In fairy tales, mention is often made of rejuvenating apples. It turns out that rejuvenating fruits are not only in fairy tales: they exist in real life. And they call them honeysuckle. This word consists of two words: "life" and "youth". The biologically active substances that make up the berries make them a healthy dietary product and an elixir of life. Honeysuckle contains the trace element selenium, which is very rare and is called the element of youth.
Shrub description
Honeysuckle is a shrub that grows to 2.5 meters. The plant easily transfers transplant. The frost resistance of honeysuckle is very high. It is able to withstand 50 degrees of frost. Frost tolerant and honeysuckle flowers: tolerate temperatures of -8 0 C. Edible honeysuckle is the most durable berry crop growing in Ukraine. The bush is able to live up to a hundred years. He begins to bear fruit the next year after planting. But it bears fruit best in 7-10 years. Honeysuckle blooms until leaves appear. A month after flowering, the berries are already edible. In the first year, the yield is negligible. Every year it increases and reaches more than 3 kilograms per bush. The fruits of honeysuckle are blue-blue. Their weight is 1-2 grams. The berries ripen not simultaneously, but within two weeks.
Honeysuckle: care and cultivation
Honeysuckle loves light very much. If the plant is planted in the shade, then it will grow poorly and will not produce berries. Loves moisture, but does not tolerate swampy honeysuckle. Care and cultivation do not require much effort. If there is not enough moisture, then the berries will become small, the yield of not only the current but also the next year will decrease, and taste will also deteriorate. Since honeysuckle is a long-liver, it is not recommended to plant plants more often than after one and a half meters. The first few years, you can plant vegetables between the bushes. So that the development of the plant does not slow down, it is impossible to dig seedlings into the soil. Organic fertilizers are added to the planting pits for better development. If a plant is planted in autumn, then it is not pruned. When planting in spring, you need to trim the honeysuckle. Growing and caring almost do not differ from the cultivation of other berry bushes. Only this plant is cut, unlike the rest, 5 years after planting. The first 3-4 years, honeysuckle is growing slowly. Care and growing are required special at this time.
Pests and diseases
Diseases and pests do not affect honeysuckle. Care and cultivation do not require treatment with pesticides. Therefore, honeysuckle berries are characterized by environmental cleanliness.
Care and propagation of honeysuckle
To maintain the variety, honeysuckle is propagated vegetatively. To do this, divide the bush, use horizontal layering, green and lignified cuttings. If the plant is propagated by seeds, then the variety will not be preserved, moreover, sweet varieties will bring bitter berries.
Using honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is used in folk medicine. It improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract, increases appetite, and helps with fever, vitamin deficiency and anemia. Honeysuckle berries are used as food. They are dried, made from them juices, syrups, compotes, jam.