By goodadmin | September 15, 2007
by steve stamos
The Common Hazelnut tree Corylus avellana is a species of hazel native to Europe and Asia. It is usually a shrub reaching 3-8 m tall, but could reach 15 m. The leaves are rounded, 6-12 cm long, deciduous and hairy on both sides. The hazelnut tree is originated along the Black Sea around Turkey through the Mediterranean region.
The blossoms are produced very early on in spring, earlier than the leaves. The male flowers are pale yellow up to 12 cm long showy catkins, the female very small and mostly hidden in the buds, with just the red 1-3 mm long styles visible. The fruit
of the hazelnut tree is a nut, developed in bunches of one to five, with each held in a short leafy husk which envelops about 75% of the nut. The nut is more or less spherical to ovoid, up to 2.5 cm long and2 cm wide, brown with a light mark at the base.
The nuts fall out of the husk when mature, approximately 7-8 months from pollination. Corylus avellana It is readily distinguished from the closely related Filbert Corylus maxima by the shortish husk; in the Filbert the nuts are fully enclosed. The name “hazelnut” applies to the nuts of any of the species of the genus Corylus. There are numerous cultivars of the Hazel. The bulk of commercial Hazelnut is raised as graft onto stock of the Turkish Hazel Corylus colurna.
Common hazelnut tree is cultivated for its nuts in commercial plantations. The kernel is edible and utilized raw, roasted or ground into a paste. The Hazelnut is extensively utilized in confection and also in combination with chocolate. Hazelnuts are popular as a coffee flavoring, particularly in the form of Hazelnut café latte. Vodka-based Hazelnut liqueurs, such as Frangelico, are as well growing in popularity.
Hazelnuts are harvested annually when autumn comes to a close at which time the trees drop the nuts and foliages. Hazelnuts are rich in protein and polyunsaturated fat. Furthermore, they contain important amounts of vitamin B1 and vitamin B6.
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By goodadmin | September 9, 2007
by steve stamos
The Plum tree belongs to the genus Prunus of the family Rosaceae. Frequently grown as a shrub but can be grown as a tree but rarely more than 10 m high. The Plum tree is by nature small and bears heavily with comparatively little attention.
The common European plum tree is classified as Prunus domestica, the Japanese plum as Prunus salicina, and the Damson plum as Prunus insititia. European plum trees incline to be upright with attractive deep green foliage and suited to both warm and cool climates. The Japanese plums, most likely originating in China, is a vigorous tree and unlike the European plum need another Japanese plum tree to pollinate it . The tree produces 5 to 10 cm long leaves and white and fragrant flowers in early spring.
The common European plum, the most important species, has been cultivated since ancient times and in all likelihood originated near the Caspian Sea. Yields of varieties of this species range in color from yellow or blood-red to green, but purplish-blue is most common.
Plums can grow red, green, yellow-gold, purple, or blue plum fruits, varied in size from large to small and in taste from sour to sweet. Dried plums, or prunes, are made from the varieties that are most plentiful in sugar and solids. The Damson plum-a small, ovate, sweet fruit employed mostly in jams-was first cultivated in ancient times in the area of Damascus.
The Cherry plum tree or Myrobalan - Prunus cerasifera, syn. P. divaricata, is a native species of to central and Eastern Europe and central Asia. This is a very popular decorative tree in gardens. The fruit can be consumed fresh in some forms, being sweet with a fine flavor, while others are sour, but first-class for jam making.
Plums are popular consumed fresh but also are popular for jam making and bottling or canning, but the sweeter varieties are among the most delicious dessert fruits.
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By goodadmin | September 2, 2007
by steve stamos
The pistachio nut tree, Pistacia vera L., Anacardiaceae, is a wide-spreading, bushy, broad-leafed tree which grows slowly to a height and spread out of up to 10 meters with one or many trunks. It is native to highland regions of Iran, Turkmenistan and western Afghanistan. It has pinnate grayish foliage with 3 to 5 roundish, 5 to 14 cm long leaflets and small, brownish-green flowers without petals. Its open habit and beautiful foliage make the pistachio tree a worthful ornamental. The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed with a hard, whitish shell and a striking kernel which has a mauvish skin, light green flesh and a particular characteristic flavor. The plant is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. Under favorable conditions could survive and produce for centuries.
When the fruit of the pistachio tree matures, the husk changes from green color to a yellow-red and the shells break open partially with an audible pop. The kernels are frequently eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted, and are also utilized in ice cream and confections such as baklava. In July 2003, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) okayed the first qualified health claim particular to nuts lowering the risk of heart disease: “Scientific evidence suggests… that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease”.
It takes close to ten years for the tree to reach significant yields. Production and harvest is heavier in alternate years. Peak production output is reached at approximately 20 years. Pistachio nut trees are usually cut back hard to make the harvest easier. One male tree produces adequate pollen for eight to twelve nut-bearing females.
The Pistachio nut tree is reasonably hardy in the right conditions, and can survive temperature ranges between -10°C in winter to 40°C in summer. The pistachio tree needs a sunny location and well-drained soil. This nut tree does badly in conditions of high humidity, and is susceptible to root rot in winter if it gets too much water and the soil is not free draining. Long hot summers are required for proper maturing of the fruit. The pistachio nut tree does best on soils that are deep, friable and well drained but moist. It can, however, survive in poor, stony, highly alkaline or slightly acid, or even saline soils. The tree has a deeply penetrating root system. Pistachio trees will tolerate considerable drought but do best with deep, infrequent watering. Since the pistachio nut tree grows slowly, it does not require large quantities of fertilizer.
The Pistachio nut tree thrives in areas which have winters cool enough to break bud dormancy and long hot summers. The tree has about the same cold resistance as almonds and olives. Chill requirements are estimated at about 1000 hours. The nuts are harvested when the husk covering the shell becomes loose. The pistachio tree is usually propagated by budding or grafting onto selected seedling stocks. The pistachio nut is considered one of the best edible nuts, along with almonds, macadamias and cashews. Pistachio nuts are highly flammable when stored in big amounts, and are prone to self heating and spontaneous combustion.
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By goodadmin | July 30, 2007
by steve stamos
The kiwifruit or species Actinidia deliciosa is a fruit producing woody vine (not a tree) of the genus Actinidia. Its birth place is China. Kiwifruit plants are dioecious, (male or female), with only the female plant bearing fruits. To be pollenized the female needs close by a male plant. However, one male plant will be sufficient for up to eight female vines. It prefers a well-drained soil rich in organic matter and a pH of 5 - 6.5. A sunny location and some type of trellising system to grow and spread is necessary.
most temperate climates with adequate summer heat. Vines require heavy pruning and fruit is borne on one-year or older canes, but production declines as each cane ages. Canes should be pruned off and replaced after their third year. The plant needs a long growing season of frost-free days. The leaves of the kiwi vine are large, deep green, leathery, oval and 15 to 25 cm in diameter. Young leaves are coated with red hairs, while mature leaves are hairless on the upper surface. The flowering period extends over several weeks. Flowers are large, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, colored cream-white and lightly fragrant.
The most common shape of the fruit is oval, about 5-8 cm long and 4.5-5.5 cm diameter. It has a fibrous, green-brown skin outside and a bright green or golden flesh with ray like rows of small, black, edible seeds, a soft fleshy texture and a resembling that of a mixed fruit salad. A new cultivar Actinidia chinensis or Gold Kiwifruit has yellow flesh it is sweeter, less acidic flavor of tropical fruit salad.
Kiwifruit can be eaten whole, including the skin or cut in half and scoop out the flesh or peeled and sliced. Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C, potassium; slightly less than that of a banana. Also contains vitamins A and E, high level of dietary fiber and antioxidants. It is also rich in the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin which makes raw kiwifruit unsuitable for use in or dairy or desserts containing milk products.
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By goodadmin | July 29, 2007
By steve stamos
The passion fruit is a vine, not a fruit tree, cultivated commercially for its round, aromatic and taste fruit. There are two types, the dark purple passion fruit and the bright yellow kind, also known as the Golden Passion fruit. The purple is subtropical and favors a frost-free climate. Even so, some cultivars can tolerate temperatures as low as of -3C° without much damage. The yellow passion fruit is near-tropical and much more intolerant of frost.
The purple passion fruit is a native from southern Brazil through to northern Argentina, while the yellow is of unidentified origin. Passion fruit is a vigorous and evergreen climbing vine that needs to have a strong support to grow well. Once the vine is established it can grow 5 to 7 meters per year. However, it is generally short-lived (5 to 10 years). The passion fruit prefers a sunny position and a light to heavy sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. However, the vine can grow in many types of soil.
The leaves of passion fruit are alternate, 3-lobed and finely toothed. They can reach up to 20 cm long, with a deep glossy green on top but dull beneath with a tinge with red or purple. Flowers are single, fragrant, up to 3 inches wide. The purple type is self fertile but the yellow is self sterile. The best pollinators are carpenter bees with best pollination under humid conditions. The round or oval fruits, 6 to 9 cm wide, have a tough smooth and waxy rind ranging in color from dark purple, to light yellow.
Both types of vines are usually grown from seeds. Seeds planted soon after removal will germinate in 15 to 20 days. It can also be propagated from cuttings or layers from matured wood with 3 to 5 nodes. In tropical areas the vines are attacked by a host of pests and diseases. Purple type is more susceptible to nematodes, while the yellow passion fruit is a lot more resistant.
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