Schisandra chinensis: cultivation and care in Siberia, Moscow region, in the Urals

Chinese lemongrass is a liana with a beautiful appearance. The plant is increasingly spreading throughout Russia. Vine fruits are used in folk medicine because they have medicinal properties. Growing and caring for Chinese magnolia vine can be carried out even in the harsh Siberian winters. It is important to know the nuances of the agricultural technology of the Chinese vine.

What does Chinese lemongrass look like?

Chinese lemongrass is a deciduous liana that is capable of elegantly curling, creating beautiful decorations on gazebos, fences, and poles around the site. The length of a climbing plant from China can reach 15 m. But it is used not only as a decoration, but also as a medicine. Decoctions, infusions, teas are made from the fruits of lemongrass.

Description of the plant lemongrass chinese

Directly the trunk of Schisandra vine reaches a thickness of 2.5 cm. Young shoots extend from the trunk in different directions. Serrated leaves are held on red, pink cuttings. They are dense and can radically change color throughout the season. At the very beginning in spring, young leaves have a light green tint, the inside is gray. In summer, the color remains green; by autumn, lemongrass dresses in yellow foliage.

During the flowering period, the entire liana is covered with white flowers. By autumn, in place of the flowers, rounded fruits are formed. They are collected in clusters up to 10 cm long. The Chinese liana has a characteristic citrus aroma. The smell is exuded by fruits, leaves with shoots. The characteristic scent gives the garden a tropical atmosphere.

Lemongrass Chinese in landscape design

Schisandra chinensis in the photo, as in life, looks luxurious. In addition to its medicinal properties, landscape design professionals and amateurs know about the decorative purpose of Chinese magnolia vine.

More often, the plant is used for its intended purpose - like a liana. Lemongrass creates weaving on walls, arches, in gazebos, on the body of buildings. The green arch will cheer you up, decorates any area. A pleasant aroma will create a special atmosphere in the garden area.

Often with the help of a plant, terraces and gazebos are shaded. Use weaving to create a hedge.

Plant varieties

A large number of varieties of lemongrass are known, since breeders have worked on its frost resistance, disease and pest resistance. As a result, gardeners and landscape designers have a wide choice. Each variety has advantages and some nuances, but in all the variety there are also the most popular varieties of vines. Most of them have stood the test of time, are easy to care for and are very resistant to pests and diseases.An important factor is the yield parameter.

Schisandra Chinese Firstborn

The firstborn is a Chinese lemongrass bred in Russia. This is a monoecious liana, the height of which does not exceed 2 m. Up to 45 berries are collected in a cluster. The fruits have a sweet and sour taste and a round shape. The leaves of this variety are elliptical, the denticles on the sides are sparse with sharp ends. The Firstborn blooms with white flowers with a delicate pink tint.

This variety of Chinese lemongrass can be harvested in late August and early September. This is one of the most common varieties for Russia. Domestic breeders bred Pervenets, focusing on climatic conditions, moisture and soil quality. Chinese lemongrass Pervenets is a frequent visitor to garden plots near Moscow. It tolerates winter well.

Schizandra Chinese Schizandra

This is a classic Chinese lemongrass, which was cultivated in the Ancient East. The length of the vine is up to 15 m. The root system of Schizandra is very branched, although it rarely extends beyond the crown. The trunk is strong, not brittle, the bark on an adult plant is dark brown, the buds are small or medium in size, dark brown in color. Most often, Chinese lemongrass is a dioecious plant. This means that there are male and female specimens. This is important to know to get the harvest.

Schisandra Chinese Delight

Woody liana. This variety is distinguished by its later ripening. The crop can be harvested even in October. Therefore, the plant is not always suitable for the northern latitudes of our country. Lemongrass bloom Delight begins in May and lasts for several weeks. The flowers have a pleasant citrus scent.

Plant height - up to 15 m. Productivity from one bush - 4-5 kg ​​of pleasant sweet and sour berries of a round shape. The weight of one lemongrass berry is about 5 g.

How to grow Chinese lemongrass from seeds

For Chinese magnolia vine, growing in the middle lane is not difficult. There are several methods for breeding. You can buy seeds right away and just plant them according to the proven algorithm.

Seeds should be stratified first. Stratification - keeping seeds in moist sand at cool temperatures. To begin with, the temperature should be + 18 ° С for a month, at the second stage, the indicators are reduced to + 5 ° С, they also withstand a month, and in the third month the temperature is slightly raised to + 10 ° С.

Planting is carried out in June, directly into the open ground or in a greenhouse, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. After the appearance of the first three leaves, the seedlings dive. Watering the sown lemongrass is necessary only on hot days and, moreover, in the morning.

A young lemongrass should be planted in a permanent place after the first wintering in the spring. For the winter, it is better to cover young seedlings if they are not in the greenhouse.

How to plant Chinese lemongrass with seedlings

Growing vines from seeds is troublesome and not always effective. Germination rate can be no higher than 60%. Therefore, the most popular simple planting method is seedlings. They are purchased in special nurseries or multiplied by gardeners on their own.

Landing site preparation

When choosing a site, you should pay attention to the illumination. Lemongrass loves sunlight, but feels great in the shade of the trees that it braids. It is important that the shadow should not be strong. Optimum - a semi-shady area, since direct sunlight, especially when irrigated by rain, can cause burns.

When planting near the wall of the house, the distance from the seedling to it should be about 1.5 m.If you plant the vine closer, it will destroy the roof of the building, the flow of water from the roof will have a bad effect on lemongrass and the health of the plant.

The distance between the seedlings should be about a meter.If it is less, then the shoots will quickly intertwine with each other, the shrub will become too thickened, and this will cause a decrease in the yield of the vine. Such growths will look sloppy.

Humus, sod soil, compost, and ash are used as a nutrient mixture for planting Schisandra chinensis. Take all components in equal quantities.

Preparation of seedlings

The optimal seedlings for planting are 2-3 years old. At this age, the planting material is low, strong enough. Able to survive the first winter and take root.

As a result, you get a healthy, strong plant. When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to the root system. Only healthy, developed roots can take root.

When buying, you should pay attention to the fact that the seedlings are with soil. The root system should be kept in a coma in a cool place. Before planting, the roots should be dipped in a clay mash.

Landing rules

In Siberia, in the Urals, Schisandra chinensis is planted in the spring, in the southern regions - in October. A hole is dug 60 cm wide, 40 cm deep. A 10-15 cm drainage layer must be laid on the bottom. Pebbles or crushed stone are used by gardeners. The prepared nutrient mixture is poured over the drainage. Set the seedling.

The roots should be carefully straightened, and the nutrient mixture should be poured on top. Tamp the ground, then water. When the water is absorbed, it is recommended to make a layer of mulch from peat or humus on top around the seedling. The first time after planting, it is better to protect the plant, water it regularly.

Chinese lemongrass care

Caring for Chinese lemongrass is not difficult, since liana is an unpretentious plant. But here there are nuances of watering, feeding, preparing for winter. It is better to know and take into account such little things so that the yield and appearance of the plant are not affected. Despite its exoticism, Chinese lemongrass has shown itself to be a picky plant.

Watering mode

Chinese magnolia vine is considered to be more of a tropical crop, and therefore it tolerates moist soils better. The vine should be watered regularly, since it needs moisture constantly, despite the horizontal arrangement of the roots. It is recommended to water lemongrass at the rate of 6 buckets for each vine.

The best option is rain-type irrigation. It is recommended to do this in the evening or at night, so that the sun does not burn the watered leaves. If you water the vine with buckets, then it is recommended to do this with warm or settled water. Root watering can be carried out in the daytime. This method of watering is most effective for young plants and seedlings. In order for the root zone not to dry out, after watering, peat or humus is laid around the vines.

How to feed Chinese lemongrass

Schisandra chinensis grows in the garden both for decoration and for obtaining a healing harvest. But feeding an exotic plant is required in any case.

The vine should be fed several times a year. Each specific case requires its own type of fertilizer.

When the liana is 3 years old, the first feeding is carried out in the spring. To do this, saltpeter is poured into the trunk circle. Enough 30 g, then mulch.

A few months later, in the summer, fertilizing is carried out with organic fertilizers. For this, chicken manure or cow dung is used. Mullein is bred in a ratio of 1:10, and chicken droppings are 1:20. Top dressing is carried out several times over the summer with a break of 3 weeks. Organic fertilizers are applied at the root with the obligatory subsequent watering of the vines.

In the fall, after the shrub has given up the leaves, they are fertilized with superphosphate and wood ash.

A separate fertilization regime exists for fruiting liana in order to increase its yield:

• in the spring, nitroammofosk is introduced 4-40 g per sq. m;
• after flowering - a bucket of chicken droppings for each shrub;
• in the fall - superphosphate and sulphate stone.

Once every 3 years, compost should be poured 8 cm deep into the root zone.

How and when to prune Chinese lemongrass

The first pruning of lemongrass is carried out at the age of two years after planting. It is recommended to leave only 5-6 shoots, and cut off the rest at soil level.

It is best if pruning is done in October after the vine has shed its leaves. If the shrub is very neglected, then pruning is carried out in the month of July.

In the spring, root shoots are removed, and sanitary pruning is also carried out. With sanitary pruning, Chinese magnolia vine is deprived of all sick, dry, frozen shoots.

Preparing for winter

Chinese schisandra, when planting and leaving, also needs to be prepared for the winter period. Young, immature plants especially need preparation for cold weather. Such shoots should be covered, especially in cold regions. A layer of leaves and spruce branches are used as a cover.

Older plants do not need shelter as they can withstand frosty winters.

Features of planting and caring for Chinese magnolia vine in Siberia

Siberia is characterized by cold, long winters with deep snow cover. The main difference from growing in other regions is that even adult plants need shelter. Preparation for winter is carried out earlier than in other regions. Sawdust, leaves, peat are used for shelter, and snow is directly on top.

It is important to remove all shoots from the trellis. In the spring, the processes that are frozen must be cut off. It is recommended to plant seedlings in Siberia in the spring. The optimal period for planting is on a cloudy April day, when the threat of frost return has passed. Mulching of seedlings is required. When planting by seed, it is recommended to harden the seedlings in advance.

Features of planting and caring for Chinese magnolia vine in the Urals

The frost resistance of the Chinese magnolia vine is fixed at -40 ° C. Therefore, an adult plant, like a young one, survives the Ural winters easily, but shelter is still required.

In the Urals, there are nuances when planting vines. Planting Schisandra chinensis in autumn is not recommended in the region. It is optimal to plant a seedling in the spring, when the threat of frost passes. By the fall, it takes root and, when covered with spruce branches, calmly endures the winter.

Features of planting and caring for Chinese magnolia vine in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, the cultivation of schisandra chinensis is not as troublesome as in Siberia. Winters are mild here; it is required to cover the seedling from frost only in the first year of wintering. The liana will endure the rest of the winters without problems. In hot summers, drying of the root soil should not be allowed and it is important to ensure that the plant is regularly watered.

Features of planting and caring for Chinese magnolia vine in the Leningrad region

In the Leningrad Region, high humidity is an important climate factor. This has a positive effect on the Chinese magnolia vine, which loves moist soils and requires regular watering. But low temperatures require spring planting in this region. Shelter for the winter is needed only for two-year-old seedlings.

When to collect Chinese lemongrass

In each region, lemongrass ripens at different times. This indicator also depends on the variety. Ripe lemongrass berries are bright red in color. The fruits are soft and almost transparent. Harvested completely by brush along with the stalks.

Only vines over 5 years old bear fruit. This usually happens in the month of August. The fruit should be processed as quickly as possible. For long-term storage, it is better to dry the fruits.

Why Chinese lemongrass does not bear fruit

The lack of fruiting in vines can be associated with a number of reasons:

• the plant has too many offspring, they do not allow the liana to bear fruit in normal mode;
• too acidic soil, poorly fertilized when planting;
• lack of watering;
• lack of care and garter: liana needs trellises, if it is not tied or cut off, then it may not bear fruit for several years;
• the plant is planted in strong shade;
• the presence of pests or diseases.

Schisandra chinensis is a monoecious plant that has both male and female flowers. In this case, the pollen falls from top to bottom. The higher the trellis is lifted, the better the vine will bear fruit. The optimal height is considered to be 5 m. Too thick liana will also not be able to bear fruit normally, therefore gardeners recommend paying attention to regular pruning of Chinese magnolia vine in the fall.

Schizandra chinensis diseases and how to treat them

The Chinese liana is resistant to diseases. The plant does not get sick with proper care. A purchased seedling can bring the disease to the site. Creepers have a Chinese disease that spreads with improper care. The most dangerous disease is fusarium leaf wilting. If the disease has appeared, the plant cannot be treated. It is completely removed from the site, all shoots are burned.

Chinese liana is sick:

• powdery mildew;
• black spot.

Both diseases are treated by treatment with special preparations and the obligatory removal and burning of already infected leaves. The best option for processing vines is 1% Bordeaux liquid.

In the presence of powdery mildew, experts recommend spraying the liana with a solution of 0.5% -calcined soda and ground sulfur. It is advisable to repeat it several times with a break of 2 weeks.

In order to prevent lemongrass from becoming infected with fusarium when planting using seeds, it is recommended to disinfect them with a 5% formalin solution.

Conclusion

Growing and caring for Chinese magnolia vine will pay off in full in any region of Russia. Liana is unpretentious, frost-resistant enough. At the same time, it is used both in landscape design for decorating gazebos and creating arches, and for medicinal purposes. Folk recipes suggest using not only the red fruits of Schisandra chinensis, but also its leaves. It is important to water the vine on time, cut it off regularly so that unnecessary shoots and root suckers do not grow.

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