Popular varieties of Asian mandarin for indoor care

Mandarin, like the lemon tree, is quite common and popular. An indoor plant is grown directly indoors. Botanists suggest that it was first grown in China or Japan.

Where did the plant get its name from? In the past, it was grown in mandarin orchards, which were wealthy dignitaries at the time. In the early 19th century, mandarins began to appear in Europe. They were transported to Italy in 1840. After that, the whole Mediterranean learned about this fruit.

The tangerine tree is distinguished by the fact that it ripens quickly and bears a large harvest. He also has pretty sweet fruits that do not have seeds. When did Ukraine see this beautiful tree? At the beginning of the 20th century, where the Black Sea is. It is in this place that the tangerine at home is most common.

The fruit tree can be called weak. Its height reaches 3 meters. He has beautiful, eye-catching leaves. Their color is dark green, and in structure they are quite dense and have small wings in the area of ​​the petioles. The flowers have a wonderful aroma and white color - they are beautifully arranged in the clusters. The fruits of the tree are spherical, flattened and have a diameter of up to 6 cm.Their weight is about 100 g.

The fruit has a thin orange peel that is easy to separate from the pulp. There are “plump” tangerines, the peel of which practically does not come into contact with the pulp, but has an air gap. The sweet yellow-orange pulp is easy to cut into slices.

The fruit of the tree is rich in sugar, organic acids, vitamins. It is rare to find seeds in the fruit. If you decide to plant a tangerine at home, then it requires a limited amount of light and fresh air. Not every variety of tangerine can grow in the house, so it is necessary to distinguish between these types. So, you can get early ripe tangerine trees, which are of Japanese origin. They are weak and unpretentious.

Among the most common varieties, the Unshiu variety can be distinguished, which means seedless. He has a short height - up to 1.5 meters. It has a spreading crown, and the branches do not have thorns. The leaves are wide, leathery and dark green in color. The tree blooms profusely once a year. Tangerine from the stone at home has small white flowers with a pleasant aroma. When the tree is 3 years old, it begins to bear fruit. If an adult tree is well looked after, then up to 50 fruits can be obtained during the year.

Mandarin - description, characteristics, photo. How do tangerines grow?

Mandarin is an evergreen tree, reaching a height of 4 meters, although the height of a 30-year-old tree can reach up to 5 m, and the harvest can be from 5 to 7 thousand fruits.

The mandarin has a rather spreading, rounded crown, the diameter of which can exceed 3.5 meters. The bark of the tangerine tree is light gray and the young shoots are dark green. Mandarin leaves are small, leathery, pointed or ovoid, and do not change color during the season. Each leaf lives for about 4 years.

Photo by: Jebulon

Photo by: 4028mdk09

Mandarin flowers are often single or collected in pairs and are located in the axils of the leaves.

The tree blooms from April to early summer, then the tree looks especially beautiful: the mandarin crown is as if wrapped in a cloud of white or cream inflorescences, emitting a bright, pleasant aroma, somewhat similar to the smell of bergamot.

Photo by: Sgpl

Photo Credit: Hubertl

Mandarins are self-fertile plants and are pollinated with their own pollen, as a result of which many ovaries are formed, and fruits begin to develop. Mandarin is a fairly early-growing tree, and gives the first harvest 3-4 years after planting. The first growth of shoots occurs at the beginning of spring, the second growth wave begins in mid-August.

Fruit formation occurs on the second last year's growth or on the first this year. Mandarins ripen in October and are harvested completely in December. Thus, tangerines grow and bear fruit within 7 months.

Photo Credit: Marco Bernardini

Mandarin differs from other citrus fruits in its thin, easily detachable orange peel, and in a number of varieties, the skin and pulp are separated by an air layer and practically do not touch each other.

The size of mandarin fruits ranges from 4 to 6 cm in diameter, and due to the flattened shape, the width of the fruit is noticeably greater than its height. Each mandarin fruit consists of several nests - lobules, usually 10-12, each of which contains 1-2 seeds.

Some varieties of tangerines are completely seedless.

Photo Credit: Blanco

The structure of the yellow-orange pulp of mandarin is similar to many citrus fruits (orange, lemon, orange) and is represented by numerous juice-containing sacs - fusiform hairs filled with juice.

Such a structure is called hesperidium - one of the forms of a berry-like fruit.

About 600-800 fruits are obtained from one plant per year; with age, fruiting becomes more abundant.

On average, a tangerine tree lives for about 70 years.

Photo by: Daderot

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Where do tangerines grow?

The native land of the Mandarin is southern China and Cochin Khin (southeast of the Indochina Peninsula). Currently, orange fruits are widely cultivated not only in their homeland, but also in India, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, USA, Abkhazia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Spain, southern France, Italy, Brazil and other countries with a favorable climate for this culture.

Photo Credit: Allen Timothy Chang

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The homeland of this plant is the northern part of ancient India, where mandarin is still found in the wild. Later, his grains were brought to China. In this country, over time, citrus found its second home. At the end of the 18th century, it became widespread in Europe.

Currently, mandarin is cultivated in all Mediterranean countries, as well as in regions with tropical and subtropical climates. Grown in India, China, Japan, Greece, Italy, France, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Argentina, USA. Some of its varieties are grown in Russia.

In world production, this crop ranks second after orange. Japan is the largest supplier of this fruit.

Mandarins - benefits and harms

Beneficial features

Due to its rich chemical composition, mandarin is considered a very healthy fruit. Mandarins have long and firmly established themselves as the main source of vitamins necessary for the body in the cold season. The juicy pulp of mandarin contains the following substances:

• vitamins of group B, A, C, E, rutin;
• organic acids (including citric and folic) and sugars;
• minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc.
• phytoncides with antifungal and bactericidal properties.

Tangerine pulp and juice improve appetite, and due to its low calorie content, fruits can be consumed without fear for your figure.

Tangerine peel contains 1-2% mandarin essential oil, as well as biological pigments, including carotene. These substances stimulate the activity of the digestive tract, contributing to better digestion of food. Also, the peel contains glycosides that have a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels.

A decoction of dried mandarin peel calms the nervous system, and also has expectorant properties and helps with lung diseases (bronchitis, tracheitis). Rubbing the tangerine pulp into the affected skin and nails will help get rid of the fungus.

Mandarin seeds have also found their use in medicine:

• Potassium and sodium, which are found in mandarin seeds, strengthen the cardiovascular system.
• Vitamins of group B and C prevent the development of heart attacks and strokes.
• Vitamin A takes part in the formation of collagen and prevents the development of skin diseases.
• Mandarin seeds are rich in polyphenols, the main function of which is to suppress the development of cancer.

Contraindications

Be careful! People suffering from chronic diseases of the stomach and kidneys should use tangerines with extreme caution. It is not recommended to use tangerines for the following diseases:

• Peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer;
• Acidic gastritis;
• Enteritis;
• Colitis;
• Cholecystitis;
• Hepatitis;
• Sharp jade;
• Diabetes;
• Allergy to citrus fruits.

Pictures of little tangerines

If you look at the photo, you can see the different varieties of kumquat.

Having memorized them, you can easily navigate the market which small tangerines should be picked up, and which of them have low juiciness and high acidity.

Types of tangerines, varieties and photos

There is currently no single generally accepted classification of mandarins, therefore one of the many classifications of this fruit is given below. In 1955 V.P. Alekseev identified 7 main groups of tangerines:

1. Mandarin unshiu or satsuma (Citrus unshiu)

actively grown in Russia and Europe as a houseplant, and also cultivated in the Crimea. The main advantage of this citrus is its resistance to low temperatures and full ripening even with a lack of sunlight.

The Unshiu tangerine is a low tree that grows up to 2-3 meters in the open air, and as a houseplant - no more than 1.5 meters in height. The shoots of the spreading crown are slightly drooping, the tangerine leaves are leathery, dense, elongated-oval, with visible veins. Unshiu fruits are distinguished by a thin, yellowish-orange skin with greenery. The unshiu mandarin begins fruiting at the age of 3 years. Flowering occurs in May, when the tree is covered with numerous clusters of white oblong flowers, collected in 4-6 pieces. In October, flattened fruits appear with an easily detachable skin and a mass of about 70 g. Unshiu mandarin fruits do not contain seeds, therefore the main way of propagation of these plants is grafting on another plant of the genus citrus.

Apogamous seedlings of unshiu mandarin gave birth to the following zoned varieties:

• Pioneer 80 - cold-resistant variety of tangerines, intended for cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory. A tree up to 4.5 meters high with a spreading pyramidal crown yields a harvest in the second half of November. The fruits are distinguished by a thin, easily detachable orange skin, delicate pulp and sour-sweet taste. The shape of the fruit is round-flat, and the weight is about 60-80 g;
• Sochi 23 - an early ripe, fruitful variety of tangerines with large, fragrant orange fruits with a sweet flesh with a slight sourness. Fruit weight is 65-80 grams. The shape of the fruit is pear-shaped-flat or round-flat. This variety of tangerines is grown in Georgia and the Krasnodar Territory.

Photo Credit: Batholith

1. Citrus austere

a group of varieties of tangerines of Chinese origin, which are distinguished by a rich red-orange color of the peel and a sweeter taste than unshiu tangerines. All varieties of the Chinese group are characterized by a high sugar content (up to 13%) and a low acid content.

One of the most famous varieties of this group is tangerine (lat.Citrus Tangerina) - a low compact tree with a dense crown and narrow leaves. Tangerine ripens earlier than unshiu mandarin, has a thicker skin and, like unshiu, does not contain seeds. The fruiting period lasts from October to April. In addition to red-orange fruits, varieties of tangerine with a green color of the peel have been bred. Compared to tangerine, the citrus aroma of tangerine is less pronounced. The taste of the fruit is sweeter than that of an orange. The fruits themselves are easily peeled and divided into slices. Today, the main supplier of tangerines is the United States, where the plant is cultivated for the production of oil from the peel of the fruit. A small number of tangerines are grown in Italy, on the island of Sicily.

Photo Credit: Brent Ramerth

1. Citrus deliciosa

Sino-Mediterranean group, whose members have a similar morphology to the Chinese group. One of the famous varieties is mandarin orange - a tree with a compact crown and dense dark green lanceolate leaves, up to 8 cm long and about 3 cm wide. Fruits are medium in size, about 6-7 cm in diameter, have an oval-flattened shape.

1. Citrus reticulata

Sino-Indian varietal group of mandarins, which are of great industrial importance in China and India. The most popular is golden mandarin or poncan (Citrus chrysocarpa), known in India as suntara (Suntara, Ponkan) - a variety of large orange tangerines of a round or oblong shape, some specimens have a navel. The peel is of medium thickness, easily lagging, the pulp is juicy, tender, sweet and sour, the bones are small and few. The fruiting period is December and January. Grows in China, India, Brazil, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Photo Credit: Remember

1. Mandarin noble (royal) (Citrus nobilis)

Indo-Chinese-Malay group. Distinctive features of the varieties are large fruits, thick lumpy skin and excellent, sweet pulp taste. The best varieties of tangerines:

• Siamese King (King);
• Uvatin-mikan;
• Tsao-tsze.

1. Small-fruited tangerine group, or the Sino-Japanese varietal group, includes varieties that are popular among those who like to grow tangerines at home:
   Shiva Mikan (sour taste);
2. Mukaku-kishiu (sweet);
3. Kishiu (sweet).

1. Mandarin hybrids

it is a group of hybrid forms, including many varieties, bred by selective crossing of mandarin with different species and varieties of citrus fruits. Below is a description of some of the mandarin hybrids.

Tangor

We got a tangor by crossing a sweet orange and an equally sweet tangerine. Outwardly, it is very similar to a tangerine, although it differs from the usual fruits in its larger size. In appearance, tangora fruits are rather round, slightly flattened. Inside, under a thick peel, you can find an unusually juicy and sweet pulp, which contains a huge amount of seeds. Some people say that tangoras can taste notes of mango. The huge disadvantage of this hybrid is its rather low frost resistance.

Mandarin hybrids, photos, names and descriptions

Calamondin or citrofortunella (Citrofortunella microcarpa)

hybrid of mandarin and kumquat (kinkana, fortunella). It is a highly decorative plant with small leaves and white fragrant flowers that attract bees. Calamondin can be up to 6 meters high. At home, the tree grows up to 60-150 cm.The fruits of calamondin have a diameter of 25-45 mm, they are orange, similar to tangerines, but with a thinner, sweetish peel and sour pulp, in which the seeds are located. The fruits of calamondine are edible.

Photo Credit: Albatross2147

Photo Credit: Cody Hough

Rangpur (Citrus rangpuriensis)

a hybrid of tangerine and lime, according to other sources - a hybrid of tangerine and lemon, called limandarin... The supposed homeland of this citrus is India, and due to its high drought tolerance and yield, rangpur is cultivated for fruit in some regions. The tree is 2.5 to 5 m in height, producing small fruits about 5 cm in diameter, with a thin dark orange skin and very sour orange flesh.

Photo by: Amada44

Clementine (Citrus clementina)

a hybrid of mandarin and orange-bloom from the kinotto subspecies (pomeranians), is a tree up to 5 m in height, grown in long dense alleys. The shape of the fruit is similar to that of tangerine, but with a sweeter taste. The second variety of clementines is a hybridization product of tangerine and bitter Seville orange, it is distinguished by small fruits with a hard, poorly lagging peel.

Clementines are divided into 3 main types:

• Corsicandevoid of seeds, it is easily recognizable for its bright, orange-red color and a pair of leaves adorning each fruit.
• Spanish represented by 2 varieties: with relatively small and rather large fruits containing from 2 to 10 seeds.
• Montreal - the rarest clementine grown in Spain and Algeria, the pulp of which contains 10 to 12 seeds.

Photo Credit: CarolSpears

Tangelo

a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit (or pomelo). Tangelo trees are distinguished by strong growth and good frost resistance. Rounded fruits, reminiscent of a medium-sized orange, have an orange peelable rind, yellowish-orange flesh and a pleasant taste with a slight acidity. The most famous tangelo variety is mineola.

Photo by: Amada44

Thornton (eng. Thornton tangelo)

one of the varieties of tangelo, is a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit. First grown in 1899. The almost round and rather large fruits are about 8 cm in diameter and are covered with a bright orange peel. The skin of the fruit is quite thick. Thornton pulp is yellow-orange, tender, juicy, sweet, with a slight sourness.

Mineola

the closest relative of tangelo, a hybrid of Dancy tangerine and Duncan grapefruit. Mineola fruits are distinguished by a rounded, slightly flattened shape with an elongated neck, up to 8 cm in diameter and a thin skin of a rich reddish-orange color. The juicy pulp contains 7 to 12 small seeds. Mineola has an excellent citrus aroma and a refreshing sweet and sour taste. The main suppliers of mineola are Israel, Turkey, China and the US state of Florida.

Tangor

a hybrid of tangerine and sweet orange. Tangor is a rather large fruit with a diameter of up to 15 cm. It differs in a slightly flattened shape, a dense porous crust of red-orange color and fragrant sweet and sour pulp. Ellendale is one of the varieties of tangoras.

Photo by: ERMI

Mandor (mandora) (eng. Mandora)

natural tangor, a hybrid of mandarin and sweet orange. It grows in Cyprus, but originally appeared in Jamaica. The fruit is similar to tangerine and clementine, but unlike clementine it contains seeds. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened. The peel is thin, bright orange, and peels off easily. The pulp of the fruit is tender, very juicy, sweet, with a slight sourness. The plant bears fruit from January to mid-April.

Ellendale

a hybrid of mandarin, tangerine and orange. Large orange-red fruits are distinguished by a thin, easily peelable rind, no or few seeds, a refreshing taste and a sophisticated citrus aroma.The juicy flesh of elendale has a rich dark orange color and a pleasant sweet taste.

Citrandarin

a hybrid of mandarin and three-leaf poncirus, small fruits of which, due to their unpleasant taste, are unsuitable for consumption, but are used for the industrial production of vitamin drinks. The skin of the fruit is rather thin, rough, and orange in color. The pulp is orange, juicy. Some citrandarines lack seeds.

Photo by phil

Santina

a hybrid of clementine and orlando, the fruit of which is characterized by a rich orange color and tasty sweet flesh. Fruits can be of both medium and large sizes.

Agli, he is agli fruit

a hybrid of mandarin, orange and grapefruit, the name of which is translated from English as “ugly”. The not very beautiful agli fruit, up to 15 cm in diameter, has a rough, wrinkled skin of a greenish-yellow or reddish color, easily separable from the pulp. Agli has a light grapefruit flavor and excellent citrus aroma. Cultivated in the USA and Jamaica.

Ichandarin

it is a tangerine crossed with a citrus called Ichang papeda. The fruit of the hybrid has a rather sour taste. Among the Inchandarins, several varieties are distinguished, for example, yuzu and zander.

• Yuzu... Ripe yuzu fruits are yellow in color, from 7 to 10 cm or more in diameter, sour, with a small amount of dryish pulp, smell like a combination of grapefruit and tangerine aromas.
• Fortune... Ripe zodach fruits have a yellowish-orange color, have a lime or lemon aroma, but with a softer citrus note. Sudach is not used as a delicious fruit, using its green fruits as a seasoning in the preparation of fish, mushrooms and national Japanese dishes.

On the left is an incandarin yuzu, on the right is an ordinary tangerine. Photo Credit: Mycomp

Oranjevat (eng. Nippon orangequat)

a hybrid of the tangerine unshiu and kumquat that grows in Hawaii. Slightly elongated fruit of medium size, smaller than mandarin, but larger than kumquat. The fruit's circumference is 2-4 cm. The thick, spongy rind has a sweet taste and is orange or red-orange in color. The pulp of orangequat is juicy, sour, with a light note of bitterness. Contains seeds. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -12 degrees Celsius.

Orange (bigarady, kinotto) (Citrus aurantium)

hybrid of mandarin and pomelo. Small, 6-7 cm in diameter, slightly flattened fresh fruits are practically not consumed because of a very strong, pungent aroma and bitter-sour pulp. The peel of the orange is bright orange, bumpy. In perfumery, essential oils from flowers and leaves of orange are used, the zest and juice of the fruits are used in cooking, as well as in the production of tinctures, liqueurs.

Photo by: Raul654

Meyer's lemon (Citrus meyerii)

a hybrid of lemon and orange or lemon and tangerine. The fruits are rather large, rounded, with a thin rind of rich yellow color, which, when ripe, acquires a light orange tint. The pulp is juicy, less acidic than regular lemon, dark yellow in color and contains seeds.

Photo Credit: Genet

Kabosu (kabusu) (eng. Kabosu, Citrus sphaerocarpa)

this is the result of crossing the Ichang papeda and the orange. The fruit is grown in China and is popular in Japanese cuisine. Fruits are medium-sized, about 5.2 cm in diameter, when ripe, yellow in color with dark yellow pulp, with a sour, tart taste and lemon aroma. One fruit contains about 17 seeds. Used as a condiment, often unripe when the skin of the cabosu is still green. Gives dishes a unique flavor.

Color coordinates of small fruits

• HEX: # ffa474
• RGB: 255, 164, 116
• HSV: 20 °, 54%, 100%

There is a wide variety of small tangerines. Some are intended for decorative purposes, while others are beneficial to the body. But not all people know how to choose the right fruit.

To select a fetus, you must adhere to the following rules:

• the peel should have a bright golden orange color, it should not have any inclusions, dents, color changes (brown, green, yellow, black);
• the skin should shine, be whole, the presence of cracks and holes indicates damage or disease of the fruit;
• to the touch, the fruit should be approximately the same as an orange, but not too hard, otherwise this indicates an untimely plucking from the tree;
• if the fruit is too soft to the touch, inside it began to deteriorate or rot, you cannot buy it either.

Once a person has chosen and bought the fruit, they must be washed at home. After that, dry thoroughly with a towel or napkin. They can be consumed immediately or stored in the refrigerator or freezer. If these actions are not followed, the color of the skin will acquire a brown tint, and the inside will rot.

The color of a small tangerine that is fully ripe should be bright orange.

If the fruit is green, it means that it is not yet ripe. The presence of pigmentation of a brown, yellow tint may indicate its overripe. In its natural state, the plant cannot have a green or red color. But such shades are often found on store shelves, so consumers need to be careful.

Consumers often choose dried kumquat because they believe it is sweeter or prefer to consume it in that form. There are 3 types of dried fruits: yellow-orange, red, green. If the consumer chooses dried kumquat, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules when choosing the shade of the product and its quality:

• a natural shade is orange or yellow, but not pronounced (when dried, the fruit becomes pale), and a bright color indicates the presence of a dye;
• there is a dried kumquat with a red or green color, such shades can be obtained only with the addition of a dye (but the dyes are natural, do not affect the digestive tract);
• in appearance, the product should resemble dried dried apricots with a length of 1-2 cm.

If the fruit is fresh, its shade should be bright, immediately striking. Normally, it contains a large amount of orange pigment.

Homemade tangerine, varieties and photos

For the cultivation of mandarin as an ornamental indoor plant, breeders have bred many low-growing varieties and hybrids. Some are more decorative, and their fruits are unsuitable for consumption, others are distinguished by good consumer qualities, which allows you to harvest in your own apartment.

The following varieties of tangerines are considered the most suitable for growing at home:

• Shiva Mikan - a neat tree with large dark green leaves. Differs in rich flowering and a tendency to fall off the ovaries. Ripe fruits are small, weighing up to 30 g, sweet and sour;
• Kovano-Vasya - a strong tangerine tree with a height of 80 to 180 cm, gives few side shoots, blooms profusely and bears fruit, forms tasty, orange-yellow, sweet and sour fruits for 2 years after planting. The pulp contains no seeds;
• Unshiu - the most popular variety of the Japanese varietal group Satsuma. A tangerine tree 80-150 cm high is distinguished by flexible shoots forming a spreading crown. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting; with additional winter illumination, it can bear fruit all year round;
• Murcott is a kind of tangor, that is, a hybrid of tangerine and sweet orange. The plant bears sweet fruits, the name of which (Murcott Honey) translates as "honey". The tree is compact in shape and yields in summer. Murcott saplings are expensive, but easily bred by cuttings;
• Clementine - a hybrid of tangerine and orange, begins bearing fruit for 2 years and bears about 50 fragrant flattened fruits.

Calamondin

The popular tangerine tree today, the fruit of which is a sour tangerine crossed with kumquat.The fruit itself tastes very sour, but due to the sweetish and very thin crust, they can be eaten. By the way, you can eat these fruits only if calamondin was grown independently: having bought such a tree in a store, keep in mind that it is treated with a large number of chemicals. They are often used in combination with other foods because of their very unusual taste.

Calamondins are very convenient to grow, as it is possible even on the windowsill in your own apartment. Although, of course, in most cases this is just a beautiful decorative tree, since many people buy it in flower shops, and do not grow it on their own.

How to grow a tangerine at home from a bone?

It is possible to grow a tangerine at home from a stone, but it should be borne in mind that the resulting fruits, although they retain the decorative properties of the parent variety, usually change the main taste for the worse or better. To preserve consumer properties, tangerines should be propagated vegetatively - by grafting or cuttings.

For planting a mandarin, seeds are taken from any commercially available hybrids. The seeds should be thick, even, without deformation or damage. It is better to plant mandarin seeds right away, without waiting for them to dry: the faster the seed is in the ground, the higher the probability of its germination. There is also a second option: you can pre-germinate mandarin seeds before planting. To do this, wrap the bones in cheesecloth and moisten it with water. After a few days, the bones will swell and hatch. The main thing is to moisturize the gauze with tangerine seeds as it dries.

Mandarins do not tolerate acidic soil, so it is not recommended to use peat for planting. It is better to buy ready-made soil with a neutral reaction (pH 6.5-7). You can also prepare your own soil for tangerine: mix 2 parts of humus (or non-acidic soil), 2 parts of forest land and 1 part of sand.

To plant mandarin seeds (seeds), you need to take plastic cups with a volume of 250 ml or pots at least 7-10 cm deep with a hole in the bottom. It is better to prepare at least 5 containers for planting, and if a subsequent vaccination is planned, then at least 10. The number of seeds is taken appropriately.

Mandarin seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of about 4 cm. The germination time for all varieties and hybrids is different and averages from 16 to 30 days. Now you need to keep the soil moist, and the ambient temperature should be within + 20-25 degrees. It is undesirable to build a temporary greenhouse, then the sprouted tangerine sprouts will not experience stress. Multi-embryonic seeds can give several sprouts from one seed, in this case, pinch the weak sprout, or plant the seedlings in different containers.

The first transplant of homemade tangerine should be timed to the time when the roots fill the entire container, so it is convenient to plant seeds in transparent glasses for visual observation of the root system of the seedling. To transplant a tangerine, you just need to carefully transfer it with a lump of earth into a larger pot. Before entering fruiting, this is done annually.

Small tangerines to eat with the peel

When fruits were first introduced to Europe, they were called small tangerines that can be eaten with the peel. In Japan, the plant was called kinkan. Subsequently, recipes were invented for their preparation. People developed the principles of eating fruit.

The fruit can be eaten in limited quantities so as not to harm the gastrointestinal tract and other organs. At high dosages, an allergic reaction may begin in the form of itching, rash, peeling, redness on the skin. For adults, the daily rate is no more than 300 g. For children, it is reduced to 100 g.

The main feature of the fruit is that its skin is thin.There is no need to clean it, it can be eaten with the pulp. If the fruit is selected correctly, the rind will be sweet.

There are plant varieties that can be consumed with the peel. In other varieties, it is thick and bitter. Therefore, it is recommended to select varieties with the following names:

• Citranjquat;
• Doll;
• Calamondin;
• Nordmann Nagami;
• Fortunella Margarita;
• Marumi.

Only these small tangerines can be eaten with the peel. This is because the flesh has a sour taste and the outer surface is sweet. The sensations mix, so the fruit is not overly acidic for humans.

If you use a fruit intended only for decorative purposes in food, a person will not be poisoned.

But he will feel intense bitterness. In many decorative varieties, the pulp is almost dry, there are many seeds. The rind is thick and does not taste sweet. Therefore, a sweet and sour combination is not formed. The use of fruits of decorative varieties is irrational.

Mandarin at home, care and photo

Temperature

Caring for indoor tangerine is simple. Purchased tangerine seedlings and seed-grown plants are best placed near the south or east window of the apartment. Mandarins love bright, diffused light, and shade the plant only from the scorching sunlight. For normal development, an indoor tree needs an air and soil temperature of at least + 16-20 degrees in the warm season and about + 12-15 degrees in winter. The need to keep tangerines in winter at low temperatures is due to the peculiarity of the growth of the tangerine tree: if the plant is not provided with a cool winter, most of the flowers will be sterile.

Lighting

In winter, homemade tangerines need additional lighting, for which they use an ordinary phyto-bulb, but they gradually accustom the tree to additional light, otherwise the plant will get stress and may shed its leaves. In summer, it is advisable to take the tangerine tree out into the open air, in a place protected from drafts. On hot days and during the flowering period, overheating of the air should be avoided: this can lead to wilting of flowers and shedding of fruits, and direct sunlight can cause leaf burns.

An important feature of the cultivation of tangerines is the one-sided illumination of the plant. Any citrus trees should not be frequently rotated or rearranged from place to place, as they get used to lighting from one side well. Otherwise, the metabolism of nutrients is disrupted, which leads to a massive fall of mandarin leaves, and sometimes to the death of the plant.

How to water a tangerine?

In summer and spring, homemade tangerines are especially demanding on moisture, so the tree should be watered every other day. In winter, watering tangerine is reduced to 1 time per week. Water for irrigation must be defended or passed through a kitchen filter, and before watering, make sure that the water is warm.

Air humidity and spraying

Air humidity is very important for indoor tangerine, so in winter the tree is sprayed once a day, but only if the air in the apartment is very dry. In the summer, the tangerine is sprayed several times a day, and a container of water should always be near the plant. When spraying a fruit-bearing tree, make sure that water does not fall on the flowers.

Photo by: Chris.urs-o

Tangerine transplant

Young trees need an annual transplant, for this they use turf, leafy soil and sand in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. After entering into fruiting, the tangerine tree is transplanted 1 time in 2-3 years, increasing the width of the pot by 4-6 cm.

Top dressing

Intensive feeding of indoor tangerine is carried out from March to September, when vegetative and generative buds develop.For this, a complex mineral fertilizer with a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as mullein manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10, is suitable. Tangerine should be fed once every 10 days, alternating fertilizers. In winter, the plant only needs one feeding per month.

Stimulating fruiting

Often, homemade tangerines grown from seeds need to stimulate fruiting: if the tree has not bloomed 5-6 years after planting, take a small piece of copper wire and wrap the trunk just above the root collar so that the wire squeezes the bark strongly. The movement of the sap will be disturbed, and the tree must "think" about fruiting.

After 6 months, the wire is removed, and the damaged area is covered with garden pitch. The method will work in the case when the tree has necessarily overwintered in a cool room, and its crown is sufficiently formed and has shoots of the 4th and 5th order.

Tangerine care during the flowering period

Caring for a tangerine tree during the flowering period is to enhance phosphorus-potassium dressings and reduce nitrogen. Usually mandarin itself regulates the number of ovaries and sheds excess ones, but 1 fruit for every 15-20 leaves is considered a feasible load, it is better to remove the rest of the flowers and ovaries. Cracking of ripening fruits is observed in 2 cases: if the tree is irregularly watered, or an excess of nitrogen has formed in the soil.

Crown formation

Selected varieties of mandarins do not need crown formation. The shoots of a tangerine tree grown from a stone are pinched, and fruiting shoots with heavy fruits are tied to supports.

Photo Credit: Sebastien Tricoire

Planting and transplanting basics

In order to plant a plant, you need to take a suitable pot. Its material doesn't matter. But there is an important condition that the upper part of the diameter does not exceed 15 cm, and it should be the same in height. The bottom of the container should have one or more small holes so that excess water could drain from it during irrigation.

The pot can be in the form of a plastic bucket, wooden, ceramic or glass container. At its bottom, it is necessary to place drainage, which can be expanded clay or sand. Practice shows that charcoal after a fire is the best for drainage. Do not drain more than 5 cm in height.

After selecting the drainage, you need to take some soil to sprinkle it. Any soil will not work in this case. There are specially prepared soil types, for example "Mandarin". They can be purchased at specialized stores.

In some cases, soil preparation can be done by yourself. Where old deciduous trees grow in the forest, take some soil. However, avoid areas where oak, poplar, or chestnut grows. The soil is most fertile in the upper layers, the thickness of which is 10 cm. In addition to this, it is necessary to add sand, river, ash, humus, if any, are suitable. Dilute a glass of earth with a glass of sand, three tablespoons of humus and a tablespoon of ash, and a little water. You should have a thick, sour cream-like mass. This will help avoid air voids near the root of the tree.

When six months have passed, you need to take a container that would be 5 cm larger and transplant small tangerines there. When you have planted a tree, it is necessary to spray it from time to time and water it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Prepare a place for the plant in advance. For this, a window sill is suitable, which is directed towards the light so that enough sunlight falls on the leaves.

Vaccination of mandarin at home

Another way to propagate tangerines is by grafting onto the stock (the plant that will be grafted onto). To do this, the thickness of the rootstock trunk must be at least 6 mm, and the rootstock must be at least 1-3 years old. As a scion, take a small piece of a shoot from a varietal mandarin, which has one bud with a leaf.Approximately 7 cm recede from the ground and a T-shaped incision about 2.5 cm long is made on the bark of the tree. The edges of the bark are carefully pushed aside with a knife, the petiole is placed in the incision, covered with bark, covered with garden varnish and wrapped with electrical tape. The grafted tree is determined in a greenhouse from a plastic bag. An indicator of successful grafting will be a slightly yellowed petiole and leaf fall, otherwise the grafted shoot will turn black. If successful, the greenhouse is periodically opened, and after a month the rootstock is cut obliquely with a pruner, 3-5 mm above the grafting site, the electrical tape is removed, and the cut is covered with garden pitch.

Limandrins

Otherwise, these exotic fruits are called lemons. As the name implies, they are obtained by crossing lemon and mandarin. They also look very unusual: they look like a tangerine, but their peel is different in color - it is absolutely yellow, just like the second "parent" of the lemon. They also inherited their taste from him. Limadrines are very difficult to eat because they are insanely sour. Although they are loved in the east - in China it is difficult to find citrus more popular than limandrin.

Mandarin diseases, description and photo

Mandarin, like other plants, is susceptible to disease and pest attacks. This is especially true for plants grown in an apartment or greenhouses. Excessively dry or, on the contrary, excessively humid indoor air, as well as an imbalance of important trace elements in the soil, often provokes various diseases of mandarin:

• Anthracnose - a fungal disease that affects all parts of the plant: branches, flowers, leaves, fruits. Mandarin buds and leaves turn yellow and fall off over time, the bark of the branches is deformed, leading to their death, reddish spots appear on the skin of the fruit, which later begin to rot. As a fight against the disease, treatment with the biofungicide "Fitosporin" is used, and the diseased parts of the plant should be removed and destroyed.
• Hommosis of citrus fruits. The disease manifests itself in the appearance of rust-red spots on the trunk and branches of a tangerine tree. In these places, the bark begins to crack and gradually die off, gum oozes from the cracks. The causes of mandarin disease can be the excessive deepening of the seedling into the ground, its mechanical damage, lack of drainage, an excess of nitrogen or a lack of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. When gommosis develops, the cracks are carefully cleaned of gum, treated with copper sulfate (30 grams per liter of water with the addition of 200 grams of slaked lime to the solution), then the wounds are covered with garden varnish.
• Wart (scab). A fungal disease that very quickly affects the leaves, fruits and delicate shoots of the tangerine tree. Small, translucent spots form on parts of the plant, which eventually turn into raised gray-pink warts. The ovaries dry out and fall off, the mandarin fruits become covered with brown spots, the tangerine peel becomes bumpy and turns into an unaesthetic brownish tint. As a fight against fungal disease, three times spraying of tangerine trees with Bordeaux liquid (1% solution) is used.
• Spider mite on tangerine. It mainly affects mandarin leaves, feeding on the juices of the leaf blade, enveloping it with cobwebs and causing the leaves to curl, wilting and further drying. To combat the pest, a contrast shower is used, watering the leaves first with cold water, then with water at a temperature of about + 40 degrees, alternately, several times. At the same time, mechanical removal of pests is carried out using a toothbrush, and the entire surface of the earth around the tangerine tree is densely sprinkled with ash. After 10-12 days, the procedure is repeated. In especially advanced cases, the plant is treated with the preparations "Fitoferm" or "Actellik".
• Scabbard on tangerine. This parasite affects tangerine most often in the cold season. The pest takes a liking to the lower part of the leaf blade of the plant and its branches.The first symptom of the ailment is a sticky, syrupy discharge on the tangerine tree. At the initial stage of tangerine infection with a scabbard, these smudges should be removed with a swab dipped in a decoction of garlic or onions (200 g of crushed raw material, pour water over and leave for 2 days). Against the scabbard, you can use a soap solution (2 tablespoons of any liquid soap or ordinary dishwashing detergent for 3 liters of water), which is covered with leaves for 30 minutes, and then washed off. In case of serious damage, the plant should be sprayed with "Fitoferm" or "Aktellik".

Citrandarin

Citrandarin in the eyes of our compatriots looks very strange, which is not surprising, because breeders got it by crossing lemon with tangerine. In appearance, it looks more like a lemon - its fruits are elongated, although the color of the peel is orange, like tangerine. At the same time, the fruit itself is rather convex to the touch. The taste of citrandarine is sour, which is not surprising, because he "inherited" these sour notes from lemon.

Interesting facts about tangerine

• According to historians, the first mandarins came to Europe thanks to Alexander the Great, who in 325 BC. e. brought this exotic fruit from India for his teacher and mentor - Aristotle. For some unknown reason, the mandarin was not appreciated at its true worth and was only referred to in the annals as the “golden apple”. Mandarins gained popularity only at the beginning of the 19th century.
• Approximately 95% of tangerine trees grown in the CIS are the Unsu varietal group, whose representatives are distinguished by increased frost resistance.

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Ichandarin

Such a fruit with an unusual name can be obtained by crossing a mandarin with an exotic citrus Ichang. Ichandarin is very small in size (but not as small as calamondin). Its taste is not very impressive - it is rather sour. It is for this reason that Ichandarin is not eaten, but is grown specifically for industrial processing.

Application in medicine

Mandarins are widely used in folk medicine for colds as a vitamin and expectorant. Fruit juice is taken against worms. Crushed dried rind mixed with cottage cheese helps with flatulence. A mask of dried peel and sour cream smoothes wrinkles and gives the skin a beautiful, even color. Apply the product to the face and neck, leave for 20 minutes.

With high sugar, they take a decoction of their peel of tangerines, for the prevention of influenza, they drink tangerine tincture with vodka. A decoction of the leaves of the plant is taken for gastrointestinal problems.

Better not to overeat

Like all citrus fruits, clementine, when overeating, can cause redness, rashes and other unpleasant moments. Especially should be careful when using it, people who suffer from stomach ulcers, colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis and kidneys. It is not worth it for those who have an individual intolerance to these fruits, an allergic reaction to citrus fruits has been established.

A hybrid of orange and tangerine, the name of which has long been attributed to the most delicious fruit of all citrus fruits, in a short time gained popularity all over the world and became a favorite delicacy of many people.

Citrus hybrids are very popular. Many people like clementine, mineola, red orange. A lemon and orange hybrid is a very rare variety. It can be grown at home.

A lemon-orange hybrid called Meyer's lemon

What is a berry

We are sure that the berries include bulk fruits growing on trees and bushes. From an ordinary eye, a berry is a small juicy fruit with a dense skin, filled with seeds. But science loves to complicate simple things. And the botanical view is different from the ordinary one.

Berry fruits

Botanists classify berry fruits as juicy, containing one or many seeds. All berry fruits are subdivided into four biological species:

Real berries.In the language of botanists, the definition of a berry is: “A fleshy fruit that has developed from one bud (ovary). As it develops and matures, it is transformed into a pericarp suitable for food. Berries originate from the upper or lower ovary. The plant on which the berries grow is called berry (berry-bearing). Conclusion, the berry is a juicy fruit with:

1. Bulk pulp.
2. Internal seeds.

Bright representatives of the true berry world are tomatoes, gooseberries, grapes. Blueberries, currants, blueberries.

Apple.

Multi-seeded complex education. The ovary and the lower region of the flower (sepal and receptacle), as well as petals and stamens, are involved in apple formation. Apple seeds are housed in tough, membranous shells. Representatives of this species are quince, pears, cotoneaster, mountain ash, hawthorn and apples, loved by many.

Pumpkin.

It is distinguished by an external ligneous pericarp, the part inside is juicy and soft. The seeds of this fruit species are located in the fleshy zone. In the formation of the pumpkin, the lower region of the ovary is related. They are large in size, polyspermous and include three carpels. Pumpkins include melons, cucumbers, zucchini. Pumpkins and eggplants.

Orange (or Hesperidium).

These fruits have a thick, brightly colored rind with containers for essential oils. The middle layer is spongy and dry, white in color. And the inside is extremely meaty and juicy. Citrus fruits are referred to as oranges. These are oranges, tangerines, lemons, kumquats.

How to distinguish berries from fruits and vegetables

We are confident that we can easily distinguish fragrant creatures. But in reality, not everything is so simple. Obviousness fails to say that it is a fruit, not a vegetable. How is a berry different from a fruit or vegetable?

Fruit paradise.

From Latin, the word "fruit" in translation sounds like "fruit". Biologists do not use the name "fruit", but by "fruit" they mean the fleshy plant parts (not necessarily edible). The fruits are formed at the end of flowering and the appearance of the ovary in this part.

A distinctive fruit feature is the presence of seeds (hard, pliable, large, small). The task of the fruit is to form and preserve seeds and subsequently enable the emergence of a new plant. Over time, the fruit is separated from the mother seedlings for germination.

Many vegetables have seeds. These are tomatoes, nuts, zucchini. Pumpkins, cucumbers, peas. They are classified botanically as fruits. Fruit types are divided into:

• Pome fruits.
  Representatives: pears, apples, mountain ash. Hawthorn, quince, medlar.
• Stone fruits.
  Stone fruits are apricots, bird cherry, plums, peaches. Cherries, sweet cherries, nectarine, cherry plums also represent this species.
• Citrus.
  Lemons, tangerines, oranges, citron are determined to them. Grapefruit, pomelo, lime, bergamot. And exotic tangerine, calamondin, sweetie, tangelo, poncan.
• Tropical / subtropical.
  Banana, avocado, mango, pineapple represent this class. Kiwi, persimmon, passion fruit, feijoa. Vinik, mulberry, pomegranate, olive. We haven’t even heard of some: naranjilla, cocoon, pepin, serenoa, lucuma.
• Tomato.
  These include peppers (sweet, bitter), tomatoes, eggplants.
• Legumes.
  Belong to legumes soy, vetch, chickpeas, sainfoin, lupine. Lentils, peanuts, peas, beans.
• Pumpkin (melon).
  Zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins are related to the class. Squash, melons, watermelons.

We are confident that the fruit is located in areas of the tree above the ground. The confusion with tomato is due to its growth on a dwarf shrub that is herbaceous. We confidently attribute some fruits to vegetable representatives, although in reality they are fruits.

To immediately understand what is in front of us: pay attention to the seeds. If they are present in the fruit, it is a fruit. If there are no seeds, we are dealing with a vegetable.

Interesting things have happened to tomato in history. At the end of the 19th century, the American authorities wrote it down in vegetables (to reduce the cost of customs duties).Although the authoritative representatives of the biological world did not agree with such an order. Only in 2001, botanical justice triumphed, and the tomato was returned to its rightful fruit place.

Secrets of vegetables.

Vegetables are also the edible parts and greens of plants. But the plants are herbaceous. Vegetable species are conventionally divided into four groups:

1. Roots.
   These include radishes, carrots, horseradish, beets. Turnips, turnips, parsnips, celery. Rutabaga, parsley also belongs to root crops.
2. Tuber crops.
   These are sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke, potatoes. Manioc, artichoke. Exotic chayote, jicama and arrowroot.
3. Onions.
   The onion family includes wild garlic, leeks, garlic, onions.
4. Cabbage (cruciferous).
   All types and varieties of cabbage (there are more than 500), mustard, rapeseed, wasabi.

Summing up, let's draw up a visual table of the differences between berries, fruits and vegetables:

What should be attributed to lemon

The botanical features of citrus indicate that the lemon is not a fruit or vegetable, but a hybrid fruit that belongs to the orange subfamily. All orange are bred by crossing various varieties with the most ancient type of citrus - citron. Citron fruits are the largest among all known citrus fruits. But according to their morphological characteristics, these are berries, therefore, yellow citrus is a berry, only changed with long-term cultivation of varieties.

The same conclusion holds true for other citrus fruits:

• orange;
• tangerine;
• kumquatu.

Anyone who is convinced that lemon is a fruit is also right. There are all signs to think so.

Red tangerines

The crust surface is characterized by a deep orange color. Nobody knows exactly where they were first brought to the market from. Due to the high concentration of pigment, citruses appear red. When the fruit is opened, you can find slices of a bright orange color. The sweet pulp gives off a mild acidity. The most popular varieties of red tangerines are:

1. Cleopatra. Originally from India, from where it was transported to America. Used for breeding artificial varieties. Differs in small, thin-cored fruits. The orange surface of the fruit gives off a reddish tint. Despite the presence of large, bitter seeds in each lobule, the flesh is sweet.
2. Clementines. Small, slightly flattened fruits have a rich color and juicy pulp that quenches thirst well. It is a hybrid of mandarin and orange.
3. Royal. They are also called "temple". The sweet pulp resembles an orange. They are never pitted.
4. Robinson. The American product is grown commercially in Florida. Delicious fruits are covered with a smooth skin. It adheres tightly to the pulp, therefore it is poorly cleaned.
5. Ellendale. Large fruits are covered with a lumpy soft skin. The aromatic, seedless pulp is a product of selection. To create it, they used orange branches, which were tied to the Unshiu tangerine trees.
6. Tangelo. The noble varieties have a bright orange thick skin. Tangerines are slightly flattened. Obtained as a result of natural selection. Sometimes this variety is confused with orange.

Red fruits retain their presentation for a long time, which allows them to be transported without the use of preservatives and flavor enhancers.

How to choose a fruit

Ripe fruit has a smooth skin

To get all the usefulness from the fruit and not harm yourself, it is important to choose the right fruit. This is especially true out of season, when chemicals are used to grow the product, and the shelf life is artificially extended. How to pick a good tangerine in the store:

• ripe fruit splashes juice from the skin when pressed;
• good tangerine contains no skin spots, external damage, areas of rot and mold;
• soft areas on the fruit are a sign of freezing, such a fruit should not be taken;
• dried or too softened peel indicates staleness;
• sweet fruits are usually medium in size, their skin is bright orange; they are usually heavier than acidic citrus fruits.

Now there are many varieties of tangerines: Turkish, Abkhaz, Spanish, Moroccan), which differ in appearance and taste. Knowing the differences between these varieties, it is easy to choose the fruit to taste.

Yellow fruit, is it a fruit or vegetable

Only a few believe that lemon is a vegetable. The vast majority of connoisseurs are sure that citrus is a fruit, but this traditional opinion is wrong. But in fact, sour citrus is not a fruit, not a vegetable.

Citrus, is it a fruit or a berry? In fact, the yellow fruit is a modified berry, just like all citrus fruits. According to botanists, all evergreen woody plants of the genus Citrus are orange and have distinctive features.

All citruses have certain characteristics in common:

• thick skin;
• juicy pulp with pronounced capsules;
• large bones.

The fruits have a bright color, which in nature is necessary to attract the attention of wild animals. By eating the fruits, they spread the seeds, helping the plant to reproduce.

Tangerines on the table

Mandarins are a healthy dessert that is high in nutrients. Nutritionists recommend eating at least 1-2 fruits daily, and chefs have come up with many recipes to make the tangerine season more diverse. Slices of these fruits are added to salads, desserts such as jellies and puddings, and tangerine oil serves as a natural flavoring agent for baked goods, ice cream, creams, and sweets.

Healthy dessert for children

Prepare 1 package of gelatin, 1 cup of boiling water, half a glass of cold water, 1 cup each of tangerine juice, chopped pineapple, yogurt and whipped cream.

To prepare this delicacy, first dissolve the gelatin in warm water. Then add cold water, tangerine juice and pineapple pieces. Mix everything, pour into a mold and allow to harden. Then whip cream with yoghurt and garnish with this airy mass of jelly.

Tangerines with meat

For this dish, you will need 3 bell peppers and 1 carrot, cut into strips, as well as chopped onion in half rings, which should be stewed in a small amount of vegetable oil. Marinate about half a kilogram of beef (cut into strips) in a mixture of tangerine juice, a teaspoon of sugar, ground ginger and soy sauce. During this time, fry the tangerine zest in a pan. When the oil has absorbed the citrus aroma, remove the skin and send the marinated meat to the pan instead. Add stewed vegetables to the finished beef. Simmer for another 5 minutes and can be served.

Truth and deception about crossing

Often artificially bred citrus fruits are passed off as very unusual fruits. Vendors offer a mixture of orange and pomegranate, although this is basically impossible. For a non-existent fruit, they give out the usual red variety of citrus fruit with a rich shade or red grapefruit.

By doing this, they only attract attention in order to sell the product. And it is possible to cross only varieties of one type: citrus fruits with citrus fruits. Often this is done on the basis of kumquat (also a kind of citrus), and get limonquat, limequat, oranjevat. Kumquat fruits are also consumed in their pure form.

Growing new fruitful plants from fruit seeds is impossible. They are bred only by professionals, so the plant will not bear fruit at home.

Watermelon secrets

Kavun is a huge size record berry grown in 98 countries of the world. An amazing creation of nature keeps a thousand-year history and a lot of useful, healing abilities.

Watermelon story

An amazing creation of nature was born in the regions of South Africa (wild caves are still found in those hot places). People knew about the watermelon in 2000 BC. (according to biblical sources).

The ancient Romans knew and revered the watermelon. The Mediterranean ate it in a salted form, even boiled watermelon honey.Kavuna drawings have been found in ancient Egyptian sarcophagi. The Egyptians "helped" the fragrant fruit to spread throughout the rest of the East (Arabia, Syria, Palestine and Persia).

The Arabs especially honored kavun, they prescribed medicinal properties to the juicy fruit and said that: "Watermelons endure ailments and cleanse the body if you take a watermelon slice before eating."

In the 8th century, traders brought watermelon to China. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire called it "western melon". Every year, the Chinese (lovers of noisy holidays) about. On this day, juicy kavun becomes the main decoration of the table. And in the XII century, the watermelon proudly arrived in Europe. In Russia, they met him in the XIII century, the first watermelon melons appeared in the lower reaches of the Volga and the Azov region.

But the miraculous fruit won widespread distribution and recognition in Russia only in the 17th century. The year 1660 was marked by a special decree of His Majesty and the creation of a watermelon plantation in the town of Chuguevo (near Kharkov). Kavun, like a marvelous delicacy, was supplied to the tsar's table and gradually won a well-deserved place in the southern vegetable gardens of the country.

The chemical composition and benefits of watermelon

Kavun is 80% water. Sugar in the berry is allocated 6-11%. The rest was distributed by vitamin groups, microelements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron), amino acids and a unique substance lycopene.

Lycopene (a carotenoid antioxidant). It is responsible for the red hue of the kavun pulp (the richer the color, the more lycopene it contains). Lycopene reduces the possibility of cancerous tumors.

Watermelon, due to its unique composition, is recognized as the best purifier of the human body from heavy metals, toxins, salts and toxins. Kavun is an excellent healer, in his power to help with:

• Diabetes mellitus.
• Diseases of the kidneys and liver.
• Low hemoglobin (anemia).
• Development of gallstone disease.
• Parasitic infections of the body.
• Problems in the cardiovascular system.
• Ailments of the urinary tract (nephritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis).
• Preventive treatment of atherosclerosis, rheumatism, obesity.

Eating a watermelon slice per day, a person provides a daily intake of magnesium, which is necessary for the stable functioning of the nervous system. Magnesium is a natural antidepressant, this trace element relieves insomnia and improves mood. Kavun relieves tension, removes weakness, fatigue, restores vascular walls.

Large reserves of antioxidants, entering the human body, immediately begin "repair" activities. They depress and rid the body of free radicals - the main culprits of aging. They restore elasticity and elasticity to vascular membranes and improve the composition of the intercellular fluid.

Calorie content of the berry.

Despite the huge amount of nutrients, the calorie content of watermelon is ridiculously low - 100 grams contains only 30 calories. The large berry is an ideal natural remedy for dieting. Large reserves of water in the composition give a feeling of fullness for a long time.

Cosmetology.

The unique berry is also used in skin care. The reserves of organic substances improve the composition of the dermis, give it elasticity and deep hydration. Acids help stop inflammation, heal acne, acne, cleanse the skin and push epidermal cells to regenerate.

Interesting Facts

The Russian name "watermelon" comes from the Turkic "harbus", which the Turks borrowed from the Persians. From Persian "harbus" means "melon", and in literal translation watermelon is "huge donkey cucumber". More than 1300 varieties of amazing delicacies grow. China is the leader in the cultivation and supply of watermelon crops. The second place belongs to Turkey.

And in Vietnam there is an interesting tradition. When Tet (New Year) comes to the residents, kavun becomes the main decoration of the feast. In Vietnam, the scarlet hue is a symbol of luck and successful business start-up.

The Japanese also keep up with surprising watermelon admirers.They managed to bring out a black watermelon! The rarest variety of Kavuna "Densuke" grows only in the northern regions of Japan (Hokkaido island). Black watermelons have a smooth, monochromatic peel and crumbly sugar pulp of a pale pink color. Among the Japanese, black watermelon is a luxury item, it is presented as a gift as a precious gift.

The inventive Japanese created a square-shaped watermelon (they were introduced to the world by the breeders of the island of Shikoku). The taste and composition of such unusual berries does not differ from the usual round watermelons. In the world, square non-standard caves are appreciated and in great demand.

Thais revere yellow watermelons. For the Thai people, the sunny hue is symbolic of financial well-being and luck in financial affairs. Experienced with the breeding of yellow caves and in the Ukraine. Ukrainian breeders have created a variety of yellow watermelon "Kavbuz". It tastes like pumpkin, but has a watermelon aroma. These kavunas make excellent porridge.

Kavun is a master cook. A lot of amazing dishes are prepared from it:

Salads, sorbets, candied fruits, cereals, gazpacho. Watermelons are canned, salted and pickled. And what kind of jams, jams come out of green crusts! The flesh of the kavun turns into a rich sweet honey "nardek". To get a kilogram of watermelon honey, 18-20 kg of fruit pulp is spent!

Americans, lovers of the very-very, got into the Guinness Book of Records, having grown the most gigantic kavun. A farmer from Arkansas in 2006 thundered all over the world, presenting his brainchild - a watermelon weighing 120 kg!

Residents of South America prefer to breed miniature caves with a diameter of 4-5 centimeters. The tiny watermelon variety is called "Pepquinos". They taste like cucumbers and are an expensive snack in high-end restaurants.

At the end of summer, when fragrant kavunas will be sold at every intersection, ask which variety is on sale. The domestic varieties of kavuna are deservedly recognized as the best: Astrakhan, monastery, Kamyshinsky, Mozdoksky, Uryupinsky and Kherson.

Bon Appetit!

A bit of history

At the beginning of the 20th century, the priest and breeder, Brother Clément Rodier, worked on the creation of a hybrid of the famous citrus fruits - a king orange and a tangerine. In 1902, he received an excellent result - the fruit of the grown tree turned out to be unusually sweet, tasty and retained the characteristic shape of its predecessors.

Over time, clementine has appeared several types:

• Spanish - the fruits of which can be large or small;
• Montreal - a very rare hybrid, grown in Algeria and Spain;
• Corsican - has a trademark, fragrant, seedless, sold with leaves, by which it is easy to understand that the fruit has recently been picked.

  

Clementine is currently actively grown in southern Europe, as well as in Morocco and Algeria, Chile, South Africa, American California and Florida. There is a steady demand for these products; trade is successfully carried out with various regions of the world.

Origin of the problem

Before you can confidently say that lemon is a fruit, you need to understand the origin of this word. From Latin, "fructus" means fruit. All fruits grow on trees or bushes. Until 300 years ago, such a word did not exist. People considered all fruits to be vegetables.
As a result, the question of what a lemon is: a berry, a fruit or a vegetable becomes even more confusing. When we say that it is a fruit, we mean that it is a “fruit”. And if you use the dictionary of the ancient Slavs, then this is a vegetable at all.

Whether a lemon can be a berry depends on its type of growth and fruit formation.

It is worth figuring out what a berry is. This name is understood with the pulp with seeds covered with a thin shell. Berries can be single-seeded, double-seeded, etc. It is important that, according to morphological characteristics, tomatoes, bananas, kiwi, etc. are also classified as berries. In everyday life, they are not like that. As a result, it is difficult to say with certainty that a lemon is a fruit, vegetable or berry.

Sunki

Sunki is a very sour mandarin.It was he who was crossed with the kumquat in order to subsequently obtain calamondin, a tangerine tree known to many, which is easy to grow on your windowsill. The skin of the sunka is very dense, and the flesh has a bitter taste with noticeable sour notes. As you might guess from the name, this fruit is grown in China.

Sunki is a very sour mandarin. It was he who was crossed with the kumquat in order to subsequently obtain calamondin, a tangerine tree known to many, which is easy to grow on your windowsill. The skin of the sunka is very dense, and the flesh has a bitter taste with noticeable sour notes. As you might guess from the name, this fruit is grown in China.

Read more:

1. Peach and apple hybrid name with nectarine
2. Hybrid of mandarin and orange - Flowers365

When ripe

When deciding when tangerines ripen, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the growth of varieties. The standard fruiting period is November-January. Some varieties bear fruit until spring. Each plant produces fruit annually after 3-4 years of age. Each year 1 tree brings up to 600-800 pieces. tangerines.

The assembly is carried out unripe, the skin should be greenish-orange. When stored, tangerines ripen. When harvesting, the fruits are cut at the level of the stalk using garden shears or a knife.

It is not recommended to handle the fruit. Correct assembly will extend the storage period. It takes about 8-10 months from the flowering period to the formation and ripening of the fruit before the tangerines are harvested. With an industrial scale of cultivation, up to 30-50 kg are harvested from 1 tree.

Kumquat composition

As befits a fruit, kumquat is rich in a number of nutrients and vitamins. Let's consider its composition in more detail. It includes:

• essential oils: limonene, pinene, terpene;
• cellulose;
• omega-3 fatty acids;
• antioxidants;
• vitamins and minerals.

Citrus is especially rich in vitamin C: one hundred grams of this fruit contains about 75% of the daily requirement of an adult, vitamin A - 5%, representatives of group B - 2%.

Also in kumquat there is about 10% of the daily value of manganese, 6% - calcium, 4-5% - potassium and magnesium.

Citrus nobilis

Indochino-Malay varietal group of "noble" or royal mandarins. Their distinguishing appearance is their large size, thick, very lumpy, tight skin, and deliciously sweet flesh. This group is not well understood, but the high flavor profile of royal tangerines suggests that it is most likely a natural hybrid of orange with tangerine or tangor. The best varieties of this group are: King (Siamese king), Tsao-Tse, Kunembo.