Medlar is an evergreen or deciduous tree depending on the species. The culture has long been considered purely decorative, and only recently acquired the official status of edible fruit. In various sources, it can be found under the name lokva, sessex, eriobotria, which is also correct. In nature, this plant grows in the subtropics of Southeast Asia, where it is known to everyone.
Medlar - what is this tree
When they first saw the fruits of this tree, many are wondering: medlar - what kind of plant is this? This culture belongs to the family Rosaceae and is a close relative of quince.
You can grow this plant at home or in the garden
Its homeland is Japan, China and India, where medlar grows in mountainous regions in the form of dense shrubs. From there, the plant spread to Italy, Australia, Israel, the United States and throughout the Black Sea coast. And at the same time in every country he was given his own name. But it is the main name of "medlar" - Turkish.
Short description of what it looks like
Cultivated medlar is a tree, which in the presence of favorable conditions grows up to 8 m. The plant is characterized by a spreading crown with a diameter of 3-4 m.
It is interesting! Medlar belongs to the category of centenarians and can grow for 50 years in one place.
The root system of this culture is superficial, branched. The branches are covered with dark gray bark. Young shoots initially have a reddish tint and felt pubescence.
The leaves of the medlar are large oval in shape, reach a length of 30 cm, and a width of 8 cm. The plates are dark green in color, whole, the surface is leathery, hard to the touch, slightly wrinkled between the veins. With the advent of autumn, the leaves turn orange with a reddish tint.
The fruits of the medlar have a pear-shaped or rounded shape, depending on the species. In diameter, they reach 6-8 cm. When ripe, they turn yellow or orange. Inside each one there are large seeds from 1 to 5 pcs, covered with a hard dark brown skin. Around them is juicy edible flesh. Its taste is sweet and sour and resembles a combination of pear, apple and strawberry.
When ripe, the skin of the fruits becomes thinner, so it is easily damaged. This feature does not allow long storage of medlar and transported fresh.
The beneficial properties of the fruit
Medlar, what is this fruit? The fruits of this exotic tree have a balanced chemical composition. They contain a whole complex of vitamins of groups B, A, C, E, K, PP and a large number of minerals. In addition, exotic fruits contain:
- organic acids;
- Sahara;
- tannins;
- pectins.
Medlar is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
Medlar - a fruit that favorably affects the human body. Its usefulness in diseases of the organs of vision is proved, since beta-carotene is present in the composition of berries.
For reference! Based on ripe fruits, it is recommended to prepare a tincture that helps with asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.
Other beneficial properties of medlar:
- normalizes the functioning of the digestive system;
- removes sand and stones from the kidneys;
- cleanses the body of toxins, toxins;
- compensates for the lack of vitamins;
- lowers blood sugar;
- prevents the development of a heart attack, stroke;
- reduces the likelihood of cancer.
Important! You should not use medlar with individual intolerance to the product and with exacerbation of diseases of the digestive system, so as not to harm health.
Varieties of fruit tree
Having figured out what this medlar is, you should familiarize yourself with what types of wood are used in gardening. This southern culture is of 3 species, but only 2 of them have gained wide popularity. These include the Japanese medlar, as well as German or otherwise Abkhaz. Both varieties are shade-tolerant, not demanding on the composition of the soil and easily tolerate drought. But there are differences between them.
Japanese medlar
Japanese medlar is an evergreen tree 3-5 m high, but there are exceptions up to 8 m. The shoots and branches of the plant are densely covered with a red-gray edge. The leaves are large, oblong in shape, up to 25 cm long and about 8 cm wide. The upper surface of the plates is glossy dark green, on the back side it is grayish with pubescence.
In this variety of medlar, the fruiting period is radically different from other garden trees. Fruits begin to ripen in late May - early June. Their shape may be pear-shaped or rounded. On the branches, the fruits are gathered in clusters. The mass of each varies from 20 to 100 g, the size is about 7 cm.
The Japanese variety of culture prefers a warm climate and rocky ground. At a temperature of -15 degrees, the plant dies. Therefore, you can grow Japanese medlar only in the southern regions or as a houseplant.
The fruits of Japanese medlar look like apricots
On the basis of the Japanese medlar, varieties and hybrids, which are distinguished by high palatability of the fruit and a pleasant aroma, have been developed. The most popular of them:
- Tanaka;
- Sayles;
- Champagne
- Frost;
- Early red;
- Montreal
- Thales.
German medlar
German medlar is often called Abkhazian, Caucasian or Crimean. This species is considered more decorative, but deciduous. The height of the tree does not exceed 3 m. The plant is unpretentious to care and increased frost resistance. The fruit ripens in November.
For the full growth of the tree, warm winter and non-hot summer are necessary. Therefore, this variety can be grown in open ground in temperate regions.
The taste of fruits in the German medlar is sweet, but tart. Therefore, in order to improve it, it is recommended to remove rounded fruits from the tree after the first frost or put in the freezer for several days.
Important! There is often confusion when writing the name of this tree, so when choosing a Muslim or Medlar, the latter is correct.
Growing medlar from bone at home
Having become familiar with what this medlar is and what the plant looks like, you should find out how it can be grown at home.
To do this, when the fetus ripens, remove the seeds from it and carry out scarification. Do this procedure immediately before landing. To do this, it is necessary to violate from different sides the integrity of the outer shell with sandpaper or a file. And then lower the bones for 35 hours into room temperature water.
For planting, you will need to prepare a soil mixture of peat, humus, sheet soil and sand, taking the components in an equal volume. You should also prepare pots with drainage holes 15 cm high.
Algorithm of actions during landing:
- Lay expanded clay on the bottom of the container with a layer of 1-1.5 cm.
- The rest of the volume is nutritionally filled with a mixture, pour.
- Deepen the bones 1-2 cm into the soil.
- Sprinkle with earth, smooth the surface.
- Cover the container with foil and put in a dark place with a temperature of + 23 ... +25 degrees.
Ventilate the container daily and remove any condensation. Medlar seeds sprout on day 25-30. When there are friendly shoots, rearrange the container in a bright place and lower the temperature to +18 degrees. This will help to slow down the growth of the aerial part and activates the buildup of the root system.
Important! For home cultivation, it is better to select varieties or hybrids derived from Japanese medlar.
When the seedlings are a little stronger, they should be adapted to external conditions. To do this, you need to open them for the first time for 30 minutes, and with each subsequent day to increase this interval by another 1 hour. After a week, the seedlings can be completely opened.
As soon as the height of each plant reaches 5 cm, you need to plant them in separate containers. To do this, you need to prepare containers with a diameter of 10 cm and a nutrient mixture similar to that used when planting seeds. In the future, it is necessary to control the level of humidity, avoiding overflows.
With proper care, medlar bears fruit at home
How to grow medlar in the garden
The German medlar is suitable for open ground, as it is characterized by increased frost resistance. For planting, you should choose 2 or 3 year old seedlings with a height of 30-40 cm. You can purchase them in nurseries.
This southern plant can grow in any corner of the garden, as it is shade tolerant. For full development, it is necessary to observe a distance of 1.5-2 m from other tall crops. Medlar is not demanding on the composition of the soil, but needs a neutral level of acidity.
For reference! When planting, it is necessary to take into account the level of groundwater occurrence, it must be at least 1.5 m.
Features of planting and subsequent care
For planting, you need to dig a plot in advance and make humus at the rate of 10 kg per 1 sq. m. In this case, all roots of perennial weeds should be carefully removed. For the medlar, a landing pit should be prepared with a depth and width of 80 cm. Lay a layer of broken brick or crushed stone at the bottom.
Procedure:
- Sprinkle drainage with a nutritious mixture and make a slight elevation in the center.
- Put a seedling on it, spread the roots.
- Sprinkle with earth, compact the soil at the base.
- Abundantly water the seedling.
The next day, mulch the near-stem circle with humus or peat, which will prevent the roots from drying out.
Medlar, regardless of type, does not require complex care. It is enough to moisten the soil as the top soil layer dries up, but not to allow moisture stagnation. At the same time, it is important that the plant does not lack moisture during flowering, as the future harvest depends on it.
Top dressing must be carried out three times per season.
- First time in the spring. During this period, organic or mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content should be used.
- The second and third time - during the flowering and fruiting period. At this time, phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers should be used.
Important! The medlar seedling is actively growing the first 7 years after planting, then this rate decreases, which is the norm.
Every 2 years, the shoots of the tree must be shortened by 1/3 of the length, which will help improve the branching and decorativeness of the plant.
Medlar easily tolerates drought
Medlar propagation by cuttings
Medlar can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. But the first method does not allow preserving the species qualities of the mother tree. Therefore, the vegetative method is most often used.
For cuttings, last year's shoots should be used. They need to be cut into pieces, each of which should have 2 nodes. Leaves on them completely removed. Make the lower cut obliquely and dust with any rooting agent.
For planting, prepare a mixture of sand and sheet earth in an equal volume. Fill the pots and water well. Deepen the cuttings in moist soil to the first node, compact the surface. Move the pot to a well-lit, warm place. Rooting occurs after 5-6 weeks. During this time, the soil must be kept slightly moist.
How to transplant an adult tree
If necessary, you can transplant an adult medlar tree. To do this, it should be dug without breaking the earthen ball on the roots. Then prepare the landing pit 2 times its size. Put a plant in the center, and fill the voids with nutrient soil. At the end of the procedure, water the tree abundantly.
Important! An adult tree transplant can be done no more than 1 time in 4 years.
How a tree blooms, dormancy and active phase
The medlar seedling begins to bloom for 3 years after planting in a permanent place. The culture is self-pollinated, so you can grow only one medlar seedling on the site.
The flowers of this plant are light cream in color. Their diameter is 2.0-2.5 mm. When buds open, a delicate pleasant aroma is felt.
Japanese medlar does not have a pronounced dormant period, since the plant belongs to the category of evergreens. And in the German active phase begins, like all fruit plants, with the advent of spring. And the resting period of this species lasts from November to February.
Medlar flowers are quite large
Medlar in landscape design
This culture is widely used for landscaping, as it has a spreading lush crown. Most often, the plant is planted in a row, creating an alley along the garden path or fence.
Also looking good medlar in solitary landings against a green lawn.
Growing problems, diseases and pests
According to the description, this southern plant is characterized by increased resistance to pests and diseases. But with inconsistency of the growing conditions, its immunity is significantly reduced.
Common problems.
- Leaf spotting. A provoking factor is stagnation of moisture in the soil. This disease occurs when growing medlar at home. As a result, the leaves of the plant become stained, then turn yellow and fall off. For treatment, it is necessary to transplant the plant and completely replace the substrate.
- Shield. The pest eats the juice of the plant. You can find it along the trunk, on the shoots and on the back of the leaves. For destruction, it is recommended to water the plant twice with a frequency of 7 days with the "Aktara" working solution.
- Aphid. The insect infects young leaves and shoots of medlar, creating entire colonies. It feeds on the juice of the plant, which leads to deformation of the plates. For destruction, it is recommended to spray the crown with Actellic or Inta-Vir.
- Sooty mushroom. This disease occurs against the background of damage by pests that transmit spores. You can identify the fungus by a black coating on the leaves, which prevents photosynthesis. For treatment, it is necessary to treat the plant with Skor, and if possible wash the leaves.
You can avoid damage using preventative treatments of the tree. This will maintain the plant immunity at a high level.
Today, few compatriots grow medlar in the garden, but interest in the plant is growing steadily. In a period of great food abundance, the exotic medlar berry becomes a tasty treat that can surprise guests and their family.
