Tashkent lemon: variety description, cultivation and care at home

Tashkent orange lemon is a rather rare variety that was bred in the former USSR. The plant has not become widespread, although it has decent characteristics and is suitable for growing at home. The variety adapts to almost any climatic conditions, unpretentious. But even with such a green pet, you need to be able to handle it so as not to destroy it and get stable yields even when grown in a room.

Description and characteristics of the Tashkent variety

Tashkent lemon is a representative of the genus Citrus.The maximum height of the tree in natural conditions does not exceed 2.5 m. The leaves are oval with a pointed tip. The fruits are oval, with a thin skin. When ripe, they acquire a rich orange color. The taste is high, the acid is moderate. The pulp in its characteristics is similar to other varieties. The mass of lemons does not exceed 110 g.

During the flowering period, the tree is covered with white-pink flowers, emitting a delicate pleasant aroma. The ovaries are formed in the axils of the leaves, which is why the plant is prone to crop overload. Tashkent lemon is popular not only due to the quality of the fruit, but also due to its decorative effect. Its parent varieties are Mayer and Novogruzinsky.

The main positive and negative aspects of the variety

Tashkent lemon is endowed with certain advantages over competitors, thanks to which flower growers choose it for growing. These include:

• low maintenance;
• suitable for growing indoors;
• high decorative qualities;
• excellent yield;
• unusual fruit color;
• thin skin of lemons;
• decent taste.

Flower growers do not distinguish any special shortcomings in the variety, but they include the need to ration the amount of the crop. Otherwise, the tree may break due to fruit overload.

Features of growing crops at home

Tashkent lemon, although it is an unpretentious plant, has certain peculiarities in cultivation. Without their observance, the plant will not only not please with a harvest, but may even die.

Capacities for planting

For growing Tashkent lemon at home, preference should be given to clay pots. This will avoid waterlogging the soil.

Annually, the volume of the container must be increased until it reaches 10 liters.

Preparation of planting material

You can only grow a lemon at home from a fresh seed. Material that has had time to dry is not suitable for planting. To make the bones germinate faster, the hard shell is carefully removed with a knife. If such a procedure is not performed, then for several hours the seeds are dipped in a growth stimulator solution. After that, they can be planted in prepared soil.

Planting into the soil

Grow lemons in low acid soil. You can buy ready-made citrus substrate in the store. The soil should not only have good air and moisture permeability, but also have a sufficient supply of nutrients that accelerate the growth and development of the Tashkent lemon.

Seeds are planted in the soil mixture to a depth of 1 cm and covered with glass or film until the first shoots appear. When the seedlings reach a height of 20 cm, they should be transplanted into separate larger pots.

Plant Care Recommendations

In order for the Tashkent lemon to retain its decorative qualities and please with rich harvests, it needs to be properly cared for and create optimal conditions for growth and development.

Temperature and lighting

During the growth period of the Tashkent lemon, it is required to maintain the temperature at +17 °С. During budding, this figure should not exceed +14 - +18 ° C, and when the fruits begin to ripen, the temperature should be raised to +22 ° C or more. During the dormant period, this indicator is reduced to +10 - +14 °С.

Lemon is considered a short daylight plant. It is best to place the plant on an eastern or southern windowsill, shading from the midday sun. In order for the tree to grow symmetrically, it must be rotated around its axis every 10 days. In winter, additional lighting is required for 5-6 hours every day.

Cutting

When grown indoors, Tashkent lemon requires mandatory pruning. The procedure is performed in early spring, when the tree is just beginning to emerge from its dormant period. Dried or damaged branches are carefully cut off, and the cut site is treated with garden pitch. If it is not available, then a solution of potassium permanganate will do. It is advisable for a young plant to remove the growing point and shape the crown so that it fits into the dimensions of the room and has a decorative look.

Water and fertilize

From May to September, Tashkent lemon needs moderate daily watering, and the rest of the time, the procedure is carried out no more than 2 times a week. Focus on the state of the upper layer of the earthy coma.

Feed room lemon with complex mineral preparations. During the active growing season, young trees are fertilized once every one and a half months.Mature plants require top dressing once a month. Starting from October, the frequency of fertilization is gradually reduced. When the tree enters a dormant period, such procedures are completely stopped.

Disease and pest control

Due to poor care and the negative impact of pests, Tashkent lemon can be affected by various diseases, lose its decorative effect. In addition, a diseased plant is not able to please the owners with a harvest of beautiful and tasty fruits. When the first signs of diseases or the presence of pests are found, the tree should be treated with fungicides or insecticides.

Tashkent lemon is most often affected by these insects:

• whitefly;
• spider mite;
• aphid;
• shield;
• mealybug.

Of the diseases in this variety are found:

• chlorosis;
• tristeza;
• gamoz;
• scab;
• anthracnose;
• mosaic;
• melseco;
• root rot.

Timely preventive treatments can get rid of many problems, help keep the lemon he althy and beautiful.

Mistakes when growing lemon

The main mistake when growing Tashkent lemon is that the grower leaves all the formed ovaries on it. This leads not only to an overload of the tree, but also to its rapid depletion. In addition, the plant is able to drop the ovaries due to overload with them. The amount of the crop must be normalized.

During the flowering period, the lemon should not be transplanted and dry leaves should not be removed from it. Also, do not move it to a new location.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Tashkent lemons are harvested about 4 months after flowering is complete. You should not do this later than the second half of January, as the harvest of the next season may not be formed. Ripe lemons have not only a characteristic yellow color, but also a glossy sheen of the skin. If it has become wrinkled, then the fruits are overripe.

At home, a freshly harvested crop can be stored for no more than 2 weeks. After that, they lose moisture or become moldy. For longer storage, fruits are placed in a fruit refrigerator drawer. Under such conditions, they retain quality up to 90 days. You can not store the crop in places with direct sunlight or wrap it in plastic bags.

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