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Medlar is an evergreen or deciduous crop, which until recently was considered purely decorative. But now it is classified as an edible-fruit species. Medlar is a member of the Apple family. There are other names for this culture, which can be found in different sources: shesek, lokva, eriobothria.
Medlar – long-lived tree
Description of medlar with photo
Lokva is a tree whose height under favorable conditions can reach 3-8 m. The crown is dense, spreading, its growth diameter is 3-4 m. In one place, the medlar can grow and regularly bear fruit for up to 100 years. The culture is considered relatively winter-hardy.
The tree has a shallow, branched root system. Lokva is undemanding to soil composition and can grow on heavy clay soils. Easily withstands partial shade and direct sunlight. Medlar tolerates pruning well, which allows you to regularly rejuvenate the tree. At the same time, new shoots grow quickly and, after lignification, begin to bear fruit abundantly.
The growing young branches of the loquat have a reddish tint and a felt edge on the surface. As they mature, their bark becomes dark gray. The leaves of this tree are large, oval-oblong in shape. Their length is 30 cm, and their width is 8 cm. Throughout the warm season, the plates have a dark green color, but with the advent of autumn, their hue becomes orange with a reddish tint. Therefore, before frost, the medlar tree looks very elegant. The surface of the leaves of the loquat is hard, leathery, slightly wrinkled between the veins.
The fruits of this exotic tree are round or pear-shaped, depending on the species. Their size is 6-8 cm. When ripe, the fruits become yellow or orange in color. The taste of loquat fruits is sweet with a slight sourness. Inside each fruit are seeds in an amount of from one to five pieces. They have a tough brown shell. Around the seeds is an edible juicy pulp.
Loquat tastes like a combination of apple, strawberry and pear.
Types and varieties of medlar
Three types of this culture are found in nature. But only two have become widespread in horticulture: German and Japanese. Both are able to easily tolerate the lack of light, as well as the lack of nutrients in the soil. But they also have significant differences.
German
The view is considered to be more decorative. The Germanic loquat is a compact deciduous tree up to 3 m high. This culture is not demanding to care for and is characterized by increased frost resistance in comparison with other species. German medlar (Mespilus germanica) can withstand temperatures down to -17 degrees, but at the same time its shoots freeze over. At a frost of -23 degrees, the tree completely dies. Therefore, Germanic loquat can be grown in temperate regions with warm winters and cool summers.
The fruits are rounded, when ripe they become honey-yellow in color. They taste sweet but tart. Therefore, it is recommended to remove them from the tree after the first frost. And to improve the taste before use, it is recommended to hold it in the freezer for several days.
The Germanic loquat resembles quince in appearance and taste.
Japanese
The height of this tree species varies within 3-5 m, but there are specimens reaching 8 m. According to the description of the plant, the Japanese medlar (Eriobotrya japonica) has skeletal branches and young shoots covered with a gray-red edge. The leaves are elongated, dark green with a glossy surface and short petioles. The reverse side of the plates is gray with pubescence.
Japanese loquat is a heat-loving culture that cannot stand temperatures down to -5 degrees. But at the same time, when the aerial part dies, it has the ability to grow again from the root in the presence of favorable conditions. Cold winter negatively affects the fruiting of this species. Therefore, it can be grown only in the southern regions.
The berries of this species may be pear-shaped or rounded. When ripe, they become a rich yellow-orange color. Grow in clusters of 10-12 pieces in one. The pulp inside the berries is juicy, fragrant. You can store the crop fresh for no more than three days.
The fruits of the Japanese loquat look like apricots.
This type of culture has become the basis for the development of new productive varieties:
- Tanaka. It is characterized by pear-shaped fruits, inside of which the flesh is pink. Their taste is sweet and sour.
- Silas. Forms fairly round fruits weighing up to 80 g. When ripe, they become honey-yellow.
- Champagne. A distinctive feature of the variety are rounded yellow berries with a pubescent surface.
- Morozko. A dwarf species that is suitable for growing at home and greenhouses. It is characterized by large red-brown fruits without astringency.
- Premier. The variety is distinguished by large oval fruits. Their skin is orange in color, slightly pubescent.
In what conditions and countries does medlar grow
The area of distribution of the loquat coincides with the albition, persimmon and fig. China and Japan are considered the birthplace of culture, where it grows in mountainous areas. Subsequently, the medlar was brought to Europe in the 19th century.
Lokva grows in the subtropics and in the territories adjacent to them. Therefore, now it can be found in any corner of the world where there are favorable conditions for its development and fruiting. At the same time, the tree prefers to grow on hills.
This culture has become widespread in India, Southeast Asia. The medlar also grows on the other side of the equator, namely in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. She was at one time brought by Chinese emigrants to Hawaii. This plant can also be found in South and North America. In the northern regions of Europe, medlar is grown as an ornamental tub plant. Variegated varieties are especially popular.
Where and how does medlar grow in Our Country
On the territory of Our Country, the Japanese loquat grows only along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, where there are optimal conditions for it. It can be found between Gelendzhik and Sochi, as well as in the south of Crimea. The medlar is successfully cultivated in Dagestan.
And the German species is sometimes grown by gardeners of the Sea of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbAzov on their plots. But this exotic culture has not received wide distribution.
When and how does the medlar bloom
This tree blooms for the first time in the fifth or sixth year after planting. The buds of the medlar appear at the ends of the shoots and are collected in lush panicle inflorescences. In them, the buds open gradually. The flowers are simple, consisting of five yellowish-white petals. Their diameter when opened is 2,5 cm. Numerous stamens can be seen in the center of each flower. For the ovary of medlar fruits, like all pome and stone fruit crops, cross-pollination is needed.
When opened, the buds exude a pleasant, refined aroma.
The flowering period for the German and Japanese types of culture occurs at different times. In the first case, the medlar opens its buds in May, like other fruit trees in the garden. This period lasts about 14 days.
At the Japanese loquat, flowers appear on the tree in winter, namely in mid-February. Therefore, the period of fruiting in her comes much earlier than in other trees. The duration of flowering in the Japanese medlar is 10-14 days in the presence of favorable conditions.
When the medlar ripens
The fruits of the German and Japanese medlars ripen at different times. In the first case, this happens in the fall, namely in mid-October – early November. Moreover, the fruits hang on the branches when they no longer have leaves.
The fruiting season of the Japanese medlar begins at the end of May – at the beginning of June, when other trees in the garden have just faded. In the case of a harsh winter, the tree blooms, but does not bear fruit. Therefore, sometimes the crop can be harvested once every 5-7 years.
Conclusion
Medlar is a culture whose fruits are distinguished by a high content of sucrose, fructose and pectins. They can be consumed fresh or used for processing. The leaves of this tree also have beneficial properties. Decoctions based on them are used to treat intestinal infections. However, despite the benefits of medlar, it must be consumed in doses so as not to unwittingly cause harm to health.
