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Chaenomeles: the beneficial properties of the Japanese quince. Video
Japanese quince is a well-known decorative and fruit and berry culture that has taken root well in the harsh Russian climate. The fruits of this exotic plant are famous for their high content of vitamins and microelements, and luxurious pink inflorescences have won the hearts of millions of gardeners around the world.
Description of the species and its healing properties
Japanese quince, or chaenomeles (lat. Chaenomeles japonica) is a species of plants of the genome Chaenomeles, which has nothing to do with the common afwa. Chaenomeles, also known as the northern lemon, is an ornamental shrub that blooms in spring and bears fruit two to three years after planting. Chaenomeles flowers are lush, purple or hot pink, making this plant a favorite among gardeners and landscape designers. As for the fruits of Japanese quince, these globular yellow “apples” are extremely useful. They are a serious competitor to lemon in terms of vitamin C content; in addition, they contain many useful macro- and microelements, in particular, manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Manganese improves metabolism, copper normalizes the thyroid gland and central nervous system, the high potassium content makes chaenomeles extremely useful for the heart. Also, Japanese quince is exceptionally rich in pectin, which promotes the removal of salts of heavy metals from the body, and therefore it can be recommended to employees of hazardous industries and residents of areas contaminated with radionuclides. Tannins (tannins) contained in chaenomeles determine the tart-astringent taste of this fruit and have a strengthening, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.
Compared to common quince, Japanese quince is not very popular in cooking due to its toughness. In its fresh form, it is practically not consumed. But from the pulp of chaenomeles delicious jams, syrups and other preparations are obtained. In the Middle East and North Africa, Japanese quince is used with second courses – meat, poultry. In Europe, cotignac pasta is made from it. It is also good to use quince instead of lemon when brewing tea.
Please note: Japanese quince, like an apple, quickly oxidizes, so before cooking it should be dipped in lemon juice
Chaenomeles – decorating your garden
As already mentioned, Japanese quince is actively used as an ornamental culture. Its bushes are grown in the form of curbs and hedges, sometimes planted alone against the backdrop of picturesque lawns. Low-growing creeping subspecies are planted at the foot of alpine hills.
Chaenomeles has been cultivated in European gardens for the past 200 years.
The chanomeles bloom lasts three weeks. The plant is not too whimsical, not demanding on moisture, shade-tolerant, but it grows more luxuriantly in sunny areas. Regular watering is required only in dry, hot weather. Japanese quince prefers sandy organic-rich soils. It should be protected from cold winds, and old shoots should be cut off before the onset of winter. If the frost damages the bushes, it doesn’t matter. The plant is able to quickly recover, but it will not bear fruit in the next year.