Citrus

Citrus genus of evergreen trees and shrubs (about 12 species) that are called citrus crops. One of the most famous and cultivated among them is the orange, which will be considered only from an ornamental point of view. The sour or bitter orange, or Pomeranian (Citrus aurantium), was the only "orange" in Europe from the 11th century and for the next five centuries. The tree is up to 10 m tall with a rounded crown and large leaves. White and very fragrant flowers, single or in bunches of 5-6, bloom in spring. The fruit is rounded orange-red with a bitter-sour pulp. This species is often used as a rootstock for citrus fruits. From the fruit (pericarp), bergamot, or orange, essential oil is obtained. Flower oil is used in perfumery. Sweet orange (C. sinensis) is an evergreen tree 7-12 m tall with elliptical pointed dark green leaves. The plant is heat-and moisture-loving. The flowers are white, very fragrant five-petaled with numerous stamens, with abundant nectar, collected in axillary racemes, bloom once in April. Fruits - berries divided into nests. Essential oil is obtained from the peel of the fruit. The juicy pulp contains sugars, organic acids and other useful ingredients (for example, citric acid, vitamin C).

Citrus genus of evergreen trees and shrubs (about 12 species) that are called citrus crops. One of the most famous and cultivated among them is the orange, which will be considered only from an ornamental point of view.

The sour or bitter orange, or Pomeranian (Citrus aurantium), was the only "orange" in Europe from the 11th century and for the next five centuries. The tree is up to 10 m tall with a rounded crown and large leaves. White and very fragrant flowers, single or in bunches of 5-6, bloom in spring. The fruit is rounded orange-red with a bitter-sour pulp. This species is often used as a rootstock for citrus fruits. From the fruit (pericarp), bergamot, or orange, essential oil is obtained. Flower oil is used in perfumery.

Sweet orange (C. sinensis) is an evergreen tree 7-12 m tall with elliptical pointed dark green leaves. The plant is heat-and moisture-loving. The flowers are white, very fragrant five-petaled with numerous stamens, with abundant nectar, collected in axillary racemes, bloom once in April. Fruits - berries divided into nests. Essential oil is obtained from the peel of the fruit. The juicy pulp contains sugars, organic acids and other useful ingredients (for example, citric acid, vitamin C).

Cultivation

Oranges are primarily grown in the open ground as fruit crops, mainly in the tropics and subtropics. In temperate climates, they are cultivated by placing them for the winter in a greenhouse or greenhouse, where they maintain an increased level of humidity and temperature. In addition, the orange is a beautiful flowering ornamental plant with glossy foliage. Oranges are planted in a permanent place in late autumn, using both seedlings with an unprotected root system, and with a clod of earth or in containers. They need loose, fertile soil rich in organic matter. When planting, it is necessary to apply manure and full mineral fertilizer (50 g/m2), as well as abundant watering. In the future, top dressing with organic fertilizers is repeated annually, and mineral fertilizers are applied during the growing season with irrigation water. Potted oranges and oranges require vessels with a diameter equal to 2/3 of the crown, and loose fertile soil with a pH (soil acidity) of 5.5-6.0. Apply 30 g of complex mineral fertilizer to a bucket of soil. Provide good drainage to avoid stagnation of water. Forming pruning is especially important for oranges and oranges, with the help of which open - ground plants can be given a "spherical" shape, and those grown in pots can be "potted". But the subsequent pruning is reduced to removing dry, unsightly and too dense branches.

Oranges are primarily grown in the open ground as fruit crops, mainly in the tropics and subtropics. In temperate climates, they are cultivated by placing them for the winter in a greenhouse or greenhouse, where they maintain an increased level of humidity and temperature. In addition, the orange is a beautiful flowering ornamental plant with glossy foliage.

Oranges are planted in a permanent place in late autumn, using both seedlings with an unprotected root system, and with a clod of earth or in containers. They need loose, fertile soil rich in organic matter. When planting, it is necessary to apply manure and full mineral fertilizer (50 g/m2), as well as abundant watering. In the future, top dressing with organic fertilizers is repeated annually, and mineral fertilizers are applied during the growing season with irrigation water. Potted oranges and oranges require vessels with a diameter equal to 2/3 of the crown, and loose fertile soil with a pH (soil acidity) of 5.5-6.0. Apply 30 g of complex mineral fertilizer to a bucket of soil. Provide good drainage to avoid stagnation of water. Forming pruning is especially important for oranges and oranges, with the help of which open - ground plants can be given a "spherical" shape, and those grown in pots can be "potted". But the subsequent pruning is reduced to removing dry, unsightly and too dense branches.

Location

Requires a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Oranges and oranges do not tolerate low temperatures. If the temperature is less than 13 °C, the plant stops growing and developing, and in order for it to survive, the temperature must not be lower than 4 °C. The optimal temperature of the period of intensive growth and development when growing an orange is 25-30 °C.

Watering

Water abundantly, but without stagnation of water. When growing a plant in the open ground, ring grooves of approximately the same diameter as the crown are often dug around, so that water does not linger near the root system.

Reproduction

To obtain ornamental plants, sowing seeds is used. Seeds can be taken even from ripe fruits, thoroughly washed and dried. Sow in spring, at a temperature of at least 15 °C. After germination, the seedlings are transplanted one at a time into cups, and then transferred several times, after 2-3 years the resulting plants are planted in a permanent place.

Diseases

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitatusа) damages fruits that turn brown, rot and fall off. They get rid of it by treating it with special insecticides. Worms settle on branches, leaves and fruits, provoking a slowdown in growth and deterioration of fruit development. Apply spraying with preparations based on white oil. Gum flow and rotting of the root neck (Phytophthora citrovara) are manifested in the drying of the bark at the base of the plant and the release of a mucous substance; leaves dry up; fruits rot. The infected plant must be removed. Grafted on citrus Aurantium instances citrus are immune. Deuterophoma tracheiphila causes twigs to dry, out, leaves to turn yellow and fall off. If the disease is detected in time, only the affected parts can be removed. Otherwise, the entire plant must be removed. Viral diseases can be prevented by disinfecting the soil and tools and using healthy material for reproduction.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitatusа) damages fruits that turn brown, rot and fall off. They get rid of it by treating it with special insecticides. Worms settle on branches, leaves and fruits, provoking a slowdown in growth and deterioration of fruit development. Apply spraying with preparations based on white oil. Gum flow and rotting of the root neck (Phytophthora citrovara) are manifested in the drying of the bark at the base of the plant and the release of a mucous substance; leaves dry up; fruits rot. The infected plant must be removed. Grafted on citrus Aurantium instances citrus are immune. Deuterophoma tracheiphila causes twigs to dry, out, leaves to turn yellow and fall off. If the disease is detected in time, only the affected parts can be removed. Otherwise, the entire plant must be removed.

Viral diseases can be prevented by disinfecting the soil and tools and using healthy material for reproduction.

Acquisition

Oranges and oranges are relatively easy to find on sale. Choose strong, well-formed plants with glossy foliage without spots or other damage.