Chekalkin nut: growing from seeds, care, features and reviews

или ксантоцерас (от лат. Xanthoceras sorbifolium ) — красивое дерево-куст, которое было завезено в Европу из Северного Китая и Кореи. Chekalkin nut, or xanthoceras (from the Latin Xanthoceras sorbifolium ) is a beautiful bush tree that was brought to Europe from North China and Korea. The plant looks very impressive due to thick foliage and a large number of flowers, it is rightly considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

Description of the plant

представляет собой листопадное дерево или кустарник с несколькими стволами, причудливо изогнутыми, высота его — 6-8 м, крона имеет пирамидальную форму. Chekalkin walnut walnut is a deciduous tree or shrub with several trunks, whimsically curved, its height - 6-8 m, the crown has a pyramidal shape. The plant was discovered and described for the first time in the late 19th century. A. David in China, belongs to the Sapindov family. Cultivated plants grow to a maximum of 4 m, the life expectancy is 60 years. Its leaves are similar in shape to rowan (which is the reason for the name), but of a larger size - up to 30 cm in length, consisting of 10-17 leathery leaves of dark green color.

Inflorescences are also large (up to 25 cm), in which there are so many flowers on the brush that the tree seems to be sprinkled with them. The flowers are white with a red and yellow middle.

After the tree fades, boxes with seeds of round shape up to 7 cm in size are formed. Inside there are round dark brown and black nut-seeds, the size of hazelnuts (5-17 pieces). After ripening (August-September), the capsule bursts, nuts fall out. The seeds are quite edible, similar to almonds, they can be eaten raw or fried. Caloric content of nuts is 650 kcal per 100 g. Fruits contain 64% of oil, a large amount of trace elements, iodine, selenium, iron and cobalt. Seeds are very fond of eating rodents.

Where does it grow?

At home, the xanthoceras grows on the slopes of mountains and hills. At us these plants get accustomed in Russia, Crimea, Ukraine and in Georgia, plant them with the purpose of gardening and an ornament of mountain landscapes and heights.

любит плодородные почвы с хорошим дренажем, не любит застоя воды или близко расположенные грунтовые воды. Chekalkin walnut loves fertile soils with good drainage, does not like stagnant water or closely located groundwater. ˚ С. А вот пересадку не любит, потому его можно пересаживать только в раннем возрасте. To frost is stable, calmly transfers to -30 ˚ C. But the transplant does not like, because it can be transplanted only at an early age.

The time of flowering is May, up to the complete dissolution of the leaves, ie, almost 2 weeks. Flowers on the tree are both male and female star shaped up to 4 cm in diameter, so pollination occurs even when planting one plant on the site. After pollination, the yellow middle becomes bright-burgundy.

Reproduction and seeds

можно размножать при помощи семян или корневых черенков, однако последние приживаются плохо и способны выжить только в идеальных условиях. Chekalkin walnut can be propagated with the help of seeds or root cuttings, however, the latter take root badly and are able to survive only under ideal conditions. After the nuts have ripened, they can be stored in a bag until a favorable time for planting. They are germinated for 2 years. даже не надо стратифицировать (выдерживать на холоде), т. к. они не пребывают в состоянии покоя. It is useful to know for those who want to propagate chealkin nut: the seeds do not even have to be stratified (to withstand in the cold), because they do not remain at rest.

Planting of seeds is carried out in the spring (April) in a pre-prepared sunny place to a depth of 4-5 cm, it is possible for several pieces in 1 pit to increase the chance of germination. Typically, 40-65% of seeds germinate, some of which are etiolated (chlorophyll-free) seedlings that die within 1-1.5 months. At first, the shoots grow slowly, some of them wither, only the strongest survive, having gained a good root system. According to gardeners, only 2-3 of the 6-10 planted seeds of live seedlings are left, so it is better to plant more.

Germination of seeds

семян можно провести в два этапа. To intensify the process of shoots and growth of a plant such as chealkin nut, the growing of seeds can be carried out in two stages. The first step is to germinate them in small dishes, with the seeds better to soak for a few days in advance for better germination. Then cut the peel in the places where sprouts are supposed to sprout. ˚ С. It is better to treat the growth stimulator and maintain at 20 ° C.

In the dishes for germination, drainage is placed on the bottom, on top is a wet soil mixture. One of the soil options: universal soil (70%), river sand (30%), with the addition of vermiculite and perlite. Seeds are planted at a depth of 2 cm, the crop is covered with polyethylene, it is not necessary to water. Just moisten the ground a little so that it does not dry out for a week.

When the first young shoots appear, the pot is put in a warm, bright place and watered. On a permanent place, shoots are planted after the end of spring frost at a moderate temperature (second stage).

The plant does not tolerate transplantation due to the peculiarities of the root system. можно пересадить только путем перевалки. Therefore, this should be taken into account when planting chekalkin nut, - the seedlings can be transplanted only by transshipment. In the first year, a core root is formed, rather fragile, it can be damaged during transplantation.

Xanthoceras (chekalkin nuts): growing and care characteristics

When growing, you should consider some rules:

• Young plants do not like drafts and frosts, but adult trees feel normal both in the cold and in the heat;
• At the end of autumn the plants should be covered with leaves and branches, with the freezing of adult trees the walnut starts to develop from the root and is completely restored;
• Walnut loves sunlight and open spaces, safely withstands droughty periods, but does not tolerate waterlogging and stagnation of water in the soil;
• The soil prefers with mineral fertilizers, tolerates the addition of lime well;
• In the period of active growth it should be fertilized with universal mineral complexes containing phosphorus and potassium;
• For the first summer the tree grows to 40 cm, the next year the formation of a bush is already taking place and only on the third the tree blooms and gives fruit;
• Young bushes do not cut, because they create their own bizarre forms;
• Pruning is done only to trees older than 3 years, removing excess, broken and diseased branches, in the spring they form the crown.

Diseases and pests

The most terrible disease for xanthoceras is a coral fungus, which can appear from excessive humidity or hypothermia, it affects the bark of a tree. заболевает после долгой влажной зимы с длительными оттепелями. Most often, the cecalcine nuts fall ill after a long wet winter with prolonged thaws.

According to the fans who tried to grow this plant, a fungus attack can occur in the middle of summer, when some shoots begin to dry out. The diseased plant gradually withers and dies, it is impossible to cure it. не поражается. But the tree is not affected by pests.

Use in decorative gardening

This plant is very loved by designers who use it as a tapeworm on hillocks and near retaining walls. Shrubs have a very diverse and unusual shape, bloom very colorfully with honey smell. However, it is rarely used in planting because of the impossibility of transplanting, very often it does not take root well or perishes in the chosen place.

It is perfectly combined with lilac bushes and bird cherry, Veigel, it is used in combination with the first spring flowers - tulips, daffodils, etc. Even a small size blooming bush of this ornamental plant impresses with its beauty, and then pampered with delicious nuts.