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Edible honeysuckle: planting and care, beneficial properties
Garden honeysuckle is a type of wild plant, a perennial shrub that bears fruit since the beginning of summer. The berries of edible honeysuckle, the description and photo of which are given in the article, contain ascorbic acid, vitamins and minerals. How to grow a plant? The nuances of caring for a garden shrub, its useful properties are presented below.
Edible honeysuckle: planting and grooming guidelines
Planting and caring for edible honeysuckle
honeysuckle refers to upright, climbing or creeping shrubs. The leaves of the plant are located opposite each other, the flowers are large, fragrant, their color depends on the variety. The berries have a characteristic dark purple color with a blue bloom, the taste is sweet and sour, with a slight bitterness. The shrub begins to bloom from April to May, the first fruits appear in late May – early June.
Before you start planting a shrub, you need to choose the right seedlings.
Gardeners recommend purchasing an already matured, two- or three-year-old honeysuckle
When buying seedlings, pay attention to their appearance. If the roots of the plant are damaged at least in one place, then it cannot be purchased. Such a seedling will not germinate or will constantly hurt.
Healthy seedlings have massive and heaped roots, buds hatching on twigs. Buy 3-4 varieties of honeysuckle at once, in the future this will allow you to get a rich harvest of sweet berries.
Due to cross-pollination, honeysuckle requires a “relative” that grows nearby. However, gardeners note that black currant will become a good “neighbor” for her.
Due to cross-pollination, honeysuckle requires a “relative” that grows nearby. However, gardeners note that black currant will become a good “neighbor” for her.
The optimal time for planting honeysuckle is September – October. This plant is not afraid of frost, therefore, to obtain quick fruiting, it is planted in the fall. But seedlings take root better when planted in late spring – early summer (May – June).
Honeysuckle loves fertile, moist soil with low acidity, an abundance of sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to plant it in the most illuminated places.
For planting, first dig a hole with a diameter of 50 cm and a width of 45 cm. Shrubs are planted at a distance of 1,2-2,5 meters from each other. After digging, compost (1,5-2 buckets), 60 g of superphosphate, 500 g of wood ash are placed in the hole.
A small amount of earth is added to the mixture, watered with water and a mound is formed, then honeysuckle is planted. The stalk is immersed in the ground 5 cm from the root, after which it is watered, and the soil around the shrub is mulched (trampled down, covered with a thick layer of newspapers).
Despite the fact that honeysuckle is unpretentious to care for, an adult plant needs periodic watering, especially during dry summers. Once a month, honeysuckle is spilled with water mixed with 1 kg of wood ash. In order for the plant to grow and bear fruit normally, it is pruned, removing dry branches.
Benefits of Edible Honeysuckle
Berries are used to prevent vitamin deficiency due to their high content of vitamins and macronutrients. Traditional healers use fruit juice in the form of tincture and decoction to lower blood pressure.
Both the fruits and bark, flowers, leaves of the plant are used in the treatment of colds, kidney, liver and stomach diseases. The hydrocyanic acid contained in berries helps fight shingles and dermatitis.
Decoctions from the twigs and leaves of honeysuckle have an analgesic effect, they are used externally for rheumatism and fractures
Edible honeysuckle is a shrub that does not require any special skills to care for. The plant throughout its life (honeysuckle lives at least 15 years) will delight the eye and bring a healthy and tasty harvest.