What do gooseberries and kiwi have in common? Actinidia are Far Eastern relatives of kiwi. What's inside

This is not some kind of fake from the uadreams-scams-complaints.com/ category. This amazing fruit, whose homeland is China, and received its common name thanks to New Zealand, is today known almost all over the world. Kiwi fruits are plants from the genus Actinidia, can be found on market shelves and in stores in many countries, but choose good fruit you also need to be able to.

• The best fruits are considered to be slightly soft, since their excessive softness indicates overripeness.
• Kiwis that are too hard are not very tasty, but if you bought just such fruits, then wait a little until they become softer.
• Dark spots on the surface of the kiwi are a sign of disease, and if it also smells like wine, then such fruits should not be taken, since this fruit does not have any special strong odor.
• Before buying, carefully examine the fruits from all sides, and if there is a gray-violet or gray coating on them, then this is a sign of rot, also, if when you press on the place of the stalk, liquid is released, put it aside.

How to eat kiwi

Kiwi is eaten fresh, desserts are prepared from it, added to salads, served with meat, and used for filling in pies. Liqueurs and wine are also made from kiwi.

Nutritionists advise eating three kiwis a day, some time before or after meals, or as a snack. If you enjoy kiwi before meals, the benefits will be much greater, since the fiber and organic acids contained in the fruit increase appetite, speed up metabolism and stimulate the secretion of gastric juice. It is advised to eat no more than two fruits at a time, and preferably one, since kiwi sufficiently enriches our body with microelements and vitamins, and excesses do not always bring benefits. That's how he is exotic fruit, like a bird.

Genus Actinidia has about 30 species, common in Central and East Asia. On Far East grows a, acute (A, argutaj, a, kolomikta (A. kolomikta). a. Giraldi (A. giraldiij, a, polygamous (A. polygama). The first two species are common in our areas.

A powerful vine up to 20 m tall with large oval glossy dark green leaves with dark red petioles. In autumn they turn golden yellow. The flowers are white, male flowers are collected in loose inflorescences, female flowers are single or in threes. The berries are dark green, 2–3 cm long, ripen in August–September. They prefer bright places, although they can tolerate slight shading.

Actinidia kolomikta- a liana 8 - 15 m high with long thin shoots and large wrinkled oblong-ovate leaves, which change color during the season: from bronze in spring to purple or brownish in autumn. In June, during flowering, the color on the lower part of the leaf begins to fade and becomes white, and after flowering it changes from white to light pink and crimson-red. The color of the leaves becomes especially bright in male specimens and when the leaves are exposed to sunlight.

White single flowers are very fragrant. Flowering lasts up to 20 days. The berries are green with dark longitudinal stripes, cylindrical in shape, up to 2 cm long. The most winter-hardy species in middle lane Russia. More shade-tolerant than a. acute, but grows somewhat more slowly.

The soil

Well-drained fertile soils with a slightly acidic or acidic reaction are optimal for actinidia. It is important to ensure soil drainage so that there is no stagnation of water in the root zone. On clayey, floating soils, it forms weak growth and may die over time.

Planting and care

Plants are planted in the spring, but in the fall they prepare planting holes measuring 60 x 60 cm and up to 50 cm deep. A 10-centimeter layer of fine crushed stone, gravel or coarse sand is poured onto the bottom. A bucket is brought into the hole

• humus,
• 100 - 200 g
• superphosphate, 1 - 1.5 cups of wood ash

and mixed with fertile soil. Plants are planted at a distance of 2 - 2.5 m from each other, without deepening the root collar when planting. For pollination, one male plant is planted on two female plants on the leeward side. The soil around the plants is cultivated carefully, to a depth of 5 - 10 cm, otherwise the root system, which lies shallow, can be damaged. In the first years, plants must be protected from cats, which eat young leaves and roots. During the summer, in dry weather, the plants are watered, sprayed and mulched. Feeding is carried out annually in three steps: in early spring before the beginning of the growing season, in the summer during flowering and in the fall after harvesting the fruits. For the winter, the planting circle of young plants is covered with a layer of peat or humus.

Reproduction

Actinidia can be easily propagated by seeds, layering and green cuttings. The seed method is used to obtain male plants: when sowing, their share is about 50%. To obtain layering, at the end of May, a strong one-year-old branch is placed in a furrow, pinned at the places where the lateral young shoots arise and covered with soil, after a week the soil is again sprinkled on the shoot. Within 30 - 35 days, roots will form at the base of the sprinkled shoots, and by autumn a well-developed root system will form. In the spring of next year, the cuttings are cut off. Young plants are grown in a specially designated ridge with light, nutritious soil. By the end of the second year, the plants are planted on permanent place, the length of the vine by this time is 120-150 cm. Green cuttings are cut in mid-June, during the period of browning of the bark, leaving two internodes and one leaf. The lower oblique cut is made directly under the kidney, the straight upper one is 5 cm above the kidney. Before planting, the cuttings are kept in a heteroauxin solution (1 tablet per 1 liter of water). They are planted in a previously prepared greenhouse in a mixture of river sand and peat at an angle of 45°, where the temperature is maintained at 25°C and high humidity air. Rooting lasts 20 - 25 days. For the winter, the cuttings are left in a greenhouse, covered with foliage and spruce branches with a layer of 10 - 15 cm. They are planted in a permanent place in the second or third year.

Actinidia berries fragrant, juicy, delicate sweet taste with slight sourness,ripen at the same time. When collected in one go and ripened indoors, they retain all their beneficial properties, taste and aroma. Two ripe berries are enough to satisfy daily requirement humans in vitamin C, which is also preserved in processed products thanks to antioxidant substances.

• Varieties early date ripening: (end of July) - ‘Grape’, ‘Abundant’, ‘Queen of the Garden’, ‘Stranger’, ‘Pretty’, ‘Homestead’, ‘Fantasy of Gardens’.
• Middle (August) - ‘Waffle’, ‘Gourmand’, ‘Marmeladka’, ‘Monetka’, ‘Narodnaya’, ‘Festive’, ‘Early Dawn’, ‘Slastena’, ‘Soroka’, ‘University’.
• Late (early September) - Apricot, ‘Primorskaya’.

Pollinator variety - "Commander".

Chinese actinidia (A. chinensis), as the name suggests, it comes from China. From there she was taken to New Zealand, where the first large-scale plantations of this crop were created. Long scientific name plants by local exporters was replaced by a short and sonorous - kiwi(by the resemblance of the fruit to the living emblem of the kiwi bird, covered with hair-like feathers).

From actinidia You can make jam without adding water. To do this, you need to cover 1 kg of berries with 2 kg of sand, keep them in a cool place for 2-4 days (until the juice is released) and cook over low heat in one go.

Support

Day of support, after 3 m, pillars are dug in, between which wire is pulled: the first - at a distance of 30 cm from the ground, the next 3-4 rows - at intervals of 50-60 cm. If the trellis is installed near the walls of the house, it is better to place it on the western, north -eastern and northwestern sides Can be used as a support for arches and gazebos.

Shaping on a trellis

The crown begins to form in the fall in the first year of planting. Select the two strongest shoots and send them to opposite sides, tied to the wire, the rest are removed. The shoots that grow over the summer are tied vertically. When the growth reaches the top wire, the tops are shortened, stimulating the formation of side shoots. The most productive are the side shoots that grow directly on the main ones. Every 3-4 years, it is recommended to replace the main shoots with new ones.

What fruit is another name for Chinese gooseberry? We all know him. This is a green and slightly shaggy kiwi fruit. A quarter of a century ago, many soviet people We didn’t even know about the existence of such a fruit. Now store shelves are littered with them. But how many people know about beneficial properties kiwi? Or thinking about it possible harm? How should you eat kiwi correctly - with or without its shaggy skin, scooping out the pulp with a spoon? We will talk about all this in our article. If you ask, “Where does kiwi come from?” most people will say, “New Zealand.” This is both true and false. The fact is that the fruit itself (or rather, the ancestor of the kiwi we know) grows wild in China. It was brought to New Zealand only at the beginning of the twentieth century. It took about seventy years of painstaking work by breeders to grow this fruit with the taste of pineapple, gooseberry, strawberry and banana from an inedible plant. And to honor the work of scientists who gave humanity New Product, it was decided to name it kiwi - in honor flightless bird, which lives only in New Zealand and is its national symbol.

Contribution of amateur gardeners

Alexander Ellison did not even suspect that he was destined to become the “father” of the kiwi fruit. At the very beginning of the twentieth century, this orderly, originally from New Zealand, traveled to China. And there he noticed a mihutao vine, which in the spring was covered with stunningly beautiful white flowers. Alexander Ellison's hobby was gardening. He asked his Chinese friend to send him seeds of this ornamental vine to New Zealand. It was the mihutao flowers that interested the amateur gardener, since the berries, which resembled gooseberries in appearance, were tasteless and hard. When the vine seeds arrived, Ellison eagerly began cultivating them. Numerous fertilizers, grafting and pruning gave an unexpected result: the Chinese gooseberry not only began to grow fifteen to twenty centimeters per day, but also produced a bountiful harvest of large and very tasty berries every two days.

How did the world know about kiwi?

Alexander Ellison had the talent of a breeder, but, alas, he did not have any entrepreneurial spirit. For about a quarter of a century, only his family and friends knew about the delicious fruits of the cultivated mihutao vine. And perhaps the world would never have known what Chinese gooseberries were if not for the global crisis that erupted in the thirties of the twentieth century. At that time, many people were losing their jobs as businesses were closing. Among them was New Zealand port employee James McLoughlin. Having lost his job, he went to his relative’s farm and decided to try his hand at a new business, namely growing and selling citrus fruits. But lemons were not in demand due to the same crisis. And it was difficult to grow them. And then James McLoughlin heard that his neighboring farmers were harvesting unprecedented fruits every two days, the taste of which was reminiscent of watermelon, pineapple and strawberries at the same time. He bought vine sprouts and began growing fruit for sale. The exotic fruit was selling out. McLoughlin's plantation soon grew to thirty acres. And following his example, other farmers from New Zealand began cultivating vines. We also became interested in the Mihutao liana in its homeland. Chinese breeders are trying to grow a fruit with red flesh.

What substances does kiwi (fruit) contain?

Vitamins B1 and B2, E and PP - this is not a complete list useful substances, which are part of Chinese gooseberries. There is as much carotene in kiwi as in carrots. But most of all, this “plush” fruit contains vitamin C. Just one medium-sized fruit contains 1.5 daily value. In addition to vitamins, Chinese gooseberries are also rich in valuable minerals. This includes phosphorus, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Kiwi is especially rich in potassium. A medium-sized Chinese gooseberry contains 120 milligrams of this beneficial mineral. IN Lately Scientists have discovered vines and enzymes in the fruit that help the body burn fat and strengthen collagen fibers.

This furry fruit is a real vitamin bomb. Its benefits can hardly be overestimated. Vitamin C will strengthen your immunity before viral diseases. Carotene has a beneficial effect on visual acuity. Potassium, which is large quantities found in Chinese gooseberries, reduces blood pressure, so the fruit should be consumed more often by hypertensive patients. The benefits of kiwi for the body are also expressed in its ability to liquefy cholesterol plaques that block arteries. Norwegian doctors have concluded that if you eat two or three Chinese gooseberries every day for a month, this will reduce the risk of blood clots by twenty percent. This fruit also lowers the level fatty acids in blood. Kiwi is also beneficial for people suffering from illnesses gastrointestinal tract. If you eat one fruit after a hearty meal, you will not suffer from heartburn or belching. This fruit helps dissolve kidney stones. And since it contains almost no sugar, diabetics can eat it without worry.

Help in the fight against extra pounds

Chinese gooseberries contain a lot of fat-burning enzymes, as well as coarse fiber of plant origin. The fruit has a mild laxative effect. A medium-sized kiwi fruit (weighing 60 grams) contains only 30 calories. The fruit does it all an indispensable assistant when fighting overweight. In addition, Chinese gooseberry enzymes strengthen collagen. Therefore, the fruit is used in many diets. The benefits of kiwi for women are invaluable. The fruit normalizes hormonal balance during menopause and also treats gynecological diseases. Kiwi, thanks to its rich vitamin composition, are also used in cosmetology. Particularly popular are curd masks with this fruit, which saturate the skin of the face and neck with the substances necessary to prolong youth. And if you often feast on Chinese gooseberries, gray hair will not soon touch your hair.

Harm of kiwi

Chinese gooseberries are superior to citrus fruits in terms of vitamin C content. For this reason, it is considered an allergenic product. It should not be eaten by people with individual intolerance to lemons, oranges, or watermelons. If you have high stomach acidity or suffer from ulcers, you should also treat Chinese gooseberries with caution. Look for the less common yellow kiwi. It is sweeter and contains less acids. During the period when you are suffering from diarrhea, it is better to avoid eating this fruit, as it has a laxative effect.

How to eat kiwi

Many people believe that only the tender green (or yellow) flesh of the Chinese gooseberry is edible. And when asked how they eat kiwi, they answer: “The same way they eat a soft-boiled egg.” What they mean by this is that you need to cut the fruit in half and scrape out the contents from two cups with a spoon. But kiwi peel is not an eggshell. It contains many useful substances. There are three times more antioxidants that have an anti-cancer effect on the body in the skin of the fruit than in its pulp. Kiwi skin also has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. How to eat kiwi correctly? Using a dull knife or carrot peeler, you first need to “shave” the fruit. Without the hairs to tickle the tongue and palate, the skin of a Chinese gooseberry is as soft as an apple.

What is made from kiwi

We have already mentioned that this fruit is used in cosmetology. But in cooking, kiwi (Chinese gooseberry) also takes pride of place. The fruit goes perfectly with fish, seafood, and poultry. Therefore, green fruit is often used to make salads. Juice and smoothies are made from kiwi. The fruit is canned, compotes and confiture are prepared from it. The sour juice of Chinese gooseberries breaks down meat protein. Therefore, kiwi is used when marinating beef. And the festive rich color of the fruit makes it indispensable for decorating cakes and ice cream.

Just a few years ago we didn’t know anything about kiwi. His not the most attractive appearance at first glance seems too exotic and incomprehensible. And not only us. Forty years ago, at one of the European customs offices, employees were so frightened by “strange brown balls” that they called the bomb squad!

In stores, kiwi was also treated with prejudice at first, but the skepticism quickly passed. It turned out that behind the rough brown skin there was hidden an amazingly tasty, tender and healthy green pulp with small seeds, reminiscent of banana, strawberry, melon and pineapple in taste, and a combination of strawberries and gooseberries for others.

Born in China, raised in New Zealand, the kiwi fruit

Kiwi is a young fruit, it was born only a hundred years ago. At the beginning of the last century, one of the citizens of New Zealand received a parcel from China, which contained a gift - monkey peach seeds (also known as Chinese gooseberries or Chinese actinidia). It was assumed that it would grow exclusively ornamental plant, since in its homeland kiwi was a picturesque vine with small, rather hard fruits.

The recipient of the gift began to improve the plant, and it took about 30 years! From a small fruit of a wild Chinese sea anemone, the visiting bush began to bear berries weighing up to 100 g or more. Also with improved taste.
kiwi beneficial properties

For a long time, kiwi was grown on the fertile New Zealand soil only near houses and in gardens. And if it weren’t for the global industrial crisis of the 1930s, which forced one port clerk to change his occupation and start growing kiwi, it is unknown when we would have become acquainted with this fruit. After all, the fruit is very profitable from an economic point of view: it is unpretentious in growth, produces a bountiful harvest and is stored for several months. This is how the world met the kiwi.

By the way, the name of the fruit was given by New Zealand exporters - in honor of the flightless kiwi bird, which looks like this fruit: the bird is wingless and covered with brown feathers. Well, the harvest in New Zealand - the world supplier of kiwi - is a national event for residents and tourists, ending with folk festivals and colorful fireworks.

Rich Content

The beneficial properties of kiwi are unique: the fruit is very rich in vitamins, especially A, B, C, mineral salts, as well as tannic acid and enzymes that dissolve protein. Just one kiwi a day covers daily norm vitamin C, which is known to strengthen the immune system, blood vessels, and increases the body's resistance to various infections.

In addition, kiwi contains a lot of magnesium, mineral salts(primarily potassium) and fiber, which helps remove cholesterol from the body and normalizes digestion. And the combination of magnesium and vitamin C supports heart function. Magnesium, in addition, regulates cellular metabolism and contributes to the body's resistance to stress.
kiwi healthy fruit

The beneficial properties of kiwi allow you to burn harmful fats in the body, which relieves blood vessels from blood clots and prolongs our life. Thus, Norwegians advise eating two or three kiwi fruits daily, and the effect of such a diet becomes evident within a month: during this period, the risk of blood clots decreases and the level of harmful fatty acids in the blood decreases.

Recent studies of kiwi have shown that this fruit has antitumor, antioxidant effects, and also improves physical performance. In some countries it is used as a stimulant and restorative for professional athletes.

Well, it should be noted that kiwi is useful not only as food, it is also very good when used externally. This fruit cleanses our skin and saturates it with vitamins.

The actinidia plant is a perennial liana-like shrub that belongs to the Actinidia family, genus Actinidia. An excellent extraordinary purchase for yours!

Of the more than 30 species of this genus, three are found growing wild: kolomikta, arguta, polygamous. The first of them has higher winter hardiness than the others, and therefore is of undoubted interest for amateur gardeners.

Actinidia kolomikta is famous for its juicy, aromatic berries yellow color. The length of the fruits of different varieties ranges from 1.5 to 4 cm, weight - from 2 to 5 g. The berries are rich in vitamin C, taste sweet with a slight acidity and a subtle aroma of pineapple. They ripen at different times and fall off as they ripen. From fresh berries of the actinidia plant you can make excellent juices, jams, candied fruits, raisins, and sultanas. The use of actinidia plant berries is widely known in the field of traditional medicine, for example, for bleeding, tuberculosis and as an anthelmintic. Actinidia berries are also known to be used in dentistry.

All about actinidia

The actinidia kolomikta plant grows better and bears fruit more abundantly on well-fertilized, moderately moist loamy or sandy loam soils.

Its root system is fibrous, highly branched, and located superficially. Only individual roots penetrate to a depth of 50-60 cm. Plants are difficult to tolerate drought, flooding, close groundwater, and grow poorly in waterlogged areas.

The stems of the bush branch strongly, the shoots curl around the support counterclockwise, and in the absence of support they spread along the ground, which negatively affects the yield of berries. The bark of perennial trunks is dark brown, and that of young shoots is brown and shiny with yellow-orange convex lenticels in the form of dots. The core of the shoots is yellowish.

The buds of actinidia kolomikta are closed, hidden in the middle of the roller, which is formed in the axil of the leaf. Thus, it is protected from the effects of winter weather. weather conditions. The bud cone begins to appear from the opening of the roller with the onset of spring. The leaves are leathery, finely serrated along the edges, without stipules.

In summer, some leaves turn half or completely white or white-pink. Actinidia kolomikta is a dioecious plant, that is, only male flowers are formed on some bushes, and female flowers on others.