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

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

What does Chinese lemongrass look like?

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

Description of the plant Schisandra chinensis

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

During the flowering period, the entire vine is covered with white flowers. By autumn, round fruits form in place of the flowers. They are collected in brushes up to 10 cm long. Chinese liana has a characteristic citrus aroma. The smell is emitted by fruits, leaves and shoots. The characteristic aroma gives the garden a tropical atmosphere.

Schisandra chinensis in landscape design

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

More often the plant is used for its intended purpose - as a vine. Schisandra creates weaving on walls, arches, in gazebos, and along the body of buildings. A green arch will lift your spirits and decorate any area. A pleasant aroma will create a special atmosphere in the garden.

Often, plants are used to shade terraces and gazebos. Weaving is used to create hedges.

Plant varieties

A large number of varieties of lemongrass are known, as breeders have worked on its frost resistance, resistance to diseases and pests. As a result, gardeners and landscape designers have a wide choice. Each variety has advantages and some nuances, but in all the diversity there are also the most popular varieties of vines. For the most part, they 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 first-born is 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 ellipsoidal, the teeth on the sides are sparse with sharp ends. 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 Perborn, focusing on climatic conditions, humidity and soil quality. Chinese lemongrass Perborn is a frequent visitor to garden plots near Moscow. Tolerates winter well.

Schizandra chinensis 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 in order to obtain a harvest.

Schisandra Chinese Delight

Woody liana. This variety is distinguished by later ripening. The harvest can also be harvested in October. Therefore, the plant is not always suitable for the northern latitudes of our country. Chinese Schisandra Delight begins to bloom in May and lasts for several weeks. The flowers have a pleasant citrus aroma.

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

How to grow Chinese lemongrass from seeds

For Chinese Schisandra, growing in the middle zone does not cause any difficulties. There are several methods for reproduction. You can buy seeds right away and simply plant them according to a proven algorithm.

First of all, the seeds should be stratified. Stratification - storing seeds in damp sand at a cool temperature. To begin with, the temperature should be + 18 °C for a month, at the second stage the indicators are reduced to + 5 °C, they are also kept for a month, and in the third month the temperature is slightly raised to + 10 °C.

Planting is carried out in June, immediately in open ground or in a greenhouse, depending on the climatic conditions of the region. After the first three leaves appear, the seedlings dive. It is necessary to water the sown lemongrass only on hot days and always in the morning.

Young lemongrass should be planted in a permanent place after the first winter in the spring. It is better to cover young seedlings for the winter if they are not in a greenhouse.

How to plant Schisandra chinensis seedlings

Growing vines from seeds is a troublesome task and not always effective. Germination can be no higher than 60%. Therefore, the most popular simple planting method is seedlings.They are purchased from special nurseries or propagated by gardeners themselves.

Preparing the landing site

When choosing a site, you should pay attention to the lighting. Schisandra loves sunlight, but feels great in the shade of the trees it braids. It is important that the shadow should not be strong. Optimally, a semi-shaded area, since direct sunlight, especially during rain watering, can cause burns.

When planting near the wall of a 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, and water flows from the roof will have a bad effect on the lemongrass and the health of the plant.

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

Humus, turf 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 and quite strong. Able to survive the first winter and take root.

The result is a healthy, strong plant. When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to the root system. Only healthy, developed roots will be able to take root.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to the fact that the seedlings come with soil. The root system should be stored in a clod of earth in a cool place. Before planting, the roots should be dipped in a clay mash.

Landing rules

In Siberia and the Urals, planting of Schisandra chinensis is carried out in the spring, in the southern regions - in October. A hole is dug 60 cm wide and 40 cm deep. A drainage layer of 10-15 cm must be laid at the bottom. Gardeners use pebbles or crushed stone. The prepared nutrient mixture is poured over the drainage. Plant a seedling.

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

Caring for Schisandra chinensis

Caring for Chinese lemongrass is not difficult, since the vine is an unpretentious plant. But here there are some nuances regarding watering, fertilizing, and 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 exotic nature, Chinese lemongrass has proven itself to be a picky plant.

Watering mode

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

The best option is rain watering. 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, it is recommended to do this with warm or settled water. Root watering can also be carried out during the daytime. This method of watering is most effective for young plants and seedlings. To prevent the root zone from drying out, after watering, peat or humus is placed around the vine.

How to feed Chinese lemongrass

Schisandra chinensis grows in the garden both for decoration and for obtaining a medicinal harvest. But the exotic plant needs feeding in any case.

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

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

After a few months in the summer, fertilizing with organic fertilizers is carried out. Chicken manure or cow manure is used for this. Mullein is bred in a ratio of 1:10, and chicken manure is bred in a ratio of 1:20. Feeding is carried out several times during the summer with a break of 3 weeks. Organic fertilizers are applied at the root with mandatory subsequent watering of the vine.

In the fall, after the bush gives up its leaves, fertilize with superphosphate and wood ash.

A separate fertilization regime exists for fruit-bearing vines to increase its productivity:

• in the spring, add nitroammophoska 4-40 g per square meter. m;
• after flowering - a bucket of chicken manure for each bush;
• in autumn - superphosphate and sulfuric acid stone.

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

How and when to prune Schisandra chinensis

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 bush is very neglected, then pruning is carried out in July.

In the spring, root shoots are removed and sanitary pruning is carried out. When sanitary pruning, Schisandra chinensis is deprived of all diseased, dry, frozen shoots.

Preparing for winter

Schisandra chinensis, when planting and caring, 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 is used as cover.

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

Features of planting and caring for Schisandra chinensis in Siberia

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

It is important to remove all shoots from the trellis. In spring, shoots that have frozen must be pruned. 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 return of frost has passed. Mulching of seedlings is mandatory. When planting by seed, it is recommended to harden the seedlings in advance.

Features of planting and caring for Chinese lemongrass in the Urals

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

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

Features of planting and caring for Schisandra chinensis in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, growing Schisandra chinensis is not as troublesome as in Siberia. Winters here are mild; it is necessary to protect the seedling from frost only in the first year of wintering. The liana will survive the rest of the winters without problems. In hot summers, the root soil should not be allowed to dry out and it is important to provide regular watering to the plants.

Features of planting and caring for Schisandra chinensis in the Leningrad region

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

When to Harvest Chinese Schisandra

In each region, lemongrass ripens at a different period. This indicator also depends on the variety. Ripe lemongrass berries are bright red in color. The fruits are soft and almost transparent. The crop is harvested entirely with a brush along with the stalks.

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

Why doesn't Schisandra chinensis bear fruit?

The lack of fruiting in a vine can be due to a number of reasons:

• the plant has too many offspring, they do not allow the vine to bear fruit normally;
• too acidic soil, poorly fertilized during planting;
• lack of watering;
• lack of care and garter: the vine needs trellises; if it is not tied up and pruned, it may not bear fruit for several years;
• the plant is planted in strong shade;
• presence of pests or diseases.

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

Diseases of Schisandra chinensis and how to treat them

The Chinese liana is resistant to diseases. The plant does not get sick if properly cared for. Purchased seedlings can introduce disease to the site. The vines have Chinese disease, which spreads if not properly cared for. The most dangerous disease is Fusarium leaf wilt. If the disease appears, the plant cannot be treated. It is completely removed from the site, all shoots are burned.

Chinese liana is sick:

• powdery mildew;
• black spotting.

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

If powdery mildew is present, experts recommend spraying the vine with a solution of 0.5% soda ash and ground sulfur. It is advisable to repeat several times with a break of 2 weeks.

To prevent Schisandra 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 lemongrass will pay off in full in any region of Russia. The liana is unpretentious and quite frost-resistant. It is used both in landscape design to decorate gazebos and create 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 and trim regularly so that unnecessary shoots and root shoots do not grow.

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