Feijoa is a slightly unusual fruit for us with a specific taste, although it is becoming increasingly popular among lovers of exotic. But where does feijoa grow, is it an interesting plant of the Mirtov family? Despite the fact that it is quite hardy and tolerates drought, it still prefers a mild subtropical climate. Brazil, where feijoa grows, is the country where the centennial history of the cultivation of an exotic fruit began. And the name was given in honor of the famous breeder Joanie de Silva Feijo.
Where feijoa grows
Let's deal with this issue in detail. Where does feijoa grow today, besides its original homeland? First of all, it is Paraguay, Uruguay, Northern Argentina, the warm countries of the Mediterranean, where it was introduced at the beginning of the 20th century. A little later they learned about the plant in Central Asia and the Caucasus, whose climate made it possible to grow this very healthy fruit. By the way, initially because of its unique beauty during flowering, a tree was planted for decorative purposes, decorating its houses and plots. Lilac-red flowers with an original crest look amazing and impressive. It was only later that strange-tasting fruits began to be consumed, used in medicine and cosmetology.
Where feijoa grows, the photo of which gives a visual representation of it, it is traditionally accepted to eat fruit in its raw form. But many people have learned to cook all kinds of jams, fruit salads and nutritious drinks from it, and the amazing fruit gives them a delicate aroma and a special taste.
Benefits of Feijoa
For those who have not heard anything about feijoa, where it grows, how to eat it, what properties it has, first of all, we will talk about the benefits of the fruits of this tropical tree. The main thing is an incredible, rich composition, which includes a huge amount of coarse fiber, vitamin C, malic acid, sucrose, pectin. Interestingly, their content increases with progression as the fruit ripens.
In those countries where feijoa grows, it has long been known that it contains unique biologically active antioxidants - Kakhetins and leukoanthocyanins that help the human body fight cancer and prevent aging. This is especially true for fruit peels, although a significant astringency can be called too astringent taste, because of which most people clear feijoa before use. And so the benefits of green berries are unimaginably many!
For those places where feijoa grows, it has become a true find, as it is recognized as an excellent healing fruit. In particular, official medicine strongly recommends eating ripe fruits in the treatment of iodine deficiency, atherosclerosis, gastritis and other diseases of the stomach and intestines. If prevention from the usual seasonal colds and acute viral diseases is required, then feijoa will help to quickly strengthen the body's immunity. Another very important property is the absence of allergic reactions to the plant. That is why almost everyone can safely enjoy healthy fruit. We will talk about small exceptions a bit later.
Feijoa in cosmetology
Miraculous fruit is also available to residents of the entire Russian Federation. For those who are interested in feijoa where it grows in Russia, we will tell you that dense, strong bright green fruits are considered, among other things, as a unique means to maintain beauty. After all, their core and vitamin juice restore skin turgor, tone and relieve skin inflammation. Feijoa noticeably corrects such cosmetic flaws as rosacea.
It is useful to use a delicious fragrant fruit for the preparation of cleansing and nourishing masks that are indicated at any age and for any skin type. This makes the plant a one-of-a-kind, natural product.
We offer a wonderful recipe especially for those who want to rejuvenate their skin with an anti-aging mask: 2 tablespoons of feijoa pulp mixed with a teaspoon of almond oil and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal soaked in chamomile broth. Apply to skin and rinse off after 20 minutes. If you use this tool twice a week, after a month an amazing effect will be noticeable!
Harm feijoa
It is not surprising that feijoa is not as harmless as it seems. The obvious fact that the feijoa fruit (where it grows is already known about this) has some contraindications - individual intolerance to the components, diabetes mellitus and obesity. The last two points are due to the high content of rapidly assimilated sugars in the berries.
So the measure is needed in everything. Fans of these exotic fruits should remember that with an increased function of the thyroid gland, too much feijoa rich in iodine should not be consumed. And the rest, you can delight yourself with cocktails and salads prepared from these vitamin fruits, add them to original sauces, eat in kind, as they say, to your health!
Calorie Feijoa
As far as energy value is concerned, there are only about 50 kilocalories per 100 grams of green product, which makes up 3% of the daily norm and 26% of carbohydrates. Light vegetable fats and proteins are contained in equal proportions, but water - 60%. That is why a unique feijoa of its kind is considered a true dietary fruit.
Useful, aromatic and tasty will be sauces from it in combination with meat or fish. By the way, you can also eat fleshy sweet petals of the plant, which serve as an excellent piquant supplement in fruit and vegetable salads.
Where feijoa grows in Russia
Those who are just getting to know the exotic guest of feijoa, where this wonderful fruit grows in Russia and in what form it can be eaten, will be interested. In our climate, he also took root well: in the Krasnodar Territory, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. But this is not all places. There are other republics where feijoa grows - in Abkhazia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Adapting to somewhat unusual conditions, the plant bears fruit on our lands. It is very convenient that the fruits ripen in November, December and January, because it was at this time that we used to replenish the body with vitamins to strengthen immunity and prevent colds.
You can make a very fragrant and nutritious jam from fresh feijoa berries by wiping them through a grater along with the peel and adding sugar to taste. Citrus lovers can enrich such a fruit dish with orange, lemon or lime. Jam is stored in a cold place for a long time, and in Abkhazia on hot days a tonic cool drink is prepared from it, just diluted with water.
Feijoa in Ukraine
And where does feijoa grow in Ukraine? In the Crimea (though now Russia is already) this fruit is very popular and not only because it is a dietary product, but, first of all, because of iodine deficiency in water. The peninsula, according to statistics, surpasses other regions for thyroid diseases, therefore, official medicine recommends that you try a subtropical gift in the form of feijoa fruits and include it in your usual diet.
How to grow feijoa at home
A miniature feijoa tree can be grown at home in a large flower pot, and in just four to five years it will certainly begin to bear fruit. Although the fruits on it will most likely be small, but when asked by friends about feijoa: “Where does this rare species grow?”, You will proudly answer: “At my place!”
The pot can be wooden, plastic or ceramic. The plant has enough room temperature, and you need to take it outside only in the summer to please with fresh air and warm sunshine. If the pot is on the windowsill, in winter you need to make sure that the leaves do not touch the glass, otherwise cold burns will occur. The photophilous tree should not be placed in a dark place. In general, it is very unpretentious.
How to plant feijoa
Can I plant feijoa on my own? Where does this marvelous fruit grow in Russia? Here are some tips for budding gardeners. It should be planted with a shank, first pouring a claydite layer into the pot, then sand (not thicker than three centimeters), and then special soil. The transplanted tree is slightly moisturized. First-year, as a rule, are not branched, but their leaves are very fragile. For the growth of lateral shoots, the apex below three leaves is attached. The fruit tree can be propagated by seeds, from roots or cuttings.
Feijoa seeds are taken from a ripe fruit, and dried before sowing for 5 days. Optimal to do this at the beginning of winter. The best option is to sow in a light mixture of peat, foliage and sand in a ratio of 2/2/1, although the usual planting soil is also suitable. Seeds are deepened half a centimeter into the mixture, instilled and covered with a film or glass on top. The main thing is regular watering. When seedlings appear, the film is removed.
Subtropical feijoa loves good regular watering and periodic spraying, with the exception of winter time, when it does not require frequent hydration. During the vegetative period, top dressing is needed, for example, by fermenting manure, alternating it with diluted mineral fertilizers. Then in your house will grow a strong and well-bearing tree for the benefit of your health. In winter, you can do without additional food.
Thus, anyone who wants to have a tropical tree grown with their own hands at home with delicious vitamin fruits can easily do this. With a little patience, and after four to five years, you will be proud to treat your loved ones with healthy fruit juices and feijoa desserts, enjoying an unusual exotic taste and bright flowers on the bush.