El Paraguayan, whose scientific name is Prunus persica var. platycarp, is a fruit tree native to China. It is a plant that is not only very decorative due to its beautiful pink flowers, but is also very hardy, withstanding the cold much better than other fruit trees. To delve deeper into the characteristics of the prunus cerasifera, which shares some similarities, you can check this link.
Discover how should you take care of it so that it gives you an excellent amount of fruit.
Origin and characteristics of Paraguayan
The Paraguayan is a variety of the peach, originating from a natural mutation of the peach that arose in China. Grows to a height of approximately 6 meters, with smooth bark. Its leaves are simple, lanceolate, up to 15 cm long and up to 3,5 cm wide, and deciduous. The flowers are usually solitary, pink to red in color, and up to 3,5 cm in diameter. The fruit is a large drupe with a fleshy mesocarp and a pitted endocarp containing the seed. To expand your knowledge of peach, we invite you to visit this link.
There are varieties of white pulp with or without streaks, with green or reddish streaks, and yellow pulp, and even with the seed detached.
How is the cultivation of the Paraguayan?
Now that we know what it is like, let's see what it takes to grow:
Location
It is a plant that needs to be outside in full sun. Its roots are not invasive, so that it can be grown close to the house without problems as long as it is planted about 3 meters from the wall. In this way, it will be able to grow and develop well.
Irrigation
Must be frecuente, from 3 to 4 times a week in summer, and from 2 to 3 / week the rest of the year. It is important to bear in mind that it is easier to recover a dry plant than one that has suffered from excess water; so when in doubt, check the moisture of the soil. In addition, if there is a forecast of rains, the irrigations should be more widely spaced.
Earth
- Garden: The soil should be fresh, deep, sandy, with a neutral pH (7). To help you better understand the ideal soil type, you can consult our guide on soil types and preparation.
- Flower potFill it with urban garden substrate or mulch. You can get the first and second for .
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It is highly recommended to fertilize with organic fertilizers, such as manure, guano or earthworm humus (for sale) pouring a 3-5cm layer around the trunk once a month or every month and a half throughout the growing season -spring and summer-. For more information about the platerine culture, we recommend you visit this link.
Planting or transplanting time
The best time to plant it in the garden is mid autumn, before the winter cold arrives, or at the beginning of spring. If you have it in a pot, you'll need to transfer it to a larger one when you see that the roots are coming out of the drainage holes, and/or if it's been in the same pot for a while (more than two years) and you no longer notice any growth.
Pruning
It is usually pruned in the shape of a vase in autumn or late winter. It's a way to get the fruit closer to hand. To improve your pruning techniques, also check out our guide on pruning and flowering of fruit trees. Use appropriate pruning tools, i.e. pruning shears for green and tender branches (no more than 1cm), hand saws for thin branches (1-2cm), and saws for those that are somewhat thicker.
Disinfect them before and after use, for example with a few drops of dishwasher or pharmacy alcohol. This will prevent your Paraguayan from getting sick during or after pruning.
Need for cold-hours
To be able to bear fruit needs to be cold about 400 hours / year. For this reason, its cultivation is recommended only in temperate climates, with winters with frosts and / or snowfalls.
Pests
It can be affected by:
Mites
They are very small insects, about 0,5cm, that are found in the leaves, on which they feedThe most common are those known as red spiders, named for their web-spin. To prevent or treat their presence, we recommend consulting this article on mite control.
San Jose louse
It is a type of limpet mealybug that causes damage to stems, leaves and fruits. It becomes much more active during spring and especially summer. To control it, you can use specific insecticides or clean with pharmacy alcohol.
Aphid
Aphids are tiny insects, less than 0,5cm, green, yellow, or brown in color. They also feed on the sap of the leaves, although they are easy to find in flower buds. To eliminate them, try diatomaceous earth or yellow sticky traps, as explained in this article. article on aphid control.
Diseases
It is quite vulnerable to fungal infection, specifically to the dent (Taphrina deformans), monilia and powdery mildew. So if you see that its fruits are rotting, or that the leaves begin to come out or be deformed, do not hesitate to deal with fungicides.
Rusticity
It is a tree that supports frosts of up to -15ºCTo expand your knowledge of the different varieties or related species, visit our article on .
What uses is given to the Paraguayan?
Image - Wikimedia / Cillas
Ornamental
It is a very decorative and rustic tree, which can be grown both in gardens and in pots. It is interesting as an isolated specimen, in groups or as a hedge. If you want to learn more about the bare root plant care, check out our specialized article.
Culinary
Without a doubt, it is the use that is given the most. The fruits are eaten as a dessert, or as a snackThey can also be chopped and added to fruit salads. To learn more about growing them, you can also visit our article on .
Its nutritional value per 98 grams is as follows:
- Calories: 48kcal
- Fat: 0,18g
- Saturated: 0,012g
- Monounsaturated: 0,048g
- Polyunsaturated: 0,049g
- Carbohydrates: 11,98g
- Sugar: 10,5g
- Fiber: 1,5g
- Proteins: 0,81g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Potassium: 202mg
Does the Paraguayan get fat?
No. It only has 48 calories and 0,18 grams of fat. That's nothing. You have to keep in mind that when people spend an hour walking at a brisk pace, we can expend an average of 100 calories, so 48 are spent in a short time .
