Chaenomeles is a small genus of flowering plants belonging to the Rosaceae family. The shrub is characterized by early flowering, and an unusually bright color of flowers. Over the years, breeders have created unique decorative varieties that differ in: colors, sizes, terry.

Curious fact! The plant is included in the list of the twelve most attractive shrubs in the world. In the people for the excessively sour taste of the fruit, it is called the "northern lemon."

Homeland - Japan, China. Chaenomeles appeared in Europe at the end of the 18th century. At first, botanists called it Pyrus japonica, that is, Japanese quince. But in 1822, the scientist Lindley singled out the plant in a separate genus, called Chaenomeles, in Greek "cracking apple." And even now there are gardeners who call it the old-fashioned Japanese quince, because. in the century before last, taxonomists combined quince and chaenomeles into one genus. The plant itself was very much liked by English gardeners, and they simply called it "Jaronisa". Nowadays, chaenomeles is grown on all continents except Antarctica.

genomeles

Description

Ornamental deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or miniature trees 1.5-6 m tall. Shoots are prickly and without thorns. The leaves are shiny, dark green, placed alternately; petioles about 2 cm long; stipules do not fall off.

Brick-red, orange, white, pink single flowers are 3.5-5 cm in diameter, mostly solitary, but sometimes found in short racemes. Flowers bloom before leaves appear. A corolla with five petals is white, pinkish or scarlet-red in color. After the appearance of the fruit, the calyx falls off. The flowers have 25-50 stamens. Ovary inferior, five-celled.

fragrant large fruits in shape they look like flattened compacted apples that are tightly seated on the branches. Seeds brown, no endosperm, pointedly elongated above, rounded below. The ripening period is September-October.

The structure of chaenomeles

Species and varieties

The genus Henomeles has 4 species. Of which breeders have created hundreds ornamental varieties deciduous shrub. In the domestic scientific literature to this day there is confusion among the types of chaenomeles. Let's consider them in more detail.

H. lovely(lat. Ch. speciosa). It occurs naturally in China. A bush with thorny shoots grows up to 1 m. The flowering period begins in May and lasts 25 days. Blooms at 5 years old. Many varieties have been bred from the species: Phylis Moore, Rowallane, Nivalis, etc.

H. japanese(lat. Ch. japonica). Dense shrub with a dense crown, reaching a height of up to 3 m. It grows slowly, growth per year is 4-6 cm. Flower buds are closer to the ground, therefore they are not damaged by frost. Popular for its early flowering. Grades gained fame: Papela, Gaillardi, Malardi.

Chaenomeles superb, Pink Lady cultivar

H. Maulea(lat. Ch.maulei). Neat shrub up to 1 m tall, with spiky shoots curved in an arc. The birthplace of the shrub is Southeast Asia. Brownish-scarlet flowers, are in small inflorescences. the flowering period lasts 2-3 weeks. In Europe, varieties are cultivated: Brilliant, Holland, Nikolina, Nivalis, Pink Lady.

H. katayansky(lat. Ch. cathayensis). Originally from China, a bit like the common x. Japanese, but less commonly used in landscaping. It reaches a height of 3 m, in the Moscow region it grows no more than 1.6 m.

In addition to natural species, there are four hybrid groups that have appeared as a result of spontaneous crossing of the original species. For example, X. excellent - Ch. x superba.

Photogallery of species

Cultivation and care

Landing place

Prefers lighted spacious areas. It develops poorly in a shaded place, withstands only light partial shade. Due to poor winter hardiness, the ends of annual shoots may freeze slightly. Therefore, for genomeles, it is better to find a place where the maximum amount of snow collects in winter.

The soil

The best soil well-moistened loam, or sod-podzolic soil with a sufficient amount of organic matter is considered. Does not accept soil with a pronounced alkaline reaction. The maximum pH should be 5.5-6.0. On acid soils it is affected by chlorosis.

Exquisite Chaenomeles Catayan

Landing

We will tell you more about planting and caring for chaenomeles. For planting we use two-year-old seedlings. The optimal planting period is early spring, before the start of the growing season, i.e. before bud break. Sometimes there is a need for an autumn planting of chaenomeles, this option is also possible, but it should be remembered that after planting, the seedlings should be spudded. For hedges, we maintain a distance of about 0.8 m, in group plantations -1.5 m.

Important! You can not deepen the root neck. This will adversely affect the development of seedlings. It should be at ground level.

Landing of Chaenomeles

When planting, we introduce mineral, organic fertilizers: 9 kg of compost or manure, 180 g of superphosphate, 25 g of potassium nitrate per hole. We also pour a bucket of water under each bush. From above we mulch with humus.

Care

top dressing. During the summer we carry out 3 top dressings:

• in the spring we scatter nitrogen fertilizers around the bush;
• further after flowering bright colors and the second time after harvesting, we fertilize the soil with potash and phosphate fertilizers in proportions of 250-350 g per ten-liter bucket of water.

Average growth rate of a shrub

Watering. One watering for a month is enough. After that, we loosen the soil and remove the weeds. We mulch the earth with peat or sawdust.

pruning. It is carried out once every 5 years, usually after flowering. At the same time, stunted, weakening and dry branches are removed. In stem forms, shoots are regularly disposed of on a stem just below the graft.

Wintering

The plant is frost-resistant. Feels great up to zone 5a, but in severe winters with little snow, the shoots at the ends freeze slightly. Therefore, chaenomeles spud and mulch around the ground in autumn. Flower buds near the ground are usually undamaged and the plant blooms annually.

Important! When preparing plants for winter, young seedlings should be covered with spruce branches. Plants located on the trunk bend down to the ground and take cover.

Chaenomeles grown as a bonsai

Disease and pest control

Compared to other pome crops, chaenomeles is practically not damaged by diseases and pests. Therefore, the culture is not sprayed with pesticides.

reproduction

Non-varietal planting material can be obtained by growing from seeds. Moreover, the seeds have a germination capacity of about two years. Most best time for planting seeds - autumn. During spring sowing, the seeds are previously stratified in sand at t = 0 - 3°C. In the fruits of wild species there are 45-75 seeds, and in the fruits of varietal crops there are 10 times less. The sowing rate is 4 - 5 g of seeds per 1 m². In the second year, the seedlings are pruned to stimulate growth.

How to germinate seeds at home?

1. Remove the grains from the fruit and place them in a container with moist soil.
2. Sprinkle a thin layer of earth on top.
3. Cover the container with polyethylene with several holes for ventilation.
4. Put for a couple of months in a cool place (basement, or the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, or between the frames on the windowsill.
5. In the spring, remove the container with seeds and sprinkle them again with soil so that they are 1 cm deep in the ground.
6. Again cover with polyethylene, and place in a lighted place with t about 20°C.
7. Spray the soil surface regularly.

On a note! After 21 days, the first shoots may appear, but the germination period can stretch up to 7 weeks, be patient.

Chaenomeles fruits

From vegetative methods, attention should be paid to propagation by green cuttings, carried out in June. Successful rooting reaches 80-90%. If there are developed mother plants, reproduction by layering or root offspring gives good results.

A more complex method is spring grafting and summer budding. In this case, not only chaenomeles seedlings are used as rootstocks, but also pear, mountain ash, hawthorn, shadberry, and in the southern regions, common quince.

Chaenomeles in the landscape

Use in landscape design

Chaenomeles is used to create hedges, borders. It is attractive both in single plantings and in group plantings. In gardens, it is planted in groups on lawns and near flower arrangements on rocky hills.

Chaenomeles seedlings can be dwarf rootstocks for varieties of pear, apple, mountain ash. In horticulture, the compatibility of these crops with chaenomeles is often used, and with the help of grafting of several breeds, decorativeness is increased. On a grafted tree, a pear may bloom first, then a hawthorn, and at the end of May, chaenomeles will bloom with fiery bright flowers.

Forsythia, low almonds, magnolias, heather, spireas can be partners in garden compositions. Of course, other combinations are possible.

Almost every owner of a garden plot wants his garden to be not only beautiful, but also unusual. That is why recently gardeners have begun to grow on their plots not only familiar apple and pear trees, but also exotic plants. These include the incredible beauty of a shrub called Japanese Quince or Henomeles.

This unusual tree, bewitching with its incredible beauty and aroma, will not leave anyone indifferent during flowering. Despite the fact that Japanese Quince is an exotic plant, it takes root well and grows in many regions of our country. Even inexperienced gardeners can handle planting and growing Henomeles.

Japanese quince: photo, description, characteristics

Chaenomeles belongs to an ornamental and fruit crop, is a heat-loving plant and grows well in regions with a mild climate. A quince tree can grow up to three meters, and a bush - up to a meter.

The plant is different

By the end of September, the beginning of October, the fruits of Henomeles ripen. When mature, they may be bright orange or green-yellow. Outside, the fruits are covered with a wax coating, which perfectly protects them from spoilage. That is why they can transfer even weak frosts on a tree. About half of the volume of the fruit is occupied by brown seeds, appearance resembling apple seeds.

Japanese quince begins to bear fruit in the third year of life. From each bush you can collect from two kilograms of fruit. The fruits, even if they are not yet ripe, are harvested before frost. They can ripen when stored at home, but at low temperatures of 3-5 degrees.

Varieties of Henomeles

Japanese quince has a wide variety of varieties(pictured), which allows you to choose a plant that is suitable for your garden plot.

1. The variety Crimson and Gold or Quince magnificent is distinguished by a branched bush growing up to 1.2 m. The plant blooms with dark red flowers with yellow stamens. The shrub does not require pruning and is most often used as a hedge.
2. Genomeles Simonyi was bred by French breeders. The bush has almost round lodging shoots, crimson-red inflorescences and green fruits.
3. The ornamental variety Jet Trail is distinguished by its often creeping shoots, the absence of thorns, arched branches and pale white flowers.
4. Japanese Quince Vesuvius has a wide crown, but grows no more than one meter. A huge number of its inflorescences has a red color.
5. The Pink Lady variety has a wide crown and dark pink or pink flowers. The bush grows up to 1.5 m.
6. Henomeles Nivalis grows up to two meters in height and width. Nivalis blooms with white flowers in May and August.
7. Holland quince is distinguished by glossy, dark green leaves, a wide crown and orange-red flowers. In August, there may be a second flowering of a plant of this variety.

If you want to grow a Japanese bonsai from Quince, then it is best suited for this. rubra plant. Having planted a stalk at an angle in a suitable container, with further care, to give the bush an aesthetic appearance, it will be necessary to trim correctly.

Features of growing Japanese Quince

Growing Henomeles is not particularly difficult. When choosing a location for it, it should be noted that the shrub loves well-lit areas. He can grow in partial shade, but at the same time he will not bear fruit.

The Japanese quince is successfully developing practically on any soil. She will suit poor sandy and damp clay soils. However, they should be moderately moist and rich in humus. Henomeles does not tolerate excessively calcareous and saline soils at all.

Most varieties of Quince are frost-resistant, and can winter without shelter. However, if the winter is harsh and lacks snow, flower buds and annual shoots may freeze slightly. Therefore, trees are recommended to be planted in places where a sufficient layer of snow forms. In regions with severe winters, the plant should be covered with fallen leaves or spruce branches for the winter.

Landing of Chaenomeles

It is best to plant young trees in the spring after the soil has thawed. Autumn planting is also possible at the time of mass leaf fall. However, a heat-loving shrub may not have time to take root and die before frost.

take root well two-year-old Japanese quince seedlings. When planting a plant, it is necessary to ensure that the root neck remains at the level of the soil. For plants aged 3-5 years, planting pits should have a depth of 0.5-0.8 m, and a diameter of up to 0.5 m.

The soil for Chaenomeles is prepared from leafy soil, pitch and peat (2:1:2). In addition, it is recommended to add 300 grams of potassium nitrate, 200 grams of superphosphate, 500 gamma ash, 1-2 buckets of humus to the planting pit.

It is best to plant Quince bushes in small groups of 3-5 plants. So that adult plants do not crowd each other and do not close, the distance between seedlings must be at least one meter.

Features of care

In the first year after planting the plant regular watering required. Soil moisture should be especially monitored during dry summers. In order for the soil to retain moisture, around young Chaenomeles, the soil is mulched with a layer of 3-5 cm. Sawdust or peat are suitable as mulch.

In the first two years after planting, young plants are fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers and slurry in the spring, and with potash and phosphorus fertilizers in the fall.

After 4-5 years, Japanese Quince will begin to bloom and bear fruit. For an adult plant special care required:

1. Chaenomeles does not need abundant watering. Once a month will be enough.
2. Fertilize the plant should be the same as other berry bushes.
3. Every spring, it is necessary to cut out old branches lying on the ground that are more than five years old.
4. Annually it is recommended to form a bush to prevent its thickening. The number of branches on a tree should not exceed 10-20. Cut vertical shoots. Pruning is done in the spring, even before the appearance of the kidneys. Autumn pruning can lead to freezing of the plant.
5. For the winter period Quince is recommended to be protected from the wind. To do this, you can cover it with spruce branches, or even install a snow shield.

As you can see, caring for Henomeles is quite simple and does not require large physical and financial costs. Basically, it consists in fertilizing and pruning shrubs.

Reproduction of Japanese Quince

The plant can be propagated in several ways:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• dividing the bush.

Reproduction by seeds

This is the most reliable and easiest way to propagate Quince. Large brown seeds are planted in a prepared earthen mixture in late February - early March.

About in six weeks seedlings dive into separate seedling cups. The grown seedlings in the ground can be planted in May or June.

Young seedlings require frost protection during the first winter. If this is not possible, then in open ground Quince will need to be planted only next spring.

Propagation by cuttings and grafting

The advantage of such reproduction is that all varietal qualities plants.

Cuttings should be harvested in early June. It is recommended to cut early morning, in dry weather. When cutting off the cutting, it is necessary to make sure that it is with a small piece of last year's wood, that is, with a “heel”. Cut shoots are soaked for a day in growth stimulants and obliquely planted in a mixture of peat and sand(1:3). Rooting occurs within 30-40 days, provided that the air temperature is not below + 20C.

In May, a seedling of Quince is grafted with a varietal cutting:

1. During the second sap flow (in July or August), varietal shoots of the plant are harvested.
2. A T-shaped incision is made on the bark of the seedling (rootstock), the edges of which are folded back.
3. A varietal shoot with a bud is inserted under the bark.
4. Plants are tightly pressed against each other, tied and treated with garden pitch.

The survival of the eyes is checked after three to four weeks. In the spring of next year, the kidney should give a new shoot, and the bandage can be removed.

The division of the bush

Quince bushes give numerous root offspring, and over time grow in all directions. Due to such offspring, the plant can grow even on a steep slope.

The ideal time for dividing the bush is the end of spring and the end of autumn. Root shoots for planting should have a thickness of 0.5 cm and a length of 10-15 cm. From one bush you can separate 5-6 offspring.

Prepared shoots are planted vertically in a permanent place. Further care for them consists in regular watering and mulching the soil under them with chips, wood chips or humus.

The disadvantage of this method of reproduction is that the root system of young shoots is poorly developed, and some seedlings need to be grown at home. The fruits of young plants are smaller than usual at first.

Disease and pest control Japanese quince

The main pest of Henomeles is the aphid. Its appearance can be a real disaster for the plant. Therefore, when it is detected, the bush must be immediately treated with special means.

At high humidity air in damp and cool weather, favorable conditions are created for the appearance various fungal diseases:

• with necrosis and various spots, the leaves begin to deform and dry out;
• with cercosporosis, various brown spots appear, which turn pale over time;
• with ramularia, brown spots are visible on the leaves.

Effective methods of struggle are the use of copper-soapy liquid and 0.2% foundationol. Less dangerous is spraying the bushes with infusion onion. To do this, 150 grams of husks are insisted in 10 liters of water during the day. The resulting infusion plants are processed every five days.

Japanese quince, which is easy to care for, can be planted as a single plant, in small groups or along the edge garden path, forming a hedge from it. But not only by its unpretentiousness and beautiful flowering this shrub is highly valued. Quince fruits contain many different biologically active substances and a whole complex of vitamins. These remarkable qualities put Henomeles in a number of valuable fruit and berry crops.

Chaenomeles, or Japanese quince

Japanese quince, or chaenomeles, - a shrub that was known to the ancient Greeks, who valued this plant for its medicinal properties.

It seems that there are four species that are naturally distributed mainly in Japan and China, hence the name of the plant. This shrub, depending on the growing conditions, is either deciduous or semi-evergreen and has a surprisingly beautiful flowering. Its spreading shoots are covered with sparse spines. The leaves are small, shiny, dark green in color, arranged alternately.

Japanese quince is used both for fruit production and for decorative landscaping. The shrub looks especially good on garden plot during the flowering period, when its shoots are literally strewn with dozens of large bright red flowers.

Japanese quince is undemanding to growing conditions, but rich in humus, fertile soils are best suited for it. However, this shrub can grow on rather poor soils and even with a lack of moisture. Perhaps the only prerequisite for the normal existence of a plant is a sufficient amount of light.

genomeles- long-lived plant. In one place, the bush can develop and produce stable yields for about a hundred years. It is propagated by sowing seeds, green cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.

In garden compositions, chaenomeles is successfully combined with forsythia, low almonds, heathers, spireas, magonias, and any other options are possible to your taste.

Let us dwell in more detail on the types of chaenomeles, which are most widespread.

Chaenomeles japonica, or Japanese quince. Homeland of this species- China. The plant is densely leafy and reaches a height of 3 m. The bush is very voluminous, often, growing, it can occupy up to 5 square meters. m. The flowers are very large, reach a diameter of 5 cm, with a rather rare scarlet-red color of the petals, collected in shields of 5-6 pieces.

In Russia, this shrub is characterized by rather early flowering, sometimes even before the leaves bloom on the plant. The duration of the flowering period is highly dependent on growth conditions, the weather at this time, usually flowering lasts 15-25 days.

Chaenomeles Japanese is a fairly early-growing shrub, the plants enter the fruiting period already at the age of three. The fruits usually ripen in the middle- By the end of October, mature ones have a bright yellow color and reach a diameter of 8 cm. But with sufficient precocity, Japanese quince grows rather slowly, the growth of its shoots usually does not exceed 5 cm. As already mentioned, the plant is demanding on light.

Japanese quince is not only a fruit plant, it is successfully used to create hedges (it tolerates a haircut well), suitable for group and single plantings.

Henomeles Mauleya, or low Japanese quince. This plant is native to Southeast Asia, often found in the mountains of Japan and China. As a cultivated plant, it has been grown since the end of the 18th century. Henomeles Maulea- low-growing shrub with very strong, arched shoots and spines, reaching 1.5 cm. It has very decorative delicate emerald green leaves, densely arranged on twigs.

Shoots during flowering are literally strewn with large brownish-red flowers, collected in inflorescences of 4-6 pieces. This splendor lasts quite a long time, faded flowers are replaced by new ones, and often flowering is extended for 18-25 days.

In addition to attractive flowers, this chaenomeles also produces fragrant fruits that appear on the plant as early as the third year of life. The fruits, tightly attached to the branches, fully ripen in mid-late October, sometimes even falling under frost. Ripe fruits are quite heavy, sometimes their weight exceeds 50 g, and the diameter is 4-6 cm.

Iva is beautiful. This is a shrub with thorny shoots and dense shiny leaves up to 8 cm long, young leaves are reddish, then they turn bright green, and in autumn- crimson.

Plants of this species bloom in mid-late May, flowering is plentiful, lasting up to 20 days. Flowers are medium sized, bright red. The quince of this species is very photophilous, prefers light, organic-rich soils, although it tolerates poorer soils, and is tolerant of high acidity.

It enters the fruiting season quite early, the first fruits can be obtained when the plant reaches the age of five.

Chaenomeles of Catania. Homeland of this species- China. The plant is a tall shrub (up to 3 m). Flowering stretched- 25, and sometimes even 30 days. The flowers are deep pink, rather large, up to 4 cm in diameter, usually collected in 2-3 pieces. The shoots are very prickly, rather rare gray-brown color. Leaves, like shoots, are different unusual color, changing depending on the season: spring- dark purple, and summer - dark green. Another unique feature of this species- the leaves below are light and less pubescent, in addition, their length ranges from 1 to 3.5 cm.

Fruiting annual, plentiful. The fruits are ovoid, large, reach 75 g. Ripe in mid-September. This chaenomeles is quite fast-growing, the first fruits can be obtained already in the fourth year of the plant's life.

All of the listed types of chaenomeles can be used both for decorative purposes and as fruit plant. For normal growth and development of plants, full flowering and obtaining stable and high yields, it is necessary to observe agricultural technology.

Sunny and open places- most suitable for chaenomeles. However, it should also be taken into account that the winter hardiness of chaenomeles is average; in frosty winters, the ends of annual shoots can freeze slightly. Therefore, preference should be given to those parts of the garden where enough snow accumulates in winter, which will save the shrub even from the critical temperature of minus 35-37 degrees.

The plant feels great on various soils, with the exception of soils with a strongly pronounced alkaline reaction. Light, well-moistened soils with a high content of organic matter and a slightly acidic environment are considered ideal for chaenomeles. In other soil conditions, annual application of organic and mineral fertilizers is necessary.

For planting in a permanent place, it is better to take only two-year-old chaenomeles seedlings and plant them in early spring and always before bud break on the plant. The distance between plants depends on the purpose of planting. For example, for a hedge, it should not exceed 1 m, and for fruit plantations, it should be at least 1.5 m. When planting, it is important not to deepen the root collar too much, it should remain at soil level.

Caring for chaenomeles consists of fertilizing, watering, mulching, loosening the soil, pruning and sheltering plants for the winter. You need to feed the bushes quite often- at least 3 times per season. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are scattered around the plant, after flowering and harvesting, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are applied. Plantings can be watered about once a month, but you need to loosen the soil often, moreover, combining it with weeding.

The soil around the bushes is mulched with peat, sawdust, bark, laying them in a layer of 3-5 cm.

Japanese quince is pruned no more than once every five years, usually done in the summer, after flowering, removing underdeveloped, dry, broken and old branches.

When propagated by seeds, autumn sowing gives the best results. In this case, the seeds are taken from freshly ripened fruits. In order for the seeds to sprout well and amicably during spring sowing, stratification is necessary. Seeds are kept in wet sand for two months at a temperature of 0-3 degrees. For 1 line m usually sown 4-5 g of seeds. Seedlings are abundant, and in the second year of life, the plants are already suitable for transplanting to a permanent place.

Vegetative propagation contributes to the preservation of cultural characteristics of plants. The best way- green cuttings. In June, non-lignified shoots are cut (cutting length 10-12 cm) and planted in a greenhouse with specially selected soil (peat, earth and sand). Cuttings should be in conditions of artificial fog (frequent watering- 7-8 times a day; water, evaporating, creates increased humidity in the air- fog).

Green cuttings of chaenomeles root quite well, and already in autumn (end of September- beginning of October) planting material suitable for planting is obtained.

Reproduction by layering- quite old and reliable way, allowing to obtain planting material of good quality with minimal cost. The method of propagation of chaenomeles by root offspring is less effective, since it is necessary to have several dozen plants to obtain good planting material.

Grafting with a cutting is perhaps the most fast way reproduction of chaenomeles. It consists in grafting a cutting with 2-3 buds onto a stock, which can be used as a pear, mountain ash, shadberry and hawthorn. Grafted cuttings quickly start growing, often the first flowering is observed already in the year of vaccination.

Summer budding- another type of vegetative propagation, in which not a stalk is grafted, but an eye (kidney). With the help of budding, standard forms of chaenomeles can also be obtained; for this, the eye is grafted at a height of 1-1.5 m.

N. Khromov , All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture. I. V. Michurin, Michurinsk

Henomeles Maulea

Henomeles Maulei (Chaenomeles Maulei C. K. Scheid.), or low Japanese quince, the last clarification is important, since there is also high Japanese quince, whose bushes are higher, flowers and fruits are larger, but which is less winter-hardy. Birthplace of genomeles Maulei- mountainous regions of Japan, the plant was brought to Russia as early as 1776, but for a long time it was not widely distributed. This is a squat, up to 1.2 m tall, semi-creeping ornamental and fruit shrub, living up to 60-80 years. AT landscape design used in biogroups, borders, rock gardens, as a solitaire (single). Grows slowly. Photophilous, drought-resistant, can exist on various soils, but good harvests gives only on rich loamy and sandy loamy soils, with a pH of 5.5-6.0 (slightly acidic), with normal moisture. Carries out excess moisture. Resistant to gas and dust. The root system is deep. In winter it withstands temperatures down to -30°C. Winters well under snow. To do this, in the fall it is enough to bend the branches to the ground with two or three boards. Uncovered ones sometimes freeze slightly, but quickly recover.

The crown is openwork, decorative. The branches are widely spread, numerous, arcuate, descending to the ground; bear spines up to two centimeters long (in some forms- sometimes absent). Covered with shiny obovate leaves up to 3-5 cm long, with stipules. The flowers are bright orange-red shades, rarely white or yellow, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, collected in 2-4 pieces. Flowering is plentiful, lasts about 30 days, from the last days of May. The species requires cross-pollination, so at least two or three plants of different origins must be grown on the site.

Fetus- false apple weighing 20-30, in selected forms- up to 150 g, and 2-5 cm in diameter. They have a turnip-shaped, more often apple-shaped or cubar-shaped (pear-shaped) shape, usually ribbed. Ripe fruit color- from green and yellow to orange and light brown, sometimes with a red blush. The seed chambers are large, containing 50-80 seeds. Weight 1000 pcs. recent- about 2.5 g. The pulp of the fruit is firm, juicy, sour, sometimes astringent, very fragrant. They ripen in September- October, after the leaves have fallen. The yield is two to three kilograms per bush. Frosts at -3 ° C cause them to freeze, so the fruits are removed no later than the second half of September. Frozen, frost-beaten, although they remain edible, they become soft, wadded (like similarly damaged apples), lose their taste greatly, and most importantly- completely lose their wonderful aroma. So this cannot be allowed. Taken unripe, they reach well in the bed. At a temperature of 2°C and a humidity of 90%, they can be stored until February.

Fruits contain up to 5-8% acids (mainly citric), 2-4.5% sugars, 0.7-1.3- pectin and 1.5-1.7 tannins, 0.4-0.49% cellulose. The content of vitamin C in them is very different and ranges from 25 to 182 mg /%; and it is well preserved in processed products. Vitamin P is up to 900-1000 mg /%, in addition, it contains carotene, vitamins B, B2 "PP; high iron content - 0.3%, a lot of aromatic essential oil. The fruits are also rich in biologically active substances. For fresh consumption, they are limitedly suitable, only in tea instead of lemon, they are too sour. But processed products from them are excellent.

Especially good jam- wonderful in taste and aroma. If he had not cooked and eaten it himself, he would not have spoken. Jam is prepared as follows: for 1 kg of fruit, take 1.3-1.5 kg of sugar, 1 glass of water. The fruits are washed, cut into pieces, cleaning out the seeds, poured with boiling sugar syrup, left to infuse for 6 hours. Then the syrup is drained, the fruits are laid out in jars and again poured with syrup heated to 90 ° C, after which they are pasteurized for 15 minutes.

Of the fruits of chaenomeles, jelly, marmalade, pastille, syrups, candied fruits, juices, compotes are very tasty.

To prepare compote for 1 kg of fruit, take 600 g of sugar and 0.8 liters of water. You can grind with sugar, or just sprinkle them with finely chopped pieces of fruit.

In addition, low quince fruits give an excellent taste and aroma when they are added to processed products of other fruits. It is best to blend the latter with apples, pears, plums. They are increasingly used in the canning, confectionery, and alcoholic beverage industries. Pectins contained in fruits bind and remove toxins, toxic substances, radionuclides from the human body. Therefore, they are widely used in medicinal purposes. In addition, fresh fruits, their juice, as well as an infusion of dry ones, are useful for low acidity; they also have tonic properties.

Mauleya's chaenomeles are propagated by seeds and vegetatively: green, lignified and root cuttings, dividing the bush, horizontal and arcuate layering, shoots, sometimes grafting. Grafted plants are often transferred to their own roots, deepening the grafting site into the soil. When propagated by seeds, they are sown 80-100 pcs. on the running meter row (rows are spaced 20 cm apart), better in autumn. For spring sowing, they are stratified for 50-60 days at a temperature of 1...5°C. When 3-4 true leaves appear, the seedlings are seated or thinned out at a distance of 6-8 cm. In the first year they grow up to 40 cm tall. Lignified cuttings are cut in spring 10-15 cm long, preferably from offspring shoots, treated with growth substances, planted in greenhouses. And green - in June, with two or three internodes; planted in a greenhouse with a fogging installation. Layers are propagated similarly to other fruit shrubs (currants, gooseberries). You can graft Japanese low quince on common quince, pear, hawthorn, shadberry. At the same time, it itself serves as a good dwarf stock for some varieties of pears, apple trees, as well as mountain ash and hawthorn. Planting bushes is best done in early spring, placement 2-2.5 x 0.8-1 m. Soil preparation- as for other berry bushes. care- watering as needed, fine loosening, weed control, fertilizer, top dressing. Every year, 25 g of urea is applied per 1 m2 in the spring, every two years in the fall when digging (on the same area)- 4-6 kg of manure or compost, 25 g of double superphosphate and the same amount of potassium sulfate. They are usually fed with mullein (1:10). Branches are pruned annually. Remove broken, diseased, intertwining, frail, thickening, as well as vertical and lying on the ground (if layering is not needed), and branches older than five years. The bush should have 3-4 branches of each age from one to five years. Older- removed and replaced with young ones. In general, the bush should have at least 10-15 skeletal branches of different ages. Chaenomeles tolerates pruning well.

He does not have many pests and diseases: scale insect, spider mite, moniliosis (fruit rot). Control measures- standard. Damaged by rabbits. On soils with an alkaline reaction (pH > 7) it is affected by chlorosis.

Since Mauleya chaenomeles was originally cultivated for a long time only as decorative look, then among more than 90 of its varieties (all of them of foreign selection) there are no fruits yet, only decorative ones. Here are the most beautiful and promising of them: Simone - crimson-red flowers, large, green fruits; Elly Mossel - flowers are dark red terry, fruits are large dark green; Crimson and cold - the flowers are dark red, the fruits are yellow with a blush. Chaenomeles can be used to stabilize the soil, create low hedges, it is very suitable for bonsai-style formation.

In conclusion, I would like to once again recall the most important advantages of Japanese low quince- these are high decorativeness, precocity, annual and plentiful yield, plasticity, unpretentiousness, ease of reproduction and care, keeping quality of fruits, resistance to pests and diseases.

V. Starostin , dendrologist, candidate of agricultural sciences Sciences

(Gardener No. 49, December 15, 2011)

genomeles

History of cultivation

In the photo: chaenomeles in bloom (G. Kazanin)

Chaenomeles was introduced into culture in ancient times by the peoples of East Asia. It was grown for the sake of the fruits used in medicine, for flavoring dwellings, as well as for decorative purposes. The botanical classification of chaenomeles was carried out at the end of the 18th century, and it was soon introduced into Europe. From the middle of the 19th century, the "golden age" of chaenomeles begins. His beauty conquered the whole world. Japanese artists and English poets, inspired by beautiful images, created their works. When describing a new plant, researchers often forgot the strict and dry language of science and switched to a sublime style. So, when reading the description given by the famous gardener Van Gutt, you are imbued with the author's enthusiastic attitude towards a magnificent object. British gardeners, when characterizing their pet, used the entire set of excellent English epithets.

Chaenomeles was included among the twelve best shrubs. European, American and Japanese breeders have created many decorative varieties that differ in color, size, degree of double flowers. About a hundred of them are widely cultivated and are currently around the world.

The fruits of chaenomeles have long been used as food by the inhabitants of East Asia, and then Europe and North America, noting the pleasant taste and wonderful aroma processed products. However, nowhere did it become one of the most important fruit crops. A number of small industrial plantations were founded in the 30-60s of the last century in the USSR in Ukraine, but this culture was not widely spread there. First of all, this was due to the lack of valuable selected forms and the poor development of the fruit processing industry. The experience of Latvia was more successful, where in the 70-80s of the last century quite large production plantations were created and the industry mastered the production of many types of food products.

Now in the countries of Eastern and Northern Europe, interest in chaenomeles has increased as a promising fruit crop that meets the requirements of modern intensive and environmentally friendly agriculture. Among amateur gardeners of the former Soviet Union the cultivation of chaenomeles as a new fruit and ornamental crop began to spread especially after the Great Patriotic War. In the early 50s of the last century, this plant was already quite widely grown by a significant number of amateur gardeners in the central zone of the European part of Russia. I made the first attempts to grow chaenomeles in my garden in Sverdlovsk in 1955.

Nutritional and medicinal properties of fruits

According to the biochemical composition of fruits, chaenomeles stands out among other pome crops, approaching lemons in terms of basic indicators. Characteristic features fruits are: low sugar content (2-4%), with the bulk of sugars represented by glucose and fructose, high content of organic acids (4-6%), pectin substances (1-3%), vitamins C and P (respectively 50-200 and 800-1200 mg/%). Carotene, thiamine, nicotinic acid, pyradoxine and other vitamins were also found in the fruit pulp. The seeds contain tocopherol, unsaturated fatty acids and a number of other biologically active compounds. All these substances are important components balanced nutrition, and their presence increases the value of chaenomeles fruits. In addition to the presence of a multivitamin complex, the importance of pectins and fiber should be emphasized, which contribute to the release of toxins, radionuclides, heavy metals, and cholesterol from the body. The high content of ascorbic acid and bioflavonoids, which enhance the action of each other, makes it possible to recommend the fruits of chaenomeles for consumption for preventive and therapeutic purposes in infectious diseases, diseases of the digestive system, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and others.

Chaenomeles fruits are not used fresh because of the hard, highly acidic pulp, used for different types processing. The most popular types of products obtained are: extract, syrup, jam, marmalade, marmalade, candied fruits, prepared from fresh ripe fruits that have acquired a characteristic yellow color and a pleasant aroma.

To obtain an extract, washed fruits are cut in half, lengthwise or across, the seeds and core are removed, cut into slices and pieces. Sliced ​​fruits are poured with sugar (1-1.3 kg of sugar is taken per 1 kg of fruit), left in a cool place for one to two days. The resulting extract is drained, poured into a bowl and stored in a cold place, using as needed, or canned for long-term storage. Used to prepare various drinks, sweet dishes.

Other types of processing are carried out according to the recommendations common to all types of fruit raw materials, described in detail in popular literature. Excessive acidity in some types of processing, for example in pure chaenomeles marmalade, can be removed by neutralizing the excess with baking soda. It can also be recommended to prepare a semi-finished product in the form natural juice, sugar extract, puree, dried and frozen fruits that can be stored for a long time and used to prepare various dishes. Yes, and fresh fruits of chaenomeles at a low positive temperature (1-2 ° C) and high humidity can be stored for a very long time until a new harvest and used for consumption as needed. Such conditions can be created by storing fruits in tightly tied plastic bags in the basement, cold cabinet, refrigerator. So, in my experience, the fruits of chaenomeles in a tied plastic bag kept well in a cold cabinet until June next year.

Chaenomeles fruits can also be used to replace lemons in tea, culinary recipes, for blending with low-acid fruit raw materials (chokeberry, fresh-sweet apples and pears, etc.) and vegetable raw materials (pumpkin, carrots, etc.) ...

V. N. Shalamov

Solid but very useful

The red summer has faded, the red summer has flown by, but left behind a lot of tasty and healthy "gifts". True, some of them remain unclaimed by the hostesses. Among these "outcasts" is Japanese quince, or chaenomeles.

If at the beginning of summer it decorates our gardens with scarlet, like a blazing fire, large flowers, then in autumn small fruits with a thick rough peel and an extremely sour taste ripen on the bushes. It is no coincidence that in many countries chaenomeles are used instead of lemon, acidifying jam, compotes and tea with it. The fruits of Japanese quince are incredibly useful: they contain a lot of ascorbic acid and calcium, there are also salts of potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum and vanadium. And in terms of iron content, chaenomeles surpasses pear, strawberry, apple, and even the recognized "iron lady"- cherry.

Eating fresh or processed fruits is useful for beriberi, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, type II diabetes (in this case, the preparations are made without sugar), cardiovascular diseases, in particular, for mild forms of hypertension, they are also very good for pregnant women, as they help to cope with toxicosis.

With beriberi, as well as for the prevention and treatment of colds: 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed fresh fruits of chaenomeles pour a glass of boiling water, insist under the lid for 2 hours, strain. Drink a quarter cup of infusion two to three times a day half an hour before meals (if desired, it can be sweetened with honey).

And to strengthen immunity, especially in the winter-spring period, you can prepare a delicious medicine: cut the fruits into thin slices (after removing the seeds from them), put them in a jar, pour honey in a ratio of 1: 2 and keep a week in a dark place. Keep refrigerated. Take 2 teaspoons one to two times daily, one hour after meals.

With edema of cardiac origin, as well as to strengthen the walls of blood vessels: 5 tbsp. spoons of crushed fresh fruit (together with the core), pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, bring to a boil, then pour into a thermos and strain after 4 hours. Take 1/3 cup of infusion twice a day (preferably in the morning) half an hour before meals. During treatment, follow a salt-free diet.

For arthritis, rheumatism, gout as an additional treatment: 4 tbsp. spoons of crushed fruits of chaenomeles pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, keep on low heat for 15 minutes, leave for 2 hours, strain and add boiled water to the original volume. Take 1/3 cup of decoction three times a day 20 minutes before meals. The treatment is long.

For diarrhea: 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed fresh fruits of chaenomeles, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain. On this infusion, prepare jelly on potato starch. Drink warm jelly 0.5 cups two to three times a day half an hour before meals (subject to the obligatory diet). Treatment should be completed 2 days after diarrhea stops.

For wounds and ulcers: lightly rub fresh chaenomeles leaves between your palms, apply them to the affected area of ​​​​the skin and fix with a bandage. Change bandages as they dry.

With oily seborrhea of ​​the scalp: 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of chaenomeles fruit seeds into 0.5 cups of cold water, leave for 2-3 hours, then bring to a boil, cool, strain, squeezing the seeds. Rub the infusion into the scalp every other day, an hour before bedtime.

A. Prokopieva

Sowing seeds of Japanese quince

In autumn, we dig a groove 1-1.5 cm deep and cover it with a sheet of plywood, and keep a bucket of sand in a dry place. As soon as a stable negative temperature of the atmospheric air sets in, we remove the plywood from the groove. We lay out the seeds of chaenomeles (Japanese quince) in it and fill it with sand. If you do not have sand, you can fill it with dry earth prepared in advance. The offspring is generally strong. Some specimens even outperform the mother plants.

Let us dwell on the characteristics of this plant and determine why we grow it in a garden plot. By the way, experts call chaenomeles "Fiery Bush of the East." Most often, our gardens are inhabited by two types of chaenomeles. This is Japanese henomeles, or Japanese quince - a shrub up to 3 m tall, with a spreading crown and spiny shoots. The leaves are ovate, leathery, sharp-toothed along the edges, dark green, up to 8 cm long. The flowers are scarlet-red, up to 5 cm in diameter, 2-6 in inflorescences-scutes. Blooms profusely in May, 20-25 days. The fruits are spherical, yellow, ripen in September-October. Japanese quince is frost-resistant, drought-resistant, photophilous and demanding on soil fertility and moisture. It tolerates a haircut well, therefore it is often used to create hedges, as well as in single, group, avenue plantings.

In culture, Japanese quince is often found low, no more than 1 m high. On its arched, strong, prickly shoots, brown-red flowers 2-3 cm in diameter bloom in spring, collected in inflorescences of 2-6 pcs. Flowering lasts 2-3 weeks. Fruiting occurs at the age of 3-4 years. The fruits are oblong-round, tightly seated on the shoots. They ripen just before the frosts, ripen in the bed, acquiring a pale yellow color. Their aroma is reminiscent of pineapple.

Low Japanese quince A. Tytss, respectfully called by Latvian fruit growers Master Tytss, called “northern lemon”. Indeed, even in March, Japanese quince slices, canned 1:1 with granulated sugar, contain almost as much vitamin C as imported lemons contain at this time of the year. According to the calculations of scientists, the fruits of Japanese quince contain from 124 to 182 mg /% (i.e., 124-182 mg per 100 g of fruit) of vitamin C, and in addition, there are many organic acids and pectin substances that are also necessary for a person. There are many recipes for delicious Japanese quince preparations, we will give only two of them.

Compote (1.2 kg of fruit, 200 g of sugar, 1 liter of water). Prepared fruits cut into small pieces are poured with boiling sugar syrup and left until the syrup has cooled. Then the syrup is drained, and the pieces of quince are placed in sterilized jars. Sugar syrup is heated to 90 ° C, fruits are poured over it. Liter jars with fruits are pasteurized at 85°C for 15 minutes.

Jam (1 kg of quince, 1.2 kg of sugar, 0.2 l of water). The fruits cut into pieces are blanched for 8-10 minutes, then boiled intermittently. Pour in boiling sugar syrup for 2-3 hours, then boil for 5-10 minutes three times every 2 hours. At the last boil, add 200 g of sugar per 1 liter of syrup (total sugar content 1.2 kg). Jam is poured into clean jars and closed.

I. Krivega

(Gardener No. 39, 2011)

Chaenomeles named Maxim

For more than two hundred years, European breeders have been working to improve chaenomeles varieties. True, efforts are mainly aimed at improving the decorative qualities of this beautiful shrub.

In general, in terms of the number of varieties (more than 500), chaenomeles in the pink family is second only to the queen of flowers herself.- rose. And in recent decades, breeders have begun to create fruit varieties.

In Ukraine, the first varieties of chaenomeles were entered into the state register in 2001. Caliph, Nika, Nikolai, Nina was described in "PH" No. 10 for 2003. In Russia, the variety was included in the State Register of Selection Achievements in 2006 Volgogradsky 1 selection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Agroforestry. It is recommended as a universal variety for ornamental and fruit purposes for growing in the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov and Saratov regions, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions.

As for the varieties obtained at the Artemovskaya experimental station, Kalif is of interest for cultivation in the southern horticultural zone, and Nikolai and Nina, as more winter-hardy, are suitable for cultivation in the middle horticultural zone. A recent study at the agricultural biostation of the Michurinsk State Pedagogical Institute confirmed the practical value Caliph, Nicholas and Nina. The last two varieties are recommended for a wide production test in the conditions of the Central Black Earth region. All these varieties- donors of valuable traits for further selection.

Among the offspring of the Kalif variety, I singled out a promising hybrid, which received the preliminary name Maksim . The Latin word maximus has a superlative degree of the word ma gn us- several meanings. In relation to Maxim, this is “the largest, the largest”, “the most important, impressive”, “the most plentiful and very fertile”, “the most expensive and expensive”, “the most appreciated”. These epithets objectively characterize the Maxim hybrid.

Kalifa and Maxima bushes are distinguished by their upright habitus, which distinguishes them from the background of typical sprawling Japanese chaenomeles bushes and facilitates plant care and harvesting. Kalifa fruits are a cultivated type, weighing 70-80 g, with a thick layer of pulp (13-14 mm). In the conditions of Donbass, when ripe in the second half of August, they acquire a bright yellow color and a pleasant aroma. The fruits are spherical, beautiful. Ripe fruits are easily separated from the branches.

Maxim's fruits are large, regular in shape, bright golden in color. The benefits of a hybrid are early term maturation, ease of removal of fruits, abundant fruiting. One can hope that Maxim will justify his "name" and become desirable for gardeners.

V. Mezhensky , Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Ukraine

(Private farm No. 1, 2012)

Seed propagation in the garden strawberry familiar to us, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries - alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth giving her a place in the berry.

Often, at the sight of a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend over to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by nocturnal butterflies) and diurnal, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the grower and designer, because we often walk in the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners with the onset of the evening. We are never put off by the fragrance of our favorite fragrant flowers.

Pumpkin is considered by many gardeners to be the queen of the beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for its excellent taste, useful qualities and a rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the possibility of long-term storage, this vegetable supports our health. all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your site, you will be interested to know how to get the largest possible harvest.

Scotch eggs are amazing! Try to cook this dish at home, there is nothing difficult to prepare. Scotch eggs are a hard boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried. For frying, you need a frying pan with a high rim, and if you have a deep fryer, then it's just great - even less hassle. You will also need deep-frying oil so as not to smoke the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.

One of the most amazing large-flowered tub cubanola Dominican fully justifies the status of a tropical miracle. Heat-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, cubanola is a fragrant star with a difficult character. It requires special conditions in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, the best (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.

Chickpea Curry with Meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare, but requires pre-preparation. Chickpeas must first be soaked in plenty of cold water for several hours, preferably overnight, the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat in the marinade overnight so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then cook the curry according to the recipe.

Rhubarb can not be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! A large green or red rosette of plant leaves, reminiscent of burdock, acts as a beautiful backdrop for annuals. Not surprisingly, rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

Today, experiments with non-banal combinations and non-standard colors in the garden are in trend. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and a position. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to the range of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.

3 delicious sandwiches - cucumber sandwich, chicken sandwich, cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for a picnic in nature. Only fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and a little spice. There is no onion in these sandwiches, if you wish, you can add an onion marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches, this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, it remains to collect a picnic basket and go to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the variety group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, medium ripening - 55-60 and late terms - at least 70 days. When planting seedlings of tomatoes at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality crop of tomatoes also depends on the careful implementation of the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

unpretentious plants The “second plan” of sansevieria does not seem boring to those who appreciate minimalism. They are better than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimal maintenance. Stable decorative effect and extreme endurance of only one type of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very fast growth - Khan's rosette sansevieria. The squat rosettes of their stiff leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balance of the distribution of favorable and unsuccessful days for working with plants. lunar calendar. Gardening and gardening in June can be done throughout the month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be their optimal days for sowing with plantings, and for pruning, and for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a festive menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this meat is preferable for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, the best choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - mushrooms, boletus and other goodies are best harvested for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious and with an interesting, non-trivial foliage color. I have different Japanese spireas, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry ... And there is one special shrub that I will talk about in this article - the viburnum vesicle. To make my dream of a low maintenance garden come true, it's probably the perfect fit. At the same time, it is able to diversify the picture in the garden very much, moreover, from spring to autumn.

Chaenomeles is a genus of flowering plants in the Rosaceae family. Usually it is called Japanese quince. It grows wild in Japan and China. In appearance, chaenomeles looks like small deciduous shrubs, the height of which is from 1 m to 6 m. Shoots can be found with or without thorns. Leaves are serrated or crenate-toothed. The fruits of chaenomeles are large, apple-shaped or pear-shaped.

The homeland of the chaenomeles plant is Southeast Asia. AT middle lane only low Japanese quince grows. Japanese quince is a valuable and useful fruit and berry crop with a high amount of biologically active substances, unpretentiousness to climatic and soil conditions, annual fruiting, early fruiting and decorativeness.

How to choose and store

Fresh fruits should be light yellow or light green in color with a pronounced aroma. Fruits with dark spots, dents or other defects should not be bought.

You can not only buy chaenomeles fruits on the counter, but also collect them yourself. Harvest is best in September-October. It is advisable to remove it before the onset of frost, as the fruits may lose their aroma and taste. Fruits not damaged by frost are remarkably preserved until February at high humidity and a temperature of +2 °C.

Chaenomeles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months by wrapping it in cellophane. Just do not wrap fruits with pears, as they speed up the ripening process and shorten the shelf life.

Reflection in culture

Chaenomeles was introduced into culture by the peoples of East Asia in very ancient times. The fruits were used to flavor dwellings and for decorative purpose. In the middle of the 19th century, the beauty of chaenomeles conquered the whole world. Even researchers, when describing a plant, forgot the dry and strict language and moved on to a more elevated style. Also, the fruits of chaenomeles were used as food by the inhabitants of East Asia, and later in Europe and North America.

To date, Northern and Eastern Europe have increased their interest in chaenomeles. They consider it as a fruit, environmentally friendly crop.

Nutritional value per 100 grams:

Useful properties of chaenomeles

Composition and presence of nutrients

Chaenomeles (Japanese quince) contains more than 5% organic acids and approximately 2% tannins in fruits. A very high content of ascorbic acid, vitamins B1, B2, as well as substances of P-vitamin activity makes chaenomeles useful for both adults and children. Also beneficial features genomeles are manifested due to a large amount of pectins (0.9-2.1%), which help the body remove heavy metals.

Another difference between chaenomeles is the content of trace elements: phosphorus, potassium and calcium. It contains a lot of vitamin C, which is preserved even after heat treatment.

The fruits are mainly used after processing, as they are very hard and sour when fresh.

Medicinal properties

Chaenomeles very useful product at diet food, does not contain fat, sodium and cholesterol, and at the same time it is rich in organic fiber and copper.

According to Japanese studies, chaenomeles treats stomach ulcers, has antiviral properties. A large number of antioxidants fight free radicals, thereby reducing the risk of cancer. The antioxidant property of quince exceeds pure ascorbic acid.

It is useful to use chaenomeles regularly, it will lower the level of cholesterol in the blood and, thanks to the potassium content, will help lower blood pressure. It can be used as a sedative of natural origin, as it helps fight stress. And vitamin C reduces the risk of developing heart disease.

Therapeutic effect genomeles is closely related to the combination of tannins and pectin substances in the composition, which have a good hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and fixing effect. That is why it is recommended to use it during disorders of the intestines and stomach. In this case, you need to take a decoction of chaenomeles without sugar. Poultices from the juice or pulp of the fruit are the most effective remedy with cracks in the anus.

Pureed boiled fruits are used for liver diseases and as an antiemetic. The juice of ripe chaenomeles is an excellent antiseptic and is also very useful for asthmatics and patients suffering from any other respiratory disease.

Also for medicinal purposes, you can use the leaves and seeds of chaenomeles. They lower blood sugar levels, treat gastritis, colitis, and are also effective for skin irritations and burns.

In cooking

In cooking, chaenomeles is used to prepare a variety of products that are characterized by excellent taste and aroma. These are: extract, jam, syrup, marmalade, jam, candied fruit. The high content of pectin gives quince the ability to gel.

Also, the fruits are used as a substitute for lemon in tea and even for blending with non-acidic fruits.

You can prepare a very tasty mixture for vitamin tea by mixing dried chaenomeles fruits with dried raspberries, apples and carrots in a 3: 1: 1: 1 ratio. To brew, pour a tablespoon of the mixture into 0.5 liters of boiling water. Tea is drunk hot or cold.

In cosmetology

Henomeles has also found wide application in cosmetology:

• a slice of the fruit can be done tonic facial massage;
• rubbing the skin with quince juice tightens the skin and whitens freckles;
• a decoction of the leaves of chaenomeles is an excellent substitute for an expensive dye for gray hair;
• a mixture of grated fruits,