caring for lemongrass does not cause much trouble.

Important! In the first year, the plant should be shaded from direct sunlight.

Throughout the entire period of growth, the shrub needs watering, weeding, fertilizing and spraying.

Watering the plant

This vine belongs to tropical plants, so it is difficult to grow it without regular watering and spraying. On hot days, the crown must be irrigated with water. Do this in the evening so that the young leaves do not suffer from burns.

An adult plant needs good watering. To do this, up to 6 buckets of water are spent per vine. So that the soil retains moisture well and remains loose longer, you need to mulch it.

Top dressing lemongrass

Until the age of three, seedlings are grown without the use of dressings. Further, regular fertilization increases the decorativeness of the vine, the leaves become more beautiful and healthy.

Schisandra chinensis is fed twice a season:

Spring top dressing begins from the moment of active growth of the vine, as a rule, from April. During this period, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used. The earth around the bush is well loosened and saltpeter granules are closed up. Water the plant well. Further, every month the liana is watered with organic matter. To do this, use a solution of chicken manure or manure.

Important! As a fertilizer, you can mulch the soil around lemongrass with compost.

Adult vines that have already bore fruit are fed with nitrophoska in the spring.

Autumn fertilizers are applied when the plant sheds leaves. The soil around the vine is loosened to a depth of about 10 cm, adding 100 grams of ash and 20 grams of superphosphate under each bush.

pruning lemongrass

After three years of cultivation, the plant begins rapid growth of shoots, and it needs correct pruning. Spring pruning promotes good fruiting. It must be carried out strictly at the beginning of March, while the plant has not yet begun sap flow. If you tighten the pruning period, you can destroy the entire bush. During this period, all shoots are shortened.

In autumn, the plant is pruned only after all the leaves have fallen. Up to 5 developed shoots are left on the vine, all the rest are cut off at the root. Lateral branches shorten up to 10 buds. This drastic pruning will help keep the plant healthy.

In addition to schematic pruning, the vine also needs sanitary cleaning. Spend it in the summer, as the bush grows. All old, dry and broken branches are cut out. With such cleaning, all root shoots must be removed.

Important! After 15 years of cultivation, it is necessary to carry out a rejuvenating pruning of the vine. To do this, the hatched branches are cut out, replacing them with young vines from the overgrowth.

Growing lemongrass from seeds (photo)

Lemongrass can be propagated by root shoots and seeds. seed propagation is a very exciting process. But there are some rules, the observance of which will allow you to grow a good seedling.

1. Seeds must be fresh. After 6 months they lose their germination.

2. Be sure to stratify the seeds.

3. Seeds are planted immediately in the garden, where they will grow for the first three years.

4. During the entire preparation phase, the seeds must be kept moist.

5. The time of planting seeds falls on the beginning of April. The first shoots may appear in 2.5 months.

6. Seeding depth is about 1-1.5 cm.

7. The first year the plants need good care and watering. The soil is constantly loosened and weeds are removed, seedlings are protected from the wind.

8. In the first year, the seedlings reach a height of 5-7 cm. In the second year, the root system develops and the vine grows. At the age of three, plants should have a height of up to 50 cm, only then they are planted in a permanent place.

Preparing for the winter

Mature plants winter well without shelter. Young creepers need reliable protection from frost. For this, the plants are spudded with earth, fallen leaves.

Lemongrass is grown only on a trellis, which increases the illumination of the bush and its fruiting. For the winter, the vines are not untied from the hedge, but left.

Important! The danger to the plant is not the frost itself, but spring frosts. Therefore, in the spring there is no need to rush to remove shelter from young vines.

Harvesting lemongrass fruits

Schisandra gives its first fruits at the age of 6 years, i.e. 3 years after planting. Peak yield occurs in the sixth year of cultivation.

Fruit harvesting begins as soon as the clusters turn bright red and become soft. Berries are practically not stored, they need to be processed on the day of collection.

Schisandra chinensis is an ornamental vine with white flowers and bright green foliage. With its appearance, lemongrass can decorate any garden. The liana on the hedge looks very impressive, wrapping around the gate, and it is also decorated with gazebos and arches.

It is important that for almost the entire season lemongrass is able to maintain its decorative look. And in the fall, when blood-red berries ripen against the background of yellowed leaves, the vine looks just great.

Chinese magnolia vine: cultivation and care

Not many people know that all parts of the vine contain useful substances and are used to prepare potions for depression and chronic fatigue.

Appearance:

Chinese magnolia vine: planting and care

Lemongrass feels great in a mild warm climate where there are no winters, and in middle lane. In the first case, Chinese magnolia vine is planted in autumn, in October, so that it can strengthen and acclimatize over the winter. In the middle lane, landing is carried out only in the spring and not earlier than April. Despite the fact that the vines grow in height, the distance between them must be at least one meter. The same applies to the structure near which the landing is made. Measure a distance of at least one and a half meters from it.

He prefers light soil with a high content of humus and good drainage. The place where to plant lemongrass, choose the lighted. Seedlings are suitable for planting, in which the trunk height is at least ten centimeters, and the roots are well developed. Too branched roots are pruned.

Growing seedlings

The pit for seedlings should be not less than forty centimeters deep with a diameter of seventy centimeters. Put expanded clay or crushed stone on the bottom, and fill the pit itself halfway with humus, ash, superphosphate and leafy soil.

To nourish the roots, the following mixture is prepared: the mullein is mixed with clay and water is added. Everything is mixed and the roots of the vine are dipped into this composition. Bury the root system in such a way that the neck is on the surface of the earth. The earth is rammed and a mound is made. The soil is abundantly watered with water, and when it goes into the ground, sprinkle the hole with peat or humus.

Usually vine seedlings take root very well.. Caring for them is very simple. It is enough to water them occasionally and cover them in case of a scorching sun. The best seedlings are two-year-old vines.

Much will depend on the location. When the vine is well protected from the winds and is in a warm place, then appearance Lemongrass will be healthy and blooming. The west side of the site or the east is perfect.

Schisandra chinensis: planting seeds

This growing method is very time consuming. and for this reason little popular among gardeners. Seeds are prepared in autumn. Sow them in wet sand and mix regularly. Dried sand is constantly moistened. Store the seed container in a cool place.

At the end of February, the container is placed in a warm place and it should be there until the end of March. Then again move to the refrigerator or basement. Thus, the seeds are forced to wake up and begin to germinate.

Seeds should be planted in a greenhouse in the garden. The soil for seeds is prepared as follows: park land mixed with river sand in a ratio of 2:1. From above, a bed with seeds already planted is sprinkled with peat. Water as needed, as it is impossible to fill the seeds with a large amount of water. So, during the year they keep the sprouts under the film in the greenhouse, and after a year, they grow without shelter. After two years, the seedlings should be planted in a permanent place in the garden.

Lemongrass cultivation and care involves:

• Good soil moisture.
• Top dressing.
• Darkening from the scorching sun.

Feeding lemongrass usually starts from the third year of life.. To do this, use saltpeter, bird droppings, ash and superphosphate. Feeding with saltpeter in the spring, you will achieve lush foliage in your vine. In summer, water every two weeks with diluted bird droppings or other organic fertilizers. In the autumn they are fed with ashes.

Fruits with flowers in Chinese lemongrass appear only in the fifth year of life. Now, as a top dressing, you can use nitrophoska and potassium sulfate. Water the vine abundantly. So, for one watering they spend up to five buckets of water for each vine.

Every year in early spring, lemongrass is pruned. Remove the top and two-row vines.

Watering

Pour lemongrass Chinese plentifully. In the wild, this plant prefers to settle in moist soils. Even taking into account the fact that the root system is located horizontally and the roots practically do not go deep, a lot of water will be required.

They try to water with warm and settled water, after which the hole is sprinkled with peat or moss to avoid drying out.

Support for Chinese magnolia vine

So that the plant has large and juicy berries on large brushes , use tapestries. Thus, the illumination of the vine increases. It was noticed that a small shrub has practically no fruits. They put the supports as soon as the seedling is planted.

The support consists of columns about two and a half meters high. They are deepened by sixty centimeters, and the distance between them should be at least three meters. Three rows of metal wire are stretched, and the distance between them should be sixty centimeters. As the vine grows, it is tied up each time to the next level. Young shoots are arranged in the form of a fan.

pruning lemongrass

From the age of three in the liana, the active growth of the root system slows down and begins to grow rapidly ground part. Usually three shoots are left, and the rest should be removed. When the lemongrass reaches fifteen years old, they try to remove all the old branches from it, and leave only the young ones.

In October, dried branches are pruned, and if necessary, pruning is carried out in the middle of summer. The only times of the year when you cannot do anything to lemongrass are winter and the end of spring. During this period, there is usually an active sap flow.

Be sure to remove root shoots, and this should be done below ground level, digging the ground a little.

To form a creeper, side branches are occasionally removed.

Wintering

For the winter, only young vines are covered, up to the age of three. In the future, Schisandra chinensis will not need shelter. They are usually insulated with leaves and spruce branches.

How to pick berries

In the fifth year of life, Schisandra chinensis begins to bear fruit.. As soon as the fruits turn red, you can harvest. Harvest fruits in whole bunches. Do this carefully so as not to damage the seeds in the fruits, otherwise the taste of the berries will change and become bitter. Harvested fruits are processed on the same day to avoid fermentation and mold.

Diseases and pests

The smell of Chinese magnolia vine perfectly repels all pests, but diseases typical of garden plants he can't escape. The most common problems:

First time on medicinal properties This plant drew the attention of Chinese healers. Since then, the popularity and fame of lemongrass as a healer has been strengthened. At the moment, in many countries, entire plantations are grown for the needs of pharmaceuticals.

The effect that berries and preparations from them have on nervous system, it is difficult to overestimate. It was not for nothing that the northerners-hunters, going hunting, took lemongrass berries with them. They not only helped restore performance, but also acted as an excellent sedative, allowing you to concentrate and withstand severe frosts.

The fruits of this plant significantly improve visual acuity. Use the fruits during the treatment of depression and nervous exhaustion. Lemongrass has proven itself well for anemia and intestinal infections. It has an antidote effect and can even withdraw from a post-alcohol or drug state.

At home, prepare a tincture of dried berries in a ratio of 1:4. The berries are infused in a dark place for two weeks. Then use the finished tincture of twenty grams a day after meals. This product is great for relieving fatigue. Moreover, its action, unlike caffeine, acts gently without harm to the body.

From dried berries powder is prepared and added to tea as a tonic. No less healthy tea is prepared from the leaves of Chinese magnolia vine.

Juice from lemongrass berries is prepared as follows: the berries, sorted and peeled from the stalks, are covered with sugar and left for three days. The resulting juice is poured into jars and stored in the refrigerator. They drink it along with hot tea, adding it instead of sugar, or use it as a syrup for desserts.

Branches of the plant can also be used to make lemongrass tea. Those shoots that you cut in the summer, do not throw away, but chop and harvest for the winter. Thus, you will have an excellent vitamin drink until spring.

Chinese lemongrass is still rarely found on the plots of Russian gardeners. Many are simply afraid to plant an unknown exotic culture, considering it capricious and demanding to care for. But Chinese lemongrass - unpretentious plant, nothing supernatural from the gardener is required. For compliance simple rules care culture will thank with a plentiful harvest of very useful berries.

What does Chinese lemongrass look like?

Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra chinensis) is a small genus of plants from the Schisandra chinensis family. In nature, it is distributed mainly in China, Japan, in the north of the Korean Peninsula. Also found in Russia - in the Far East, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands. The first scientific description of it was given in 1837 by the botanist N.S. Turchaninov.

Schisandra chinensis in nature forms dense thickets

The habitat of the plant is river valleys, forest edges, old glades, clearings, burnt areas. Accordingly, it is quite cold-resistant and shade-tolerant, which makes it suitable for cultivation in most of Russia.

The leaves and shoots have a characteristic aroma of lemon peel, which is what the plant owes its name to. Although it has nothing to do with citrus fruits.

In nature, lemongrass is a large plant. The length of a creeper with a curly stem, if it is not limited by anything, reaches 12–15 m. At the same time, the stem is quite thin, only 2.5-3 cm in diameter. Flexible shoots are covered with brown bark. On young branches, it is smooth, elastic, shiny, darkens with time, changing color to black-brown, and peels off.

In autumn, Chinese magnolia vine looks elegant and very impressive.

The leaves are dense, leathery, ovate or in the form of a wide oval. The edges are carved with almost imperceptible teeth. The petioles are quite short, painted in various shades of pink and red. The front part of the front plate is glossy, bright green, the reverse side has a bluish-gray tint, along the veins there is a strip of short soft “pile”.

In autumn, the plant looks very attractive - the leaves are painted in different shades of yellow, from pale golden to saffron.

Looks nice and flowering plant. Lemongrass flowers resemble magnolia made from wax. The petals are snow-white, before falling off, they acquire a delicate pastel pink hue. The buds are collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces, located in the axils of the leaves. Pedicels rather long, slightly drooping under their weight. Flowering occurs in the first half of July.

Schisandra chinensis flowers, spreading a pleasant aroma, attract pollinating insects to the garden plot

Lemongrass fruits are small spherical bright scarlet berries, collected 15–25 pieces in a brush 8–12 cm long, resembling bunches of grapes or red currants. They also have a characteristic citrus aroma. Each contains 1-2 large seeds. Taste due to the high content of organic acids, resinous and tannins, essential oils is extremely specific. The peel is sweetish-salty, tart, the juice is very sour, astringent, the seeds are bitter.

In China, the fruit is called the "berry of five tastes."

It is almost impossible to eat fresh berries of Schisandra chinensis (especially its wild varieties)

The average yield of Schisandra chinensis is 3–5 kg of berries from an adult plant. But every 3–7 years there are “bursts” when the vine brings 1.5–2 times more fruit than the gardener expected. Harvest ripens in August or early September.

Lemongrass is a dioecious plant. This means that pollination and subsequent fruiting is possible only if there are specimens with "male" and "female" flowers on the site at the same time.

The yield of Chinese magnolia vine is not amazing, but its fruits are, rather, not a delicacy, but a medicine

Application

In folk medicine, seeds and dried fruits of magnolia vine are used. They are distinguished by a high content of vitamin C, as well as microelements vital for the body (iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, manganese). Lemongrass has the ability to relieve fatigue caused by intense physical and mental stress, sharpen eyesight and hearing, and relieve depression. It is also extremely useful for strengthening immunity and stimulating tissue regeneration, helps with beriberi, problems with the heart and blood vessels, and the respiratory system.

For Far Eastern hunters, a handful of dry berries allowed them to forget about the feeling of fatigue and hunger throughout the day.

Dried berries of Chinese lemongrass - a strong tonic

There is also a fairly long list of contraindications. Schisandra chinensis is forbidden to be used by pregnant women and children under 12 years of age, as well as those who suffer from vegetovascular dystonia, any allergies, chronic insomnia, high intracranial pressure, infectious diseases. At the same time, preparations from it are recommended to be taken before noon, so as not to provoke insomnia. The simultaneous use of any sleeping pills, tranquilizers, neuroleptics, psychostimulant drugs is strictly prohibited. In general, it is undesirable to “prescribe” lemongrass on your own, it is better to consult a doctor first.

Common varieties

In nature, according to various sources, there are from 15 to 23 varieties of Schisandra chinensis. The culture also does not enjoy special attention from breeders, so the choice of varieties is limited. Most often on garden plots the following varieties are found:

1. Garden one. Self-fertile hybrid that does not need pollinators. It is characterized by high cold resistance, good yield, shoot growth rate. The berries are very juicy and sour. The average length of the brush is 9–10 cm, each with 22–25 berries. The average yield is 4–6 kg from an adult plant.
2. Mountain. A variety of medium ripening, bred in the Far East, it is considered one of the most promising there. Harvest ripens in the last decade of August. Differs in high winter hardiness and good immunity. The average length of the brush is 8–9 cm, weight is 12–13 g. It consists of 15–17 dark scarlet bitterish berries with noticeable sourness. The pulp is firm but juicy. The yield is low, 1.5–2 kg per plant.
3. Volgar. The variety is resistant to winter cold and summer drought, rarely suffers from diseases and pests. On the same plant, as a rule, both "male" and "female" flowers bloom, but sometimes there is a season when only "male" flowers are formed. Harvest ripens in the first decade of September. The mass of the brush is 6–7.5 g, it consists of 13–15 berries. The fruits are very sour, with a pronounced resinous aroma.
4. Firstborn. One of the latest achievements of Russian breeders, bred in Moscow. The variety is valued for frost resistance and disease resistance. The berries are small, elongated, purple-scarlet, the flesh is bright red. The length of the brush is about 12 cm, weight is 10–12 g. The bush is medium tall, the plant is monoecious. A significant drawback is low frost resistance, weak immunity. The length of the vine is no more than 5 m.
5. Myth. A hybrid whose origin could not be established for certain. The brushes are not too long, up to 7 cm, but the berries are not particularly sour, they can even be eaten fresh. There are 15–18 of them in each infructescence.
6. Oltis. The birthplace of the variety is the Far East. It is valued for its good yield (3–4 kg per plant) and resistance to diseases typical of the crop. Berries are dark scarlet, small. The average length of the brush is 9-11 cm, weight - 25-27 g, each with 25-30 fruits. The taste is bitter-sour.
7. Purple. One of the oldest varieties, bred in 1985 in the Far East. The ripening period of the crop is the last decade of August. The first fruits are removed already 3–4 years after planting the seedling in the ground. Productivity - 3-4 kg from an adult plant. The variety is distinguished by exceptional winter hardiness, but often suffers from diseases. The berries are small, the brushes are compact. The skin is scarlet, the taste is noticeably sour.

Photo gallery: Chinese magnolia vine varieties

Schisandra chinensis is not only useful, but also a very decorative plant.

Planting time depends on the region of cultivation. In areas with a warm climate (Ukraine, southern Russia), it can be planned for September and even for the first half of October. There is enough time before frosts, the plant will have time to adapt to new living conditions. In regions with temperate climate(Ural, Siberia) the only option is spring. In central Russia, Chinese magnolia vine is planted at the end of April or in the first decade of May (the soil should warm up to at least 10ºС by this time, but you need to have time before the growth buds “wake up”). During the summer, the plant will form a developed root system and have time to properly prepare for winter.

Experienced gardeners recommend planting at least three seedlings of lemongrass at the same time (ideally, different varieties), leaving an interval of about 1 m between them, and 2–2.5 m between rows. also, so that drops of water do not fall from the roof onto the plant (this is harmful to the roots). Be sure to provide a place to place the trellis. Otherwise, the plant will simply refuse to bear fruit. The simplest option is 2-3-meter poles arranged in a row with wire stretched over them in several rows at different heights. As the vine grows, its shoots are tied to it, forming a fan-like structure. When grown in a warm climate, Schisandra chinensis shoots are not removed from the trellis even for the winter.

Seedlings are selected based on the state of the root system. It must be developed. It is necessary to have at least three roots about 20 cm long. The average height of a 2–3-year-old plant is 12–15 cm.

Saplings of Chinese magnolia vine are low, this is normal for the culture

Schisandra chinensis prefers fertile soil, but loose and light, well permeable to air and water. A heavy substrate is categorically not suitable, in which moisture stagnates for a long time - silty, clay, peat.

The plant will tolerate both partial shade and shade, but the maximum possible yields are harvested when grown in an open sunny place. It is desirable that it be protected from gusts of cold wind by some natural or artificial barrier located at some distance from the liana.

In areas with a temperate climate, lemongrass is most often located on the western side of buildings and structures, in the subtropics - on the eastern side. In the first case, this placement provides the liana with enough sun, in the second case, it protects from the intense heat of the day.

The maximum possible harvest brings Chinese lemongrass, planted in an open sunny place.

Another culture does not like too wet soil at the roots. If a ground water approach the surface closer than 1.5–2 m, you need to look for another place for magnolia vine.

The landing pit is always prepared in advance. If the procedure is planned in the fall - a few weeks before it, and if spring planting- in the previous season. The average depth is 40–50 cm, the diameter is 65–70 cm. A drainage layer 8–10 cm thick is required at the bottom. You can use crushed stone, expanded clay, clay shards, and ceramic chips. The fertile turf extracted from the pit is mixed with humus or compost (20–30 l), sifted wood ash (0.5 l), simple superphosphate (120–150 g) and potassium sulfate (70–90 g) and poured back, forming on mound at the bottom. Then the hole is covered with something waterproof so that the rains do not wash away the soil, and left until planting.

At the bottom of the planting pit, prepared for Schisandra chinensis, a layer of drainage is required

Boarding procedure:

1. The roots of the seedling are examined, all rotten and dried up are cut off, the rest are shortened to a length of 20–25 cm. Then they are soaked for a day in water heated to a temperature of 27–30ºС. To disinfect and prevent the development of fungal diseases, you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate to it, to activate the development of the root system and minimize the stress associated with transplantation - any biostimulant (potassium humate, Epin, Zircon, succinic acid, aloe juice).
2. The roots are thickly coated with gruel of powdered clay and fresh cow dung, then dry in the sun for 2-3 hours. The correct mass in consistency resembles a thick cream.
3. The plant is placed on an earthen mound at the bottom of the planting pit. The roots are straightened so that they "look" down, and not up or to the sides. Then they begin to fill the pit with small portions of soil, periodically compacting the substrate with their palms. In the process, you need to constantly monitor the position of the root collar - it should be 2-3 cm above the ground.
4. The soil in the near-stem circle is watered abundantly, spending about 20 liters of water. When it is absorbed, this area is mulched with peat chips or humus. The seedling will take root quite quickly, but for the first 2–3 weeks it is desirable to protect it from direct sunlight by constructing a canopy from any white covering material.
5. Shoots are shortened, leaving 3-4 growth buds. All leaves, if any, are cut off.

The place for lemongrass is chosen deliberately, the plant does not tolerate transplantation too well

It is advisable to choose a place for Chinese magnolia vine immediately and forever. Young seedlings tolerate the procedure quite easily, quickly adapt to new living conditions, but this cannot be said about adult plants.

Video: how to plant lemongrass

Plant care and growing nuances in different regions

Caring for Chinese lemongrass is not particularly difficult, all the necessary procedures will not take much time from the gardener.

Watering

Lemongrass is a moisture-loving plant. In nature, it most often grows along the banks of rivers. Therefore, water it often and plentifully. The norm for an adult vine is 60–70 liters of water every 2–3 days. Of course, if the weather is cool, damp outside, the intervals between procedures are increased - the plant does not like water that stagnates at the roots. The preferred method is sprinkling.

In extreme heat, it is also advisable to spray the leaves daily in the evenings. This procedure is also very useful for young plants planted in the garden this year.

If there is a technical possibility, Schisandra chinensis is watered by sprinkling, simulating natural precipitation.

The next day after watering, the soil in the near-stem circle should be loosened to a depth of 2–3 cm, if necessary, weeded. Mulch will help save time on weeding. It also retains moisture in the soil.

top dressing

If the planting hole has been prepared correctly, Schisandra chinensis will have enough nutrients in the soil for the next two years. Feeding the plant begins from the third season of stay in open field.

From fertilizers, the culture prefers natural organic matter. Chinese lemongrass grows quite quickly, so during the summer every 15–20 days it is watered with an infusion of cow dung, bird droppings, nettle leaves or dandelion. In principle, any weed can be used. Raw materials are infused for 3-4 days, before use they are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 (litter - 1:15). You can also use complex fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus - Nitrophoska, Azofoska, Diammofoska. Once every 2–3 years at the beginning of the active growing season, 25–30 liters of humus or rotted compost are distributed in the near-stem circle.

Nettle infusion - a natural source of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus

After harvesting, the plant needs potassium and phosphorus. 40-50 g of simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate are diluted in 10 liters of water or distributed along the trunk circle in a dry form during loosening. The natural alternative is about 0.5–0.7 liters of wood ash.

Support for creepers

Lemongrass is grown on a trellis, because without it it is impossible to get a crop. The average height of the supports is 2–2.5 m, the distance between them is about 3 m. It is desirable to limit the liana in growth, this simplifies its care. A wire is stretched horizontally between the posts in several rows - the first at a distance of 50 cm from the ground, then every 70–80 cm.

Schisandra chinensis on a trellis looks very neat and bears fruit abundantly

Shelter for the winter

Schisandra chinensis is successfully grown not only in regions with a warm subtropical climate (Ukraine, southern Russia). Frost resistance down to -35ºС makes it possible to cultivate it in the North-West region, in the Urals, in Siberia. In central Russia, the plant does not need shelter for the winter, the vine is not even removed from the trellis. But where severe and prolonged frosts are not uncommon, it is better to play it safe. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the main danger to the culture is not winter cold, but return spring frosts. Therefore, there is no need to rush to remove the shelter.

The shoots are carefully unhooked from the support, laid out on the ground covered with a layer of mulch about 10 cm thick, covered with straw, spruce or pine branches, fallen leaves and covered with burlap, any other air-permeable covering material. Preliminary, it is necessary to carry out moisture-charging irrigation, spending about 80 liters of water per adult plant.

Harvesting

The first crop is harvested 4–6 years after the planting of Schisandra chinensis in the ground. Fruits are removed by whole brushes. It's easy to check if they're up to date. You need to pull the escape and lightly tap on it. Ripe berries fall off. They have a very short shelf life. Fresh fruits must be processed within the next 2-3 days so that they do not become moldy and start to rot. Most often they are dried, sometimes frozen, ground with sugar.

pruning lemongrass

The first time pruning of lemongrass is carried out during planting, then - for the third season of being in the open field. As a rule, by this time the plant manages to form a developed root system and "switches" to the shoots. On the vine, 5–7 of the strongest and most developed stems are left, the rest are removed to the point of growth. In the future, pruning is carried out regularly, in spring and autumn. The procedure cannot be neglected - much fewer flowers form in dense thickets, their pollination is almost impossible, and, accordingly, the yield decreases.

Pruning is carried out only with sharply sharpened and disinfected tools.

The procedure is carried out at the very beginning of March: they get rid of all frozen, dried up or broken branches under the weight of snow. If you do not have time before the start of active sap flow, you can destroy the plant.

In autumn, after the foliage has fallen, the shoots are cut off, intertwined, unsuccessfully located, weak, deformed, affected by diseases and pests, "bald". Also cut off that part of the vine that has been fruiting for the last 3 years. This is necessary for the proper development of new shoots and rejuvenation of the plant.

The purpose of pruning Schisandra chinensis is to form a bush that receives even sun

If the vine forms too many new shoots, pruning is carried out in the summer. Each of them is shortened, leaving 10-12 growth buds. Also, do not forget about the fight against root shoots. Only the strongest layers are not cut out, so that later they can replace the old branches with them.

After the plant reaches the age of 15–18 years, a radical anti-aging pruning is carried out. Leave only 4-5 healthy strong fruit-bearing shoots this year, the rest are cut off to the point of growth.

Reproduction methods

Amateur gardeners most often propagate Chinese magnolia vine using vegetative methods. You can also try to grow a vine from seeds, but in this case, the preservation of the varietal characteristics of the parent is not guaranteed. In addition, this process is quite laborious.

Vegetative reproduction

For vegetative propagation, root shoots, cuttings and layering are used.

1. As a rule, Schisandra chinensis gives basal shoots in abundance. This method of reproduction is provided by nature itself. It is only necessary to carefully excavate the soil, separate the "offspring" from an adult plant and immediately plant it in the chosen place. In regions with a warm climate, the procedure is carried out both in early spring and after fruiting. Where it does not differ in softness, the only suitable time is the beginning of March.

   Basal propagation is the easiest way to get a new Chinese magnolia vine

2. You can also use root cuttings. The root is cut into pieces 7-10 cm long. Each should have 2-3 growth points. The planting material is kept for 2–3 days, wrapped in a napkin moistened with a solution of any biostimulant, then planted horizontally in open ground or a greenhouse, maintaining a distance of about 10–12 cm between the cuttings. They are not buried in the soil, sprinkled with a layer of humus or rotted 2–3 cm thick compost. Cutting care is mostly regular watering. Those of them that will give shoots are transferred to a permanent place next spring.
3. For propagation by layering, only non-lignified green shoots at the age of 2–3 years are used. The procedure is carried out in the fall. The branch is bent to the ground, fixed at a distance of 20–30 cm from the top, this place is covered with humus or fertile soil, watered abundantly. In the spring, a new layer should appear. By autumn, it will be strong enough, it can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a permanent place. You can bend to the ground and cover the entire shoot with soil. Then he will give not one, but 5-7 new seedlings. But they will be far from being as powerful and developed.

   Reproduction by layering - a method used not only for Chinese magnolia vine, but also for most berry bushes

seed germination

Seeds of Chinese lemongrass remain viable for a very short time, literally 2-3 months. Therefore, it is best to sow them immediately after harvest. Seedlings are not grown at home, planting material close up in the garden before winter. They are deepened by a maximum of 1.5 cm, they must be sprinkled with snow on top as soon as enough of it falls.

Schisandra chinensis seeds must be thoroughly cleaned of pulp and dried before planting to avoid the development of rot.

Experienced gardeners advise mixing lemongrass seeds with dill. The last one rises first. Such a trick allows you not to lose the landing site, and in the future the plants form a kind of natural "canopy", providing the seedlings with the penumbra they need.

You can save the seeds until spring, but stratification is required - an imitation of the cold season. Seeds are stored during the winter in a refrigerator in a small container filled with a mixture of peat chips and sand, constantly kept slightly moist and pre-sterilized.

There is another interesting way to prepare for landing. Until the middle of winter, the seeds are not removed from the fruit. Then they are thoroughly cleaned of pulp, put in a linen bag or wrapped in cheesecloth and placed under cool running water for 3-4 days (a toilet bowl will do). Then the seeds in the bag are buried in a container with moistened sand and kept at room temperature for a month. After that, they are buried in the snow for about the same amount.

After the stratification, the skin of the seeds begins to crack. In this form, they are planted in individual peat pots filled with a mixture of humus and coarse sand. The first shoots should appear in 12–15 days, but if the seeds were not constantly in a humid environment, the process can stretch for 2–2.5 months. The seedlings do not differ in growth rate, stretching only 5–7 cm per year.

Stratification has a positive effect on seed germination

Further care is to provide protection from direct sunlight, maintain the soil in a moderately moist state and periodically water with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate to prevent fungal diseases.

You can wait a long time for shoots of Schisandra chinensis, they do not differ in growth rate

In the first decade of June, the seedlings are transferred to the garden, leaving at least 10 cm between them. During the summer, they are protected from the hot sun, and a shelter is built for the winter from frost. After 2-3 years, mature plants can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Typical diseases, pests and their control

Schisandra chinensis naturally has good immunity. Due to the high content of tannins in the tissues, almost all pests bypass it. Birds don't like fruits either. Breeders have learned to protect plants from mold and rot. These diseases rarely affect all modern varieties. However, the list of fungi dangerous to the culture is not limited to them. Schisandra chinensis can suffer from the following diseases:

• fusarium. Most often, young plants become infected with the fungus. They stop developing, the shoots darken and thin, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. The roots turn black, become slimy to the touch. For prevention, the seeds are kept in a solution of Trichodermin for 15-20 minutes before planting, they also shed the soil in the garden. A diseased plant must be immediately removed from the garden and burned, eliminating the source of infection. The soil in this place is disinfected by watering with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• powdery mildew. Leaves, buds and stems are covered with spots of a whitish coating, similar to scattered flour. Gradually it thickens and turns brown. The affected parts of the plant dry up and die. For prevention, the vine and the soil in the garden are dusted every 10–15 days with crushed chalk, sifted wood ash, and colloidal sulfur. To combat the disease at an early stage, a solution of soda ash is used (10–15 g per 10 l of water), in severe cases, fungicides (HOM, Topaz, Skor, Kuprozan);
• leaf spot (ascochitosis, ramulariasis). appear on the leaves irregular shape brownish-beige spots with a black-brown border. Gradually, the fabrics in these places from the inside are covered with small black dots, dry out, holes form. For prevention, the seeds are soaked for 2–3 hours in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, Alirin-B. Having found alarming symptoms, even minimally affected leaves are cut and burned, the plant is sprayed 2-3 times with an interval of 7-12 days with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate. Fungicides of biological origin are also used.
A plant affected by Fusarium seems to wither and die for no apparent reason. The development of ascochitosis is facilitated by damp and cool weather in summer, as well as an excess of nitrogen in the soil. To combat ramularia, fungicides of biological origin are used.

It is necessary to use any chemicals to fight diseases only as a last resort, because they have the property of accumulating in plant tissues. The best prevention is proper care, and this is what you need to focus on. Infected parts are burned as quickly as possible, and not stored somewhere in the far corner of the site.

Chinese lemongrass is a plant that not only decorates the garden, but is also very useful. There is nothing difficult in regularly getting a crop of berries rich in vitamins, microelements and organic acids. The plant does not present any unusual requirements for agricultural technology; it successfully adapts and bears fruit in a variety of climatic and weather conditions.