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In many regions of Our Country, including the Urals, the cultivation of edible honeysuckle is becoming more and more popular every year. This is due to the undemanding care, good yields and, most importantly, the unpretentiousness of this crop, which can grow and develop well even in adverse climate conditions. For this reason, planting honeysuckle in the Urals is considered by many gardeners as a real alternative to the more common berry bushes.
Features of growing honeysuckle in the Urals
The Ural region has a large extent both from west to east and from north to south. At the same time, the Ural Mountains are located on its territory, which have a significant impact on the weather. All this is the reason for the strong climate heterogeneity of the Urals, which is influenced by the Atlantic, the cold winds of the Arctic, and dry air currents from Central Asia.
Honeysuckle grows well in the Ural climate
To grow and bear fruit in this region, plants must have the following qualities:
- Have good resistance to extreme weather fluctuations.
- Withstand return frosts.
- Tolerate periods of drought and severe frosts.
All these qualities are present in varieties of edible honeysuckle obtained on the basis of the Kamchatka and Altai varieties. It is in these regions that there are natural habitats for this shrub, and therefore the resulting hybrids are maximally adapted to growing in areas with an unfavorable climate, including the Urals. Breeding work in this direction has been carried out since the middle of the last century, not only in Our Country, but also in other countries.
The best varieties of honeysuckle for the Urals
Honeysuckle begins to bear fruit earlier than other crops in the season. Its early varieties in the Urals reach ripeness in early June, and the latest – in mid-July. Thanks to this, even in the conditions of the Ural climate, it is possible to get a full-fledged harvest. Here are some of the productive varieties of edible honeysuckle suitable for growing in the climate of the Urals:
- Amazon. This variety of honeysuckle belongs to the early ripening, the berries reach ripeness in the 20th of June. The yield can reach up to 1,5 kg from each bush. Berries are about 1 g, pitcher-shaped, medium-sized, sweet, there is a noticeable bitterness in the taste.
The honeysuckle bush is slightly sprawling, the shoots are rather thin, curved, medium pubescent, the leaf plates are medium-sized, lanceolate
Important! The berries of this variety do not have a tendency to shed. - Bazhovskaya. According to many gardeners, one of the best varieties of honeysuckle, suitable specifically for the Urals. The bush is vigorous, can reach 2 m in height. Shoots are rather thin, curved, slightly pubescent. The leaves are dark green and quite large. The fruits weigh about 1 g, although larger ones are also found. The berries are barrel-shaped, elongated, with an uneven surface. The taste is excellent, dessert, without bitterness, the aroma is pronounced. Bazhovskaya bears fruit at the end of June.
The fruiting of honeysuckle is slightly stretched, there is a slight tendency for the berries to shed
Important! The variety is resistant not only to cold, but also to drought. - Viola. The bushes are large, sprawling, up to 2 m high and with a crown diameter of up to 2,5 m. The shoots are strong, even, hairless. The variety begins to bear fruit in the Urals around mid-June. The berries are oval-elongated, dark blue, with an average weight of about 1,1 g. The taste is not the brightest, sour-sweet, with a slight bitterness. Productivity up to 4 kg.
The tendency of honeysuckle to shed is weak
- Pride of Bakchar. The bush is not very high, up to 1,5 m, visually resembling a haystack. The shoots are long, curved, due to their chaotic arrangement, the bush often looks sloppy. This is one of the largest varieties of honeysuckle for the Urals, the berries are distinguished by their large size. The length of the fruit can reach up to 5 cm, and weight – up to 1,7 g. In shape, the berries resemble a slightly curved spindle, they are blue-violet in color with a dense bluish bloom. The palatability is excellent, according to various tasting estimates from 4,7 to 5 points.
Berries lie well and are transported
A video about the honeysuckle variety Pride Bakchara can be viewed at the link:
Honeysuckle Pride Bakchara in the third year after planting
Important! The variety has a tendency to shed. - Gorlinka. Mid-season variety, ripening in the Urals by the end of June. The shoots are thin, often drooping, form a medium spreading bush in the shape of an inverse cone. The berries are large, pitcher-shaped, purple with a bluish bloom. The tendency to shatter is weak. The average weight of berries is 1-1,2 g, the yield is about 1,5 kg.
The taste is excellent, the fruits are sweet, without bitterness.
- Maria. Ripens in the Urals in mid-June. Bush 1,2-1,5 m high, medium density. Shoots are even, of normal thickness, slightly pubescent. The berries are barrel-shaped, elongated, dark blue, weighing about 0,9 g. Productivity is 2-2,2 kg.
The fruits have a great taste and do not crumble, however, due to the thin skin, they have poor keeping quality and transportability.
- Tomichka. Bush 1,5-1,8 m in height, compact, medium spreading. The shoots are even, rather thin, usually leaning towards the ground. The drop-shaped form of berries is the hallmark of this variety. The fruits are dark, purple-black, covered with a dense bluish coating on top, weighing up to 1 g. Fruiting in the Urals begins in the first half of June, it is extended in time, and due to the tendency of the berries to shed, it is necessary to harvest in several doses.
The average yield is about 2 kg, in a good year it can increase to 3-3,5 kg.
- Chelyabinka. The bush is undersized, about 1 m. The branches are thin, even, slightly pubescent. The crown is spherical, dense. The resistance of berries to shedding is good.
Taste is good, tasting score 4,5 points
The list of varieties suitable for the Urals is not limited to the listed species. Before choosing honeysuckle for planting, it is necessary to study the experience of other gardeners, consult with experts, read specialized literature. This will help you make the right choice and greatly increase the chances of getting a good harvest even in such a harsh region as the Urals.
Planting and caring for honeysuckle in the Urals
Agrotechnics of honeysuckle in the Urals is almost no different from similar work, for example, in Siberia or in the North-West region. This crop does not require serious agricultural technology, however, for its successful cultivation, certain conditions must be observed.
When to plant honeysuckle in the Urals
Autumn is considered the best time for planting edible varieties of honeysuckle in the Urals. However, winter can come to the northern regions quite early, and then the young plant may simply not have time to acclimatize in a new place. Therefore, in the fall in the Urals, only those seedlings are planted that previously grew in containers and were removed from them with an earthen clod on the roots.
Honeysuckle seedlings with ZKS can be planted in autumn
If the roots are open, then in the Urals such honeysuckle should be planted in the spring, after the earth thaws and warms up a little.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
For planting honeysuckle in the Urals, you need to choose an open, well-lit area, protected from the north wind. You can not plant this shrub in a lowland where water accumulates or where cold air flows. The place should be flat or slightly elevated. The groundwater level should not be higher than 2 m, since the honeysuckle root system is sensitive to excess moisture and can rot. The soil on the site should be loose and well-drained.
The size of the plot on which young seedlings are to be planted is also important. Honeysuckle is self-fertile and needs pollinators to produce a crop. It is recommended to plant in the neighborhood at least 4 different varieties of approximately the same flowering period, only in this case the harvest can be good. At the same time, adult honeysuckle bushes will occupy a fairly large area on the site.
Rules for planting honeysuckle
Planting pits for honeysuckle seedlings must be prepared in advance. Their size is determined by the size of the root system of the transplanted plants or the size of the container in which they are located. A drainage layer of broken brick, expanded clay or small gravel is poured at the bottom.
Drainage will save from excessive moisture in the roots
The soil is mixed with humus, a small amount of mineral potash and phosphorus fertilizers, as well as wood ash are added to improve its properties. If the soil is a dense loam (which is not uncommon in the Urals), then sand should definitely be added. The honeysuckle seedling extracted from the container, together with an earthen clod on the roots, is vertically placed in a pit, the voids are filled with a soil substrate, periodically compacting it.
If the roots of honeysuckle are open, then before planting at the bottom of the pit, you need to pour a hill of earth. A seedling is placed on it and the root system is gradually covered with a nutrient substrate, slightly compacting it. After filling the planting pit, intensive watering is carried out, and the root zone is mulched to retain moisture.
Watering and feeding
Honeysuckle loves water, but its stagnation in the roots has a negative effect on the plant. Therefore, this shrub is watered sparingly. With a lack of precipitation, watering is done once a week, while the consumption rate for 1 bush is approximately 1 liters. In drought, which often happens in the Urals, the amount of water is doubled, especially carefully you need to monitor this during the formation of berries. The lack of moisture during this period can lead to the fact that honeysuckle begins to shed unripe fruits, which will negatively affect the yield.
Honeysuckle should be watered regularly, but in moderation.
Feed edible honeysuckle several times a season:
- In early spring – with urea or ammonium nitrate, 25-30 g of fertilizer is diluted in 1 bucket of water and poured under the root.
- In the middle of summer, at the end of the harvest, 1 bucket of rotted manure or humus is brought under each bush.
- At the beginning of autumn, potassium salt (15-20 g) and superphosphate (25-30 g) are added to the root zone.
Trimming
In the first years, honeysuckle intensively forms new shoots, and without pruning, the bushes often become shapeless and unkempt. To prevent this from happening, you need to periodically cut out excess shoots from the bush. There are the following types of pruning:
- Sanitary. It consists in removing dry, broken, damaged and diseased branches.
- Thinning. Thickening shoots are removed, the center of the honeysuckle bush is lightened for better fruiting.
- Anti-aging. Honeysuckle shoots older than 8 years, giving weak annual growth and poor fruiting, are gradually cut out, replacing them with younger ones.
Pruning is an important part of honeysuckle care.
How to prepare honeysuckle for winter in the Urals
Honeysuckle is one of the most frost-resistant crops, capable of withstanding frosts down to -35-40 ° C without problems, and some varieties can withstand temperatures down to + 50 ° C. With such frost resistance, as a rule, no measures are taken to prepare for winter in the Urals. You need to pay attention only to the youngest seedlings, just taken out into the open ground. They can be covered with spruce branches.
Reproduction of honeysuckle
Honeysuckle can be grown from seeds, but seedlings do not retain varietal characteristics. To get a complete analogue of the variety you like, the following vegetative methods are used in the Urals:
- Cuttings. You can root both lignified cuttings, doing work in the winter, and green ones, which are cut from a one-year growth. Cuttings can be rooted in both soil and water.
Cuttings – a quick way to propagate honeysuckle
- Propagation by air layering. In spring, one of the side shoots of the honeysuckle bush is bent to the ground, fixed and covered with soil. Gradually, the branch takes root and gives its own sprouts. A year later, after the shoot has wintered along with the mother bush, it is cut off and transplanted to a new place.
Air layers are very easy to get
- Division of the bush. If the honeysuckle is older than 8 years, then it can be dug up and divided into several parts with a knife or an ax so that each division has its own shoots with roots. After dividing a part of the shrub, you should immediately plant it in the chosen place.
Only adult honeysuckle bushes can be divided
Diseases and pests
Honeysuckle is very rarely sick, and its diseases are associated primarily with improper planting or poor care, for example, with excessive watering, a large amount of fertilizer applied, or too much pruning. Of the pathologies on the shrub, various spots on the leaves may appear, which are the result of the appearance of fungi, as well as root rot, which is formed due to an excess of water in the root zone.
Spotting – the result of damage to shoots and leaves by fungi
Fungal diseases are treated by spraying bushes with various fungicides, for example, Bordeaux liquid. Treatment of honeysuckle with the same preparation for prevention is one of the care measures; in the Urals, this is done at the very beginning of spring, before the start of the growing season.
Pests also appear quite rarely on this shrub. The development cycle of many of them simply does not coincide with honeysuckle, which blooms and bears fruit very early. However, on some varieties, the appearance of aphids, microscopic sucking insects, is sometimes noted. Due to its fecundity, the colony of this pest can increase many times over in a short time, and this leads to the fact that the shoots begin to lack nutrients, the leaves on them wither and fly around, because of which the entire honeysuckle bush suffers.
Aphids are a common garden pest.
They fight aphids with insecticides or folk remedies, for example, infusions of tansy or garlic.
Conclusion
Planting honeysuckle in the Urals is a good way to diversify the range of horticultural crops. Due to its unpretentiousness, this species is suitable for growing not only experienced but also novice gardeners, and its amazing frost resistance is the key to successful growth even in this region, which is not the most suitable for gardening. The undoubted advantage of honeysuckle is that its fruits are not only tasty, but also healthy, it contains vitamins, microelements, as well as other substances necessary for human health, and this is very important for such an environmentally unfavorable region as the Urals. .