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Pavlovsky lemon is the most famous and widespread variety of citrus fruits growing on the windowsill. It was with him that many amateurs began to seriously engage in the cultivation of original indoor plants.
It is believed that the variety first appeared in the city of Pavlovo, located on the banks of the Oka. In the 19th century, the merchant Ivan Karachistov, who traded in metal products, ended up in Turkey on business. Having concluded a successful deal, he received lemon cuttings as a gift from Turkish companions. Karachistov returned to Pavlovo and presented them to his relative, Elagin, who was seriously involved in plant growing. He rooted the cuttings, soon his citruses were fruitful, and a few years later, in almost every Pavlov house, miraculous fruits flaunted on the windowsills. Since that time, the lemon received the name Pavlovsky, and quickly spread throughout Russia. The area of the new plant expanded, became truly national, since many ordinary people later put their hand to cuttings. They developed and improved the famous variety. Today Pavlovsky lemon looks different and is somewhat different from the original.
Description of the Pavlovsky lemon variety
The amazing biography of the Pavlovsk variety led to its change: many forms appeared that were different from each other. Differences relate to fruits, leaves, the bush itself.
The Pavlovsk lemon bush usually does not exceed 1.5 m. Its branches hanging down have thorns: green at a young age and brown at a more mature age. The bark of young shoots is green, later becomes grayish-yellow. There are longitudinal cracks on the trunk of the plant.
The leaves of Pavlovsky lemon are salad green, large, shiny, on short cuttings. They differ in size and shape: ovoid, elongated, lanceolate. There are jagged edges at the top of the leaf.
Pavlovsky lemon is a remontant variety, that is, it is capable of bearing fruit several times per season. Most often, flowering occurs twice - in early spring and early autumn. The first individual flowers on the plant obtained from the cuttings appear in the second year of the citrus life. True flowering occurs at the age of four.
The flowers of Pavlovsky lemon are snow-white, located in the axils of the leaves, 3 cm in diameter, have a pleasant strong smell. Self-pollinating, flowers are arranged singly or in small inflorescences.
The tree grows well and bears fruit in lighted areas, easily tolerates minor shade. Does not like Pavlovsky lemon in direct sunlight and being outdoors.
The optimum temperature for growth is 20 oC, in winter the indicator can be 5 oWith less, with humidity - 60 - 70%. With excessive dryness of the air or humidity above 70%, citrus can shed its leaves.
Upon reaching the age of 12 - 15 years, Pavlovsky lemon gives a high yield of fruits: up to 50 pieces weighing 200 g. Often specimens weighing 500 g.
The taste and quality of the fruit is excellent. The fruits have a juicy pulp with a bright aroma. Their color is yellow, their shape is oval, elongated. The thickness of the peel of the fruits of this variety is average, sometimes thin, up to 3 mm. Its surface ranges from smooth to rough and bumpy. Such specimens of Pavlovsk lemons ripen for a long time, they can hang on the branches for a whole year.
Advantages and disadvantages
There is no doubt about the benefits of Pavlovsk citrus fruits. They contain vitamins C and B, minerals.The peel contains vitamin P and substances that can fight microbes. Essential oils reduce the level of "bad cholesterol", strengthen the immune system, improve memory, relieve fatigue, and fight nausea.
Due to its chemical composition and properties, lemon fruits have a positive effect on the body:
- help lower high blood pressure;
- help cleanse the liver of toxins;
- fight colds and flu;
- stop the development of infections;
- help to reduce stomach pain.
Like citrus fruits grown by an industrial method, the fruits of Pavlovsky lemon, ripened on a windowsill, have the indicated advantages. But growing citrus at home has its advantages, namely:
- easy adaptability of the plant to home conditions;
- repeated flowering of Pavlovsky lemon during the year;
- compactness of the tree;
- minimum requirements for pruning and crown formation;
- entry into fruiting in the third year;
- high quality fruit;
- good harvest.
The plant has practically no drawbacks, therefore, the variety remains in demand for centuries. With proper care for Pavlovsk lemon, observing the temperature and humidity, it grows and bears fruit without problems.
How lemon multiplies
Growing Pavlovsky lemon from seeds requires patience. The harvest can only be expected after 15 years. For reproduction, it is worth choosing seeds from a well-bearing tree. They must be sown immediately after extraction from the fruit. If the seed has time to dry out, then it is soaked in warm water for 24 hours.
The pre-prepared substrate should contain humus and sand in a ratio of 2 to 1. A small pot is filled with soil mixture, compacted and Pavlovsky lemon seeds are placed in grooves 1.5 cm deep at a distance of 4 cm from each other. Sprinkle, moisten using a spray bottle. Seedlings appear in a month and a half. Up to three sprouts can hatch from a seed. Leave one, the strongest, and remove the weak. At the stage of 4 - 5 leaves, the seedlings dive one by one into the pot, without deepening the neck. Pavlovsk lemons, grown with seeds, bear the first fruits in 10 to 15 years. You can speed up the process of forming the crown and creating optimal humidity, lighting, feeding, but the difference will be insignificant.
Fruiting will come in three years if the seedling is inoculated with a cuttings taken from the Pavlovsky lemon, which is already yielding fruits. The grafted seedlings have endurance and develop well.
The most popular breeding method is cuttings. They take root better if cut in early spring. Planting material is taken from a lignified branch. A stalk 5 mm thick and 10 cm long with 5 leaves is cut at an angle with a sharp knife from a healthy fruit-bearing tree. The section is treated with a growth stimulant. Next, the stalk is placed vertically in the greenhouse soil, deepening by 1.5 cm.While maintaining the temperature of 20 oWith regular moistening, roots appear after two weeks. After a month and a half, the plant can be planted in a permanent place. With proper care, lemons from Pavlovo begin to bloom in a year, bear fruit in 3 to 5 years.
Reproduction by cuttings gives a quick and high-quality result, while all the properties of the mother plant are preserved, grafting is not required. The method is not laborious, does not require special costs.
Seeds of Pavlovsk lemons are rarely bred, since only one and a half months are spent on seedlings. In the future, the seedling must be grafted or wait for the fruit for a decade and a half. The vaccine does not always take root. She needs a varietal graft.
Landing rules
Rooted cuttings are transplanted into separate clay pots with a volume of 0.5 liters. It is not necessary to pinch the roots when planting, at their ends there is mycorrhiza - a symbiotic formation of mushrooms and roots. Long rhizomes are twisted in a spiral and placed on the bottom of the pot, sprinkled with soil mixture.The seedling grows quickly and needs to be transplanted every year using the transshipment method.
The operation is carried out with acidified soil. It is completely changed, the decayed roots are pruned, drainage is increased, new soil is poured and Pavlovsky lemon is already planted in it.
Transshipment is carried out according to the following rules:
- The earth lump is not disturbed, but only a soil mixture is added.
- The root collar should be at ground level or 1 cm lower.
- The pot is chosen 2 cm larger than the previous one.
- Sprinkle with warm water.
- Broken brick or coal is used as drainage.
Growing Pavlovsk lemons at home
In comfortable conditions, with proper care, Pavlovsky lemon in an apartment gives a good harvest of fruits.
Pruning the plant is carried out as needed so as not to weaken it. An old tree is rejuvenated in this way. As a result of the operation, life expectancy and fruiting times increase. Pruning is carried out according to the rules:
- pinching and pruning spend the entire growing season;
- it is worth starting from the trunk, shortening it by no more than 20 cm;
- shoots of the first order are shortened by 25 cm, the second - by 10 cm.
Young trees are watered more often than adults. In summer, Pavlovsky lemon is irrigated at the root, the leaves are sprayed. In winter, moisturizing is carried out less frequently. The water should be warm and settled. The best time to water is morning or evening.
If the lemon turns yellow, the foliage falls off, then it needs feeding. Fertilization time is from winter to autumn. At the age of two years, the plant needs phosphorus-potassium fertilizers once every 2 weeks.
Shade tolerance of Pavlovsky lemon depends on air temperature and humidity. In winter, it is placed closer to the window, providing additional lighting for several hours. Finding a lemon on a sunny window can end in tears: it will burn, throw off the foliage. The best place for citrus is in the middle of the room with ambient light.
Pavlovsky lemon loves warmth. For development, a temperature of about 20 oC, in winter it is reduced to 12 oC. The plant does not like sudden changes in temperature.
The requirements for soil and air moisture in Pavlovsky lemon are high. The soil should not be waterlogged or dry. The optimum air humidity is 70%. When it drops to 55%, citruses feel discomfort. Caring for Pavlovsky lemon at home in winter and summer consists in maintaining the proper microclimate. The trees are sprayed twice a week, a plate of water is placed under them, the room is ventilated, and an air humidifier is used.
Pests and diseases of Pavlovsky lemon
When the Pavlovsky lemon has curved leaves, curls, flowers, ovaries and buds fall off, it means that it was attacked by pests:
- aphids;
- whitefly;
- thrips
- scabbards;
- spider mites.
The most reliable method of protection is insecticidal preparations.
Pavlovsky lemon is susceptible to a number of diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- anthracnose;
- spotting;
- hommosis.
Fitosporin is used to fight, but viral diseases are cured with great difficulty.
Conclusion
Pavlovsk lemon begins to ripen in November. The process takes about 200 days. When fully ripe, citrus has a bright yellow color. It is not necessary to pick all the fruits: their view on the tree pleases the eye, lifts the mood.
The variety has undergone many changes during its existence. It is difficult to find an initial version, but a lemon from Pavlovo deserves respect: it is not for nothing that a monument to this exotic fruit is erected in the city on the Oka.
