Sea buckthorn ‘Orangevaya’ (Hippophae rhamnoides), with an orange flavor and less acidic than most varieties, contains fewer thorns and ripens early, at the same time as ‘Chuyskaya‘, well before ‘Leikora’. This is your northern citrus fruit, to be eaten fresh and easy to preserve in juice all year round. Exploding with vitamin C, it replaces the ubiquitous lemon in so many recipes, from a simple vinaigrette to meringue pie to seafood.

Further south, this tip is not valid since the fruits ripen too early and winter sets in too late. One of the rare fruit trees to offer juicy yields that are almost exaggerated in poor soil, sea buckthorn is satisfied with nitrogen from the air. The male produces the pollen. The female bears the fruits.

For optimal yields, the male pollen, dispersed by the wind, fertilizes at least 6 females, depending on the planting pattern which must respect a maximum spacing of 30 meters between the male and the most distant female, and possibly on the direction of the prevailing winds. Its vigorous suckering requires some control. The sea buckthorn ‘Orangevaya’ tolerates pollution and salt spray. Nitrogen fixer.

Replaces: lemon, pineapple, citrus fruits… Pairing: fish and seafood, vinaigrettes, spicy tacos, tofu or orange chicken without orange, pineapple ham without pineapple, lemon tart without lemon, choco-mint and sorbet.