Chinese date (jujube) is very popular among our gardeners. This is primarily due to the fact that it is extremely beneficial for health. It is recommended to be used in in different forms and from various diseases.

Almost every part of the plant can be used for one purpose or another. Being a shrub, the date has more than four hundred different varieties, which grow in Asia and the Mediterranean. The main product is still the fruit, which can be eaten both fresh and dried.

General information about the Chinese jujube date

Chinese date (unabi, jujube) has a fairly lush crown with thorns on the branches. It can also be considered a tree, only a dwarf one. The crown shape is usually cone-shaped, and the root system has very powerful branches.

The roots penetrate the soil to a depth of three meters. Beautiful elongated leaves are located on small petioles, and the flowers are collected in a bunch, which blooms only for a day. Fruits can ripen at different times, depending on the variety and place of growth.

The date is about six centimeters long and weighs more than twenty grams. The best place For growing a plant such as Chinese date (unabi), a temperate climate zone is considered.

In any case, when choosing a date variety, pay attention to the growing requirements of this variety. Plant the variety that best suits your climate. China is considered the birthplace of the date.

Shrub care

Growing Chinese date(jujube) possibly on different soils, but there are still some nuances. For example, he does not like swamps and a lot of salt. In this case, it will have poor yield.

They do not have a very good effect on the condition of the tree and groundwater. If their deposits are located somewhere nearby, then you will also not expect a rich harvest from the date.

The shrub tolerates heat and frost well, but the frost-resistant Chinese date (jujube) loves water, so you should not forget to water it. So, to make your unabi date feel great, you need to follow simple recommendations specialists.

Form the crown immediately as the tree grows. Choose the shape you need and maintain it continuously for the first two years. In the future, we need control over excess branches, and those that have dried out.

The first time after planting, dates need to be watered quite often. This is done twice a month. When the tree begins to bloom, watering should be reduced, since the fruit will set well in dry weather. Then, starting from mid-summer, you need to water moderately, not allowing the soil to dry out, otherwise you will not get a good harvest.

We must not forget about recharge bush. After waiting the first four years after planting, you need to feed the date annually using mineral complex fertilizers, alternating with organic matter.

The fruits are collected and dried as they ripen. If you decide to dry dates, then do it in a shaded place, spreading the fruits in one layer on a sheet. Dried dates can be used throughout the year. If you dried the dates in a special drying device, then such fruits can be kept for up to 2 years. If you need bark, it is collected in early spring, and the roots should be taken in late autumn.

Chinese jujube date, how to propagate

There are several ways to propagate dates, and we will tell you a little about each, and you choose the most suitable one for yourself.

1. Seed method. This method is quite lengthy, but it is still used for growing rootstocks. To do this, you need to choose high-quality seeds and clean them thoroughly. 60 days before you plan to sow the seeds, they need to be stratified.

With the arrival of spring, when the ground becomes warm, the seeds are sown in the ground and covered with oilcloth to create suitable conditions for germination. It is advised to leave about eighty centimeters between rows, and five centimeters between each seed.

After about a month, the sprouts need to be pruned, leaving twenty-five centimeters between them. The watering regime is very moderate: one watering in the spring and two waterings in the summer.

2. If your tree is more than two years old, then it can already be propagated by root shoots. The new tree can be safely separated from the uterus and planted in a new location. Within a year you will receive your first harvest.

Ripe unabi date fruits

3. Growing seedlings is mainly done by those who keep greenhouses. After all, they need to create conditions close to natural. On open area seedlings can be planted in early spring if it is a warm region, and in mid-spring if it is in the northern part.

What are the benefits of Chinese dates?

The beneficial properties of the Chinese date are described in many books. Moreover, these are books not only on medicine. Dates have also gained popularity in cooking due to their distinct taste.

What is so special about the unabi date? The fact is that in one fruit of this shrub contains a huge amount of useful elements.

These include:

• Organic, folic and nicotinic acid;
• protein;
• pectin;
• catechin;
• oil and much more.

With the help of all its elements, the Chinese jujube date is capable of doing many useful things for the human body.

For example:

• Remove toxins;
• enrich the body with vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium;
• remove mercury and lead from the body;
• restore the body after suffering a disease of the genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract;
• reduce symptoms of toxicosis;
• increase lactation;
• regulate blood pressure;
• reduce pain in the head and heart.

Thus, the date is one of the most worthy assistants in traditional medicine. And its unforgettable taste makes the treatment even more enjoyable.

The nutritious fruit of the Chinese date is valued not only for its sweet, savory taste, but also for its diverse medicinal properties. They grow on trees that have several other names - jujube, unabi, jujuba. In addition to the juicy, fleshy fruits, all parts of the plant are used as raw materials for the preparation of medicinal and cosmetic compositions - leaves, seeds, thick bark, rhizomes.

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Short description

Since ancient times, the Chinese date has been cultivated in Australia, China, Japan, and the Mediterranean. The fruits were eaten and used together with bark and leaves as raw materials for medicinal compositions.

The scientific name of the plant is true jujube (Ziziphus jujuba lat.). In nature it occurs in the form of a low - up to ten meters tree or thorny bush. Belongs to the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae lat.), genus Jujube. The Chinese date is also called jujuba, unabi, Chinese jujube, and chapyzhnik.

The leaves are simple with entire edges and have an elliptical shape. They are located on short petioles. Greenish-white small flowers appear in early summer. In autumn, round or slightly elongated small juicy fruits ripen - drupes, which have a sweet taste of nutritious pulp.

Mulberry (mulberry) - beneficial features and application

Growing methods

Considering diversity useful qualities Chinese date, it is practiced to grow it in household or garden plots. In this situation, it is taken into account that this is a heat-loving plant.



In regions with cold winter seasons, the tree dies. The only way out may be to cultivate it in heated greenhouses and greenhouses.

Date propagation involves the use of several methods - cuttings, root shoots, grafting of a rootstock grown from seeds. If it is possible to find seedlings in specialized farms, they are immediately placed on permanent place, picking it up on the sunny side. Add to the planting hole organic fertilizer, place the seedling, pour out a bucket of water and fill it with soil, lightly compacting each layer. The earth is mulched.

Jujube does not like excessive watering. For the winter in open ground It is necessary to cover young plants using non-woven fabric. After two years, the crown is trimmed, giving it the desired shape. Fruiting occurs approximately in the fifth year, but it is necessary to plant several specimens nearby to ensure cross-pollination.

If you want to have a Chinese date at home, you often grow the plant from seeds, which must go through the stratification stage. To do this, remove the hard shell, place it in a sealed bag, and pour in a spoonful of water. Close tightly and place in the refrigerator compartment for vegetables. Every three days the bag is opened for ventilation.

The hatched seed is planted in a glass with loose peat. When several leaves are formed, the shoot is transplanted into separate pot. It will gradually develop into ornamental shrub without preserving varietal characteristics. It must be taken into account that by planting a strong seedling in open ground, it will not be possible to obtain a harvest similar to the mother tree. In this case, you will have to get vaccinated.





Compound

Although substances beneficial to the body are found in all parts of the Chinese date, the most valuable in this regard are the fruits. Their structural formula is represented by the following elements:

• pectins;
• proteins;
• amino acids;
• glycosides;
• fats;
• flavonoids;
• alkaloids;
• triterpenes;
• coumarins;
• organic acids;
• glucose;
• polyphenols;
• cellulose;
• essential oils.

The composition contains a variety of microelements - iron, iodine, magnesium. There is manganese, zinc, sodium. Provides a beneficial effect on the body a large number of potassium, phosphorus, calcium. Contains vitamins B, C, A. The calorie content of fresh berries per 100 g is 80 kcal. In dried fruits this figure increases to 250 kcal.

The seeds contain soothing elements - jujuboside A, B. The presence of substances such as spinoside, juubogenin, various sugars, including xylose and glucose, has been revealed. An anesthetic was found in the leaves. If you chew sheet plate Chinese date, then the perception of bitter and sweet taste is blocked for some time. The bark of this plant is rich in tannins. Contains saponins and rutin.





Useful Features

The fruits of the Chinese date are beneficial by increasing immunity. They are recommended for carrying out preventive and therapeutic measures for the following pathological conditions of the body:

• atherosclerosis;
• nervous system disorders;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• constipation;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• cystitis;
• hypertension;
• urolithiasis disease;
• pyelonephritis;
• osteoporosis;
• joint diseases;
• skin diseases.

The beneficial properties of jujube fruits are valued for their ability to cleanse the body of waste deposits and toxins, rejuvenate it, and increase appetite. Thanks to their sedative qualities, they improve mood, relieve anxiety, and eliminate insomnia. Their diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties are noted.

By eating several fruits, you can compensate for iron deficiency, increase hemoglobin, and cleanse the blood. This has a beneficial effect on improving the general condition. Eliminated chronic fatigue, performance increases. Low calorie content allows you to include Chinese date berries in a diet menu supported for the purpose of weight loss. Preparations from the bark lower cholesterol and have an astringent effect. They tone well and eliminate inflammation.

Folk remedies from fruits

The fruits are used as medicinal products not only in fresh form. From them you can prepare a decoction used for coughs and respiratory diseases. Boil two Chinese dates in a glass of water for 20 minutes. After removing from heat, cover the pan with a towel. After 30 minutes, strain the broth. Divide into three equal portions, which are drunk throughout the day.

Get effective remedy, which helps with hypertension and anemia, can be done by boiling ten pieces of dry dates in 500 ml of water. After 20 minutes of boiling, remove the pan from the stove and cover with a lid. After an hour, the strained decoction for anemia is drunk three times a day, 100 ml. For hypertension, it is recommended to drink half a glass of the decoction every five hours.

An infusion of half a glass of dry berries, soaked in a liter of boiling water for four hours, helps to cope with insomnia. Use as tea with a little honey.

Uses of seeds and bark

Date seeds are recommended for use if headaches cause suffering. A healing tincture made from them increases resistance to stress, eliminates neuroses and insomnia. To prepare, add 100 g of seeds to 0.5 liters of water. Boil on low heat for 20 minutes. The cooled liquid is filtered and a glass of alcohol is poured in. Take the tincture eight hours later, one tablespoon at a time.

Leaf preparations

Used in folk medicine healing properties of jujube leaves for treating cough, normalizing cardiac activity, reducing blood pressure. Pour a heaped tablespoon of chopped leaves into 250 ml of boiling water. Leave under a towel for an hour and filter. Drink two or three sips of the infusion before meals. Can be used as a rinse to relieve toothache.

To treat wounds, abscesses, boils, an ointment is prepared by mixing crushed leaves - 100 g with olive oil - 0.5 l. The mass is heated without allowing it to boil. Close the container and put it in a closet for two weeks. The finished product is used to lubricate the affected areas up to four times a day until recovery occurs.

For insomnia, dry leaves are ground into powder. Measure out a teaspoon and pour a glass of boiling water. After 10 minutes, strain, add a little honey and drink 35 minutes before bedtime.

Cooking recipes

The easiest way to make jam is to first boil syrup from a kilogram of sugar and 500 ml of water. A kilogram of fruit is washed and the skin is pricked. This technique will allow the berries not to burst during cooking. Pour hot syrup over the fruits. After an hour, place the pan on the stove and boil the jam over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 40 minutes.

Pickled Chinese date

This recipe requires jujube berries that are not yet fully ripe. Place a teaspoon of black peppercorns, four cloves of garlic, 10 g in an enamel container bay leaf. Fruits are placed on top - 2 kg.

Pour a tablespoon of sugar, two tablespoons of salt into a separate saucepan with 1.3 liters of water, and pour in a glass of apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil and immediately pour in the berries. Pour half a glass of refined water on top vegetable oil. Cover the container with a lid and place in a cool place. Pickled fruits serve as a savory addition to hot meat snacks.

Jam and compote

Having mastered the preparation of jam from juicy berries, you will receive a pleasant, delicate delicacy for the table in the winter season. A kilogram of ripe fruits is washed and laid out on a clean towel to drain off excess moisture. Place them in an enamel basin.

In a separate pan, boil syrup from 800 g of sugar and a liter of water. Pour over the berries, boil for three minutes and remove from the stove. Leave for eight hours. After this time, filter. The berries, freed from seeds, are turned into puree using a mixer. You can rub them through a sieve. Boil the resulting mass for five minutes and immediately put it into small sterile jars, which are then sealed.

A compote is made from dried jujube fruits, which will be useful for many diseases. Place a kilogram of berries in an enamel pan, add three liters of water and boil until the berries become soft. Squeeze out the liquid through double gauze and cook over medium heat until thickened. Add a quarter cup of honey. Store the compote in the refrigerator. Before use, add the required amount of water to taste.

Use in cosmetology

A decoction of Chinese date berries is used to restore healthy shine to dull, damaged hair. Take a tablespoon of dry raw materials and boil for 15 minutes in two glasses of water. Leave covered for 20 minutes. Then filter and an hour before the washing procedure, rub the broth into the scalp and distribute over the entire length of the hair. The procedure is done once a week.



To strengthen your hair, you will need two tablespoons of jujube roots, cut into small pieces. Fill them with boiling water - 500 ml and keep under an insulating cap for 30 minutes. Pre-washed hair is soaked in this decoction in the evening. There is no need to wipe them, allowing the curls to dry naturally. The course involves carrying out the procedure every other day for a month.

To restore skin elasticity, give it freshness, and smooth out fine wrinkles, it is recommended to make a mask from 100 g of fresh unabi fruits, mashed into puree, with the addition of a teaspoon of honey and sour cream. Keep the mixture on your face for 20 minutes and then wash off. Repeat for a month every three days.

Preparation and storage

The leaves, fruits and roots of the Chinese date are collected in autumn period. The time to harvest bark is in the spring before the plant begins to flower. Well-established trees older than three years are selected for harvesting raw materials.

Fresh berries are stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 45 days. For the winter they are dried, laid out in a thin layer in the sun. It is more convenient to use special dryers at a temperature of 65°C. First, the fruits are placed in boiling water for five minutes. Then they are laid out on cloth to dry. Dried jujube fruits can be stored for two years without losing their healing qualities.

Roots, bark, leaves are dried under a canopy. You can place them in a well-ventilated shed, attic or other area. Dry leaves are stored for no longer than a year, and bark and roots for two years.

Contraindications

Despite the unique benefits of the Chinese date, before consuming it is necessary to find out what contraindications there are to drugs and fresh fruits.



The ban on the product mainly concerns the period of pregnancy. You cannot use any dosage forms based on jujube if you have an individual intolerance to this plant. Caution is recommended for people with low blood pressure. Jujube fruits should not be given to children under five years of age. You should not eat large quantities of them, especially in the evening.

When purchasing exotic Chinese date berries in a store, you must carefully check their freshness. Only in this case can you experience a beneficial effect on the body. If you need to independently prepare infusions and decoctions from different parts of the plant, you should grow an ornamental shrub at home.

Common jujube, also known as unabi, jujube and Chinese date, is one of the main fruit crops in the dry subtropical zone. The tasty and healthy fruits of this unpretentious plant are widely used in food and medical purposes. This drought-resistant shrub grows well in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine. Some amateur gardeners are making attempts to grow this interesting plant and in middle lane Russia, but with the advance of the unabi to the north, certain difficulties arise that cannot always be overcome.

Chinese date - a plant with medicinal fruits

Unabi is a large shrub or small tree up to eight meters high, with a sparse spreading crown and leaves that fall off in the winter. Wild plants have large, sharp spines on their branches; many cultivated large-fruited forms do not have these spines, which is their clear advantage over wild plants. The fruits of wild and cultivated forms of jujube differ mainly in size: from 5 grams for small-fruited wild specimens to 30–40 grams for the best large-fruited varieties. There is also some difference in the taste of the fruits, and many people prefer wild unabi. In terms of medical properties, the fruits of wild and cultivated forms of unabi are considered to be equivalent.

Unabi, or common jujube, is also known as jujube, jujuba, jujube, chilon, red date, Chinese date.

Chinese date on video

Unabi fruit is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the middle of the last century, experiments were conducted in sanatoriums in Crimea that showed that regular consumption of fresh jujube fruits helps lower blood pressure. Since then, active cultivation of this oriental fruit crop began in Crimea and the southern regions of Ukraine and Russia with similar climates.

It should be noted that unabi fruits, like any other medicinal plant, are not at all a miraculous magic cure for all ills. For example, my neighbor in the country, who lived in Crimea for many years, is very skeptical about this miracle berry, because she personally has a problem high blood pressure It was not possible to solve it with the help of unabi over many years.

In the wild, unabi grows in Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Western China. This part of Central Asia is characterized by an arid continental climate with very hot, long summers and short but relatively frosty winters. In the zone of one's own natural growth unabi has been cultivated since time immemorial, and many varieties have been created, some of which have begun to be grown in Europe and America. Good conditions for jujube culture are found in North Africa, Southern Europe, Western Asia, the arid regions of India, as well as in the dry subtropics of some US states, including Texas and California.

Due to the similarity of the dried fruit to dates, unabi is also called the Chinese date.

Traditional way Processing of unabi fruits for long-term storage is drying. Dried unabi fruits are very similar in appearance to dates, hence the names “Chinese date” and “red date” - based on the color of some popular varieties.

Unabi begins its growing season very late, much later than most trees and shrubs. Because of this late awakening, many novice gardeners unknowingly uprooted completely viable plants, mistakenly deciding that the bushes had died over the winter.

On my site, the unabi bushes began to barely open their first leaves only in mid-May, a couple of weeks later than all other plants. Of course, amid the riot spring greenery Such slow-witted people look very suspicious. If the bush is large, you can easily dispel doubts by cutting a branch and looking at the cut: dead wood becomes dry, black or brown. It’s better not to cut a small bush in vain, just wait until at least mid-June.

In any case, there is no need to rush to uproot: even if aboveground part frozen, there is hope for the appearance of root shoots.

Small yellow flowers unabi are very honey-bearing

Jujube blooms very late, only in June, after the complete end of possible frosts. Its small yellow flowers are very honey-bearing and attract many bees and other pollinating insects. To obtain good harvests, unabi needs cross-pollination, so you need to plant plants of several varieties or several different seedlings nearby. Self-pollination produces only a few fruits, most of which soon fall off long before ripening begins. Fully ripened fruits become soft, sweet and juicy, red or brown in color.

The moment of best taste of jujube fruits depends very much on the variety and on personal preferences: some people prefer those that are still dense, others prefer those that are overripe and have already begun to wilt a little.

When ripe, unabi fruits become red or brown in color.

IN favorable conditions Jujube trees are very durable. There are known cases of abundant and regular fruiting of specimens that have reached a hundred years of age. Under normal weather conditions good harvests fruits occur annually. Unabi is a fast-growing crop, the first flowers and fruits are good care may appear within two to three years after planting the seedling. As the bushes grow, the yields increase. From a large mature tree in good conditions you can get up to 50 kilograms of fruit. They ripen late, usually in October, at the very early varieties- at the end of September. The period of fruit ripening on each plant can last up to a month, as a result of an equally long extended flowering. The collected fruits are poorly stored fresh, even in the refrigerator for no more than a week, and do not withstand long-distance transportation. In addition to traditional drying, they are also suitable for home canning; they make excellent compotes, jams, and preserves.

Unabi fruit makes delicious jam

Types and varieties of unabi, its relatives and doubles

Of all the types of jujube, the most famous is the common jujube, or Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba). In tropical and subtropical countries, two more related species of jujube are cultivated to produce edible fruits:

• lotus tree (Ziziphus lotus);
• Mauritanian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana).

Differences between jujube species (table)

All these three types of jujube are often referred to in foreign literature under the general name jujube, which sometimes creates some confusion.

Of all the types of jujube, only common jujube (also known as Chinese or unabi) is suitable for cultivation in Russia and Ukraine, as it is the most winter-hardy of them.

Also, unabi are often confused with two more plants that have no botanical relationship with jujubes: jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) and oriental elk.

• With jojoba, the confusion is purely linguistic (unabi - jujube, hojoba - jojoba), which regularly arises in foreign and translated articles, catalogs of planting material, and especially in advertising various drugs cosmetic and pharmacological purposes. Hojoba - evergreen, not withstanding negative temperatures.
• Confusion with the oriental sucker arises due to the striking external similarity of its fruits to the fruits of unabi. Elf is much more winter-hardy compared to unabi; its wild form (angustifolia elk) grows successfully without any shelter in the Moscow region and in the Middle Volga region.

Even in very reputable printed publications, I came across published letters from readers who successfully grew oleaster from the seeds of oleaster fruits, while being in full confidence that they were growing unabi. But the pharmacological properties of the fruits are still very, very different.

Unabi, jida and jojoba: their differences (table)

Name	Origin	Leaves	Flowers	Fruit	Seeds in fruits
Eastern elk (dzhida, pshat) Elaeagnus orientalis	Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, Siberia	Silvery-green, long and narrow, arranged alternately, falling off in winter	Small, yellow, bell-shaped with 4 petals, bisexual, pollinated by insects	Oval, reddish-brown, mealy-sweet, used as food	Uniformly narrow, with pronounced parallel longitudinal stripes
Common jujube (jujube, jujuba, yuyuba, unabi, Chinese date, chilon) Ziziphus jujuba	Central Asia, Western China	Bright green, shiny, ovoid-pointed, arranged alternately, fall off in winter	Small, yellow, wide open with 5 petals, bisexual, insect pollinated	Oval, red or brown, juicy, sweet, used as food	Wide, with random, weakly expressed grooves and a clearly visible pointed elongated tip
Chinese Simmondsia (jojoba, hojoba, jojoba) Simmondsia chinensis	California	Silvery-green, oval-elongated, arranged in pairs, evergreen	Small, yellow, wind-pollinated; male and female on different plants	Dry boxes with a clearly visible cup at the base	The seeds are similar to nuts; seed oil is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetology

Unabi, his relatives and doubles (photo gallery)

Jujube Moorish - evergreen fruit plant from North Africa The lotus tree is a fruit crop from the Mediterranean, a relative of the unabi. The most famous of the jujubes is the unabi, or Chinese date. The fruits of the oriental elk (jids) are surprisingly similar in shape, size and color to the fruits of the unabi. The oriental elk blooms with yellow bell-shaped flowers with 4 petals. wide-open flat unabi flowers always have 5 petals. The seeds of the oleaster fruit are easily identified by the characteristic parallel longitudinal stripes. The unabi seeds have an elongated sharp nose and faintly noticeable random grooves. Hojoba (Simmondsia sinensis) has dry fruit-boxes with large sepals
Valuable oil for pharmaceuticals and cosmetology is extracted from jojoba seeds and nuts.

Of the large-fruited varieties of unabi, Koktebel and Ta-yan-zao are the most widespread in Russia and Ukraine.

• Koktebel is a relatively new variety bred by the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in Crimea. The fruits weigh 30–35 grams and ripen late. The variety is included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.
• Ta-yang-zao is a very old variety of Chinese selection, brought from China to the USA at the beginning of the last century, and from there to Russia. It still remains one of the best varieties. Variety early date ripening, fruit weight from 18 to 45 grams.

On some websites of private nurseries, large-fruited unabi varieties Si-qing, Acorn and Dessertny are also briefly mentioned, but these varieties are not in the State Register or in serious literature.

Large-fruited unabi varieties (photo gallery)

Features of planting jujube

To plant unabi, you need to choose the most sunny places. This plant is very light-loving, with the slightest shading it grows poorly and bears almost no fruit. Jujube is very drought-resistant and heat-resistant, and can withstand 40-degree heat perfectly. At temperatures below +15°C, shoot growth practically stops and flowering is delayed.

Unabi does not tolerate heavy clay soils, excessive acidity and close groundwater. But this unpretentious plant grows well on poor soils, dry rocky slopes, and can be used to stabilize them.

Unabi grows normally and bears fruit only with full sunlight

Unabi feels normal in open ground south of the Kyiv - Kharkov - Volgograd line. In more northern regions, its cultivation becomes very problematic and requires special tricks.

The best time to plant jujube is early spring (in the south it is late March - early April). In regions with very mild winters, it is permissible to plant in early autumn (in the south - no later than early October). When planting, the distance between seedlings should be at least 4 meters at the latitude of Kyiv, where unabi grows as a bush and regularly freezes. In the subtropical zone, where conditions are more favorable and unabi grows as a tree, it is preferable to leave 5 or even 6 meters between plants.

In favorable conditions of a subtropical climate, unabi grows small tree and lives for more than a hundred years

When choosing seedlings, it is important to ensure that their roots and branches are alive, not dry or rotten. It is best to purchase plants grown in your region. Introduced from more southern regions planting material has low winter hardiness.

Step by step planting process:

1. Dig a hole about half a meter deep and wide.
2. Place a mound of earth mixed with a bucket of well-rotted compost at the bottom of the hole.
3. Place the seedling on the mound, carefully straightening the roots. When planting, unabi does not require special burial; the root collar of the seedling should be approximately at the level of the soil surface.
4. Carefully fill the hole with earth.
5. Carefully water each seedling with a bucket of water from a watering can with a nozzle, without washing out the soil.

Fresh manure and mineral fertilizers are not used when planting, so as not to burn the roots.

Caring for jujube for the south of Russia and Ukraine

Unabi tolerates heat and drought well and can grow without watering even in the dry subtropics of Transcaucasia. But with irrigation, fruit yields will be higher, and the growth and development of young plants will be faster. In the hot and dry climate of Crimea, the southern regions of Russia and southern Ukraine, it is enough to water once a month, with each watering wetting the soil to a depth of at least 80 centimeters. At complete absence After watering, the roots lie deeper, up to two meters or more.

In arid regions, unabi yield will be higher with irrigation

Plants in the first year of planting are watered more often; in extreme heat and drought - weekly, 2 buckets of water for each bush.

In a more humid climate (Western Ukraine, part of the Krasnodar region of Russia), the watering rate for young plants is halved, and adult plants do not need watering at all, except in cases of extreme drought.

Jujube grows very slowly, and at a young age it can suffer greatly from weeds, especially perennial rhizomatous ones. To facilitate maintenance and retain moisture, the soil can be mulched with any organic matter (straw, sawdust, wood chips) or special agrofibre.

Mulching retains soil moisture and prevents weed growth

Every spring, fertilizers are applied to the unabi plantation at the rate of each square meter:

• 2–3 kilograms of humus;
• 18–20 grams of superphosphate;
• 8–10 grams of potassium salt;
• 12–16 grams of ammonium nitrate.

Fertilizers are evenly scattered over the entire area under the plants and shallowly embedded in the soil.

Wintering of unabi

In its natural growth zone in Central Asia, jujube easily withstands short-term frosts down to -25..-30°C. Unabi also has fairly high frost resistance in the subtropical zone of Crimea and Transcaucasia, where a hot, long summer is enough for it to ripen shoots. When moving to the north, where summers are shorter and summer temperatures are lower, jujube does not have enough summer heat for full development, and its winter hardiness sharply decreases. Even in Kyiv, regular freezing of plants is already observed; in warm winters, only the tops of young branches suffer; in more severe frosts, the bushes freeze to the root collar, but are restored in subsequent years. In regions with relatively mild winters and stable snow cover, it is sometimes possible to preserve plants by bending them to the ground with the onset of the first autumn frosts to overwinter under the snow. Bent plants should be well secured with hooks or pressed down with boards. There is no need to wrap it tightly - unabi does not tolerate excessive dampness, and during a long thaw, overly wrapped bushes risk dying from damping off.

How to grow unabi in central Russia

Amateur gardeners from the Moscow region and regions close in climate often try to plant unabi, but after several years of existence, these plants usually die in the coming harsh winter. The big problem here is not only low winter temperatures, but also significant drawback summer heat, which does not allow plants to properly prepare for winter.

On my site in the Middle Volga region, three unabi seedlings brought from the south successfully survived the first and second winter. After the third winter, only one bush woke up. Next winter ruined him too.

One reliable solution to this problem is to plant unabi in an unheated greenhouse attached to the south wall of a heated house. Moreover, for successful wintering of jujube, it is important not only the presence of glazing (an unheated glass greenhouse “in an open field” will not be enough in severe frosts), but also the presence warm wall home, which is both a source of additional heat and reliable protection from cold northern winds.

Planting in a greenhouse attached to the southern wall of the house will reliably protect unabi from winter frosts

Another possible solution to the wintering problem is the so-called trench culture. This one is very effective method was invented and successfully tested in Soviet times, and was soon safely forgotten due to its increased labor intensity. The essence of the method is as follows:

• To plant plants, a permanent trench is dug 70–100 centimeters deep and about one and a half meters wide.
• The walls of the trench are concreted or lined with bricks.
• Digging in the bottom of the trench planting pits, are filled with fertile soil and seedlings are planted.
• In summer, plants develop in an open trench, as in normal conditions open ground.
• In late autumn, after the end of leaf fall and the final establishment of slightly negative temperatures, the trench is completely covered with boards or slate, and then with plastic film. You can additionally insulate the top with a layer of earth or coniferous spruce branches.
• After a snowfall, the covered trench is covered with a layer of snow taken from areas free of plants (roads, paths, parking areas).
• In the event of prolonged winter warming to above-zero temperatures, the trench should be slightly opened at the ends for ventilation in order to protect the plants from the threat of damping out.
• In the spring, after the snow melts, the permanent cover is removed and the trench is covered with plastic film to protect against return frosts.
• After the end of the frost period, the polyethylene is removed, and all summer the plants grow in an open trench until late autumn.

Trench culture is a reliable, but very labor-intensive way to protect jujube from winter frosts

Trimming unabi for different growing regions

Sanitary pruning (removal of dry and damaged branches) is necessary in any region and is carried out throughout the warm season. Formative pruning is carried out in the spring and depends on the growing zone.

In the subtropical zone, where unabi grows as a tree and does not freeze, for better lighting the crowns of the sun and the convenience of harvesting plants are formed in the shape of a bowl or vase. For this formation, young plants are left with four skeletal branches growing evenly in a circle, and the central conductor is cut out. Subsequently, during annual maintenance pruning, all branches growing into the center of the crown are removed or shortened.

The vase-shaped crown provides the best illumination and is convenient for picking fruits

In more northern regions, unabi regularly freezes to the snow level, and sometimes even to the root collar, and the plants naturally take on a bush-like shape. The main formative pruning here is to thin out the crown so that it does not thicken excessively. Where bushes are bent to the ground for the winter under the snow, the branches must be renewed in a timely manner so that they are flexible enough. The oldest branches are cut out at the root, and younger ones grow in their place.

Reproduction of unabi

Unabi can be propagated by seeds, root shoots, layering, and root cuttings. Neither green nor woody stem cuttings of this plant almost never take root under normal conditions, even with the use of root formation stimulants. Valuable large-fruited varieties of unabi are propagated by grafting by cuttings or budding, using seedlings of wild small-fruited forms of jujube as a rootstock.

The difficulty of propagating this crop is one of the main reasons preventing the widespread distribution of such a valuable fruit breed in amateur gardening.

Propagation by seeds

Only seeds from fully ripened fruits of wild small-fruited forms of unabi are suitable for sowing. Large-fruited seeds garden varieties have an underdeveloped embryo, so they almost never germinate. In late autumn (late October or November), fruit seeds are sown immediately in a permanent place, planted to a depth of 3–4 centimeters. For the winter, you can lightly insulate the crops with coniferous spruce branches, which must be removed in the spring immediately after the snow melts. To speed up the emergence of seedlings in the spring, you can cover the sowing site with translucent agrofibre or transparent plastic film. If suddenly the seedlings turn out to be too dense, they need to be thinned out so that there is at least 20 centimeters between the plants. In hot, dry weather, seedlings need watering once a week with a bucket of water per square meter. The soil under the plants should be kept free of weeds. Mulching with any available material is highly desirable. Non-transplant cultivation when sown immediately in a permanent place allows you to obtain stronger plants with a very deep root system that can easily withstand severe, prolonged drought and are more resistant to frost.

Before winter, I tried several times to sow seeds from unabi fruits brought from the south. There were never any shoots.

Jujube, especially its small-fruited wild forms, often produces a lot of root shoots, which can be successfully used for propagation. In early spring or in the first half of autumn you just need to carefully dig out several young shoots from the plant you like and transplant them to another place, not forgetting to water. This method of propagating unabi is the simplest and most reliable, but is only possible if there is an adult plant with satisfactory fruit quality within reach.

Propagation by root shoots is the easiest way to obtain unabi seedlings

It is relatively easy to propagate unabi by rooting cuttings. In early spring, the lower branches of the bush are bent to the ground and pinned tightly, the secured part is sprinkled with soil, and the very top of the buried branch is brought out, giving it a vertical position if possible. During the season, the soil under the layering must be kept moist, loose and free of weeds. In good conditions, the cuttings take root over the summer, and in the spring of next year you can cut off the mother branch and transplant the resulting seedlings to a permanent place. In this way, it is possible to obtain a rooted plant of a valuable variety, even if the original mother plant was grafted onto a rootstock.

Unabi can be propagated by layering - rooting buried branches

In the absence of a sufficient amount of shoots in self-rooted plants, root cuttings can be used for propagation:

1. In early spring, carefully rake the soil around the bush, digging out its horizontal root about 1 centimeter thick. This method is very traumatic for the mother plant, so you should not be greedy and damage several roots at once!
2. From the selected root, cut several cuttings about 15 centimeters long each.
3. Plant the resulting cuttings horizontally or with a slight slope on a previously prepared bed with moist, loose soil. The distance between cuttings is 10–15 centimeters, planting depth is about 5 centimeters.
4. Keep the bed with cuttings moist, loose and free of weeds throughout the season.
5. Soon after planting, young shoots will appear from dormant buds on root cuttings.
6. Next spring, the seedlings are ready for transplanting to a permanent location.

You can propagate unabi from root cuttings

Grafting with cuttings and budding

All types of vaccinations are an activity for experienced gardener. Here, the experience of the craftsman, the quality of sharpening the tool, the evenness and cleanliness of the cuts, the accuracy of combining the scion and rootstock, the quality of the binding, weather conditions and the condition of the original plants play a huge role.

Wild small-fruited forms of jujube obtained from seedlings or from root shoots are used as a rootstock for garden large-fruited unabi varieties. The rootstocks must be healthy and well rooted. As a scion, cuttings are taken from young healthy shoots from a productive plant of the desired variety.

Grafting with cuttings is usually carried out in the spring

Grafting with cuttings is usually carried out in the spring, before the buds awaken. If the diameter of the rootstock and scion is the same, equal cuts are made on them, they are tightly aligned and tightly wrapped with elastic tape. If the rootstock is noticeably thicker than the scion, there are two possible options:

• a scion cutting cut obliquely on one side is inserted into a cut in the bark of the rootstock;
• The scion cuttings, cut obliquely on both sides, are inserted into a specially made split in the wood of the rootstock.

In both cases, the grafts are tightly secured with an elastic band, after which all remaining open cuts on the rootstock and scion are carefully covered with garden varnish (it is better to cover the top cut of the scion even in advance).

Eye grafting (budding) is usually carried out in the second half of summer

Eye grafting (budding) is usually carried out in the second half of summer. Young shoots that begin to become lignified are used as a scion. current year, from which the leaves are carefully cut off with a razor, leaving a piece of the petiole. Then a T-shaped incision is made in the bark of the rootstock, into which a shield cut from the scion shoot is inserted with a bud and a thin piece of wood. The graft is wrapped with an elastic band without covering the kidney itself.

Regardless of the grafting technology used, a clear sign that it has taken root is the new young shoots emerging from the scion buds. The next year after grafting, the binding must be carefully cut off so as not to interfere with the growth of branches in thickness and not to overtighten the bark.

Pests and diseases

On the territory of Ukraine and the European part of Russia, no pests or diseases were found on unabi. A common and very annoying problem is cracking of fruits, which occurs from uneven moisture. Such cracked fruits should be processed first.

In the zone of one's own traditional cultivation in Central Asia and China, unabi is often affected by the codling moth, fruit rot, viral leaf spots and witches' brooms. Theoretically, it is possible for them to appear in our country if the pathogen is introduced with imported fruit or planting material.

Possible pests and diseases and measures to combat them (table)

Name	What does it look like	What to do about it
Caterpillars in fruits	Destroy wormy fruits; if there were a lot of them, next year spray the plants with pyrethroid insecticides immediately after flowering
Fruit rot	The fruits rot	Collect and destroy rotten fruits; in case of severe damage to fruits directly on the branches, you should contact the phytosanitary service with samples of the affected fruits to accurately determine the pathogen and select the most suitable fungicide
Viral spotting	Light spots and stripes appear on the leaves for no apparent reason	Uproot and destroy the diseased plant
	Randomly overgrown bunches of shortened branches	Cut down and burn the branch with a witch's broom, taking a large piece of the healthy part

Unabi problems (photo gallery)

Cracking of fruits occurs from uneven moisture during their ripening. Codling moth caterpillars feed on seeds in unabi fruits. “Witch’s broom” is an ugly growth of branches caused by a fungal or viral infection

The fruits of the date palm, which are consumed as sweetness, are well known to everyone. But it turned out that they have doubles. In some types of jujube (Chinese date), the dried or dried fruits resemble the familiar delicacy in appearance and taste. The nutritional and medicinal properties of the doubles are in no way inferior to real dates.

Several years ago, while reading a gardening magazine, I became interested in a question letter from one of the readers. The woman reported that she bought dates (as it said on the package), ate them, planted a few seeds in flower pot and was very surprised: the seedlings turned out to be completely different from a palm tree, more like a lemon. The following is an explanation from a specialist on this issue.

True dates are the fruits of the date palm (phoenix, date), a plant from the palm family. It grows in hot countries of Africa and Eurasia. The Phoenix reaches a height of 20-30 meters and up to two meters in circumference.

Dates are extremely beneficial for humans: they cleanse the body, strengthen the immune system, relieve fatigue, tone up and prevent cancer.

Since ancient times, Muslims have considered dates to be almost holy food, as well as the most useful delicacy for children.

Dessert varieties of dates contain up to 75% easily digestible sugar, up to 5% fat, 2% protein, as well as a large set of minerals and trace elements necessary for humans.

The fruits of some types of date palms are a common food product for the poor population of Arab countries. They are pitted, pressed, cut with braces and sold as bread.

The plant, whose dried or dried fruits resemble dates, belongs to the buckthorn family and is called jujube or unabi, Chinese date, jujuba, jida and others.

Unabi is a tree or shrub with a wide openwork crown. Its leaves are leathery and shiny; they have interesting feature- the presence of three main veins: one in the center, two at the edges. The leaves have a short-term anesthetic effect. If you chew a fresh leaf, then within half an hour there will be no difference between sweet and bitter tastes.

At a young age, jujube has spines that fall off over time. For many cultivars There are no spines.

The fruits of the Chinese date are juicy drupes, spherical or slightly elongated shape, in some species the size of a chicken egg. Their skin is shiny, crispy, Brown. The pulp is sweet or sweet and sour, similar in taste to dates. The stone differs little from a date stone: only a little thinner and the ends are sharper.

IN natural conditions unabi grows in China, India, Afghanistan, Iran. Since ancient times, it has been cultivated in many countries in Asia, Europe and Australia. In recent decades, jujube has settled in many regions of Ukraine and in southern regions Russia.

The Chinese date has long been considered the tree of happiness, youth and health, as well as the tree of life.

One of the Muslim legends tells about the unabi tree growing in paradise, on the leaves of which are written the names of all people living on Earth. Once a year in the month of Ramadan, this tree is shaken, and those whose leaves fall will not live to see the next shaking.

Among Christians, jujube is considered a biblical plant. Dr. David Darom of the University of Jerusalem claims that Christ's crown of thorns was made from the thorny branches of this plant. One of the types of jujube, common in the Middle East, is called “The Thorns of Christ.” The fruits of this species are small and taste like soaked apples.

Many peoples have long used unabi as a medicinal and prophylactic. A Chinese proverb says: “Whoever eats unabi does not go to the doctor.” Ancient Arab doctors used jujube to treat asthma, bladder inflammation and kidney stones.

In the Middle Ages, unabi was widely used for gastrointestinal diseases, with unripe fruits used for diarrhea, and ripe fruits for constipation.

Currently, research has established many beneficial properties of the Chinese date, which confirms its status as a tree of youth and health, as well as a tree of life.

The fiber in jujube fruits helps remove toxins, heavy metals, and excess cholesterol from the body. It was also found that fruits have a wonderful combination of vitamin C and P: a large amount of vitamin C helps cleanse blood vessels, and vitamin P prevents the oxidation of vitamin C and restores the elasticity of blood vessels.

With long-term consumption of these fruits, health improves, pain in the heart and head disappears, cholesterol levels and blood pressure normalize. You can make compotes, jams, candied fruits from jujube, as well as dry them, dry them, boil them, fry them and add them to various dishes.

Unabi is a fertile crop for gardening. It is undemanding to soil and can grow even on saline and poor soils. But for better fruiting it needs to be fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Jujube is frost- and drought-resistant: it tolerates heat up to 40 degrees and 30-35 degree frosts. In snowless winters, the aboveground part may freeze slightly, but then quickly recovers.

To obtain abundant fruiting, plants should be placed in sunny areas and at least two copies should be planted side by side, then the trees will pollinate each other.

Photo from the Internet

Today we will talk about unabi... Don’t know this one? Then about jujube. Also no? Maybe then the name “Chinese date” will tell you something? In general, the site is again updated with the “Healthy Exotics” section and our conversation about the beneficial properties and contraindications of unabi.

What is unabi, how and where it grows, photo

Unabi is a well-known exotic fruit, which is popularly called Chinese date or jojoba. It is also called jujube or anyboy. This plant belongs to the Krushinaceae family, which has about 50 species of representatives.

Unabi is a tree that can reach a height of 9 meters. It has a powerful crown and strong, branched root system. Distinguish young tree unabi from the old one can be determined by the presence of thorns on it. Young trees have thorns, and over time they fall off.

The fruits are ready for consumption by the end of the first month of autumn - September. In terms of their shape, unabi fruits are similar to, only these are larger in size. The diameter of one Chinese is 4-6 cm.

Unabi berries (if you can call them that) are red-brown in color and can sometimes resemble the color of dark chocolate. They can taste either sour or sweet; sweet and sour varieties of unabi are also often found.

Inside, the fruits have a fine-grained consistency, similar to coarse flour. After being left for a certain time, picked fruits acquire a unique smell that cannot be compared with anything else.

One specimen of the unabi tree was discovered in nature, which was 300 years old. However, it can only bear fruit for the first 45-55 years. The tree is not so whimsical; it can tolerate both hot weather and slight frosts.

Composition, calorie content of unabi

All over the world, unabi fruits are especially valued for their nutritional properties; they also have many medicinal properties and are very useful in various types of diets.

Unabies are rich in sugars, which contain about 30%, as well as proteins, amino acids and fats. 100 g of product contains almost 10 times more vitamin C than oranges and other citrus fruits. No less useful substances for the body - minerals - are also contained in unabi in quite impressive quantities. For example, calcium, potassium, iodine, iron, magnesium.

Healthy flour is prepared from the fruits of this tree and used in bakeries. They are often prepared as an independent dish, in the form of baked or boiled unabi fruits. They mainly come to us in the form of dried fruits or canned food.

Before sending unabi fruits to store shelves, manufacturers douse them with sugar or honey syrup to give them an appetizing taste. appearance and an unusual pleasant taste.

Calorie content of unabi fruits is 80 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Useful properties of unabi

Unabi fruits are consumed by both adults and children. They help rejuvenate the skin and cleanse the body of toxins and toxic substances. Unabi fruits also help tone the central nervous system and have a mild analgesic effect. Basically, jujube is used as an anesthetic.

The leaves of the unabi tree, like its fruits, have medicinal properties. Based on them traditional healers decoctions are prepared to treat diseases of the genitourinary system. For colds, it is customary to prepare a decoction and take it along with unabi fruits.

Scientists have proven that unabi does not lose its healing properties even after heat treatment. Many housewives who have become familiar with the benefits of unabi fruits prepare it for the winter in the form of preserves (jams, preserves, compotes and uzvars).

Unabi is not contraindicated for lactating and pregnant women; rather, on the contrary, the fruits help, and during pregnancy, it eases the course of toxicosis.

Not only the fruits and leaves have medicinal properties, even the unabi root has benefits, for example, it is used to accelerate hair growth in young children. And adults use the roots to combat curls.

Just as a decoction based on the fruits of Chinese jujube is used, it can also be taken for dizziness and whooping cough.

Unabi contraindications - harm

Despite the fact that unabi fruits are rich in many medicinal properties, they have some contraindications.

For example, people suffering from low blood pressure should not indulge in unabi fruits. Because they have the property of reducing it.

Pregnant women should not take medications based on the seeds of this plant.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the intake of jujube fruits, otherwise there is a possibility of allergic reactions and hypervitaminosis.

How to use unabi, quantity

The most famous medicinal property unabi is his ability. Due to this, doctors recommend it for use by hypertensive patients, but be sure to take the fruits in a course and following the doctor’s instructions.

Basically, for hypertension, patients are prescribed a decoction of jujube fruits or dried fruits of this plant, in the amount of 7-8 pieces three times a day. If you take them in smaller quantities, the effect will be less pronounced.

As a general tonic, unabi is useful to take 10 pieces twice a day. Such strengthening of the body should be carried out twice a year, for a course of two months.

The seeds of the unabi tree also have healing properties, which have a slight sedative effect on the nervous system. Therefore, they are recommended for use for various types of nervous disorders.

What other benefits of unabi - jujube

To prepare an infusion of jujube leaves, you need to take three pinches of crushed, dry leaves, put them in a convenient container and pour 250 ml boiled water. Infuse and drink a couple of dessert spoons in the morning and evening.

The fruits of this tree should ideally be eaten fresh, since dried or dried fruit significantly increases the amount of carbohydrates. Which has a bad effect on a person’s blood sugar levels.

For those who simply love unabi and have a good attitude towards milk, you can combine the two useful product. It is very useful to do this for breakfast. Eat 10 jujube fruits with warm milk. This will help you gain energy for the whole day and a good mood.

What is the difference between dates and unabi?

Unabi, also known as Chinese date, also known as jujube and jujube, can grow not only as a tree, but also as a bush. Jujube fruits are oblong, sometimes spherical in shape. The size of the unabi fruit can reach the size chicken egg. The seed, which is located inside the fruit, does not have as strong a shell as the seeds of many other fruits.

The ordinary date, which everyone is used to seeing on supermarket shelves, is very similar in taste to the Chinese date. The main difference between them is in the bone. In unabi fruits, the stone is more fragile and has slightly sharp edges. In the common date it is more rounded and durable.

Unabi - how to grow from a seed

When purchasing unabi fruits, many people wonder whether it is possible to germinate this plant at home. Yes, it is possible, but you need to put a lot of effort, time and, of course, patience into it.

If the fruits were purchased in winter, you need to remove the seeds and store them in a dry, dark place, preferably the temperature is not lower than 10 degrees. They should lie for about a month, this process is called stratification. Some plants need up to six months; jujube needs a month.

But, before putting the bones into storage, they need to be soaked in water for one hour, the water temperature should be 30 degrees. Over the next few days, you need to wash the seeds so that they do not become covered with mold, which loves wet pulp so much (it can remain on the seeds if not cleaned sufficiently).

The best time to plant unabi seeds is when the corn begins to sprout. Most often this happens in the first half of May. To sow seeds, you need to make a small oblong depression in the ground, and place 2 seeds in this hole at a distance of approximately 15-20 cm from each other.

After the seeds are laid, you need to lightly sprinkle them with earth and mark the beginning and end of the row with sticks. The main conditions for successful germination of unabi fruits are a well-lit place by the sun. If the sun shines well on this area in the morning and lunchtime, this can guarantee that the sprouted seeds will grow and, in the future, become full-fledged fruitful shrubs or trees.