Strawberry tree - cultivation and beneficial properties of curls

Under natural conditions, the strawberry tree (kudrania) grows on forest and mountain slopes in East Asia, China, Afghanistan, Iran. In China, the leaves of the tree are fed to the silkworm when there are no leaves of the mulberry tree. In these places, the plant is grown not only for the sake of berries, but also for landscaping and consolidation of the soil. It prefers subtropical and tropical climates. The strawberry tree grows up to 6 m and belongs to the mulberry family. It can grow up to 50 years old. Its leaves are simple, with small notches at the edges.

Content:

• Features of the structure of the strawberry tree
• Kudraniya breeding methods
• Planting a tree
• Care Tips
• Diseases and pests
• Useful properties and composition

Features of the structure of the strawberry tree

The curls have small yellow-green leaves. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, dioecious, that is, they are both female and male. They are collected in spherical inflorescences. Round berries of scarlet or burgundy color, are up to 2-5 cm in size, similar to the mulberry and strawberries... They have sweet juicy flesh and a wonderful aroma, the taste is very different from strawberry, since they do not have acids, they are rather similar to persimmon.

They contain several small brownish seeds that resemble hemp nuts. They cannot be transported, they are too soft. Unripe berries should not be eaten, as they are fresh and sour, so they eat only well-ripe ones. After collecting them, you need to immediately eat them or boil them with sugar, since after 24 hours they will lose their appearance and taste.

The first crop is harvested in the 5-6 year of growing the tree.

The number of berries growing on the tree is not very large. The most plentiful harvest ripens in 10 years, it can reach 200 kg. The branches of the tree, which are only one year old, have greenish bark, while the older branches are covered with brown bark.

A tree that stands in an apartment almost always has a lighter color of the trunk than one that grows in its natural environment. Its branches are straight, grow at an angle to the trunk. The crown of the tree is wide, spreading and dense, it is very easy to form it. Milky sap appears on the fracture of branches and leaves.

Kudraniya breeding methods

Propagation by cuttings:

• Cut off healthy annual shoots, put them for 16-18 hours in a solution of root formation stimulants: Humate or Kornevin.
• Then they are planted in pots, filled with coarse sand and vermiculite.
• After transplants seedlings are watered with a solution of Biohumus Plant Miracle-Growth and sprayed growth stimulants: Heteroauxin, Epin, Kornevin, Silk.
• For watering, make a solution of 2-2.5 g of planta per 1 liter of water. Foliar top dressing make a planta solution having a concentration of 0.7-1.0 g per liter of water.
• Cuttings give roots only after 3-4 months.

It is necessary to constantly check the moisture content of the earth, make sure that it does not dry out. A healthy plant with this method is obtained in 30%, because of this, reproduction cuttings not popular. In addition, after planting cuttings with roots, they very often die, so remember that you need to use growth stimulants.

Reproduction by root shoots:

• Daughter offspring are carefully separated from the mother tree, planted in small pots and watered with root solution.
• Root offspring begin to grow very quickly, they grow up to 1 m in a year.

Reproduction by seeds:

• Seeds are sown as soon as they are removed from the fruit.
• Seeds must be stratified, that is, sow seeds in a pot with a substrate from a mixture of peat and humus, sand, perlite.
• Then cover the pot with plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate in the fruit and vegetable compartment for 2 months.
• Then place in a warm, bright room with a temperature of +21 C.
• Keep the soil moist.

The first shoots appear 1-2 months after stratification... If you plant trees seeds, then they begin to set berries only 10 years after planting.

Planting a tree

The strawberry tree prefers slightly acidic or neutral soil with excellent drainage, ideally loamy soil. Kudrania does not like a humid climate and high humidity.

The earth must be airy and moisture-permeable.

Planting methods:

• To plant in a pot, mix 2 parts turf, 1 part humus, 1 part peat soil and 1 part sand. At the bottom of the pot, drainage from broken brick or expanded clay, since the tree does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
• For planting in open ground, the same soil should be made, it is poured into a pit 1 m deep.The drainage layer at the bottom of the pit is 30 cm.

Care Tips

This tree loves the sun's rays and warmth. It does not grow in the shade. Kudrania cannot stand a cold snap, because of this, it is difficult to grow a tree even in the southern regions of Russia, the Caucasus and Crimea. And when the ground freezes, the plant dies. A tree planted in a nutrient mixture does not need to be fertilized in the first year.

In the second year from March to September, complex mineral fertilizers: Bogatyr, Kemira Univversal, NPK Effect.

In the spring, long shoots are cut, and those shoots that grow upward, or inside the crown. In the summer, they are again pruned for crown formation... If the air temperature is high, then the tree is actively watered and sprayed.

Strawberry tree care at home:

• If you are growing a plant in an apartment, then place the pot on the southern windowsill.
• In summer, the strawberry tree is taken out on the balcony or buried in a pot of curls in the garden. But first you need to take the plant out to the loggia for a short time in order to accustom the plant to the sun's rays.
• Water in moderation. The tree perfectly tolerates drought, since it has powerful rhizomes, but in the heat you need to spray the tree with warm water.
• If it grows at home, it must be shaped like a low-stamped one. The crown should be low and consist of 4-5 skeletal branches, from which shoots extend. Very often, he grows strong shoots that are directed vertically or into the crown. These shoots are cut at the base.
• In the first 5 years of cultivation, it is necessary to prune the branches in the spring, and in the summer to pinch and thin out the shoots.
• By winter, the plant is moved to a cooler room, since it needs a dormant period.
• The strawberry tree sheds its leaves by November, they begin to grow back from March. Every 2 years, the soil in the pot is changed again.

If a tree grows in open ground, then by winter it is insulated by placing leaf litter, humus on the trunk circle. And non-woven material is wound on the trunk and branches.

Diseases and pests

Kudrania hardly gets sick and is not damaged pests, it is very resistant even to spider mites. But if the air in the apartment is dry, thrips may appear. These are very small insects (1-1.4 mm) with an elongated body and a pair of wings. They have a sharp proboscis with which they suck the juice. The leaves that have been visited by thrips have tiny brownish dots. The plant grows very small and deformed leaves and flowers. Thrips also secrete a sticky liquid, a sooty fungus appears on it.

How to deal with thrips:

• Examine all the trees.Place patients in the bathroom and wash gently.
• If you see a lot of adult thrips, then collect. Use a cotton swab to remove the larvae from the leaves.
• All plants must be transplanted into pots with new soil, and the old one must be collected in a bag and destroyed.
• Then the plants are sprayed with Aktelik and for a day they are placed under the bag or Agravertin, diluted with 10 ml per 1 liter of water, after which they are also placed under the bag for a day. After a week, spray it again.

Inspect trees systematically, spray them and wash them in the shower. You can hang sticky traps nearby, they will catch adult thrips.

If the apartment is humid and hot, then mealybugs can breed. These are sucking insects 3.5-5 mm in size. They can be recognized by the white flakes that resemble cotton wool.

If you see that the plants are affected by mealybugs, then moisten a cotton swab in soap and water and thoroughly clean the leaves and stems from insects and their secretions.

After that, spray the tree 3 times, observing a weekly interval with a solution of 10-15 g of green soap and 1 liter of water, infusion garlic, tobacco, broth cyclamen... If there are a lot of mealybugs, then you need to spray Fitoverm, Confidor.

Useful properties and composition

Curly fruits are rich in sugars and low in acid. They can be eaten fresh and are very juicy and sweet. Compotes, jellies are made from berries, preserves, jams, fruit drinks are made. They are added in the preparation of various dishes - salads from fruits and berries, confectionery.

The pulp of berries contains a lot of iron, choline, vitamins A, B and PP, glycosides, ascorbic acid, rutin, pectin, resinous substances.

The fruits are great for anemia, insomnia, stress. They are useful for people with diseases of the stomach and intestines, suffering from dysentery and heartburn. In addition, the use of berries lowers blood pressure, purifies the blood, normalizes the liver and spleen, and also restores metabolism. A decoction is made from the bark of a tree, which is an excellent antiseptic, it heals wounds, heals burns and ulcers. Wood is used for the manufacture of furniture, musical instruments.

The easiest way to preserve a berry is to freeze it in the freezer or preserve it with sugar by heat treatment. Also, the berry can be dried and then added to tea.

Interesting video - Strawberry tree: