Jujube / Chinese Date (Ziziphus jujuba) LI

Jujube (Chinese Date) - Variety 'Li'

'Li' is one of the most popular and widely grown traditional jujube varieties worldwide. It has won the hearts of growers primarily due to the exceptional quality of its fruits, which shock with their crunchiness and juiciness when fresh. It is a "tree of two faces," offering two completely different culinary experiences depending on the harvest time.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) 'Li'

Due to its extraordinary adaptability, stable yields, and undemanding nature, the 'Li' variety is a safe bet for any modern productive garden.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Top quality for direct fresh consumption (extremely crunchy and juicy flesh reminiscent of an apple).
• Dual use (excellent fresh as well as dried).
• Large fruits (approx. 25 g).
• Very late bud break (perfect protection against spring frosts).
• High tolerance to drought, diseases, and pests (low maintenance, organic cultivation).
• Early onset of fruiting (already in the 2nd year) and regular, high yields.
• Partially self-fertile.

Origin and Breeding

• Origin: China. It is a traditional Chinese selection originating from the prestigious Taigu region in Shanxi province (Shānxī).

Detailed variety description: Tree and Pollination

• Vigor: Strong. At maturity, it forms a spreading tree about 3 to 4 meters high with a crown width of 3 meters.
• Habit: Features elegant, glossy leaves. Shoots are moderately thorny.
• Blooming and bud break (Protective mechanism): Features a specific spring biorhythm – breaks buds exceptionally late, from late April to early May. This natural protective mechanism guarantees that the tree reliably avoids damage from late spring frosts. As soon as the soil warms up, the tree quickly buds out and surprises with vigorous growth. Blooms gradually and for a long time – from June through August.
• Pollination: The variety is partially self-fertile (yields reliably even as a solitary plant). However, to achieve high and balanced yields, a combination with another jujube variety for cross-pollination is recommended. Insects play a significant role in pollen transfer.

Fruits

• Size and weight: Medium to large drupes. Average weight is around 25 g.
• Shape: Oval.
• Color and skin: The skin is thin and glossy. During ripening, it colors from green-yellow to deep mahogany.
• Flesh: Greenish to creamy white. Contains one narrow spindle-shaped pit.
• Taste and texture (Tree of two faces): The 'Li' variety is unique in that you can harvest its fruits in two completely different phases:
  • Phase 1 (Fresh consumption): In the green-yellow coloring stage (with slight browning), the flesh is unbelievably crunchy, very juicy, and refreshing, with a texture reminiscent of the best fresh apple.
  • Phase 2 (Drying): If you leave the fruits on the tree until complete browning and slight wrinkling, they transform into soft and sweet "natural candies" with an excellent, delicate sweet taste.

Cultivation properties and characteristics

• Phenology:
  • Ripening: Fruits ripen gradually from September to October.
  • Yield: Regular and reliable with high yields. The tree enters fruiting very early, often already in the 2nd year after planting.
  • Harvest and shelf life: Fruits can dry naturally on the tree and reach a consistency suitable for long-term storage.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Frost resistance: Mature trees with well-ripened wood withstand frost without damage down to -23 °C. Note: Young plants should be protected with mulch during their first winters and planted in as warm a place as possible in colder areas.
  • Drought resistance: Once successfully established, it is extremely drought tolerant and generally prospers with minimal care.
  • Diseases and pests: Thanks to high natural resistance to fungal diseases and pests, it is ideal for clean organic (BIO) cultivation without chemicals.

Drawbacks of the variety:

• Shoots are moderately thorny (requires caution during harvesting and maintenance).
• Frost resistance (down to -23 °C) is slightly lower compared to varieties like 'Lang' or 'Chun' (down to -25 °C to -28 °C); young plants require winter protection.
• Gradual fruit ripening (requires harvesting in multiple waves).