Growing tangerine varieties "Unshiu" at home

Unshiu tangerines enjoy a steady popularity. Their fruits are often found on grocery store shelves. They are distinguished by their sweet taste, rich aroma and lack of seeds. They are grown in Japan, China, Europe, Abkhazia and the Caucasus. The prevalence of the culture is determined not only by tasty fruits, but also by increased resistance to negative environmental factors.

Unshiu is suitable for growing not only in the open field and greenhouses, but also in a pot. This species develops faster than other tangerines and begins to bear fruit. It is undemanding to care, but it is important to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology.

How to grow Unshiu mandarin at home and how to distinguish it from other varieties, read on.

Description and characteristics of the Unshiu variety

Unshiu is the so-called "real tangerine". Its name literally means "pitted".

The Unshiu botanical species includes a whole group of varieties. Plants may have some differences, which often causes controversy among gardeners. Despite this, there are a number of averaged features characteristic of this group.

Origin story

Unshiu's homeland is China. However, it was in Japan that the variety became most widespread and from there began to spread to other countries of the world. This happened due to increased winter hardiness. The plant is grown in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus - the northernmost countries suitable for the cultivation of citrus fruits in the open field.

Breeders from Japan, China, Georgia and Europe worked on the first varieties of Unshiu mandarin. Now a huge number of varieties included in this group have been bred. Some of them are very different from each other.

Plant characteristics

There is an average description of all varieties of the group:

1. Trunk and branches... In the open field, the height of the plant varies within 2-2.5 m. At home, dwarf trees are grown, the size of which does not exceed 1.5 m. Mandarin branches are slightly drooping, thin. They are distinguished by the absence of thorns. The bark is dirty green. Old branches take on a brown tint. The plant forms many shoots.
2. Leaves. The leaf plates have short thin petioles and an oval shape, pointed on both sides. They are thick and dense, dark green in color, have a leathery texture and a well-defined central vein. They have a characteristic bitter aroma. The lifespan of one leaf is 2-4 years.
3. Inflorescences. Consist of 5-6 pcs. miniature white flowers with 5 pointed petals. They have a rich sweetish aroma.
4. Bloom. The tree blooms in May. Re-flowering is sometimes observed in late summer. Unshiu is a self-pollinated plant, which is why it does not form seeds. The first inflorescences appear on trees after 2 years.
5. Root system. Powerful, spreading.
6. Fruit. Round, flattened at the top and bottom. The weight of each fruit varies in the range of 70-100 g. The peel is orange in color, thin, loosely adjoining the pulp and easily separates from the fruit. The fruit consists of 10-12 lobules. Does not contain seeds. The taste is sweet, with a slight sourness. The aroma is intense. The fruits ripen by the beginning of November. The tree bears fruit for 4-5 years.
7. Resistance to negative environmental factors. Differs in high frost resistance and ability to withstand short cold snaps down to –12 ° С.Insufficient humid air and the lack of additional lighting will not interfere with the cultivation of Unshiu tangerines.
8. Transportability. High.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Unshiu is popular with gardeners all over the world. This is due to its advantages:

• attractive appearance of the tree;
• good tolerance trimming and haircuts;
• high yield rates;
• lack of seeds in fruits;
• resistance to lack of light;
• the ability to survive drought;
• frost resistance;
• high taste characteristics;
• good transportability;
• active growth of shoots.

Mandarin also has disadvantages. These include:

• impossibility of generative reproduction;
• poor rooting of shoots;
• difficulties in leaving;
• exactingness to the composition of the soil.

Growing Unshiu at home

Unshiu is ideal for home cultivation. He will forgive some mistakes for novice gardeners and will not die at the first mistake.

When grown at home, a dwarf tree is obtained. It is small in size but yields good.

Reproduction methods

Breeding the Unshiu mandarin is the hardest part of growing it. Unshiu fruits do not have seeds, therefore it will not be possible to grow a tree in a generative way.

Unlike other citrus fruits, tangerines do not take root well. The chances of a seedling growing roots are close to zero. Successful cases of this type of breeding (especially in the case of varietal mandarins) are considered an exception.

Unshiu's only way to reproduce is by grafting it onto other citrus fruits. For this stalk grafted onto lemon or seed-grown tangerine... All leaves are cut from the stock, leaving only the trunk. The result is a full-fledged tangerine tree.

There are also some difficulties associated with vaccination. Mandarin takes a long time to get accustomed to other citrus fruits, and the procedure is not always successful.

The easiest way to get an Unshiu is to buy a tree from the store. Not only successfully grafted trees go on sale, but also fruit-bearing trees.

Advice! Sometimes in markets and shops in the fruits of Unshiu there are his branches. They are also suitable for vaccinations.

Microclimate requirements

Mandarin will bear fruit only if the microclimate is optimal:

1. Temperature. A young, non-blooming tangerine feels good at temperatures from +17 to + 26 ° C. During flowering, the temperature indicators of the room are kept within + 17 ... + 18 ° С. In winter, the temperature is lowered and maintained in the range from +8 to 12 ° C.
2. Humidity. Mandarin is a moisture-loving plant. It is recommended to spray it daily with warm, settled water. In winter, the air is especially dry. To normalize the humidity indicator, place containers with water or a humidifier near the pot. If there is a stream of hot air from the batteries to the lemon, then a barrier is made of film for greenhouses to protect the plant. Otherwise, the leaves of the tree will begin to dry and hurt, and the likelihood of infection with a spider mite will increase.
3. Lighting. Unshiu is undemanding to lighting. In the warm season, it is placed on the southern, eastern or western windowsill. From 11 am to 4 pm, the window is closed with a translucent curtain, protecting the plant from direct sunlight. While ensuring the optimal temperature regime, the tangerine is at rest in winter; it does not need additional lighting.

When growing tangerines on their own in the first 2 years, some growers do not change their care in winter, continuing to keep the plant warm, watering and feeding it often. This is done for faster formation of shoots. In this case, in winter, you will have to illuminate the tree with fluorescent lamps, placed at a distance of 20 cm from the pot, for 12 hours a day.

After the first flowering, winter rest is mandatory for Unshiu, otherwise he will become ill and will not bear fruit.

Advice! If it is impossible to establish the temperature regime required in winter in the room, then the tangerine is rearranged on the glazed balcony. The main thing is that the temperature on it does not fall below 0 ° C.

Soil and transplant

Unshiu is distinguished by abundant fruiting, but very picky about the composition of the soil. For this reason, the tree requires frequent transplants.

Before the first fruiting, the tree is transplanted annually. Then the procedure is carried out no more than once every 2-3 years. For each transplant, take a container 5-6 cm larger than the previous one.

Transplant the tangerine after the roots fill the entire pot. It is transferred to a new container along with a lump of earth, removing only the upper part of the soil. The free space is filled with fresh soil mixture.

When the tree reaches the desired size, transplantation is stopped. Instead, the top layer of soil is removed from the pot every year, replacing it with new soil.

Important! With each transplant, a layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the pot.

Purchased universal soil mixture for tangerine is not suitable. It contains peat that is not suitable for growing citrus fruits. For young and adult plants, different options are used:

• turf - 2 parts;
• vermiculite - 1 part;
• humus - 1 part;
• coarse sand - 1 part.

When mixing ingredients for mature plants, use the same proportions, but add 3 parts of turf.

The ideal soil acidity for tangerine is 6.5-7. If the indicators are increased, dry ash is added to the soil.

Advice! Citrus trees purchased from flower shops are usually planted in peat soil. They are recommended to be transplanted 1-2 months after purchase.

Care features

In order for the plant to bloom, bear fruit and not hurt, it is provided with regular care. The rules for growing Unshiu differ little from other varieties:

1. Watering. In the warm season, the tangerine is watered every morning with settled water at room temperature. In winter, the soil is moistened 1-2 times a week, preventing it from drying out.
2. Loosening. Once a week, the soil is loosened using an ordinary fork.
3. Top dressing. The tree is fed once every two weeks. Mineral and organic fertilizers without chlorine alternate. It is important that the plant gets enough potassium. The necessary compounds are bought in gardening stores or prepared independently (from manure, ash, food waste, etc.). At least a month should pass between the tangerine transplant and the first feeding. In winter, the soil is not fertilized.
4. Cleaning. Once a week, tangerine leaves are wiped with a damp cloth. Once a month, the tree is washed under the shower.
5. Formation. Unshiu tolerates pruning and shearing well. When the plant reaches the desired height, it is pinched. Do the same with lateral shoots. Form a tree until branches of the 4th and 5th order with fruits are formed.
6. Flowering and fruiting. Unshiu often blooms as early as 2 years after planting. In this case, all inflorescences are cut off. They also do the same with fruits that appeared earlier than after 3 years.

In order not to water the tangerine daily, many gardeners organize bottom watering. For this, water is poured into the pot in which the plant stands.

note! If the leaves of Unshiu began to turn yellow, and the tree stopped growing, then it needs a transplant. Symptoms indicate that there are no nutrients left in the soil, and the roots have completely filled the container.

Unshiu varieties

The Unshiu group includes many varieties:

1. Mandarin Owari-unshiu. Named after one of the Japanese provinces. Differs in the highest yields.
2. Dzairay. The oldest variety is Unshiu. Possesses high frost resistance, but mediocre productivity.
3. Washo-unshiu... The main feature is early maturity. In comparison with other varieties of the group, it has a reduced cold resistance.
4. Ikeda. A small variety of Unshiu. It is inferior in all respects to the previous options. It is rarely grown.
5. Ikiriki. Another small variety.Like the previous version, it does not differ in high frost resistance or early fruiting.

The Unshiu group includes varieties bred by Soviet breeders. Of these, the most popular are Michurinets, Pioner, Sochi. All presented varieties are included in the Dzairai or Vasho groups.

Conclusion

Unshiu is one of the most extensive groups of mandarins. It includes many varieties and is popular all over the world. The tree is not afraid of cold weather and tolerates frosts down to -12 ° C. At the same time, it has a high yield, lack of seeds and excellent fruit taste. This makes the variety especially popular with flower growers.

Unshiu is also suitable for growing in a pot. Tangerines bloom and bear fruit even in such conditions. When properly formed, their dense crown has a spherical shape. This makes the tree look decorative. It is not difficult to take care of the plant, the main thing is to know the basic rules and nuances.