Edible honeysuckle - cultivation features. Honeysuckle: assortment, reproduction and cultivation. Edible honeysuckle - varieties

1. Choose the right varieties of honeysuckle!

Only highly productive varieties can provide high yields of honeysuckle. It is the variety that largely determines the success of the business. By planting a plant randomly acquired on the market, perhaps even a seedling from a neighboring plot, you will not achieve in the future the results that you could get from a good variety with high potential.

Which varieties you decide to give preference to will depend on your taste preferences and how you intend to use the harvest. If mainly for consumption in fresh then choose productive varieties with dessert flavor different term ripening, for example: Amazon, Long-fruited, Maria, Elizabeth, Zarechnaya, etc.

Since honeysuckle berries are a perishable product (even in the refrigerator it is stored for no more than two or three days), then with a significant harvest, most of it. likely to be processed or frozen. For this purpose, varieties with a slight sourness or bitterness are better suited, for example, Lenita, Gerda, Blue Spindle, etc. Many people like processed products from them because of the presence of bitterness. Although this is a matter of taste, of course, and there can be no consensus here.

Here I want to note that honeysuckle is a very plastic culture, and therefore it is possible to successfully grow on the site not only zoned, local varieties, but also varieties bred in other regions, with other soil and climatic conditions. Such varieties may be superior to local ones in a number of ways.

2. Ensure good cross-pollination of honeysuckle

Since honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant and practically does not produce a crop on single-sorted plantings, the most important condition for obtaining high yields is the planting of not two or three bushes different varieties(as often recommended), but 10-15 bushes or more.

Having planted only 2-3 bushes, honeysuckle will, of course, bear fruit, but you will not get high yields. More than 40 varieties grow on our site. They pollinate each other well and do not cease to please with a high yield. AT last years the Lenita variety stood out with its yield Chelyabinsk selection. He is like a lifesaver for us.

From each bush of this variety, we annually collect 10-12 liters of berries. I believe that such a yield is largely due to good cross-pollination between varieties. Therefore, it is desirable that all varieties in your area are different, since good varieties bred abound, for every taste, and every year there are more and more new ones.

3. Attract insect pollinators to the site

The yield of honeysuckle largely depends on the efficiency of fruit set, which in turn depends on weather conditions and the presence of pollinating insects during flowering.

Honeysuckle is pollinated mainly by bees and bumblebees, but the most effective pollinators are bumblebees. They are more likely to visit group landings. Therefore, it is advisable not to place honeysuckle in a row, like raspberries or currants. and a curtain (group) and, if possible, closer to the neighboring bushes. Ideally, plant bushes in the corners at the junction of four plots, in agreement with the neighbors. In this case, you can get by with fewer bushes.

An effective technique for attracting insects to the site is spraying all berry crops(including honeysuckle) at the beginning of flowering with a solution of sugar or honey: 2 tbsp. spoons for 10 liters of water.

Varnish like different cultures bloom in different time, then such spraying is best done in two or three doses. If during flowering it is windy. damp, cool weather, then for better fruit set, it is good to spray the bushes at the beginning of flowering with Ovary or Bud preparations that stimulate fruit formation. Good results are also obtained by spraying plants in the budding phase with a tank mixture of Zircon (1 ampoule) and Cytovit (2 ampoules) per 10 liters of water.

4. Choose the right place to land

Another, no less important condition to obtain high yields of honeysuckle, it is mandatory to plant it in an open sunny place.

It is good if the landings are protected from the prevailing winds. tall trees or buildings. If the bushes are in partial shade, the yield of honeysuckle will drop sharply, as the plants will constantly be in a state of oppression, and the reproductive buds will be poorly laid.

Therefore, if possible, transplant it from the shade and partial shade to sunny place. If your bushes are small, this is relatively easy to do (honeysuckle has a compact, highly fibrous root system).

Sometimes in the literature there is a recommendation to plant honeysuckle according to the scheme 1 by 2 m. With such a scheme, the bushes in a row will close already in the fifth year, which will greatly complicate care and lead to a decrease in yield. In our area, the bushes are planted according to the scheme 1.5 by 2.0 m, and in some places in the row the bushes have already closed. With a sparse scheme, it is easier to care for honeysuckle, you can approach each bush from all sides when picking berries, pruning, weeding.

The optimal distance between bushes in a row is 1.5-2.0 m, between rows is 2.0-2.5 m. This is taking into account the fact that honeysuckle will grow and bear fruit in one place for 20-25 years.

5. Don't thicken the honeysuckle crown

A feature of honeysuckle is its high shoot-forming ability, leading to a rapid thickening of the bush. To prevent this, an annual, early spring thinning pruning is necessary. It is also necessary so that the bumblebees pollinating it can freely reach the middle of the bush. Otherwise, the harvest will be concentrated mainly on the periphery of the bush! Such thinning pruning is recommended to be done from the fourth or fifth year of life, not earlier. In the first years of the life of the bush, only sanitary pruning is carried out, removing broken and dried shoots.

6. Prepare planting holes and plant plants properly

Honeysuckle is by nature very unpretentious and can grow on any soil, but top scores obtained on light, fertile and breathable soils.

If it is impossible to create such conditions on the entire site, then create them at least within landing pit, which should be at least 50-60 by 40 cm in size.

In such a hole, I usually put 1-2 buckets of humus, about 1 liter wood ash, 30-50 g of AVA fertilizer and one or two handfuls of Agrovitkor organomineral fertilizer containing soil microorganisms of the Bacillus genus, which contribute to the suppression of pathogenic soil microflora and the rapid overheating of any organic matter.

The application of fertilizers in such a composition and quantity contributes to the improvement of the soil, increases the yield and quality of honeysuckle fruits. In each pit, to improve the moisture capacity and structure of the soil (if possible), I also add 3-5 liters of vermiculite.

I also use this dressing of planting pits for other berry crops, sometimes adding peat, sand, dolomite flour etc. When planting, I deepen the root neck of the seedling 4-5 cm below ground level, then water it (up to 2 buckets of water for each well) and be sure to mulch with humus, peat or mowed grass.

7. Provide plants with moisture during fruit ripening

It is known that the yield of honeysuckle, the size of its fruits and their taste assessment varies from year to year and largely depends on weather conditions during the period of ripening and filling of berries. During this period (May-June), you need to do 4-6 good watering, spending up to 4-5 buckets of water on each bush. After watering, be sure to mulch the soil under the bushes with cut grass or other mulching material.

During the same period and until the beginning of August, I spray the bushes several times with the Baikal EM-1 preparation. I carry out such watering-spraying directly from a watering can with a fine spray. I spend one watering can on about 5 bushes of honeysuckle, currants, gooseberries and other berries. (True, this is a rather laborious operation.) The use of the HB-101 preparation in liquid and granular form also gave a good result.

8.Protect crops from birds

Honeysuckle berries are liked not only by people, but also by feathered "helpers". Take care to protect the ripening berries from thrushes with a protective net and other repellents.

9. Provide plants with good nutrition

Regularly add organic and mineral fertilizers according to your chosen scheme. (Traditional mineral or alternative AVA)

10. Be on the lookout!

Don't stop there. Search, order, test new varieties: more productive, larger-fruited, with better taste.

By applying these simple tricks in the care of honeysuckle, you will always have a good harvest.

Honeysuckle is the very first berry, in the second decade of June it is already collected everywhere and jam is made. But we love her not only for this. Scientists say: in small berries, unlike large-fruited fruits, biologically active compounds accumulate. If you eat berries every day in the summer, plaques will not accumulate in the vessels, which eventually lead to strokes and others. cardiovascular diseases, says horticultural scientist Stanislav Khabarov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. And if you eat 10 kilograms of berries over the summer, you can forget about diseases. It is important that these are berries from your own plot or from a trustworthy farmer. If the bushes are regularly watered with chemicals from diseases and pests, the berries will contain only fiber and sugar, no useful substances.

Honeysuckle is frost-resistant and unpretentious plant, can grow and bear fruit in one place for 80 years. Behind good relationship pays with a good harvest. FORUMHOUSE advises what to do to get bountiful harvest sweet berries.

First: in your garden there should be bushes of different varieties. Honeysuckle is not self-fertile, so do not expect a good harvest if you have several bushes, but the same variety. They will grow well and bloom profusely, but that, in fact, is all.

Planting pattern: 1.5–2 m x 2 m - it depends on the variety and how you plan to cut the bush. But don't plant bushes too far away.

Kentavr127:

Plant not far from each other (1.5 meters) at least 2-3 varieties, and you are guaranteed a harvest. When planting one variety, at least 100 bushes, do not expect a harvest. Such is this culture: without mutual pollination, there will be no result.

Second: honeysuckle should have enough sun. The size and taste of berries depends not only on the variety, but also on the amount sun rays, which the hive receives. Ideally, if the honeysuckle is bathed in the first half of the day sunshine then the berries will be sweet and large. At the same time, the plant should not be constantly in the sun - the berries will become smaller, although this will not affect the taste.

Third: Honeysuckle is needed right soil. It weakly bears fruit on sandy soils, loves chernozem and light loamy soils. When planting honeysuckle, fill the hole with quality soil, add compost, humus, you can pour a handful of Kemira on the bottom of the hole. When planting, the root neck deepens to 5-7 centimeters, but not deeper - this will lead to a low yield of the bush.

Fourth: thin out and shorten excess shoots to lighten the center of the bush. A well-formed bush should consist of 15 branches of different ages. A third of them should be fixed at an angle. Reject them and fix them with hooks. The pruning of each bush must be approached individually, since each bush has its own characteristics.


Fifth: All work on transplanting and pruning honeysuckle is recommended to be carried out in the fall, as late as possible. The fact is that in the spring honeysuckle wakes up very early, and does not like to be disturbed during the growing season.

Sixth: Honeysuckle should not be overfed! Overfed bushes grow rapidly, the number of shoots increases, and then, due to strong shading, the yield decreases markedly. Therefore, FORUMHOUSE experts recommend feeding honeysuckle every three years with organic fertilizers, on average - 5-7 kilograms per bush. But annual mulching with humus and grass (without seeds) is considered mandatory. Among other things, it helps the plant retain moisture.

if you eat 10 kilograms of berries over the summer, you can forget about diseases

Many varieties of honeysuckle shower berries from bushes at the slightest touch. There is no need to be afraid of this. Can be spread under bushes nonwoven fabric- and the problem is solved. This method is widely used because the fallen berries do not shrink, but retain all their qualities for at least three more days. To keep them exactly fresh, during flowering and filling, the bushes must be properly watered. Therefore, you can not worry and not appear in the country during working week during berry ripening. Or another way: to harvest a slightly unripe crop - the removed honeysuckle ripens well and quickly.

If the bushes grow so that the non-woven fabric under them simply cannot be spread, arrange trays and baking sheets.

Birds rejoice at the harvest of the first berries no less than people. Moreover, they, like people, prefer sweet varieties, with a strawberry aftertaste. It can be very difficult to repel arrogant feathered pests, so it is better to protect the crop with a net.

Not all varieties of honeysuckle are equally tasty, some of them are bitter, and some are completely bitter. FORUMHOUSE experts recommend such varieties without the slightest sign of bitterness, these are:

  • Teterevskaya
  • Chernichka
  • Roxana
  • Bee
  • fire opal
  • Azure
  • Turchaninov
  • Filippovskaya
  • blue spindle
  • Kachadalka
  • Gerda
  • Nymph
  • Moraine
  • Cinderella (very sweet).

A good variety is Berel, but it has a slight bitterness.

When choosing a honeysuckle variety for planting, do not pay attention to the size of the berry. This is not a measure of taste. In general, the larger the fruit, the lower the concentration of vitamins and biologically active substances in it. And bitter berries can be frozen, and then they will lose their bitterness.


It is believed that honeysuckle is poorly propagated by cuttings, FORUMHOUSE responsibly declares: this is not so. You just need to catch the time when you can get cuttings that will take root in the future with a high percentage of probability. This is short term, from five days to a week, when the first berries appear on the bushes. To check current year to cutting, you need to bend it into the letter U. If it does not break, then it's time to cut.

Honeysuckle cuttings are cut in the early morning, before sunrise - at this time there is a lot of moisture in the stems. A cutting 15-20 cm in size is cut with a sharp pruner or garden knife and immediately placed in a container with a heteroauxin solution. 2-3 lower leaves are removed from each cutting, the cut is updated with a blade about a centimeter below the kidney. During pruning, the cutting should come into contact with air as little as possible. It is desirable that he be in the water all the time. Next, you need to keep the stalk in a solution of heteroauxin for a day and store it in the shade and coolness until planting in the stalk.

Kondrat:

In the morning next day in a pre-prepared stalk, obliquely stick the stalk into the upper sandy layer of soil to the level of the upper internode, which is with halves of the leaves. Cover with agril and top - old film. The stalk should always be damp and gloomy. It is better to arrange it in the shade.

One of the earliest and at the same time very useful berries, which every gardener-gardener should have on his personal plot. Honeysuckle berries have long been considered a source of health and longevity. O useful qualities Our ancestors knew the fruits of this culture and therefore often grew them in their garden. Please note that if the shrub is properly cared for, it has been growing on the site for decades.

The plant is not a self-pollinating crop, so it needs cross pollination. It is for this reason that in order to achieve big harvests, it is necessary to plant at least three bushes. And given the fact that honeysuckle seedlings are not the cheapest, not every gardener will be able to buy them in garden center or nursery.

At the same time, it is possible that the variety of purchased berries will not be to the taste of the owner. personal plot. There is only one way out of this situation - to learn how to grow it with your own hands and to always have the seed of the desired variety.

Edible honeysuckle can be safely attributed to frost-resistant plants – its sprouts and main trunk can carry negative temperatures down to -50 ° C, and the root system and fruitful buds easily tolerate 40 degree frost. Speaking of buds, flowers and young ovaries, they will cope with frosts no more than -8 ° С. Honeysuckle is a sun-loving plant and prefers clay soil with neutral acidity, generously nourished with organic fertilizers. The shrub grows well both in the shade and in the sunny area, however, in the first case, fruiting falls. Since, as mentioned earlier, the plant requires cross-pollination, it should be planted in groups of at least 3 bushes, preferably different varieties.

On hot and dry spring and summer days, honeysuckle need to be watered abundantly because the plant is very fond of moisture. Therefore, the bush loves regions where it is constantly high humidity air, while not transferring stagnation of water or ground water passing in close proximity to the root system. Under such conditions, the root of the plant begins to rot. In acidic soil, the shrub also does not feel comfortable - the leaves turn pale, and the berries crumble. To feed the plant, it is better to use organic matter, since honeysuckle has a negative attitude towards mineral fertilizers.

Choosing the Right Honeysuckle Variety

Given the peculiarities of our climatic latitudes, due to the short but hot summer, there are many varieties of honeysuckle recommended by nurseries for breeding in the future. However, I especially want to focus on the following varieties of shrubs:

Taking into account the fact that the growing season of edible honeysuckle is insignificant, that is, from a state of development to a state of rest, the shrub passes already to the beginning of the last summer month, the process of plant growth by this time completely stops. As a result, whatever happens to the weather, honeysuckle will sleep until the beginning of spring.

Thanks to this, planting is carried out from the beginning of August until late autumn(mid-November). In the spring, planting or transplanting edible honeysuckle is possible only by transshipment, together with a clod of soil enveloping root system. No transportation or planting of seedlings from containers in spring can be done. In this case, for plant transplantation, there is a certain sequence of actions:

  1. Quite voluminous wells are prepared in size 50 cm cubic (50 x 50 x 50 cm), at a distance of at least 1 m from neighboring bushes, in the case of undersized plants and 2-2.5 m for tall honeysuckle.
  2. Added to each well 2 buckets of compost, a kilogram of wood ash and 50 grams of superphosphate. If the soil is sandy, then the amount of compost is increased by a bucket and a potassium-based fertilizer is added.
  3. The wells are filled with heated water, which is poured over the pit to warm the entire surface of the soil.
  4. In the central part of the hole, a small hill is built from the ground. The seedling is carefully placed in the hole and the root system is straightened so that it is evenly distributed along the edge of the mound. If damaged or dried roots are found, they must be disposed of.
  5. Then the hole is sprinkled with compost in a small amount and watered to soil adhered to the root system. Next, the hole is filled to the brim with soil and watered again. Due to the fact that the honeysuckle root is quite compact, it is advisable to water directly under it.
  6. Immediately after planting the shrub, the soil is mulched to prevent moisture from evaporating. For this, an ordinary newspaper, laid in several layers, is quite suitable, sawdust or any other available material that can cover the ground without preventing it from breathing.
  7. When planting honeysuckle seedlings, you need to alternate various varieties. This is due to the fact that different varieties are better pollinated and give quite large yields.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that, unlike most other shrubs, honeysuckle is not cut or shortened during transplantation or planting, as this leads to severe growth inhibition which can adversely affect yields. This is due to the fact that without a quick transition of edible honeysuckle during the fruiting period, get ripe berries in in full fail.

Care and feeding of honeysuckle shrubs

Honeysuckle, the cultivation and care of which in the future will consist in the timely cutting of dry, broken and growing branches deep into the crown, is not a whimsical plant. Optimal time for cropping is beginning of autumn (September). During the first 3 years, the shrub requires only timely watering and weeding. Fertilize honeysuckle starting from the third year of life. To do this, it is quite enough to add no more than a bucket for each plant at the beginning of spring. organic fertilizers, and at the end of summer, wood ash in the amount of 1 liter jar.

Nitrogen-based top dressing is carried out at the moment when the snow melts in the spring, that is, at the very beginning of the growing season. To do this, use a tablespoon of urea diluted in a bucket of water. The resulting composition is watered with honeysuckle bushes. However, even without this, the plant will normally bear fruit, although in a smaller volume. At quality care you can get a crop of up to 6 kg from one bush.

I would like to note that edible honeysuckle bushes grow at a rather slow pace and reach only by the age of 7 maximum dimensions . At the age of 20, due to the fact that large skeletal branches begin to gradually die off, fruiting is noticeably reduced. However, with the help of strong pruning, the bush can be temporarily rejuvenated. To do this, every year, non-fruitful branches are gradually cut off to the very trunk.

Common honeysuckle - the main diseases and pests

Like many others berry bushes, different varieties of honeysuckle are both well resistant to various diseases and pests, and highly susceptible to them. However, regardless of this, the gardener can help the plant by adopting modern facilities struggle. Pests and pathogens of honeysuckle include the following:

For effective fight with pests experienced gardeners advise to use purchased funds, which are sprayed with shoots in the fall as a preventive measure. In the summer, the drugs are used for direct control of insects, but only after the edible honeysuckle ceases to bear fruit. For the prevention of fungal diseases, use solution blue vitriol with which shrubs are sprayed in early spring. Unfortunately, if the shrub becomes infected viral disease, then it must be uprooted and burned.

Honeysuckle breeding methods

Reproduction of honeysuckle occurs by seeds, division of the shrub, layering, and it will take root especially well when cutting. Most simple method breeding is plant division, but this can be done only if there is an adult overgrown bush, which, during hilling, gives adventitious roots. The plant is dug up either in early spring or late autumn and divided into several separate bushes, each of which will quickly take root after transplantation.

When propagated by seeds, at first the aerial part of the bush grows at a very slow pace, but the root develops intensively. Full fruiting begins at three years old. Much better shrub propagated by cuttings, for which young shoots are suitable. As soon as the first fruits begin to ripen, cuttings are cut from the shrub you like. Branches for rooting should not be long - at least 2-3 buds are enough. Rooting of cuttings occurs in greenhouse conditions or in a standard pot for indoor flowers.

For rooting cuttings of edible honeysuckle in greenhouse conditions, an earthen composition is prepared from equal proportions: soddy soil, sand and humus. To improve the microclimate, the cutting is covered with a cut plastic bottle. The same is true when growing honeysuckle in a flower pot.

After 15-20 days of cultivation, airing of seedlings begins, by removing plastic bottle on the a short time. After about 1.5 months, the bottle can be completely removed. In most cases, honeysuckle by the first autumn months grows up to 25 cm. Fortified cuttings remain in the greenhouse until spring, and those grown in a pot can be transplanted into open ground. In order for the plant to easily endure winter frosts, it must be spudded higher with earth or covered with reeds or straw.

How to achieve good harvests honeysuckle

First summer vitamins

Choose the right varieties

Only highly productive varieties can provide high yields of honeysuckle. It is the variety that largely determines the success of the business. By planting a plant randomly acquired on the market, perhaps even a seedling from a neighboring plot, you will not achieve in the future the results that you could get from a good variety with high potential.

Which varieties you decide to give preference to will depend on your taste preferences and how you intend to use the harvest. If mainly for fresh consumption, then choose fruitful varieties with a dessert taste, of different ripening periods, for example, Amazon, Long-fruited, Maria, Elizabeth, Zarechnaya and so on.

Since honeysuckle berries are a perishable product (even stored in the refrigerator for no more than two or three days), with a significant harvest, most of it will most likely go for processing or freezing. For this purpose, varieties with a slight sourness or bitterness, such as Lenita, Gerda, Blue Spindle, and so on, are better suited. Due to the presence of bitterness, many people like processed products from them more. Although this is a matter of taste, of course, and there can be no consensus here.

Here I want to note that honeysuckle is a very plastic culture, and therefore it is possible on the site. to successfully grow not only zoned, local varieties, but also varieties bred in other regions, with other soil and climatic conditions. Such varieties may be superior to local ones in a number of ways.

Ensure good cross-pollination

Since honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant and practically does not produce a crop on single-grade plantings, the most important condition for obtaining high yields is planting not two or three bushes of different varieties (as is often recommended), but 10-15 bushes or more.

Having planted only 2-3 bushes, honeysuckle will, of course, bear fruit, but you will not get high yields. There are more than 40 varieties growing on our site. They pollinate each other well and do not cease to please with a high yield. In recent years, the Lenita variety of the Chelyabinsk selection has especially stood out with its yield. He is like a lifesaver for us.

From each bush of this variety, we annually collect 10-12 liters of berries. I believe that such a yield is largely due to good cross-pollination between varieties. Therefore, it is desirable that all varieties on your site be different, since there are plenty of good varieties, for every taste, and every year more and more new ones appear.

Attract pollinating insects to the site

The yield of honeysuckle largely depends on the efficiency of fruit set, which in turn depends on weather conditions and the presence of pollinating insects during flowering.

Honeysuckle is pollinated mainly by bees, but the most effective pollinators are bumblebees. They are more willing to attend group plantings. Therefore, it is desirable to place honeysuckle not in a row, like raspberries or currants, but in a curtain (group) and, if possible, closer to neighboring bushes. Ideally, plant bushes in the corners at the junction of four plots, in agreement with the neighbors. In this case, you can get by with fewer bushes.

An effective technique for attracting insects to the site is spraying all berry crops (including honeysuckle) at the beginning of flowering with a solution of sugar or honey: 2 tbsp. spoons for 10 liters of water.

Since different cultures bloom at different times, it is better to carry out such spraying in two or three doses. If during flowering it is windy, damp, cool weather, then for better fruit set, it is good to spray the bushes at the beginning of flowering with Ovary or Bud preparations that stimulate fruit formation. Good results are also obtained by spraying plants in the budding phase with a tank mixture of "Zircon" (1 ampoule) and "Cytovit" (2 ampoules) per 10 liters of water.

Place to land

Another equally important condition for obtaining high yields of honeysuckle is its mandatory planting in an open sunny place.

It is good if the landings are protected from the prevailing winds by tall trees or buildings. If the bushes are in partial shade, the yield of honeysuckle will drop sharply, as the plants will constantly be in a state of oppression, and the reproductive buds will be poorly laid. Therefore, if possible, transplant it from the shade and partial shade to a sunny place. If your bushes are small, this is relatively easy to do (honeysuckle has a compact, highly fibrous root system).

Sometimes in the literature there is a recommendation to plant honeysuckle according to the scheme 1 by 2 m. With this scheme, the bushes in a row will close already in the fifth year, which will greatly complicate care and lead to a decrease in yield. In our area, the bushes are planted according to the scheme 1.5 by 2 m, and in some places in the row the bushes have already closed. With a sparse scheme, it is easier to care for honeysuckle, you can approach each bush from all sides when picking berries, pruning, weeding.

The optimal distance between bushes in a row is 1.5-2 m, between rows - 2-2.5 m. This is taking into account the fact that honeysuckle will grow and bear fruit in one place for 20-25 years.

Do not let the crown thicken

A feature of honeysuckle is its high shoot-forming ability, leading to a rapid thickening of the bush. To prevent this, an annual early spring thinning pruning is necessary. It is also necessary so that the bumblebees pollinating it can freely reach the middle of the bush. Otherwise, the harvest will be concentrated mainly on the periphery of the bush! Such thinning pruning is recommended to be done from the fourth to fifth year of life, not earlier. In the first years of the life of the bush, only sanitary pruning is carried out, removing broken and dried shoots.

Planting holes

Honeysuckle is naturally very hardy and can grow in any soil, but best results are obtained in light, fertile and breathable soils. If it is impossible to create such conditions on the entire site, then create them at least within the planting pit, which should be at least 50-60 by 40 cm in size. In such a pit, I usually add 1-2 buckets of humus, about 1 liter of wood ash, 30-50 g of AVA fertilizer and one or two handfuls of Agrovitkor organomineral fertilizer containing soil microorganisms of the Bacillus genus, which contribute to the suppression of pathogenic soil microflora and the rapid overheating of any organic matter.

The application of fertilizers in such a composition and quantity contributes to the improvement of the soil, increases the yield and quality of honeysuckle fruits. In each pit, to improve the moisture capacity and structure of the soil (if possible), I also add 3-5 liters of vermiculite.

I also use this dressing of planting pits for other berry crops, sometimes adding peat, sand, dolomite flour, and so on. When planting, I deepen the root neck of the seedling 4-5 cm below ground level, then water it (up to two buckets of water for each hole) and be sure to mulch with humus, peat or mowed grass.

Providing the plant with moisture

It is known that the yield of honeysuckle, the size of its fruits and their taste assessment vary from year to year and largely depend on weather conditions during the period of ripening and filling of berries. During this period (May - June), it is necessary to make 4-6 good waterings, spending up to 4-5 buckets of water on each bush. After watering, be sure to mulch the soil under the bushes with cut grass or other mulching material.

During the same period and until the beginning of August, I spray the bushes several times with the Baikal EM-1 preparation. I carry out such watering-spraying directly from a watering can with a fine spray. I spend one watering can on about 5 bushes of honeysuckle, currants, gooseberries and other berries. (True, this is a rather laborious operation.) The use of the HB-101 preparation in liquid and granular form also gave a good result.


Protect crops from birds

Honeysuckle berries are liked not only by people, but also by feathered "helpers". Take care to protect the ripening berries from thrushes with a protective net and other repellents.

plant nutrition

Regularly apply organic and mineral fertilizers according to your chosen scheme. (Traditional mineral or "AVA" alternatives.)

Be on the lookout!

Don't stop there. Search, order, test new varieties: more productive, larger-fruited, with better taste.

By applying these simple tricks in the care of honeysuckle, you will always have a good harvest.

Tatyana Dmitrieva , Chelyabinsk

1. Choose the right varieties of honeysuckle!

Only highly productive varieties can provide high yields of honeysuckle. It is the variety that largely determines the success of the business. By planting a plant randomly acquired on the market, perhaps even a seedling from a neighboring plot, you will not achieve in the future the results that you could get from a good variety with high potential.

Which varieties you decide to give preference to will depend on your taste preferences and how you intend to use the harvest. If mainly for fresh consumption, then choose fruitful varieties with a dessert taste, of different ripening periods, for example: Amazon, Long-fruited, Maria, Elizabeth, Zarechnaya, etc.

Since honeysuckle berries are a perishable product (even in the refrigerator it is stored for no more than two or three days), then with a significant harvest, most of it. likely to be processed or frozen. For this purpose, varieties with a slight sourness or bitterness are better suited, for example, Lenita, Gerda, Blue Spindle, etc. Many people like processed products from them because of the presence of bitterness. Although this is a matter of taste, of course, and there can be no consensus here.

Here I want to note that honeysuckle is a very plastic culture, and therefore it is possible to successfully grow on the site not only zoned, local varieties, but also varieties bred in other regions, with other soil and climatic conditions. Such varieties may be superior to local ones in a number of ways.

2. Ensure good cross-pollination of honeysuckle


Since honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant and practically does not yield a crop on single-sort plantings, the most important condition for obtaining high yields is planting not two or three bushes of different varieties (as is often recommended), but 10-15 bushes or more.

Having planted only 2-3 bushes, honeysuckle will, of course, bear fruit, but you will not get high yields. More than 40 varieties grow on our site. They pollinate each other well and do not cease to please with a high yield. In recent years, the Lenita variety of the Chelyabinsk selection has especially stood out with its yield. He is like a lifesaver for us.

From each bush of this variety, we annually collect 10-12 liters of berries. I believe that such a yield is largely due to good cross-pollination between varieties. Therefore, it is desirable that all varieties on your site be different, since there are plenty of good varieties, for every taste, and every year more and more new ones appear.

3. Attract insect pollinators to the site


The yield of honeysuckle largely depends on the efficiency of fruit set, which in turn depends on weather conditions and the presence of pollinating insects during flowering.

Honeysuckle is pollinated mainly by bees and bumblebees, but the most effective pollinators are bumblebees. They are more willing to attend group plantings. Therefore, it is advisable not to place honeysuckle in a row, like raspberries or currants. and a curtain (group) and, if possible, closer to the neighboring bushes. Ideally, plant bushes in the corners at the junction of four plots, in agreement with the neighbors. In this case, you can get by with fewer bushes.

An effective technique for attracting insects to the site is spraying all berry crops (including honeysuckle) at the beginning of flowering with a solution of sugar or honey: 2 tbsp. spoons for 10 liters of water.


varnish as different cultures bloom at different times, then such spraying is best done in two or three doses. If during flowering it is windy. damp, cool, then for better fruit set, it is good to spray the bushes at the beginning of flowering with Ovary or Bud preparations that stimulate fruit formation. Good results are also obtained by spraying plants in the budding phase with a tank mixture of Zircon (1 ampoule) and Cytovit (2 ampoules) per 10 liters of water.

4. Choose the right place to land

Another, no less important condition for obtaining high yields of honeysuckle is its mandatory planting in an open sunny place.

It is good if the landings are protected from the prevailing winds by tall trees or buildings. If the bushes are in partial shade, the yield of honeysuckle will drop sharply, as the plants will constantly be in a state of oppression, and the reproductive buds will be poorly laid.

Therefore, if possible, transplant it from the shade and partial shade to a sunny place. If your bushes are small, this is relatively easy to do (honeysuckle has a compact, highly fibrous root system).

Sometimes in the literature there is a recommendation to plant honeysuckle according to the scheme 1 by 2 m. With such a scheme, the bushes in a row will close already in the fifth year, which will greatly complicate care and lead to a decrease in yield. In our area, the bushes are planted according to the scheme 1.5 by 2.0 m, and in some places in the row the bushes have already closed. With a sparse scheme, it is easier to care for honeysuckle, you can approach each bush from all sides when picking berries, pruning, weeding.

The optimal distance between bushes in a row is 1.5-2.0 m, between rows is 2.0-2.5 m. This is taking into account the fact that honeysuckle will grow and bear fruit in one place for 20-25 years.

5. Don't thicken the honeysuckle crown

A feature of honeysuckle is its high shoot-forming ability, leading to a rapid thickening of the bush. To prevent this, an annual, early spring thinning pruning is necessary. It is also necessary so that the bumblebees pollinating it can freely reach the middle of the bush. Otherwise, the harvest will be concentrated mainly on the periphery of the bush! Such thinning pruning is recommended to be done from the fourth or fifth year of life, not earlier. In the first years of the life of the bush, only sanitary pruning is carried out, removing broken and dried shoots.

6. Prepare planting holes and plant plants properly

Honeysuckle is by nature very unpretentious and can grow on any x, but the best results are obtained on light, fertile and breathable soils.

If it is impossible to create such conditions on the entire site, then create them at least within the landing pit, which should be at least 50-60 by 40 cm in size.

In such a hole, I usually add 1-2 buckets of humus, about 1 liter of wood ash, 30-50 g of AVA fertilizer and one or two handfuls of Agrovitkor organomineral fertilizer containing soil microorganisms of the Bacillus genus, which help to suppress pathogenic soil microflora and quickly overripe any organic matter.

The application of fertilizers in such a composition and quantity contributes to the improvement of the soil, increases the yield and quality of honeysuckle fruits. In each pit, to improve the moisture capacity and structure of the soil (if possible), I also add 3-5 liters of vermiculite.

I use this dressing of planting pits for other berry crops, sometimes adding peat, sand, dolomite flour, etc. When planting, I deepen the root neck of the seedling 4-5 cm below ground level, then water it (up to 2 buckets of water for each hole) and be sure to mulch with humus, peat or mowed grass.

7. Provide plants with moisture during fruit ripening

It is known that the yield of honeysuckle, the size of its fruits and their taste assessment varies from year to year and largely depends on weather conditions during the period of ripening and filling of berries. During this period (May-June), it is necessary to make 4-6 good waterings, spending up to 4-5 buckets of water on each bush. After watering, be sure to mulch the soil under the bushes with cut grass or other mulching material.

During the same period and until the beginning of August, I spray the bushes several times with the Baikal EM-1 preparation. I carry out such watering-spraying directly from a watering can with a fine spray. I spend one watering can on about 5 bushes of honeysuckle, currants, gooseberries and other berries. (True, this is a rather laborious operation.) The use of the HB-101 preparation in liquid and granular form also gave a good result.

8.Protect crops from birds

Honeysuckle berries are liked not only by people, but also by feathered "helpers". Take care to protect the ripening berries from thrushes with a protective net and other repellents.

9. Provide plants with good nutrition

Regularly apply organic and mineral fertilizers according to your chosen scheme. (Traditional mineral or alternative AVA)

10. Be on the lookout!

Don't stop there. Search, order, test new varieties: more productive, larger-fruited, with better taste.

By applying these simple tricks in the care of honeysuckle, you will always have a good harvest.

If you liked this material, then we offer you a selection of the most the best materials of our site according to our readers. You can find a selection - TOP about existing eco-settlements, family homesteads, their history of creation and everything about eco-houses where it is most convenient for you