Citrus
Cultivation of citrus is the leading branch of agriculture in a number of regions of the globe. Their fruits are distinguished by high nutritional, therapeutic and dietary properties. They serve as raw materials for obtaining remarkable juices, compotes, candied fruits and jams, valuable essential oils and various essences widely used in the food, confectionery, medical and perfumery industries. The majority of citrus fruits are evergreens, which play a significant role in the ecology, help clean air from dust and dirt. Citrus plants of a number of countries of the world are widely cultivated as ornamental plants. They are especially appreciated in indoor culture, in winter gardens, greenhouses, offices.
Citrus fruits are rich in sugars, vitamins( C, P, B1, B2, PP) and provitamins A, E. Citrus fruits significantly exceed the fruits of other cultures in the content of vitamin C.Flowers and leaves of citrus fruits contain valuable essential oils.
All cultivated citrus fruits belong to 3 genera - citrus, fortunella and pontsirus. For indoor gardening the most suitable are: mandarin orange, lemon, grapefruit, citron, sheddok( genus citrus) and kinkan( genus fortunella).Kinkan plants are devoid of spines, the fruits are small, very beautiful, orange, a pleasant sweet taste. These plants can be purchased at flower shops.
The history of the appearance of citrus fruits in Russia is interesting. The Russian boyars imported them from the subtropical and tropical regions in the 15th century and grew in greenhouses.
In 1714 Count Menshikov built a special palace with a lot of orange greenhouses near St. Petersburg and named it Oranienbaum( Orange tree).More than 100 years ago, lemons spread in the village of Pavlovo on the Oka River( near Nizhny Novgorod), in Maikop( Adygea).Experts and now they are known, as the Kursk, Pavlovsk and Maikop room lemons. Most citrus plants with appropriate care can be grown in room conditions. They differ in plasticity and relatively easily adapt to the unfavorable conditions of the premises, characterized by dry air, insufficient illumination, limited soil. Therefore, the cultivation of citrus plants in the room primarily requires their proper placement.
Citrus fruits require bright sunny rooms. When arranging plants in rooms, it is necessary to take into account that the windows facing north and north-west pass light much less than the south and south-east. Southern windows also receive much more heat, which is very important for citrus fruits.
Long-term experience of indoor gardening has shown that citrus plants in the cream case can not be kept in drafts, put near heating systems. Often the main reason for the shedding of leaves and buds in lemons is excessive dryness of air. Very useful for all citrus, especially in winter, sprayed with warm water.
In spring, with the onset of warm days, citrus plants are best placed on the air, in the garden, on the balcony, and if it is not, then in special boxes, reinforced in front of the windows. In these boxes between citrus plants, you can plant curly flowers that are a decoration not only of the window, but also of the facade of the house.