Uzbek lemon

Lemon is a tropical plant, it loves humidity, water and stuffiness. There is no stuffiness or humidity in Uzbekistan, and water will soon become more expensive than oil. Citrus fruits do not grow in Uzbekistan.
How did it happen that even in a sunny, but arid country, the most fragrant, delicious and fragrant lemons are grown?
More than 50 years ago, Uzbek breeder Zainiddin Fahriddinov bred a lemon variety, which was named Tashkent-1.
Back in 1949, scientists tried to plant lemons in Uzbekistan on the basis of seedlings brought from Georgia. After 10 unsuccessful years, the project was closed, the verdict was signed — growing lemons in the sharply continental climate of Uzbekistan is impossible, and funding stopped.
Only one person, a scientist from the people, Zainiddin Fahriddinov, did not give up. He brought new seedlings from Georgia and worked almost for free for several years.
A black-and-white Soviet archival film of that time preserved the story of academician Zainiddin Fakhriddinov:
“I got up early in the morning, took a whole or half flatbread, put on an old black jacket and worked until late in the evening. In those days, no one considered me. Everyone thought I was doing a useless thing. And so for five years I patiently worked for half of my salary, that is, for 1 ruble 25 kopecks. I dreamed and asked Allah for only one thing – that my work would be crowned with success,” says an academician from the people.
In 1967, a sensation happened — a new variety of lemon “Tashkent” was born.
It was derived by the trench method from the Chinese “Meyer” and “Novogruzinsky” varieties.
Brilliant beautiful lemons the color of the sun brought Zainiddin fame to the whole country, the courtyard of the house was filled with journalists and members of the politburo. And the famous cosmonaut, fellow countryman of Fakhriddinov, Vladimir Dzhanibekov even took Uzbek lemons into space to test their effect on the human body there.
All lemons in Uzbekistan are grown in lemonaria, you will not see, as, for example, in Turkey, trees along roads and gardens on mountain slopes.
Uzbek lemon is a bright orange color, with a thin soft skin, very juicy and fragrant.
When you bring them home, take one lemon and tear off the green pipka from the end. If your household comes running from another room asking what it smells like, then it’s HIM.
Well, if there is no pipka, then someone has already torn it off before you to enjoy aromatherapy.
Uzbek lemon has a divine taste — sour, but very fragrant, not skewing the face into a grimace. Sometimes people peel it and eat it like an orange.
Later, the varieties “Tashkent” and “Jubilee” appeared and today they are grown outside Uzbekistan, for example, in the Crimea.
The only dream that Academician Zainiddin Fahriddinov did not have a chance to realize during his lifetime was to grow lemons in Uzbekistan in the open ground. His son Mukhammadaziz Fahriddinov continued his work and today two experimental trees grow in his yard. Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to see the gardens along the roads.