Planting honeysuckle in open ground and caring for it

Honeysuckle is a shrub that is not found in every garden plot. Despite the unpretentiousness of the crop, it is important to know the agricultural technology of growing the crop.

Let's consider the rules of planting and care, methods of propagation of edible honeysuckle.

Planting honeysuckle in open ground

Having decided to plant edible honeysuckle in your garden plot, it is important to carefully select the location and seedlings, the composition of the soil, and the nutrient medium.

When is the best time to plant

Honeysuckle is planted in the ground in autumn, spring and summer. Experienced gardeners recommend doing this from late September to mid-October. In spring or summer, planting is carried out before the buds open.

Important! From May to June the crop grows actively, so you should not choose this period for planting.

The location on the site should be suitable for the bush. Primary requirements:

• good lighting and protection from winds;
• high humidity;
• nutrient soil (loamy or sandy loam, sufficiently fertilized).

Before planting, carefully inspect the seedlings, checking the root system and branches. The broken parts are removed, and all other roots are cut off (30 cm left).

Selection of seedlings

If you only need berries, low-growing shrubs are suitable, for decorating the garden - tall ones, from which you can make a hedge.

What to look for when buying seedlings:

• age: bushes no younger than 2 years old, but no older than 3, are suitable for planting in open ground;
• no damage (broken branches and roots are unacceptable);
• the presence of buds and developed roots.

It is better to buy seedlings of several varieties to increase the chances of successful pollination.

Reference! If the honeysuckle bark peels off, this is not a sign of disease or defect. For this feature, the plant was nicknamed “shameless.”

How to plant correctly

Pre-check the acidity level soil. A suitable pH is 5.5–6.5.

How to plant honeysuckle correctly:

1. A few days before planting, make holes with a diameter of 0.4 m. Place a layer of drainage in them.
2. Fill in fertile soil mixed with compost (about 1 bucket is needed per hole). It is advisable to add ash (200 g per well) and superphosphate (60 g).
3. Water the holes with water (at least 2 buckets per hole). If the hole sags, add soil until the hole is completely filled.
4. In the center of the holes, form a small hill of earth, on top of which place a seedling. Spread the roots and cover with soil.
5. Water the seedlings. If the soil settles, sprinkle more. In this case, the root collar should be open.
6. Around the bush, mulch the ground with pine bark, old straw, and dry grass.

It is better to take seedlings in containers: their roots are protected from damage. If the choice falls on ordinary bare-rooted shrubs, they are carefully inspected for damage and rot.

At what distance

When choosing a place for honeysuckle in the garden, take into account what plants are (or will be) in the neighborhood. Edible honeysuckle - a crop whose roots release compounds into the soil that are harmful to a number of other plants.

From each other

Honeysuckle will grow in one place for several decades, which means that each bush is provided with a free approach: branches of neighboring crops should not interfere with pruning, watering, and fertilizing.

The optimal distance between bushes is 1 m.For spreading varieties it is increased, for upright growing varieties it is slightly reduced. The proximity of two bushes (preferably several varieties) is required, since plants with bisexual flowers (cross-pollinated). One shrub for an entire garden plot will not bear fruit.

From other plants

It is important to choose the right neighbors for honeysuckle. Plants in the garden plot should develop harmoniously and not harm or interfere with other crops.

Suitable for planting next to edible honeysuckle:

• plum;
• barberry;
• black currant;
• annual crops (watermelon, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper);
• gooseberry;
• ground cover grasses (periwinkle, pachysandra);
• coniferous crops (juniper, thuja).

Unsuitable neighbors:

• stone fruits (apricot, cherry);
• raspberries and blackberries;
• sea ​​​​buckthorn;
• apple and pear;
• blueberry;
• strawberry;
• fennel, hyssop, spurge.

The optimal distance is at least 2.5 m from edible honeysuckle.

How to care for honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is an unpretentious shrub and does not require special care. The plant tolerates winter normally, but if there are severe frosts in the planting region, then it is insulated, for example, with coniferous spruce branches. In the spring, the insulation is removed and the soil is loosened.

Watering and fertilizing

For honeysuckle, drying out of the soil is unacceptable; in the hot season it requires regular watering. It is advisable to use warm water heated in the sun and moisten the plants in the evening, after sunset. Water the crop as the soil dries, the frequency depends on climatic conditions.

They're starting feeding in the second year: by that time the nutrients introduced during planting are running out. Natural (organic) fertilizers are best for honeysuckle. For 1 bush use a bucket of compost.Fertilize once a year, in early spring. In the fall, add a layer of ash on top (1/3 of a bucket).

Trimming

During the first 3 years after planting, it is not recommended to prune the bush. In subsequent years, the procedure is carried out in the fall, only if there are dried or diseased branches, or the bush becomes too dense.

Advice! If the bush seems excessively dense, remove several branches growing from the ground. Thin out the crown - each branch should be illuminated by the sun's rays.

In an old plant, the shoots and branches growing near the ground are cut off. Old branches are also removed: this will help the plant rejuvenate.

Transfer

Honeysuckle tolerates transplantation well even in adulthood. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the summer, after harvesting. Shrubs are replanted only if absolutely necessary (for example, if the place is not suitable for it, groundwater has come out close to the surface, etc.).

First of all, the bush is dug up and the edges of the root system are determined. Dig up the plant along with a lump of earth and transfer it to a new place, water it abundantly.

Honeysuckle propagation

A few years after planting, the plant can reproduce independently:

• seeds;
• layering;
• cuttings;
• dividing the bush.

All methods have their pros and cons. The choice depends on the time available and the ability to provide the new plant with proper care.

Seeds

Honeysuckle seeds germinate quickly and are stored well. For propagation you will need ripe or slightly overripe fruits. The pulp is spread on white paper (office paper, toilet paper, paper towels are suitable), which is then dried in the sun. The seeds are collected and removed from any remaining pulp.

The best time of year for sowing honeysuckle is summer.The seeds are unpretentious and do not require preliminary germination. To grow shrubs, use a mixture of black soil, sand and peat (in equal quantities). Honeysuckle sown in nutrient soil is placed under glass or in a greenhouse. The first shoots appear on the 20th day.

Interesting! The seeds are stored and do not lose their properties for up to 4 years.

For the winter, the seedlings are taken out into the garden and left to overwinter under a layer of snow. When the future bushes grow to 3 cm, they are planted in a garden bed at a distance of 10–15 cm from each other. The shoots are regularly watered, the soil is loosened, and weeds are removed.

After a year, the plants are replanted, the distance between them is increased to 50 cm. After about 4 years, the first fruits appear and the honeysuckle is transplanted to a permanent place.

Cuttings

There are two types of cuttings - green and woody. It's easier to use the latter.

To get new shrubs:

1. The cuttings are cut 20 cm long and no more than 8 mm thick. The procedure begins in the spring.
2. Stick the workpieces into the soil at an angle.
3. Cover the cuttings with a jar or thick transparent film.
4. Regularly moisten the soil. Roots appear within a month.
5. In autumn, plants are planted.

Green cuttings produce roots much more difficult. To obtain full-fledged seedlings, the cuttings are kept in a greenhouse.

By layering

Propagating honeysuckle by layering is the easiest way. To obtain a new shrub, perform the following steps:

1. At the beginning of June, the soil around the bush is loosened.
2. Select several one-year-old stems and bend them to the soil and secure them (for example, with wire).
3. Sprinkle with a layer of soil (3–5 cm).
4. Provide regular watering.
5. In the spring, the cuttings are separated from the bush and transplanted to a permanent place.

A full-fledged fruit-bearing bush grows from layering in about 2 years.

Dividing the bush

Only plants that are at least 6 years old are suitable for division. In the spring, without waiting for the buds to swell, the bush is removed from the ground and divided into several parts with a hacksaw or pruning shears. The places where the roots are cut are disinfected with charcoal. The resulting shrubs are planted in different places, watered abundantly, and fertilized with compost (1 bucket per bush).

It is not recommended to divide shrubs that are too mature: this will destroy the honeysuckle.

Conclusion

Honeysuckle does not cause much trouble for owners of summer cottages. The bush will delight you with tasty and healthy fruits for many years if you choose a suitable seedling, the optimal place for planting and follow the basic rules of caring for honeysuckle. The plant is resistant to frost, easily heals wounds and is practically not susceptible to disease. The shrub gets along with many fruit crops and is suitable for independent propagation.