Schisandra
Schisandra (Latin: Schizandra) is a genus of woody plants in the Schisandraceae family. The genus includes 14 species, the most common of which is Schizandra chinensis (Latin: Schizandra).
Schisandra has been known since ancient times and is particularly valued for its medicinal properties. In the wild, the plant is found in China, Korea, Japan, Sakhalin, and the Far East. Typical habitats include mountain, broadleaf, valley, and mixed forests. Schisandra is often found at forest edges, along rivers and streams, and in shrub thickets. Cultivated species are grown on special plantations.
Cultivated Characteristics
Schisandra is a perennial deciduous vine up to 15 m tall with a wrinkled, highly branched stem 1-2 cm thick, covered with longitudinal lenticels. The stems of young specimens are glossy yellow, while those of mature specimens are dark brown. The leaves are dark green, pale on the underside, simple, slightly toothed, petiolate, elliptical with a wedge-shaped base, and arranged alternately. The petioles are pinkish-reddish, up to 3 cm long.
The flowers are unisexual, pinkish or white, fragrant, and borne on long, thin peduncles. Schisandra blooms from May to June. The receptacle subsequently fuses, forming a dense spike-shaped raceme consisting of 20-25 juicy, spherical, edible red fruits. Schisandra seeds are shiny, kidney-shaped, brown, brownish, or yellowish. The fruits have a rather distinctive flavor: sour-salty, sometimes bitter, and even pungent. All parts of the plant release a lemon-like aroma when crushed. Growing Conditions
In their early stages, lemongrass is shade-tolerant, but produces good yields of juicy berries only in brightly lit areas. Soil composition for lemongrass should be as close to natural as possible. Sandy, moderately moist, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soils are ideal.
It does not tolerate areas with stagnant meltwater, as well as saline, heavy clay, and waterlogged soils. It thrives in areas fertilized with diluted organic matter. Vegetable crops and grasses are the best precursors.
Planting
Schisandra seedlings are planted in late April — early May or early October (in the southern regions). Seedlings are purchased at two or three years old; they are the most viable. The planting hole is prepared in a couple of weeks; its depth should be about 40 cm deep and 50-70 cm in diameter. Drainage (broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay) is placed at the bottom of the pit, then a mixture consisting of sheet compost, humus and turf soil (in a ratio of 1:1:1). It is advisable to add superphosphate and wood ash to the soil mixture.
When planting lemongrass near the walls of houses, fences and other buildings, you should take into account the optimal spacing — at least 1-1. 5 m. The distance between plants should be about 1 m. Important: the root collar is not buried when planting, it should be located several centimeters above the soil surface. After planting, young plants are watered abundantly, and the tree trunk area is mulched with humus or peat.
Care
Caring for young lemongrass consists of slight loosening, removal of weeds, spraying in dry weather and shading from direct sunlight. The rapid evaporation of moisture and the appearance of weeds will be prevented by mulch, which is applied to the tree trunk area immediately after planting. Schisandra cannot do without trellises, arches, trellises and other types of supports, so when planting you should take care of installing them, otherwise you won’t be able to harvest good harvests.
The crop is fed 2-3 times per season, and all feeding is stopped when fruiting begins. Schisandra is characterized by rapid growth, so pruning is considered the most important step in caring for the plant, which comes down to removing dry, old, diseased and thickened branches. Third-order shoots are not touched when pruning.
Schisandra. How to grow lemongrass. Website “Garden World”
Schisandra seedlings are planted in late April — early May or early October (in the southern regions). Seedlings are purchased at two or three years old; they are the most viable. The planting hole is prepared in a couple of weeks; its depth should be about 40 cm deep and 50-70 cm in diameter. Drainage (broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay) is placed at the bottom of the pit, then a mixture consisting of sheet compost, humus and turf soil (in a ratio of 1:1:1). It is advisable to add superphosphate and wood ash to the soil mixture.
Schisandra
Schisandra (Latin: Schizandra) is a genus of woody plants in the Schisandraceae family. The genus includes 14 species, the most common of which is Schizandra chinensis (Latin: Schizandra).
Schisandra has been known since ancient times and is particularly valued for its medicinal properties. In the wild, the plant is found in China, Korea, Japan, Sakhalin, and the Far East. Typical habitats include mountain, broadleaf, valley, and mixed forests. Schisandra is often found at forest edges, along rivers and streams, and in shrub thickets. Cultivated species are grown on special plantations.
Cultivated Characteristics
Schisandra is a perennial deciduous vine up to 15 m tall with a wrinkled, highly branched stem 1-2 cm thick, covered with longitudinal lenticels. The stems of young specimens are glossy yellow, while those of mature specimens are dark brown. The leaves are dark green, pale on the underside, simple, slightly toothed, petiolate, elliptical with a wedge-shaped base, and arranged alternately. The petioles are pinkish-reddish, up to 3 cm long.
The flowers are unisexual, pinkish or white, fragrant, and borne on long, thin peduncles. Schisandra blooms from May to June. The receptacle subsequently fuses, forming a dense spike-shaped raceme consisting of 20-25 juicy, spherical, edible red fruits. Schisandra seeds are shiny, kidney-shaped, brown, brownish, or yellowish. The fruits have a rather distinctive flavor: sour-salty, sometimes bitter, and even pungent. All parts of the plant release a lemon-like aroma when crushed. Growing Conditions
In their early stages, lemongrass is shade-tolerant, but produces good yields of juicy berries only in brightly lit areas. Soil composition for lemongrass should be as close to natural as possible. Sandy, moderately moist, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soils are ideal.
It does not tolerate areas with stagnant meltwater, as well as saline, heavy clay, and waterlogged soils. It thrives in areas fertilized with diluted organic matter. Vegetable crops and grasses are the best precursors.
Planting
Schisandra seedlings are planted in late April — early May or early October (in the southern regions). Seedlings are purchased at two or three years old; they are the most viable. The planting hole is prepared in a couple of weeks; its depth should be about 40 cm deep and 50-70 cm in diameter. Drainage (broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay) is placed at the bottom of the pit, then a mixture consisting of sheet compost, humus and turf soil (in a ratio of 1:1:1). It is advisable to add superphosphate and wood ash to the soil mixture.
When planting lemongrass near the walls of houses, fences and other buildings, you should take into account the optimal spacing — at least 1-1. 5 m. The distance between plants should be about 1 m. Important: the root collar is not buried when planting, it should be located several centimeters above the soil surface. After planting, young plants are watered abundantly, and the tree trunk area is mulched with humus or peat.
Care
Caring for young lemongrass consists of slight loosening, removal of weeds, spraying in dry weather and shading from direct sunlight. The rapid evaporation of moisture and the appearance of weeds will be prevented by mulch, which is applied to the tree trunk area immediately after planting. Schisandra cannot do without trellises, arches, trellises and other types of supports, so when planting you should take care of installing them, otherwise you won’t be able to harvest good harvests.
The crop is fed 2-3 times per season, and all feeding is stopped when fruiting begins. Schisandra is characterized by rapid growth, so pruning is considered the most important step in caring for the plant, which comes down to removing dry, old, diseased and thickened branches. Third-order shoots are not touched when pruning.
Schisandra. How to grow lemongrass. Website “Garden World”
