Sea buckthorn is valued all over the world as a medicinal crop. The leaves and young shoots contain tannins, astragalin, ursulic and oleic acids, phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, leukoanthocyanins, catechins, carotenoids. The tannin, serotonin, and vitamin C contained in the leaves have the greatest positive effect on human health. Sea buckthorn leaves have pronounced antioxidant activity.
Table of contents
1. Pharmacological properties of the culture2. Berry picking time 2.1. In Siberia 2.2. In the Moscow region 2.3. In the middle lane 2.4. In the southern regions3. Recommendations for harvesting
Pharmacological properties of the leaves of the culture
Tea made from sea buckthorn leaves is one of the most effective remedies for atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension and hypotension, pleurisy, pneumonia, dermatitis, and diabetes. Regular consumption of sea buckthorn tea helps normalize digestion, including the prevention and treatment of ulcers, as well as gastritis. Tea made from sea buckthorn leaves changes the condition of the skin and hair for the better, helps eliminate the “oily” effect of hair and its fragility. Mouth rinsing is highly effective during seasonal colds, including flu. The high effectiveness of leaf extracts in the treatment of liver cirrhosis has been scientifically proven (not only by domestic scientists, but also by scientists from the USA).
The broad pharmacological properties of sea buckthorn contributed to an in-depth study of not only the biochemical composition of the leaves, but also the dynamics of their accumulation. Scientists from Voronezh State University have found that the content of extractive substances in the leaves increases as the berries ripen. The highest content of substances was obtained after the berries had fully ripened in late August – early September.
The dynamics of accumulation by phenological phases of plant development are presented in the figure below, where:
- 1 – beginning of June (fruit setting phase);
- 2 – mid-July (phase of single fruit ripening);
- 3 – end of August – beginning of September (phase of mass ripening of fruits).
When to collect sea buckthorn leaves and berries
Sea buckthorn berries are of greater interest, having not only medicinal properties, but also high taste. Sea buckthorn berries are very rich in vitamins, microelements and other valuable biologically active substances. First of all, they are valued for their high content of vitamin C, provitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E (tocopherol), and unsaturated fatty acids.
Sea buckthorn oil is of particular value all over the world, which is used in the treatment of radiation skin lesions, chemical and thermal burns, bedsores, blood diseases and hypertension, peptic ulcers, eczema, diabetes and many other diseases. Moreover, the most biologically active part is sterols. Sea buckthorn oil is used to restore the liver after alcohol poisoning. Sea buckthorn fruits contain, depending on the variety, from 4 to 12% oil.
Note
It is interesting to note that fresh sea buckthorn berries contain 10–12% vitamin E, while oil contains only 0.10–0.14%, which emphasizes the value of consumption.
The accumulation of biologically active substances in sea buckthorn fruits occurs differently. It has been established that the highest content of vitamin C in fruits is on the eve of full ripening of the fruits. At the same time, as the fruits reach full maturity, the content of oil and sugars increases, which gives the fruit a pleasant taste. Therefore, the timing of collection depends on what the objectives are – increased vitamin C content or good taste and increased oil content. For connoisseurs of dessert sea buckthorn, from personal experience I can recommend the Essel variety.
In addition to the dynamics of accumulation of biologically active substances and improvement of taste, the timing of harvest is influenced by the ripening period of the variety, the region of cultivation and the degree of damage caused by the sea buckthorn fly.
Pay attention!
The sea buckthorn fly is the most problematic crop pest. She lays an egg in the fruit as the fruit begins to ripen. As the fruit ripens, the larva inside develops and destroys the fruit from the inside. By the time it is fully ripe, only the skin remains of the fruit. Provided that plants are properly protected from the sea buckthorn fly, late harvest dates are allowed. If it is not possible to carry out qualified plant protection, then harvesting must be carried out almost simultaneously with ripening. Extending the harvest even by a week can deprive you of 80% of the harvest, and a two-week delay can leave you completely without a harvest.
When to collect sea buckthorn in Siberia, depending on your region of residence
In most regions of Siberia, mass ripening of sea buckthorn occurs at the end of August – beginning of September. Early varieties can ripen on August 10–15, late varieties can ripen in early September. Depending on the region, the timing may vary within Siberia.
In the regions of Buryatia, Khakassia, and Tuva with little snow, sea buckthorn is collected at the beginning of winter by shaking frozen berries at a temperature of -15°C onto a cloth. In regions where snow falls early, this method is unacceptable, and collection begins at the moment of ripening – late August – early September.
Sea buckthorn is planted in spring and autumn. The main thing is to choose an open, illuminated area with moisture-absorbing soil. To get a good harvest, both male and female plants are planted. They are easier to distinguish when the buds are closed.
What are the harvesting times for sea buckthorn in the Moscow region?
In the Moscow region, sea buckthorn ripens at different times in August, depending on weather conditions. In colder years, there may be a delay in ripening of late varieties until early September. In the damp climate of the Moscow region, even with proper protection of plants from the sea buckthorn fly, there is a risk of crop loss from the disease endomycosis of fruits.
Externally, the symptoms of the disease are similar to damage caused by sea buckthorn fly. Therefore, in the conditions of the Moscow region, only timely collection as the varieties ripen.
Optimal timing for harvesting sea buckthorn in the middle zone
In the middle zone, there is usually a natural shift in the ripening period one week earlier in comparison with the Moscow region. In this region, the problems of the ripening crop – endomycosis and sea buckthorn fly – remain relevant. The timing of berry picking must be planned simultaneously with the ripening of the berries, which, according to average long-term data, occurs from the end of July to August 20.
When to collect sea buckthorn in the south
In the south of the country, in the conditions of the steppe arid climate, there are corrective factors for the timing of collection. The sea buckthorn fly remains the primary factor. Endomycosis is usually not widespread. Even with the proper level of plant protection from the sea buckthorn fly, crop loss can occur due to the fault of birds. In small groups of plantings, birds can completely destroy the crop within two to three weeks. Therefore, taking into account the earlier ripening dates (July – early August), harvesting should not be delayed.
Important!
The beginning of berry ripening is quite obvious: the berry increases significantly in size, changes color, and acquires a characteristic taste. For greater clarity, you can check the color of the seeds. The acquisition of a glossy brown color of the seeds may indicate proper accumulation of oil and necessary biologically active substances in the fruits. The maximum accumulation of extractives in the leaves also coincides with the complete coloring of the seeds.
Photo by M. Lezin: by the appearance of the berries it’s easy to understand when you can pick sea buckthorn
Useful tips for harvesting sea buckthorn
Harvesting sea buckthorn fruits is the most labor-intensive process. According to the experience of farms, the costs of manual harvesting account for up to 90% of all costs required for planting and maintaining plantations. In 7–8 hours of work, you can collect 8 kg of berries when picking individually. Picking berries from a mature tree with a good harvest on a summer cottage often takes several days. Therefore, there are several approaches to facilitate and speed up this process.
- Auxiliary accessories. First of all, they use devices – various kinds of hooks and an umbrella for catching berries. With hooks you can deftly tear off several berries without causing damage. Hanging an umbrella on a branch allows you to collect crumbling berries. Thanks to the umbrella, both hands can be used when collecting.
- Collection by branches. This approach has both its advantages and significant disadvantages. Among the advantages, it is worth noting high attractiveness and transportability. The ability to use leaves and branches to make tea, because it is during this period that the leaves contain the highest amount of useful substances. Among the disadvantages is irreparable damage to the plant. Most varieties are extremely difficult to tolerate pruning and are practically incapable of restoring the crown. Therefore, cutting out branches with fruits may be advisable only on old plantings that are subject to uprooting.
- Vibration of branches. In the harsh steppe regions of Siberia (Tyva, Khakassia, Transbaikalia), sea buckthorn is often harvested at the beginning of winter. The berry, frozen at -15°C, easily comes off under the influence of vibration of the branches. This method has many disadvantages. Firstly, there is a risk of losing the harvest from the sea buckthorn fly. Secondly, there is a risk that the berries will spoil if there is a thaw in the fall. Thirdly, the fragility of the branches in frosts of -15°C, which causes irreparable damage to the plants. Fourthly, even unbroken branches with injuries often become a source of internal wood infections, which also lead to damage.
- Manual collection. Properly selected varieties can help improve the efficiency of hand picking. Varieties with a long stalk (from 7 mm) increase the harvesting productivity of varieties with a shorter stalk by almost 2–2.5 times. One might assume that large-fruited varieties increase productivity, but this is an illusion. In fact, record holders for large-fruited fruits are often distinguished by wet berry tearing off or are highly prone to cracking – right on the bushes.
Pay attention!
The most typical representative of very large-fruited varieties with a fruit weight of more than 1 g is the Augustine variety. With all its other advantages, it is suitable for growing in close proximity to places where berries are processed. Collecting bursting berries presents a serious challenge. At the same time, the Claudia variety, which is slightly larger than 0.5 g, surpasses Augustine in harvesting productivity. This is a note from personal experience.
- Technique. Farms use berry harvesting machines, which do not always give the expected results. There are different strategies: collection using trunk vibration, pneumatic installations for blowing or sucking berries, reminiscent of the operating principle of a vacuum cleaner, even express-freezing chambers for branches have been tested, and various other approaches.
A reliable approach that significantly speeds up the harvest of sea buckthorn to the level of black currants has not yet been found either in amateur gardening, or in industrial gardening, neither in domestic nor in foreign countries. This is still a very pressing issue.
Good to know
One of the ways to obtain environmentally friendly sea buckthorn products that are not susceptible to the sea buckthorn fly. The sea buckthorn fly primarily causes damage to early ripening varieties. And if female varieties with very different ripening periods are planted on the site, then by sacrificing the early variety of sea buckthorn, you can get an environmentally friendly berry in full biological maturity from the late variety. And in order not to accumulate the number of the pest in the garden, in years with the maximum manifestation of the pest, it is necessary to treat with the most powerful poisons until full ripening, until the larvae emerge from the berries.
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Read also other texts about sea buckthorn:
Useful and bright sea buckthorn: how to plant in the fall
5 ways to propagate sea buckthorn: how to take cuttings and grow seedlings from seeds, layerings and shoots
Sunny berry: 5 tips for planting and caring for sea buckthorn
Sea buckthorn in Siberia: varieties, planting and care
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How do you collect sea buckthorn? Which method do you prefer? Share in the comments!
