5月25日に届いた皇帝棗の現在。配達された時点で既にとても１年生の苗とは思えないくらい育っていたとはいえ、初年度からこんなに結実するとは思いませんでした。
This is the known variety plant that arrived on 25th May this year (For the sake of convenience, I will refer to it as 'Emperor' which is the name used in Japan. However, I cannot find such a name in any Chinese sites). This plant was sold as 'one-year old', meaning it was grafted last year. Considering that, it has made a remarkable progress with numerous fruits growing already.
As soon as a flower opens, it gets pollinated by a miniscule insect and the young fruit starts growing. The plant already has about 40 young fruits in all but, ultimately, I am going to reduce them to around a dozen.
こちらは7月7日に届いた日本種の苗。鉢増し効果で枝がびっしり生えてきました。届いた当初は枝葉がすかした感じで気に入っていましたが、果樹なので今の密生状態はなお嬉しいです。
This is the plant that arrived on 7th July, a common Japanese jujube plant. After planting it in a large pot, the tree has become very dense in branches.
現在、花が満開中。２階寝室のガラス戸の隣に鉢を置いてありますが、毎朝戸を開けると何とも香しいです。
こちらは7月7日に届いた日本種の苗。鉢増し効果で枝がびっしり生えてきました。届いた当初は枝葉がすかした感じで気に入っていましたが、果樹なので今の密生状態はなお嬉しいです。
This is the plant that arrived on 7th July, a common Japanese jujube plant. After planting it in a large pot, the tree has become very dense in branches.
The tree is in full bloom. The pot is placed outside my bedroom upstairs and, every morning, I can look forward to being met with the sweet scent of the blossoms.
こちらは、苗が到着した当時の開花からの実。幼果がポロポロ落ちて4個だけが残りました。日本種なので小さな実。4個全部がこのサイズでストップしているので、大きさに関しては期待しないほうが良いかも。ただし日本種なのにこの苗は、皇帝同様トゲ無しなのは嬉しいことです。苗がうちに来てからひこばえが3本出てきてどれも50cmくらいに育っていますが、やはりトゲ無しです。トゲ無しのほうが断然、世話しやすい。
猛暑の中での開花は着果にも勢いがあるので、花の後は幼果のクラスターができます。
In this extremely hot weather (daily max. temperature exceeding 35℃), the tree gets clusters of young fruits after flowering.
This young fruit is from the flowers at the time of the plant's delivery. Only 4 young fruits have remained from the initial flowering. Since this tree is just a common jujube, its fruits will not be as large as those of known varieties.
Jujube is said to have been introduced to Japan in ancient times - seeds were discovered among archaeological finds dating back to 6th century. However, we never made any effort to improve the species and the fruits are small.
Luckly, this plant is thornless, which is almost unheard of for a Japanese variety. After I planted it in a large pot, 3 suckers have come out and they are now about 50cm meters tall. They are also thornless. It is so much easier to look after the plant without spikes.
