Frost-resistant sweet variety of honeysuckle Borealis

Unpretentious in care, honeysuckle Borealis successfully develops in regions with cold climates, thanks to which it is becoming increasingly popular among Russian gardeners. We will talk about the features of a frost-resistant variety with sweet fruits, as well as the rules and nuances of its cultivation in this article.

Description of the honeysuckle variety Borealis

It is useful for a gardener who has decided to plant Borealis on his plot to familiarize himself with the characteristics of the variety, learn about its positive qualities and disadvantages, the timing of fruit ripening and its demands on climatic conditions.

Origin and development

Bred in 2007 by Canadian breeders, employees of the University of Saskatchewan, honeysuckle Borealis was recognized as promising and became the ancestor of a whole series of haskap plant varieties, which means “branch with berries.”

Reference. The basis for the selection of the Borealis variety was the crossing of the Kamchatka honeysuckle Tomiczka with the Kuril Kiev-8.

Thanks to its late flowering period, the variety has become widespread both in regions with cold climates and in the south.

Characteristics, appearance, taste

Borealis is one of the most unpretentious and reliable varieties of honeysuckle, resistant to adverse external influences and producing high yields of tasty and large berries.

The spreading, but at the same time compact bushes with a rounded crown reach a height of 1.4-1.5 m, and the diameter of each of them is approximately 1.2 m.

Thick, strong medium-leafed stems are covered with green leaf plates of medium size, oblong in shape, located on short petioles. The flowers of the culture are pale pink in color, with a subtle pleasant aroma.

The fruits are bluish-violet, up to 2.5 cm long, and have an oval, barrel-shaped shape. Elastic, fleshy, juicy red flesh covered with thick skin. The weight of one berry averages 1.6-2 g, but there are specimens weighing 3-3.5 g.

Important! The taste of Borealis fruits is distinguished by a special rich sweetness with a slight sourness without a bitter aftertaste.

Features of application

Borealis belongs to the edible varieties of honeysuckle with particularly high palatability of the fruit.

Saturated with vitamins, beneficial organic acids, macro- and microelements, the berries are consumed both fresh, frozen and dried, and delicious juices, compotes, fruit drinks, jams and preserves are prepared from them.

In addition to the excellent taste, Borealis fruits have a number of healing properties and help support the body with:

• high blood pressure;
• gastritis;
• migraines;
• heart disease;
• sore throat;
• vitamin deficiency.

The beautiful appearance of the bushes determines the use of the crop to give the territory a more presentable and noble appearance.

The variety is successfully used for industrial plantings.

Productivity and fruiting

The culture is high-yielding; 2.5-3 kg of fruits are harvested from one bush.

Attention! The volume of the harvest directly depends on the number of pollinators planted near the plant. The more different varieties of honeysuckle that grow next to a bush, the more abundantly it bears fruit.

The crop produces its first fruits 2-3 years after planting, and after 7-8 years it brings maximum yield.Fruiting continues for 20-25 years.

Ripening period

Borealis ripens:

• in regions with warm and temperate climates - in the second half of June;
• in the Urals and other cold regions - in early July.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The crop has a high immunity to various fungal infections and is rarely affected by insects, however, in conditions of high humidity it can suffer from powdery mildew, and is sometimes attacked by such pests, How:

• scale insect;
• aphid;
• fingerwing;
• leaf roller;
• mite.

Resistance to cold and drought

The variety is frost-resistant down to -46°C and is not afraid of frost.

Borealis also successfully tolerates dry periods with proper watering.

Suitable regions

The shrub withstands any climatic conditions:

• the plant is not afraid of frost;
• the crop does not suffer from short-term drought.

All Borealis needs is plenty of sun, moderate soil moisture and protection from strong winds.

Honeysuckle feels more comfortable in places where there are no significant sharp drops in temperature and long dry periods.

Grows well:

• in the Urals;
• in the middle zone;
• in the north;
• in the Far East;
• in Altai;
• in Siberia.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of the main advantages of Borealis honeysuckle, it is worth highlighting:

1. Great sweet berry taste.
2. No fruit shedding.
3. Easy to care for.
4. Increased frost resistance.
5. The ability to successfully resist diseases and insect pests.
6. Late flowering and ripening.
7. Long fruiting period.

Disadvantages include:

1. Self-sterility, need for pollinators.
2. Average shelf life and transportability.

Difference from other varieties and hybrids

Borealis differs from many varieties of honeysuckle:

1. Later flowering, which prevents the risk of flowers reappearing during the season and no harvest the following year.
2. Late ripening periods, allowing the consumption of fresh fruits to be extended for 3-4 weeks, which is especially important for the northern regions.
3. Fruiting for a long time (up to 1 month).
4. Large-fruited.
5. Oval-shaped berries with a surface without bumps.
6. The sweetness of the fruit, not diluted with bitterness.
7. Strong fastening of berries to branches.

Agricultural technology

The successful development of the crop and the timely receipt of a plentiful and high-quality harvest depend on the correct implementation of agrotechnical measures.

Choosing a place in the garden and preparing holes

To plant honeysuckle Borealis, choose a plot of land that is well illuminated by sunlight.

If groundwater lies close to the surface (at a depth of less than 1 m), it is necessary to drain the soil - the plant does not benefit from high humidity.

The preparation of planting holes is carried out in the following order:

1. At a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other, holes are dug 40x50 cm in size and 30-50 cm in depth.
2. A drainage layer (crushed stone, broken brick, expanded clay) is placed at the bottom.
3. A mound of fertile soil mixture consisting of humus, ash, phosphate and potassium fertilizers is formed on top.

Preparing for landing

Young (2-3 year old) bushes are prepared for planting:

• remove damaged branches and roots;
• immerse the root system for 20 minutes in earthen mash with the addition of a growth stimulator and potassium permanganate for disinfection.

Soil requirements

The plant grows well in fertile soils with an acidity level corresponding to pH 5.5-7.5, that is, neutral or slightly acidic.To deoxidize the soil, 200-400 g of lime are added per 1 m² of area.

Important! The plant should not be planted in areas with high humidity and heavy clay soil.

To increase fertility, the soil removed from the planting hole is mixed with:

• 1 bucket of compost or humus;
• 30 g potassium sulfate;
• 300 g wood ash;
• 100 g double superphosphate.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

Planting a crop carried out mainly in the fall, from mid-September to mid-October (depending on climatic conditions - 2 weeks earlier or later), but a spring option is also possible (for regions with a warm climate) - before the start of the growing season, in March - April.

The distance between planting holes is 1-1.5 m, and the row spacing is 2 m.

When planting seedlings, observe the following rules:

1. The bush is placed on a hill, straightening the roots.
2. Fill the hole with soil mixture so that the root collar of the plant is buried no more than 3-5 cm.
3. The soil is compacted and moistened with 10-20 liters of water.
4. The tree trunk circle is mulched to 4-8 cm with dry leaves, bark or sawdust.

Features of cultivation

When growing honeysuckle Borealis, care should be taken to ensure that the plant receives enough moisture, but the soil is not waterlogged.

Following the irrigation regime will help maintain the necessary balance:

• water the crop 3-4 times during the growing season;
• with each watering, pour a bucket of water under the bush;
• the moistened soil around the trunk is covered with a layer of bark or sawdust mulch.

During the Borealis drought watered at the root every other day, and also use sprinkling, thoroughly moistening the foliage of the plant using a hose with a special nozzle.

The shrub is unpretentious in care, but for successful development it needs to be provided not only with regular watering, but also with periodic loosening of the soil to a depth of 5-10 cm and timely feeding:

• at the beginning of the growing season, once every 2-3 years, the soil around the trunk is mulched with a 7-8 cm layer of peat or humus;
• in April, ammonium nitrate (30 g per bush) or urea (20 g) is added to a depth of 20-30 cm;
• in July, after harvesting, feed with nitrophoska (20 g of the drug per bucket of water);
• during the formation of buds, the bushes are sprayed with the preparation “Aquarin”, dissolving 20 g of the substance in 10 liters of water;
• By the end of the growing season, in the fall, the soil is fertilized with wood ash (150 g per plant), potassium salt and superphosphate (15 g each).

The pruning procedure is carried out either in the spring (in March, before the start of sap flow), or in the fall, after the end of the growing season.

Every year, diseased, frozen, dry, broken branches are removed, and plants older than 15 years are pruned so that about 0.5 m above ground level remains.

Reference. They begin to prune bushes in order to form a crown when the plant reaches 6 years of age, getting rid of unproductive shoots (1-2 per year) and removing the tops of branches with insignificant growth.

Pollinators

Borealis needs cross-pollination, so other varieties of honeysuckle are planted at a distance of about 2 m from the bushes with simultaneous flowering dates.

Important! To ensure full pollination, use at least 2-3 different varieties, planting plants in groups.

Perfect for this purpose:

1. Tundra.
2. Honey B.
3. Northern lights.
4. Blue banana.
5. Northern beauty.
6. Aurora.
7. Heart of a giant.
8. Northern storm.

Disease and pest control

To cope with powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that can affect the plant, use “Fitosporin”, preparing a working solution of 5 g of the active substance and 10 liters of water. The resulting volume is enough to process 100 m² of honeysuckle plantings.

When attacked by insect pests, use the insecticidal preparation "Actellik", 6 liters of which are enough to spray 100 m² of area planted with shrubs.

The insecticide is effective against:

• tick;
• leaf rollers;
• aphids;
• honeysuckle fingerwing;
• Scale insects.

In the spring, before the buds open, treating the shrub with Actellik 0.2% will provide the plant with reliable protection from pests.

Preparing for winter

Due to its high resistance to frost, the variety does not need shelter for the winter period, but in particularly cold regions, protective measures can be provided in the form of:

• mulching the tree trunk circle with leaves, sawdust or tree bark;
• wrapping with spunbond.

Reproduction

To propagate the crop, 3 different methods are used:

1. Cuttings. Cuttings are taken in the fall, rooted over the winter and planted in the ground in the spring.
2. Dividing the bush. Divide the rhizome of the bush with a sharp shovel into equal parts.
3. Layerings. The lower branches are dug in, watered, and the young shoots that appear are transplanted.

Difficulties in growing

After 13-14 years, the crop yield may decrease and the fruit size may become smaller. To solve the problem, it is necessary to rejuvenate the bush and then feed it with organic fertilizers (compost, humus).

If cases of plant diseases become more frequent, you should pay attention to the density of the crown.

Lack of sun and air ventilation often cause diseases, so in the spring, as soon as the air temperature reaches +6°C, all weak shoots are removed, leaving only 8-10 of the strongest ones.

Harvesting

The fruits of the Borealis variety hold tightly to the branches and do not fall off even when fully ripe, and when the berries are torn off, almost no juice is released.

After the fruits acquire a uniform blue color, you need to wait 7-10 days and then start collecting them.

Attention! The ripeness of the berries is easy to determine by the color of the pulp. If it is green, it means it is too early to harvest; you need to wait until the fruits turn red in the crack.

The berries are removed by hand and then placed in baskets that can hold from 1.5 to 3 kg. When fresh, the product can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2-3 days.

Reviews from experienced gardeners

Gardeners love the sweet berries of Borealis honeysuckle and the plant's unpretentiousness.

Zulfiya, Ufa: “I have been growing Borealis on my plot for five years. The berries are delicious, tender, sweet, and do not crumble. Maintenance is simple and does not require much effort. I try to feed and trim the bushes on time.”

Vlad, Troitsk: “I learned about the delicious Canadian honeysuckle variety Borealis and decided to plant it in my dacha. I'm pleased with the result. Honeysuckle really tolerates frost well, does not get sick, and the taste of the berries exceeded all expectations. I recommend that summer residents pay attention to Borealis - you won’t regret it.”

Conclusion

Growing Honeysuckle Borealis is easy. The frost-resistant shrub does not require special attention and, if you follow the basic rules of planting and care, it will delight you with sweet blue berries within 2-3 years. Cute bushes will become a worthy decoration for any garden plot.