Honeysuckle variety Gourmand: planting and care, pollinators, reviews

Nowadays, many types of honeysuckle have been bred, but the Lakomka variety stands out noticeably from all the others. This plant has a pleasant fruit taste without the bitterness that is inherent in this culture. In addition, its berries are much larger than those of other species and have a pleasant aroma, so they are liked not only by adults, but also by children. Description of the variety, photos and reviews of honeysuckle Gourmand will help you better understand what kind of crop it is, how to grow it correctly in your garden, and what difficulties may arise.

Description of edible honeysuckle Gourmand

This crop variety was obtained by Nizhny Novgorod breeder V. A. Fefelov. This species was officially registered in 1998, but work has been going on to improve its characteristics for 10 years before this point.

As you can see in the photo below, the Lakomka honeysuckle bush is medium in size and compact in shape. It reaches a height of one and a half meters. The crown is lush, oval-round in shape. After planting, the first four years of honeysuckle growth are slow, but later the rate accelerates significantly. Lakomka's shoots are straight, thin, and green in color, but with a slight bluish tint. The leaves on them are densely located. The shape of the plates resembles an elongated oval. The foliage color is light green.

Lakomka's berries are large, 2-3 cm long. They are dark blue in color with a characteristic waxy coating on the surface. Their weight varies between 0.9-1.3 g. The fruits are edible and taste sweet and sour without bitterness. They can be eaten both fresh and processed. The yield from a young bush varies between 2.5-3 kg, and from a 10-year-old plant - 3.5-5.5 kg, subject to proper care.

Important! The tasting score of the Lakomka variety is 4.9 points out of five possible.

Fruit ripening in this type of crop occurs in the first half. At the same time, ripe berries fall off, so harvesting must be done 3-4 times. The first fruits appear 3-4 years after planting.

Important! The honeysuckle variety Lakomka has high frost resistance down to -50 degrees, and is also not afraid of spring return frosts.

This honeysuckle variety is one of the early ripening varieties.

Harvesting and transportation, keeping quality of berries

In private farms, the berries are picked by hand, but in industrial farms, harvesting with a combine is allowed, since the density of the skin allows mechanized harvesting. Well-ripened fruits can fall off, so gardeners place synthetic fabric under the bushes on which the berries fall - this ensures the safety of the crop.

It is better to collect berries in a spacious container, placing them in several layers. The harvest can be stored for about 3 days in the refrigerator or dried or frozen for a longer period. Excellent jams and preserves are prepared from honeysuckle, reminiscent of cherry desserts in taste. Good, undamaged fruits are suitable for transportation.

Honeysuckle Gourmand is an excellent choice for those who want to delight their family with tasty, healthy berries at a time when other fruit and berry crops have not yet ripened. Without requiring special attention, even with the slightest care, the culture is ready to reward its owners with a stable, luxurious harvest.

Planting and caring for honeysuckle variety Lakomka

Honeysuckle Gourmet is a light-loving crop, so you need to select open areas for it, protected from drafts. With a lack of light, the berries become smaller and the overall yield decreases. The variety is not picky about soil composition and develops normally even when planted in depleted heavy soil. But to obtain high yields, light loams and sandy loam soils are preferable. The occurrence of groundwater on the site must be at least 1.5 m from the surface.

Important! Gourmet grows poorly when the soil is highly acidic, so you need to lime the soil in advance.

Planting should be done in the fall from early September to late October. At the same time, at least three weeks must remain before the onset of stable frosts so that the plant has time to take root in a new place. The area must be dug up in advance so that the soil has time to settle. It is important to place honeysuckle at a distance of 1 m from each other, as well as at a distance of 3 m from tall crops.

The planting hole should be 40 cm wide and deep. It must be filled in advance with a nutrient mixture. To do this, you need to mix the top layer of soil, humus and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. In addition, additionally add superphosphate (60 g) and potassium sulfide (40 g). Mix all the ingredients and fill the cavity with the resulting mixture.

Advice! For planting, it is recommended to choose 2-year-old seedlings with a well-developed root system.

Procedure:

1. Make a slight elevation in the center of the planting hole.
2. Inspect the roots, remove damaged and broken areas.
3. Place the seedling on a mound in the center, straighten the roots.
4. Sprinkle with earth and compact the surface.
5. Water the plant generously.

The next day, it is necessary to mulch the root circle with peat, straw or humus to prevent the roots from drying out

It is important not only to properly plant Lakomka honeysuckle, but also to provide complete care in the open ground. This culture does not tolerate lack of moisture. Therefore, it is necessary to timely water the bushes in the absence of regular rains. This should be done not only during the growing season and fruiting, but also after harvesting, since during this period the plant is actively growing new branches.

You should also regularly feed the bush. This should be done in spring and autumn. In the first case, you need to use urea (10 g) or ammonium nitrate (15 g) per bucket of water. Also, to improve the growing season, the root circle needs to be mulched with humus. In the second case, you should use superphosphate and 150 g of wood ash. To apply fertilizer, you need to make a small ditch 10 cm deep within a radius of 30-50 cm from the trunk. Pour the components into it and then cover it with soil.

To successfully grow Gourmand honeysuckle on a plot, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil at the base of the bush and remove weeds in a timely manner

Agricultural technology

Honeysuckle is an unpretentious crop, and the Lakomka variety does not require any unnecessary fuss around itself. However, the best yield is achieved if the plant is planted correctly and simple care rules are followed, described below.

Selecting a location

It is better to choose a shaded place for planting - honeysuckle does not like direct sunlight. The most favorable conditions are growing in the shade of tall trees.

The landing site should be well ventilated, but drafts and strong gusts of wind should not interfere with the development of the crop and a successful wintering. In summer, they will contribute to fruit shedding.

Honeysuckle Gourmand, like most varieties of this fruit and berry crop, has a positive attitude towards wet soils, but is afraid of waterlogging. When choosing a planting platform, you should check that the groundwater is at a depth of at least 70 cm. It is better if the young bush is planted on a hill.

It is preferable that the soil on the site be fertile. Honeysuckle can develop and produce a good harvest on other types of soil (except sandy), but before planting they must be carefully fed, not sparing organic matter and mineral compounds.

Be careful when choosing planting material - you need to plant several varieties that bloom in the same period at the same time to ensure pollination.

Important! For planting, choose two-year-old seedlings that have a developed underground part with a rhizome length of about 25 cm, as well as several above-ground shoots with buds, about 30 cm high.

Planting and care

To plant seedlings in the area, holes are dug 50 cm deep and 40 cm in diameter. The formation of deep holes is necessary to provide space for laying drainage and fertilizers.

A drainage layer of crushed stone or crushed brick is placed on the bottom, then a fertilizer mixture consisting of a bucket of humus, 200 g of wood ash and 30 g of superphosphate is poured in (it is advisable to pre-mix all components with 2-3 shovels of soil).

When the pit with a “cushion” of drainage and fertilizer is ready, a small hill is formed in the center, on which the seedling is placed, spreading the rhizome along the edges.

The hole is filled with soil and watered abundantly (1 bucket of water per 1 bush). After watering, the ground will subside a little, and the soil will need to be replenished. Finally, the soil is mulched with peat.

Planting is half the battle on the way to the harvest.

Now the plant will need care, in particular, it is necessary to regularly carry out such procedures as:

1. Watering . Honeysuckle loves moist soil, so good watering should be regular, especially at the stage of ovary development and fruit ripening. In spring and summer, the normal dose is 1 bucket per 1 bush every 2 days. If the weather is too hot and dry, you can increase the one-time volume to 2 buckets. In autumn, watering is stopped.
2. Feeding . The shrub consumes a lot of nutrients during its development, as a result of which the soil becomes poorer over time. If the soil was fertilized before planting, it should be saturated no earlier than after 2–3 years. In the spring, add humus at the rate of 5–7 kg per bush. In the fall, it is advisable to feed the crop with compounds containing potassium and phosphorus.
3. Loosening . Throughout the season, the soil must be loosened, especially after watering, so that oxygen can better penetrate the root system of the bushes. In parallel with loosening, the area is weeded to remove weeds that can cause increased moisture and diseases.

Propagation of edible honeysuckle variety Lakomka

The crop can be propagated in several ways: cuttings, dividing the bush and layering. All options help preserve the species properties of honeysuckle.

For prepared cuttings, it is necessary to remove the lower pair of leaves and shorten the rest by half

It is recommended to make blanks from the shoots of the current year. For rooting, it is necessary to initially cut off the top, and then divide the remaining part of the shoot into segments 7-12 cm long. The optimal thickness of the cuttings is 0.4-0.5 cm. Each division should have 2-3 pairs of leaves and at least one internode.

The upper cut of the cutting should be straight and 1.0-1.5 cm above the bud, and the lower cut should be oblique at an angle of 45 degrees. For rooting, you need to prepare a wide container and fill it with a mixture of peat and river sand in a 1:1 ratio. The soil needs to be watered abundantly and the surface compacted. Bury the cuttings 1-2 cm into the soil. Then cover the container with film.

For successful rooting, a temperature of 20-25 degrees and humidity within 85% are required.

Important! Under optimal conditions, Gourmand honeysuckle cuttings take root 10 days after planting.

It is better for novice gardeners to use the propagation method by dividing the bush. To do this, you need to dig up the honeysuckle in the fall and divide it into parts. Each of them should have well-developed shoots and root processes.

Gourmand honeysuckle can also be propagated by layering. To do this, it is necessary to bend the lower shoots of an adult bush to the ground and secure them. Cover them with soil on top, leaving only the top on the surface. Make sure that the soil in this place does not dry out. If all rules are followed, the cuttings will take root in six months. After this, they can be separated and replanted.

Tips and reviews from experienced gardeners about the variety

Recommendations from experienced gardeners:

• for propagation, use the method of dividing the bush or layering - these are the simplest methods;
• do not neglect preventive treatments against pests and diseases, despite the resistance of the variety.

Gardeners speak positively about the Lakomka variety:

Svetlana, Ryazan: “I planted this honeysuckle six years ago. At first the bushes developed slowly, I already thought that nothing good would come of them. But last year they grew noticeably and expanded their crown. That’s when we tried Lakomka fruits for the first time. The name fully justifies itself - the berries are incredibly tasty, sweet with a slight sourness. The grandchildren are just delighted.”

Roman, Suzdal: “I bought Lakomka about seven years ago. I was just looking for something unusual for the garden, the seller recommended this honeysuckle. At first, the bushes did not impress me with either their appearance or their berries. But two years ago the situation changed - the bushes grew larger, the crown became thick. Now I recommend this variety to everyone I know - it decorates the garden and produces tasty and healthy berries.”

Pollinators of honeysuckle Gourmand

This type of honeysuckle is self-sterile; it requires additional pollinators to set fruit. Therefore, you need to plant 2-3 varieties on the site at the same time with the same flowering period. Otherwise, the harvest may not wait.

The best pollinating varieties for honeysuckle Lakomka:

• Malvina;

• Blue bird;

• Blue spindle.

Peculiarities

This type of honeysuckle is self-sterile, so it requires cross-pollination. For this purpose, “neighbors” of other varieties are placed at close distances (preferably 3-5). “Gourmet” loves light and moisture; honeysuckle prefers loamy and sandy loam soil. This species is often used to create a hedge. The advantages of the shrub include the following:

• with proper care, you can collect about five kilograms of berries from one bush;
• the fruits are universal in their purpose; they are consumed freshly picked from the bush, frozen, processed, and used to prepare decoctions and medicinal tinctures;
• the variety tolerates frost well, is resistant to thaws and the return of cold weather;
• quickly begins to bear fruit, this happens in the third or fourth year of life;
• early ripening of fruits, already thirty-five days after flowering.

The berries of this shrub are classified as dietary, so they are often used for proper nutrition. Reviews indicate only one drawback of Lakomka - the crumbling of its ripe berries.

Diseases and pests

Honeysuckle Gourmand is highly resistant to diseases and pests. But if the basic requirements of a culture are not met, its immunity decreases.

Possible problems:

1. Aphid. This pest feeds on the sap of young shoots and leaves. As a result, the plant slows down and cannot fully develop, which negatively affects the yield.

   
   Aphids form numerous colonies, which only multiply every day

2. Shield. A small pest that attaches itself to the bark and sucks the sap from the branches. In the absence of timely control measures, the plant may die.

   
   To destroy scale insects, you need to treat the bushes twice every 10-15 days.

   Read also:  The best blackcurrant varieties for the northwestern region

To control pests you must use:

• "Aktellik";

• "Fufanon";

• "Inta-Vir".

With high air humidity, the fruit honeysuckle Gourmand may also suffer from various types of spotting. In this case, spots of different shades and sizes appear on the leaves. When the plant is severely damaged, premature leaf fall occurs.

To treat fungal diseases, the following fungicides must be used:

• "Fundazol";

• "Topaz";

• "Skor."

Characteristics of the variety

The Lakomka variety has a number of its own characteristics:

• the bush is small and medium-sized - 1.3 - 1.4 m, the appearance of the crown is oval;
• the foliage is densely located on the shoots, has a light green color and an oval shape;
• Edible Gourmet fruits are blue in color, weighing on average 0.9 g, have a sweet and sour taste without bitterness, the flesh is silky and juicy;
• the variety is distinguished by slight shedding of berries;
• the yield per plant ranges from 2.5 to 3 kg;
• the variety is resistant to pests and diseases;
• you can get the first harvest from the bush already in the third year, the most fruitful period for Gourmand is from 6 to 20 years;
• the berries are consumed both fresh and used for homemade preparations;
• Gourmand bushes are well suited for forming hedges;
• This plant variety is self-sterile; to pollinate Lakomka, just another bush is not enough; you need 2-3 plants of other varieties that will act as pollinators. The best varieties for pollinating this variety are Blue Spindle, Nymph, Malvina, Kamchadalka, Blue Bird and Nizhny Novgorod Early.

Soil and agricultural technology features

• Honeysuckle gourmand prefers open, sunny places without drafts. You can protect the plant from the winds not only with the help of outbuildings, but also with a fence or hedge. This not only affects the yield, but the berries are larger, sweeter and ripen faster, and in the spring the plants begin to grow faster.
• The plant responds well to moisture. During the period of flowering and ovary, there is enough spring moisture in the soil, but with the onset of summer, the crop requires watering, especially after harvesting, during the formation of new shoots. With a lack of moisture, even this type of honeysuckle with sweet berries may develop bitterness.
• Honeysuckle Gourmand is not picky about the soil. The plant will grow even on heavy and poor soils. But in order to get a good harvest of tasty berries from it, the soil must be rich in nutrients. The shrub responds most positively to organic fertilizers and phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers. Gourmand also does not tolerate acidic soils.

Reproduction method

• Gourmet honeysuckle is grown using seedlings. This method will fully allow you to obtain a bush with all the characteristics of the mother plant. Seedlings that have a closed root system take root best. To do this, when choosing plants, you should give preference to bushes in plastic bags or containers. Most often, Lakomka honeysuckle seedlings are sold with bare roots, as a result of which the roots may be too dry and the plant will die.
• The seedlings you buy must be healthy, without any signs of pests or disease. The branches must be intact and not dry.
• If you have good mother bushes, you can propagate Gourmand honeysuckle using cuttings or offsets.

Planting honeysuckle Gourmand

The plant is planted in the fall from August to mid-October.

• The soil must be prepared in advance before planting Gourmet. To do this, you need to select the area where you plan to plant the bushes and prepare the soil. Keep in mind that honeysuckle bushes are planted in a row at a distance of 2 m between plants. If you have several rows of bushes, then the distance between them should be 1 m.
• Fertilizers are applied to the prepared area. Based on 1 sq.m. take 30-60 g of phosphorus flour or superphosphate, 20-30 g of potassium chloride or potassium salt and about 10 kg of organic fertilizers. After the fertilizers have been applied, the soil needs to be dug up using the bayonet of a shovel.
• Holes are dug under the bushes 2-3 weeks before planting the bushes, 35-40 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter. Each hole is filled 2/3 with the top ball of soil, which is mixed with fertilizers. If your soil is acidic, you need to add 50 g of dolomite flour or limestone to each hole.
• A mound is formed in each hole and a Gourmand seedling is placed on it, carefully straightening the roots. The hole is filled with fertile soil, and the tree trunk circle is covered with mulch.

Plant care

The main care of shrubs consists of feeding, watering, pruning, weed control, diseases and pests.

• Honeysuckle Gourmand does not require pruning until 10-12 years old. The only thing that is necessary is to remove dried and diseased branches. Starting from 10-12 years of age, anti-aging circumcision is performed.
• In the spring, when the plant's buds are blooming, it needs to be fed. 15 g of ammonium nitrate or 10 g of urea are added per 1 sq.m. To ensure that the soil is not acidic, 2 cups of ash are added to the Gourmet bushes every year in the summer. In the fall, once every 2-3 years, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied to the bushes. To do this, use 80 g of double superphosphate, 10 kg of compost or humus and 200 g of ash.
• Gourmand does not react well to competition with weeds, so the area near the tree trunk must be constantly weeded and mulched.
• Water Gourmand as needed. Watering is carried out moderately, so that the ground is wet, but does not turn into mud. After watering, the earthen lump should crumble.
• The gourmet has good resistance to diseases, most often it suffers from pests. Since honeysuckle bears fruit early before harvesting, it is possible to fight diseases or pests only with the help of biological products that do not accumulate in the berries and do not cause harm to humans.

Harvesting

This variety is early ripening. The first berries ripen already at the beginning of June, and closer to the second half of June the fruits ripen completely. Lakomka berries fall off, so they are collected in several stages as they ripen. This ripening of the berries is well suited for eating them fresh - you can enjoy tasty and vitamin-rich berries almost throughout June.

Blue bird

This variety is obtained from Kamchatka honeysuckle. The bushes are vigorous, with a spreading oval-shaped crown. The shoots are thin and straight. The leaves are oval, with a pointed tip. The berries are medium-sized (up to 2 cm long), in the shape of a slightly elongated ellipse. The skin is bluish-black, with a strong waxy coating. The pulp is tender, sour-sweet, slightly tart. The fruits taste like blueberries.

Honeysuckle Bluebird is easy to care for, almost never gets sick, does not freeze in winter and is not afraid of harmful insects.

↑ Popular varieties for regions of Russia

When choosing a honeysuckle variety, you need to pay attention to the adaptability of the variety to the climate of your region. Varieties bred for Siberia are not suitable for cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory

Bushes accustomed to cold will not tolerate hot climates. Let's consider the varieties that are most suitable for specific regions of our country.

Honeysuckle varieties for the Urals

For this region, varieties are suitable that have increased resistance to frost and plants can survive the spring cold snap down to -8°C. Suitable:

1. Gorlinka: tall shrub, fruits are harvested from June 25. The pulp of the dark blue large berries is sweet without bitterness. The yield is average - up to 1.6 kg, the fruits do not fall off.
2. Zarechnaya: low-growing shrub, winter-hardy and drought-resistant. The harvest of large, sweet fruits per year from one bush is 2-2.3 kg.
3. Desirable: medium-sized plant, large, sweet fruits that do not fall off. The variety is frost-resistant and tolerates drought well.
4. Elizabeth: tall, with purple curved shoots, shrub. The berries are medium or large, the yield per bush is no more than 1.8 kg. The fruits are harvested after June 20.
5. Maria: a variety of early ripeness, the berries are harvested after June 15, their shedding is minimal. They are without bitterness and pleasant to the taste. The plant bears fruit in the third year. Productivity – up to 1.8 kg.
6. Ural: tall plant with a dense crown. The fragrant berries are large, with sweet pulp. Up to 2.5 kg of fruits are collected from a bush.
7. Chelyabinsk: refers to late-ripening varieties, the fruits are harvested in early July. The berries are small and have a sour taste. Harvest - up to 3.5 kg. The shrub is powerful, drought-resistant, the yield is good even without proper watering.

Varieties for Primorsky Krai

In Primorye, honeysuckle berries are held in high esteem, but varieties must be planted that can withstand temperatures down to -40°C, and during spring flowering - frosts down to minus 7°C.

Choose from varieties:

1. Dawn: low, compact bush. The berries are medium-sized, round-pear-shaped, and taste sour-sweet with a subtle bitterness. The yield per bush is up to 1.6 kg.
2. Dove: distinguished by curved shoots of pink color. Drop-shaped fruits with a slight bitterness, sweet and sour. When ripe they do not fall off. Disadvantage: the plant begins to bloom a second time in warm autumn.
3. Dolphin: a medium-sized shrub with drooping branches and a spreading crown. The berries are small, cylindrical in shape and stretched at the top, with a sweet and sour taste. Productivity is up to 3 kg, ripe berries have average shedding.

Varieties for the Moscow region

When autumn in the Moscow region is warm, both ovaries and flowers appear. But this is a minus, because repeated flowering weakens the plant and does not allow it to prepare well for winter. For planting, select varieties that are resistant to flowering a second time in a season.

1. Early Gzhel: tall shrub with large, sweet and without bitter berries, similar in shape to a pear. Harvest - up to 2.2 kg. The plant needs watering. The fruits almost never fall off.
2. Kingfisher: medium-late ripening bush, with dark blue round and slightly elongated large berries. The taste of the fruit is sweet and without bitterness. The yield per bush is up to 2.2 kilograms.
3. Ramenskaya: a plant with pink-green branches. Sweet and sour, slightly pubescent berries are elongated, round in shape, and do not fall off. Productivity – up to 2.4 kg.
4. Roxana: late maturing shrub. Sweet and sour berries are large, oval-shaped, without bitterness.

Leningrad region

Varieties are planted in this region that are not afraid of sudden changes in temperature and winter thaws. Popular honeysuckle:

1. Dessert: medium-late ripening shrub with blue berries and a strong bloom. The yield of sweet and sour berries per bush is up to 2.6 kg.
2. Pavlovskaya: mid-season variety, dark blue fruits are elongated, with a sharp top, covered with a coating of wax. The pulp is sour-sweet, the yield per bush is up to 2.3 kg.

Nymph: dense, low shrub of medium maturity. The bluish-blue berries are large and resemble an elongated spindle. The pulp is sweet, with a pronounced aroma. Productivity per bush is up to 2 kg.

Viola: an early ripening variety, a powerful and tall shrub. Ripe berries do not fall off; they are picked in early June. Pulp with bitterness and sourness. Productivity – up to 4 kg.

Honeysuckle for Siberia

The harsh Siberian climate allows you to grow different varieties of honeysuckle, but the following are considered some of the best:

• Amphora;
• Altair;
• Leningrad giant;
• Moraine;
• Bachkar giant;
• Cinderella;
• Blue spindle;
• Long-fruited;
• Siberian.

Pictured is Honeysuckle Morena:

Long-fruited

This is one of the first zoned Ural varieties. Long-fruited honeysuckle is characterized by high winter hardiness and early ripening of fruits in the shape of an elongated flat cylinder. Their length is up to 2.7 cm. The bush is spreading, with a rounded crown. The shoots are thin and long. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, dark green.

The skin of the fruit is thin, violet-blue, with a whitish waxy coating. The pulp is sweet and sour, tender, without bitterness. The shedding of ripe berries is average.

Further care

To successfully grow honeysuckle from seeds, it is not enough just to plant the crop correctly: you need to carefully care for the bush. You cannot neglect standard measures such as weeding, loosening, fertilizing, as well as pruning and integrated plant protection.

Watering

Honeysuckle is a drought-resistant shrub. The plant requires regular moisture only in the first 2-3 years of development. In the future, it is enough to moisten the soil in the tree trunk three times during the growing season. The consumption rate is 10 liters per copy.

Soil treatment

To ensure a good level of aeration, an airtight crust should not be allowed to form. To do this, after each irrigation or heavy rainfall, the tree trunk circle is loosened, simultaneously removing weeds. In mid-autumn, the area around the shoots is mulched, which helps protect the root system from the negative effects of cold weather.

Top dressing

To ensure that the soil maintains fertility and provides the plant with the necessary nutrients, it is regularly fertilized.

Scheme:

1. For the first application of nutrients, nitrogen-containing fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate) are suitable. The optimal time is before the start of active sap flow in honeysuckle.
2. During the bud formation phase, phosphorus-potassium complexes should be placed under the plant.
3. After harvesting is completed, wood ash is added to dig up the tree trunk circle.

Trimming

Since honeysuckle naturally forms a spherical crown of the correct shape, the bush does not require special pruning. For sanitary purposes, pruning begins only from the sixth year of development, when the plant begins to bear fruit. After winter, cut out all dried and frost-damaged shoots. To stimulate branching, in the spring the branches are shortened by ⅓.

Honeysuckle pruning diagram

Preparing for winter

Honeysuckle has excellent frost resistance. It does not require additional protection from plants other than young seedlings in harsh climates. When planting in areas with cold winters, it is better to protect fragile plants with spruce branches or other non-woven material.

Attention! Cover honeysuckle only after the first frost to prevent overheating.

What should you consider when choosing varieties?

Many gardeners are disappointed in this berry crop because a) they are still growing outdated varieties of the first and second generation; b) buy unregistered seedlings; c) they forget about cross-pollination of culture.

A variety or hybrid of honeysuckle can be classified as modern if it meets the following parameters.

• Stable (annual) and high yield: minimum - from 2 kg, maximum - 5 kg, for tall bushes in adulthood - up to 8 kg.
• A large berry, weighing at least 1 g; there are varieties with fruits weighing 2.5–3 g.
• Dessert taste – sweet and sour or even sweet, without bitterness. If the berry is grown for processing, a slight bitterness and a little more acid are acceptable.
• Dry separation is important if fruits are used for freezing, drying, or transported over long distances.
• The fruits should not fall off. Shattering of 5% of the crop is considered weak, and over 30% is considered strong.

The second point to pay attention to is whether the variety is suitable for your region. So, in the middle zone you can safely grow honeysuckle of Leningrad, Nizhny Novgorod selection, and some Siberian varieties. And, for example, in the northwestern regions with mild winters, the same Bakchar honeysuckle will suffer from prolonged thaws.

This berry crop does not grow alone. No matter how stunning the parameters of the purchased seedling may be, without the company of 2-3 different ones! varieties it will not bear fruit.

Winter hardiness and other properties of the Tomichka variety

In addition to the compact, semi-spreading crown, the branches of which bend towards the ground, Tomichka has a number of other properties.

The main features that should be kept in mind when planting on a personal plot include:

A high level of winter hardiness is an ideal hybrid for northern regions; it can withstand strong Siberian temperature drops without damage. Does not require winter shelter, the root system and branches do not die off as a result of exposure to sub-zero temperatures; The variety is not capable of self-pollination, therefore, in order to obtain a harvest near Tomichka, it is imperative to plant a pollinating variety. Hybrids created on the basis of Turchaninov's honeysuckle, on the basis of which this one was bred, are perfect. In the absence of a pollinator nearby, pollination will not occur and, as a result, there is no need to expect a harvest; Resistance to pests; in rare cases, aphid infestations are recorded, which can be controlled through the use of standard chemicals; It develops well only on loose and well-moistened, well-aerated soils. Grows especially actively on loamy and sandy soils

When growing, it is important to take into account that when planting Tomichka in the southern regions, it is important not to forget about systematic and abundant watering. If you miss this moment, you shouldn’t expect a bountiful harvest; The first fruiting of a young shrub occurs four years after it is planted in open soil; One of the main disadvantages of the variety is the fact that the fruits, after they ripen, begin to crumble very quickly, so it is important not to delay picking the berries

Otherwise, there is a danger of completely losing the harvest; From one bush per season you can get up to two and a half kilograms of berries, which can withstand transportation well, do not lose their shape and do not wrinkle. Suitable for long distance transportation; The berries are used not only as a raw material for preserves, compotes, drying, jams, but also as a basis for wine dyes (the Georgian brand “Kakheti” uses honeysuckle as food dyes); The fruits are recommended for consumption raw; they will help cope with vitamin deficiency and increase the defense capacity of the immune system. The high level of effectiveness is due to the richness of the chemical composition - the fruit contains a large number of amino acids and vitamins.

In addition to distribution in the food industry, it is used in ornamental gardening. Spreading branches and an interesting shape of the bush will decorate any garden plot. In addition, honeysuckle does not need frequent replanting.

Used in the food industry and home gardening.

Learn more about Tomsk honeysuckle in the video:

Landing

Honeysuckle can be planted at any time of the year (except, of course, winter). In spring - before the buds open, in summer - after the growth phase is completed. The most favorable time is August-September. The plant prefers well-lit places and negatively perceives shade, dry and too wet soil. If the soil is acidic, then lime should be added to it first.

The site that has been selected should begin to be prepared two to three weeks before planting begins. Initially, it is worth removing perennial weeds, then applying mineral and organic fertilizers. You need to dig the ground to the depth of a spade bayonet. The size of the pit should be 0.4 * 0.4 * 0.4 meters. Plants should be planted no closer than two meters from each other.

The amount of fertilizer that needs to be applied to the hole will determine the fertility of the soil. The approximate dose of substances for feeding is as follows:

• from eight to fifteen kilograms of humus;
• 0.15-0.22 kg of superphosphate;
• about forty grams of potassium salt.

The prepared mixture must be mixed and moistened, then the roots of the young plant should be spread in the hole, sprinkled with fertile soil on top. The depth of the base is seven centimeters from the surface. After which the soil must be properly compacted and watered.

“Gourmand” cannot be classified as a fastidious plant, which is why caring for it is quite simple. It is imperative to maintain an optimal level of moisture in the soil. This moment is especially important when the berries fill and ripen. The bush needs watering three times a season, while one bucket of water per plant will be enough. Of course, these are average figures, since soil moisture strongly depends on the amount of rain during the period of growth and fruiting, this factor must be taken into account.

Every year honeysuckle requires nitrogen fertilizer. Other fertilizers are determined by the type of soil. If the area is loamy, then organic, potassium and phosphorus fertilizing will be needed no more than four times.

No pruning is needed to form the crown. It is worth cutting out branches that have dried out or broken. When the honeysuckle is at least five years old, the plant can be thinned. The tree trunk area needs constant weed removal and loosening. Mulching the soil around the plant will only be beneficial, and you can use peat and foliage. Thus, the roots will be reliably protected from cold and drying out, since mulch also retains moisture.

Main honeysuckle breeding centers

Since the 30s of the last century, several centers for the selection of edible honeysuckle have gradually emerged, the varieties of which differ in the source material and are oriented to different climatic conditions.

Siberian center

Siberian center with a scientific base at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Siberia named after. M.A. Lisavenko and test - in the Bakcharsky fruit nursery.

The Siberian varieties are based on sweet-fruited samples of Kamchatka and Primorsky honeysuckle. Siberians have taken the path of increasing the size of fruits, crop yields, and improving taste characteristics. And they succeeded.

The undoubted favorites in terms of large fruit size, taste and quality of fruits, and yield per bush are the newest hybrids Yugan, Vostorg, Daughter of the Giant, Ussulga, Strezhevchanka. Older varieties - Bakcharsky Velikan, Chulymskaya, Pride of Bakchara, Silginka - are also not losing ground.

Siberian honeysuckle is one of the most frost-resistant, oriented towards a cold, sharply continental climate. Thanks to its plasticity, the shrub is successfully cultivated not only in Altai and Western Siberia, but also in the middle zone.

South Ural Center

The South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing is the originator of the Ural varieties of honeysuckle.

The characteristic features of honeysuckle of the Ural selection are compact bushes, a pleasant sweet and sour taste of the fruit with a barely noticeable bitterness, good yield, regular fruiting, and improved vitamin composition.

The pride of the South Ural selection is the varieties Bazhovskaya, Elizaveta, Dlinnoplodnaya, Amazonka, Volshebnitsa, Lenita, Izyuminka.

Pavlovsk Center

Pavlovsk fruit nursery is an experimental base of the VIR Russian Agricultural Academy named after. N. I. Vavilova

Pavlovsk (Leningrad) varieties are of interest primarily to gardeners in the northwestern regions and the middle zone. Breeders managed to overcome such a disadvantage of the crop as a quick exit from dormancy during prolonged warming in winter, as well as repeated flowering in the fall.

Honeysuckle of Leningrad selection is distinguished by increased decorativeness, large fruit, sweet and sour fruits without bitterness, early ripening, and early fruiting.

The varieties Morena, Nymph, Amphora, Violet, Blue Spindle, Viola, and Leningradsky Giant are widely represented in Russian gardens.

Moscow center

Moscow center with a scientific and testing base in the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University and the Nizhny Novgorod Agricultural Academy.

Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod breeders have developed large-fruited and sweet varieties of honeysuckle, with dry berries. The most famous of them are Gzhelskaya Rannyaya, Lakomka, Moskovskaya 23, Kuminovka, new ones are Princess Diana, Kucha Mala, Pamyati Kuminova, Berenche.

Sources used:

• https://sortogorod.ru/zhimolost-lakomka/
• https://rassada.info/zhimolost/sorta-i-ih-opisanie.html
• https://mirogorodov.ru/sorta-zhimolosti.html
• https://eda-land.ru/zhimolost/lakomka/
• https://sornyakov.net/berries/zhimolost-lakomka.html

Moraine

This early-ripening honeysuckle has a rather wide (up to 1.7 m) and squat oval-shaped crown, lanceolate leaves of light green color and large fruits (up to 3 cm long) in the shape of an elongated jug. They have a thin, almost transparent, blue-blue skin with a pronounced waxy coating. The pulp of the berries is sweet and sour, tender, with a light aroma, without bitterness. Ripe fruits do not fall off the bush for a long time.

The winter hardiness of the variety is above average. The plant is rarely damaged by pests and practically does not get sick.

Further care

For the first 3 years, the perennial will grow slowly, so it will only need watering, weeding and loosening. To protect the surface root system from injury, it is recommended to fill the root space with humus or peat. Mulching will retain moisture at the roots.

In the future, caring for honeysuckle in the spring at the dacha comes down to sanitary pruning of frozen branches and adding nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. During the season on sandy loam areas, a young seedling will need at least 4 waterings: at the beginning of the growth of branches and ovaries, during the ripening of fruits and harvesting.

Work schedule:

• Third decade of March or early April: pruning dry, deformed and disease-affected branches, adding 2 kg of dry horse manure or a 10% urea solution (10 g per bucket of water) under the bush. Honeysuckle will be happy with such care in the spring.
• The first half of May - removing side shoots, digging up the soil under the bush, mulching the root zone with sawdust, dry leaves or bark.
• The second ten days of June - application of phosphorus fertilizers to increase productivity (from 2 years after transplantation). 10 liters of a 10% superphosphate solution is poured under each bush.
• Mid-August – harvesting, sanitary pruning.
• The first ten days of September - adding potassium fertilizers to the soil for better rooting of the bush and the formation of buds for the new growing season. About 10 g of potassium mixtures are added to each well and sprinkled with earth. After this, the honeysuckle is shed with water.
• The first half of November is insulation for the winter. Laying sawdust in the hole, covering with spruce branches.

When growing fruit crops, you cannot alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. It is necessary to transfer a seedling from one type of bait to another gradually to avoid late blight and soil diseases. Organic matter is a concentrated fertilizer, as it is 50% more saturated with nutritional components than mineral bait. It should be applied no more than once a year at the beginning of the growing season.

Video about planting honeysuckle.

When to harvest?

Fruiting of the bush with proper care begins 2-3 years after transplantation into open ground. The volume of the first harvest does not exceed 400-500 g per bush, the maximum amount is obtained from 4-5 years of growth on the site. With properly organized care, honeysuckle will actively bear fruit for 20-25 years.

The beginning of fruit ripening is judged by the change in greenish color to rich blue. After this, the collection is carried out for about 5-10 days. The ripening period for honeysuckle is extended, but harvesting should not be delayed, since the berries of most varieties begin to crumble.

When organizing the care of garden honeysuckle, you must take into account that it prefers sunny places or partial shade, does not tolerate stagnation of moisture, and requires systematic pruning and balanced fertilizing. Only in this case will it please you with high productivity.