Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra chinensis) - not only useful, but also a very beautiful plant. From spring to autumn, the liana pleases the owners. In the spring it grows prettier, covered with snow-white fragrant flowers, in the summer it is made into an elegant cluster of ripening berries, which turn red in the fall against the background of lemon-yellow foliage. In the spring, plant seedlings, put up supports, do not forget to water and feed, and lemongrass will decorate the garden for your care, and add vitality, and heal ailments.
Planting lemongrass in a permanent place
The success of its cultivation largely depends on where lemongrass is planted. The place he needs to take is warm, well protected from cold winds, for example, near garden buildings. In the middle lane, it is preferable to plant it on the west side of the buildings, and in the southern regions - from the east, so that the plants are in the shade for part of the day. You can plant it along the fence, wrap it around a gazebo, an arch.
About the reproduction of lemongrass - in the article Breeding Chinese magnolia vine.
In the middle lane, it is best to plant lemongrass in spring, in late April - early May, to the south - planting is carried out in October. It is recommended to plant at least 3 plants, at a distance of 1 m from each other. When planting near the house, the vines are planted, stepping back from the wall by 1-1.5 m, so that drops from the roof do not fall on the roots.
The planting hole is dug 40 cm deep, 50-70 cm in diameter. Drainage is laid on the bottom with a layer of 10 cm - expanded clay, crushed stone, broken brick. The foliage compost, humus, turf soil are mixed in equal parts, 200 g of superphosphate, 500 g of wood ash are added and the planting pit is filled with this nutrient mixture.
The most viable seedlings are 2-3 years old. With a low height (10-15 cm), they have a well-developed root system. During planting, the root collar should not be buried; it should be at ground level. The planted plants are watered abundantly, and the root hole is covered with peat or humus.
Young vines take root easily. Caring for them in the first after planting consists in shading from bright sunlight, shallow loosening, removing weeds, spraying with water in dry weather. At the same time, covering the soil around the stem with humus will prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture and at the same time such mulch will feed the young plant.
Top dressing
To make the leaves of lemongrass lush, from the third year of life in the garden, lemongrass is intensively fed. Supplementary food begins in April. In the near-stem circle, 20-30 g of saltpeter are scattered, followed by mulching the near-stem circle with humus or sheet compost. In the summer, every 2-3 weeks, liquid fertilizing with organic matter (fermented mullein or chicken droppings at a dilution of 1:10 and 1:20, respectively) is carried out. In the fall, after leaf fall, 20 g of superphosphate and 100 g of wood ash are added under each plant, followed by embedding to a depth of no more than 10 cm.
Vines begin to bloom and bear fruit at 5-6 years of age, that is, 3 years after planting on the site. After another 2-4 years, the most fruitful period begins.
Fruiting lianas are fed in the spring with nitrophosphate (4-50 g / m2), after flowering, diluted and fermented mullein or bird droppings are introduced (in a bucket for each plant), in the fall - superphosphate (60 g) and potassium sulfate (30-40 g). Once every 2-3 years, compost (4-6 kg / m2) is embedded in the soil to a depth of 6-8 cm.
Watering
At home, lemongrass grows in conditions of high air humidity, so in hot weather the plants are sprayed with warm water. Young plants especially need moisture. Adult vines are watered in dry weather, spending up to 6 buckets of warm water per plant. Water also after each feeding. To retain moisture after watering, the soil is mulched with dry soil.
Support
Lemongrass is grown on a trellis. With this arrangement, the illumination of the plant is improved, which contributes to an increase in the size of the berries and the enlargement of the brush.Lemongrass without supports looks like a low bush and most often does not bear fruit.
It is advisable to install the trellis in the year of planting lemongrass. If this cannot be done, the seedlings are tied to pegs, and a permanent support is installed in the spring of next year.
For the construction of the trellis, pillars of such length are needed so that, after installation, they rise 2-2.5 m above the ground. They are dug in to a depth of 60 cm, at a distance of 3 m from each other. On the pillars, the wire is pulled in 3 rows: the lower one at a height of 0.5 m, the rest after 0.7-1 m.
In the first year after planting, the growing shoots are tied to the lower row of wire, in subsequent years - to the higher ones. The garter is carried out throughout the summer, placing young shoots in a fan. For the winter, the tied up shoots remain on the trellis, they cannot be removed.
When planting lemongrass near the house, obliquely set ladders are used as supports.
Pruning
Lemongrass begins to be cut from 2-3 years after planting. By this time, the increased growth of roots is replaced by the rapid development of the aboveground part. Of the numerous shoots that have appeared, 3-6 are left, the rest are removed at the soil level. In adult plants, unproductive branches at the age of 15-18 are cut out and replaced with young ones, selected from the growth.
It is better to cut lemongrass in the fall, after leaf fall. If the vine is very thickened, then pruning can be done in June-July.
In late spring and winter, vines are not pruned, because after pruning, there is abundant juice production (crying of the vine) and drying out of the plants. Only root shoots can be removed in spring, and this must be done annually. Root shoots are cut below soil level.
With sanitary pruning, first of all, dried, broken and small branches thickening the crown are removed. Long lateral shoots are shortened in time, leaving 10-12 buds.
Preparing for winter
Young plants 2-3 years after planting are covered with a layer of leaves 10-15 cm thick, and spruce branches are placed on top to scare off rodents. Adult vines are frost-resistant and do not need protection for the winter.
Medicinal beds
Sometimes lemongrass is grown specifically for tea or medicines, which are prepared from leaves and stems. In this case, the seedlings are planted in three beds. The next year, in August, the plants are mowed from the first bed. In the second year, the second bed is mowed and a year later - the third. During this time, plants grow on the first bed.
The collected green mass, intended for tea, is spread on a cloth or paper and dried for several days in the shade. Store in paper bags until winter. They drink lemongrass tea to recuperate after physical and mental stress. It raises blood pressure in hypotensive patients and may well replace coffee. The invigorating effect of tea lasts 6-8 hours, so it is better not to drink it late in the evening.
Read more about the beneficial properties of lemongrass - in the articles:
Schisandra chinensis - the berry of vitality
Schisandra chinensis - help from nature
Schisandra: berry of five flavors and spicy leaves
Lemongrass recipes: from tincture to tea
Harvesting
Schisandra fruits are ready for harvest when they acquire a uniform bright carmine-red color, become soft and transparent. Collect lemongrass with tassels together with stalks. They also have medicinal value. The stalks can be dried, crushed, and used as a flavoring agent in tea.
Almost the entire crop can be harvested in one go. Harvesting will speed up if you spread burlap under the bush, and hit the stretched branch with the edge of your palm. From a sharp blow and shaking, the berries crumble, it remains only to collect them from the litter.
Lemongrass fruits are poorly stored, they quickly grow moldy and begin to ferment. Therefore, they should be recycled on the day of collection or the next day. During processing, crushing of seeds should be avoided, otherwise the workpieces will acquire a bitter taste.
The berries are dried in the oven at 60C for 3-4 days. When properly dried, lemongrass has a deep red color.Medicinal properties persist for two years.
