Honeysuckle berries are one of the earliest, have a pleasant sweet and sour taste, ripen together and delight gardeners with the first delicious harvest. To increase the number of bushes in the garden or upgrade old ones, you can grow new bushes yourself.
Propagation of honeysuckle by cuttings is the easiest way for which special skills are not required. In addition, honeysuckle propagated by division of the bush, branches or seeds.
When and how do propagation by cuttings
For green cuttings, annual strong shoots are cut. You need to cut with a sharp knife or blade, pruning shears and scissors are not suitable, since they deform the place of cut. Then, the cut shoots must be divided into small segments 15 cm long. An important condition is that at least 3-4 pairs of green leaves should remain on each harvested cuttings. Most importantly: the propagation of honeysuckle by cuttings is carried out with the appearance of ripe berries. At this point, shoot growth stops (mid or end of June).
To ensure that the harvested shoots are well rooted, they cut off leaves from them, leaving only one pair at the top of the handle. The lower section is shortened to the first kidney. A stalk prepared in this way is planted in moist soil under a film or in a greenhouse. For rapid growth of the root system, the landing is performed at an angle, deepening by 1.5-2 cm. Before landing in the ground, the lower section can be dipped in a growth stimulator. The soil should be light, able to pass air and water well. To do this, take peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 2. The soil is watered and compacted a little.
Optimal conditions for growing
To speed up the process of root formation, the propagation of honeysuckle by cuttings is carried out in warm weather. In the first days after planting cuttings, the temperature should be at least 25 degrees. For this reason, young seedlings are placed under shelter or in a greenhouse. Watered once a week, in hot weather - every 4-5 days.
If everything is done correctly, then the first roots will appear in 2 weeks. Then the growth of the root system will be very active. By the end of summer, seedlings will already be strong and ready for transplanting to the place of growing. After about two years, you will receive new full-fledged bushes and will be able to update your honeysuckle. Landing in spring in a permanent place is carried out after the snow melts and establish positive night temperatures.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
If the propagation of honeysuckle by cuttings seems too slow, since it takes 3 years to wait for the berries, then you can divide the bush. This will require a young, not too overgrown honeysuckle bush. They dig it out, carefully clean the roots and divide it into several parts. To divide, you need a well-sharpened knife. Sprinkle the sections with ash and plant bushes in the prepared holes. Planting should be carried out in fertile soil. You can add well-rotted humus or compost to the soil. You can not use fresh manure, as there is a high probability of rotting of the roots and death of the bush. All this operation is carried out before the buds open or in the fall. Breeding in the spring is a better option, since the honeysuckle will take root well during the summer and will be ready for further wintering.