Do you know about the existence of a natural elixir of youth? No, our today's article is not about "rejuvenating apples", but about a small, inconspicuous-looking berry - edible honeysuckle. They appreciate it for its high selenium content, which helps to slow down the aging of cells. Today we will tell you about the care and planting of honeysuckle in open ground, share a description of its best varieties and features of cultivation. So, let's start by exploring this interesting berry.
Description
Honeysuckle is a low shrub bearing fruit of dark blue oblong shape. The homeland of this plant are Asian countries. Despite the rather warm climate in the homeland of this plant, edible honeysuckle is incredibly frost-resistant. The shrub is able to survive even at a temperature of -50 ° C, and if during flowering the frost suddenly returns to -8 ° C, the flowers will not freeze and will not fall. In addition, honeysuckle ripens almost the very first of all garden berries. These significant advantages allow many gardeners to choose some sweet varieties of edible honeysuckle. For the Moscow region, the Far East, and even for the northern regions, this berry is a lifesaver in a not very favorable climate - juicy and healthy berries will grow despite prolonged cold weather.
The best varieties of honeysuckle
To date, more than 190 varieties of this interesting berry are known and they all grow in the Himalayan open spaces and in Asia. However, the most popular are not more than ten.
- Honeysuckle "Bakcharsky giant." This variety got its name due to the long berries - about 4 centimeters and the large diameter of the bush (about two meters). The shrub has an oval shape, which during ripening is covered with juicy sweet and sour berries, the weight of each of which sometimes exceeds 2 grams. Particularly enjoyable is the process of collecting the honeysuckle "Bakcharsky giant" - high productivity, large berries and a dense skin that protects them from damage.
- Bogdana is a hybrid variety based on two varieties of honeysuckle. The bush has an average height and slight sprawl crown. The fruits of this variety have an oval shape, sour taste and a pleasant aroma. The ripening period of Bogdan is not the earliest, but the variety is notable for its high yield.
- "Mascot". One of the favorite varieties of experienced gardeners is also hybrid and was bred with the aim of obtaining a rich harvest of delicious berries with dessert aftertaste. A fairly tall, but not lush shrub has a rather large height. The variety has medium-early ripening, and berries are most often used for making jam.
- Honeysuckle is long-fruited. This variety was obtained by natural pollination of honeysuckle from Kamchatka. Spreading and lush bushes have a small height and a rounded shape. Long and thin shoots are covered with elongated berries that have a cylindrical shape. The long-fruited edible honeysuckle ripens one of the very first among all varieties of this berry.
- Honeysuckle "Volkhov" was named after the Volkhov River, flowing in the territory of the Leningrad region. The variety was bred by VIR Vavilov breeders. In general, the bush is not very different from other varieties of honeysuckle. The height of the bush varies from one and a half to two meters. Shaggy shoots are densely covered with dark green foliage. An important feature of the cultivation is the presence of other varieties of this berry next to the bush of Volkhov’s honeysuckle. Otherwise, the bush will not bear fruit - it requires pollination.
- "Nymph" is another variety bred by breeders of the Pavlovsk station. A distinctive feature of the variety is increased frost resistance and an original, delicate taste.
Useful properties of berries
Why is edible honeysuckle so valued, especially during vitamin deficiency after winter? It's all about the amazing composition of this berry. Honeysuckle has an amazing amount of vitamins and minerals, including: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron and others. A high content of vitamin A has a beneficial effect on vision and skin condition, and vitamin B helps to improve memory and brain function. Vitamin C, which in honeysuckle even more than in lemon, perfectly improves immunity and rejuvenates the skin.
A large amount of sodium in berry juice strengthens bones, normalizes blood composition and improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Honeysuckle also contains iodine, which ensures the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. It is good to eat both fresh and frozen berries if you suffer from anemia or atherosclerosis. And honeysuckle in the form of jam is useful for stomach ulcers, gastritis and a tendency to swelling.
However, it is worth remembering that edible honeysuckle berries are able to lower blood pressure, therefore hypotensives should use it in a limited amount. But for hypertensive patients suffering from frequent headaches, honeysuckle is a real find. Its use can reduce the frequency of nosebleeds and pressure surges. And due to the low calorie content (about 30 kcal per 100 grams), this berry can be considered dietary and consumed in obesity. With caution, only honeysuckle jam, which contains a large amount of sugar, is used.
Growing Features
Not sure how to grow honeysuckle in your area? Then the following sections are for you. We will make a reservation right away - the care and planting of honeysuckle in the open ground is a fairly easy process that does not bring much trouble, but has its own nuances. For example, the place for planting this berry should be well-lit, since in the shade the honeysuckle simply will not begin to bear fruit. The soil is better to choose fertile, with neutral acidity and constantly maintain its moderate humidity. Best of all, honeysuckle survives on loamy or sandy loam soil. Shrub protection from strong winds is also important.
To get the crop already in the second or third year after planting, buy bushes, whose age is at least two years. When buying seedlings, pay attention to the condition of the roots and young shoots. The rhizome should be well developed, but the stems - elastic and bendable. To be sure of plant survival, it is better to purchase several different varieties of edible honeysuckle.
Landing
Before planting, it is necessary to conduct a thorough inspection of the root system for dried and damaged roots, which should be removed immediately. It is also important to provide for the longevity of the plant - the holes for planting are dug at a decent distance, given the growth of the bush. In general, the landing can be divided into three stages:
- Well preparation. A layer of compost is laid in the dug holes, after which water is poured.
- Planting seedlings. Straighten all the roots, carefully immerse the seedling in the pit, but not to a great depth, otherwise it will slow down the growth of the plant.
- Watering and mulching. Planting is poured with plenty of water with compost, after which the hole is mulched to protect the bush of edible honeysuckle from intense moisture loss. As mulch, either special material or ordinary newspaper sheets is used.
Watering and feeding
If the soil on your site is not particularly fertile, then it is permissible to add organic top dressing to it. If the soil is too acidic, crushed chalk is introduced into it. Particular attention should be paid to edible honeysuckle in the first years of cultivation. But in terms of watering, the plant is completely unpretentious - it is permissible to water the bush both under the roots and with the green part. Honeysuckle is considered a water-loving plant, so the soil should always be slightly moist. It is worth giving up loosening the earth around the bush - this is fraught with damage to the roots.
Honeysuckle should be fertilized every two weeks from the beginning of the vegetative period. Nitrogen fertilizers such as urea and nitrate are well suited as top dressing. To do this, 30 grams of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water and about a liter of such a solution is added under each plant.
Pruning
Trimming should not be done immediately after planting - this will significantly reduce the volume of the first crop. The first 3-4 years of the growth of edible honeysuckle, it is enough just to remove dried and weak shoots. The processes that have a painful appearance and grow too low, not only interfere with the development of strong, but also spoil the appearance of the bush. Every spring, bushes are sanitized, thinning out the crown a little.
About the crop
The quality and quantity of the crop depends on how carefully you looked after the honeysuckle. Berries ripen around the end of June. Moreover, maturity is determined by the saturation and evenness of the color of the berries. By the way, not all fruits of edible honeysuckle can be eaten - red and orange berries contain poison, but black and dark blue can be safely harvested.
In the process of ripening and harvesting a fairly large number of ripe crops showered. To avoid these losses, lay a film under the shrub with which it will be much easier to collect the fallen berries. Ripe fruits are quite juicy, so they are easily wrinkled and damaged - this should be remembered when collecting and storing the crop.
Seed cultivation
For the propagation of honeysuckle by edible seeds, the largest and ripe berries should be selected. On a blank sheet of paper, place the berries at a distance of about one and a half centimeters and crush them. After the berry juice has completely dried, roll the paper and leave it in the room for several days.
Sown seeds in moist soil, immersing them to a depth of not more than a millimeter. To create a greenhouse effect, the container with the plantings is covered with glass or film and sent to a warm place. Periodic watering and seedling care will give you your result within a month after planting.
Propagation by cuttings
Another method of growing honeysuckle is cuttings. Harvesting cuttings produced in mid-June - in the phase of active development of berries. Cut shoots must be at least 15 centimeters long. The cut sites on the handle are treated with heteroauxin. This drug allows the cuttings to take root much faster and better. Planting cuttings is best done in a greenhouse, covering the planting with film or glass. It is important to maintain high soil and air humidity. Planting of the grafted seedlings of edible honeysuckle is carried out next fall.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
For this method of growing, bushes no older than six years old are used. Older plants may not take root. Digging is carried out long before the appearance and development of the kidneys. A garden secateurs or a sharp knife shred 3-4 parts. Places of cuts are processed, after which parts of the bush are planted in prepared holes. Further care of the planted plant is no different from any other method of cultivation.
Diseases and Pests
Juicy and ripe berries of edible honeysuckle attract not only people, but also various pests. The main threats are leafworms and aphids. The appearance of the first can be recognized by the united leaves and young shoots. And yellowed and crowded leaves are a clear sign of the appearance of aphids. Another pest that leaves bulging brownish growths on the stems is willow scale. Special drugs will help to cope with these pests. But sometimes, in the early stages of infection, treatment with a soap solution is enough.
The only disease that can affect edible honeysuckle is the ubiquitous powdery mildew. The harmless drug Fitosporin will help get rid of it.