Schisandra chinensis: how to grow a good harvest

Schisandra berries are a real storehouse of vitamins. In addition, they have a tonic property – I ate a few pieces and I was invigorated all day! For example, in Primorye, Nanai hunters take dried lemongrass fruits with them to the taiga to maintain strength. They also make delicious jams and jelly.

But not only berries are tasty and healthy. Leaves and bark can be brewed like a tea – it is obtained with a lemon flavor. In Korea, for example, it is one of the most popular drinks.

And finally, this is a very beautiful plant. In nature, the liana can reach 15 m in height (1). But in gardens, it is usually more modest – up to 4 m. It has beautiful glossy leaves and an unusual yellowish bark. Lemongrass flowers are quite large, up to 1,5 cm in diameter. At first they are white, but by the end of flowering they turn pink. They look very unusual – they resemble magnolia flowers in shape and seem to be molded from wax. They bloom in May and immediately attract bees – lemongrass is an excellent honey plant (2). And the flowers are very fragrant! However, not only flowers smell of lemongrass – leaves and bark emit a pleasant lemon aroma (1). Hence, by the way, the name of the plant.

In autumn, the vine looks even more spectacular – its leaves turn yellow, and red clusters of berries hang on the shoots. Moreover, the clusters are impressive, up to 10 cm long. The crop ripens in September. Up to 4 kg of berries can be harvested from one creeper, but abundant harvests are not every year (3). Their taste is very unusual. The Chinese, for example, call lemongrass “wu-wei-chi”, which means “fruit with five tastes”. And this is true: lemongrass skin is sour, the pulp is sweet, the seeds are bitter and knit, and if you chew the berry whole, you get a spicy, bitter-burning and at the same time salty taste.

Growing Schisandra chinensis

Since lemongrass is a liana, and it grows wild in forests, it has special lighting requirements – while the plants are young, they should be in the shade, but adults need an abundance of light. Actually, this is what happens in nature – young lemongrass grow under the canopy of trees, and then climb up and enjoy the sun.

By the way, this vine always winds in one direction – clockwise.

Varieties of Schisandra chinensis

In China, lemongrass has been grown since ancient times, but in Our Country it grew mainly in botanical gardens. However, in recent years, seedlings have begun to appear on sale, so you can safely go to the garden center – believe me, this plant will become your favorite.

By the way, in recent years, breeders have also tried – at the moment, 4 varieties of Schisandra chinensis are included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements (4).

Volgar. This is a vigorous monoecious liana – both male and female flowers bloom on the same plant. He has fruit brushes weighing up to 7 g, each with 14-15 berries. They ripen late. The taste is sour, with a resinous aroma. The variety is very winter-hardy, resistant to drought, diseases and pests.

Debut. In this variety, male and female flowers also bloom on the same plant. Its fruit brushes are very large, weighing up to 18 g, each with 25-30 berries. The taste of the fruit is sour, with a balsamic aroma. The variety is mid-season. It is frost-resistant, it is not affected by diseases and pests, but it does not really like heat and drought.

Myth. Vigorous climber with flowers of both sexes on the same plant. Fruit brushes weighing up to 7 g, each – 14 – 15 berries. They are sour, with a resinous smell. The variety is mid-season. Winter hardiness is high, resistance to drought, heat, diseases and pests too.

Firstborn. The oldest variety, among the existing ones, has been in the State Register since 1999. The plant is medium. Fruit clusters weighing about 6 g. The berries are sour, with an illuminating aroma. Diseases and pests are not affected.

Planting Schisandra chinensis

Lemongrass seedlings are sold in containers, so they can be planted from mid-April to mid-October.

On fertile soil, you do not need to dig a large hole for the plant – it should be slightly larger than the size of the container. If the ground is bad, a hole must be dug with a diameter of 50 cm, a depth of 60 cm and filled with fertile soil – a mixture of soddy soil, humus (or compost) and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. It is also useful to add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Drainage should be laid at the bottom, for example, a broken red brick with a layer of 10 cm – this is to protect the roots from stagnant water and rotting.

When planting, the root neck of the seedling needs to be deepened by about 5 cm – so it can grow additional roots.

If there are many plants, the distance between them should be:

• in a row – 65 cm;
• between rows – 1,5 m (1).

Lemongrass Chinese care in the open field

Schisandra chinensis is an unpretentious liana, but the basic requirements must still be taken into account.

Watering. In the homeland of lemongrass, the climate is quite humid, so in arid regions it needs to be watered often – once a week, 2 buckets of water per bush. This is especially important in the first 3 years – at this time, the root system of lemongrass is still poorly developed and is located in the upper soil layer, and it dries up very quickly.

In regions with a humid climate, such as in the northern regions, lemongrass can grow without watering.

Feeding. Lemongrass grows a very large mass, so its top dressing is necessary. During the season, it needs to be fertilized 2 times (the rate is indicated for 1 plant):

• early spring, when the leaves begin to bloom – 3 tbsp. tablespoons of urea per 10 liters of water;
• after harvesting – 1,5 tbsp. spoons of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

During the summer, top dressing is not needed, but the soil must be mulched with humus or compost with a layer of 10 cm – this will protect it from drying out, plus, during the summer, organic matter will give nutrients to the plant.

Garter. You need to grow lemongrass on a support 2 m high. The easiest option is 2 strong wooden poles, between which several crossbeams are horizontally nailed at a distance of 30 cm from each other. As the shoots of lemongrass grow, you need to tie them up and direct them horizontally. If you let the vine grow vertically, it will increase the green mass to the detriment of the crop.

Pruning. Lemongrass does not need formative pruning, but it is necessary to cut out dried twigs and extra shoots annually if they thicken the crown. Pruning can only be done in the fall, after the vine has shed its leaves.

Harvesting Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra berries are harvested in the same way as grapes – they cut off the entire brushes.

It is better to put them in wicker baskets or wooden boxes and no more than two layers of berries. But it is better in general in one, because the fruits are very tender, easily wrinkled. It is impossible to collect lemongrass in metal dishes – the berries in it oxidize very quickly.

Rules for storing Schisandra chinensis

Unfortunately, lemongrass berries are not stored – they can lie for a maximum of a day, then they begin to deteriorate. Therefore, it must be processed immediately after harvest.

The best way to preserve lemongrass berries is to dry them. At first they are kept in the sun, and when they dry up, they are brought in the oven.

The second option is to grind the berries with sugar. In this form, they can be stored in the refrigerator.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about Chinese lemongrass with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova – asked her the most pressing questions.

Sources of

1. Burmistrov A.D. Berry crops // Leningrad, publishing house “Kolos”, 1972 – 384 p.
2. Gubanov I.A. et al. Wild useful plants of the USSR (Reference guides for geographers and travellers) / otv. ed. T.A. Rabotnov // M.: Thought, 1976 – 360 p.
3. Progunkov V.V. Resources of honey plants in the south of the Far East // Vladivostok: Far Eastern University Publishing House, 1988 – 228 p.
4. State Register of Breeding Achievements https://reestr.gossortrf.ru/