Late, frost-resistant honeysuckle variety "Roxana"
Roxana is a variety of edible honeysuckle suitable for growing in northern regions. In addition to frost resistance, it is characterized by large berries, a pleasant taste and good immunity to diseases and pests. In the article we will give a description of the honeysuckle variety Roxana, talk in detail about the requirements for planting and care it imposes, its advantages and disadvantages.
Description
Roxana is a honeysuckle variety bred by Russian breeders. 100 g of berries contain 33% vitamin C, 66% potassium, 5.4% magnesium, 2% calcium, 86 g of water and carbohydrates. The fruits do not contain fats, proteins or dietary fiber. Calorie content is 41 kcal/100 g.
Origin and development
Honeysuckle Roxana was bred in the Bakcharsky nursery of northern horticulture (Tomsk region), whose specialists are engaged in the selection of crops that are frost-resistant and suitable for growing in northern climates.
The variety was submitted for registration in 1987 and included in the State Register of Russia in 2002.
Characteristics, description of appearance, taste
The plant is a medium-sized (1.5-1.7 m high) bushes with a rounded, medium-dense crown with a diameter of 60-70 cm and erect shoots thickened at the base with pinkish bark at the ends.
The leaf blades are large, rich dark green in color, and have slight pubescence on the edges and underside.
The berries are oblong-elongated, large: reach 3 cm in length, 1 cm in diameter and weigh 0.9-1.3 g.They are covered with a thin skin of dark purple, and when fully ripe, almost black in color with a dense layer of waxy coating.
The pulp is dense and fibrous. The fruits are characterized by a pleasant sweet and sour taste without bitterness and a strawberry aftertaste.
Features of application
The fruits of Roxana are consumed fresh, dried, dried, frozen, used for making jams, preserves or confiture.
Due to their decorative appearance, bushes are often planted to decorate a site.
Ripening period, yield and fruiting
Roxana is a late-ripening variety; the harvest ripens in mid-July or late June when Roxana is grown in the southern regions.
The bushes begin to bear fruit 3 years after landings, yield - 3.5 kg per bush.
Reference. Provided that all agrotechnical requirements are met, fruiting continues for at least 15 years.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to diseases and pests, but as a result of improper care, bushes can be affected by cercospora blight, mosaic, rust, powdery mildew, spotting, tuberculosis, spider mites, aphids and scale insects.
Resistance to cold and drought
The variety is resistant to cold - the bushes continue to bear fruit even after winter, when frosts reach -40°C.
Lack of moisture leads to a decrease in yield and deterioration in the quality of fruits; excessive watering and waterlogging of the soil provoke rotting of the root system.
Growing regions and climate requirements
Thanks to its unpretentiousness and frost resistance, the variety is successfully cultivated in all, including northern, regions of Russia.
Advantages and disadvantages
Roxana's main advantages:
- pleasant sweet and sour taste;
- large fruit;
- good immunity to diseases and pests;
- unpretentiousness;
- frost resistance;
- stable yield;
- decorative appearance of bushes.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- low resistance to drought;
- tendency to shed berries when ripe.
Difference from other varieties and hybrids
The table compares Roxana with other late-ripening honeysuckle varieties.
| Variety | Berry weight, g | Taste | Berries shape | Productivity, c/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxana | 0,9-1,3 | Sweet and sour | Oblong-elongated | 33 |
| Persistent | 0,81 | Sweet and sour with bitterness | Oval-lumpy | 41,7 |
| Provincial | 1,9 | Sweet | Elongated oval | 67 |
| Selena | 1 | Sweet and sour with a slight bitterness | Elliptical | 67,9 |
Agricultural technology
In order for the cultivation of honeysuckle to bring positive results, it is important to choose the right seedlings and place for planting them, as well as to provide the plants with proper care.
Choosing a place in the garden
For planting Roxana choose a well-lit place on the south side of the site, located approximately 3 m from buildings or fruit trees, which will serve as protection from cold gusty winds.
Reference. A large amount of sunlight accelerates the ripening of the crop and has a positive effect on the taste of the berries, increasing their sugar content.
Stagnation of moisture in the soil leads to rotting of the roots, so the depth of groundwater should be 2.5-3 m.
Preparing for landing
When purchasing seedlings, preference is given to specimens 50 cm high with developed roots 30-35 cm long, without signs of disease and pest damage.
To disinfect, seedlings are sprayed with a solution of colloidal sulfur (30 g per 10 liters of water) before planting, which is washed off under running water after 3-5 hours. The roots are soaked for at least 6 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator (Kornevin, Heteroauxin). This accelerates the development and rooting of bushes.
The site is prepared a month before planting.To do this, for 1 sq. m of land, add 10 kg of humus, after which the soil is carefully dug up.
Soil requirements
Roxana grows and develops well in light, loose and fertile soil with an average or neutral level of acidity, good air and moisture permeability. The best option is loam and black soil.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
Planting is carried out in spring (April) or autumn (September):
- In the selected area, rows are made at a distance of 2 m from each other.
- Dig planting holes in them measuring 50x70 cm.
- A drainage layer of broken brick, pebbles, expanded clay or sawdust is placed at the bottom of each.
- 1 bucket of peat and 1 tbsp are poured on top. wood ash.
- Place the seedling in the center, straighten its roots, sprinkle it with earth and compact it, eliminating the formation of voids.
- Water the plantings and mulch the soil with peat.
The distance between bushes should be 3 m.
Features of cultivation
Watering is carried out as the soil dries out. On average, honeysuckle is watered once every 5-10 days - 3 buckets of water for young bushes and 5-6 for adults.
After each watering, the top layer of soil is loosened so that moisture does not linger near the roots, causing them to rot. Weeding is carried out as needed - as soon as the height of the weed reaches a height of 20 cm.
Fertilizers are applied from the second year after planting according to the following scheme:
- at the end of April - 3-4 kg of humus for each bush;
- a week before harvesting - watering with potassium solution (100 g of potassium nitrate per 10 liters of water) at the rate of 3 liters per bush;
- in early September - 1 liter of superphosphate solution (200 g per 10 liters of water) for each plant.
Pruning of bushes is carried out from 2-3 years of their life. In spring, remove all dry, damaged shoots and growths that can reduce yield.10-12 years after planting, all old branches are cut off as they stop bearing fruit.
Roxana does not require formative pruning, the exception being excessive thickening. In this case, a third of the crown is removed, cutting off the shoots to 5 buds.
Pollinators
Roxana is a self-fertile variety, so the bushes do not need pollinators. Productivity increases significantly if honeysuckle varieties such as Kamchadalka, Tomichka, and Parabelskaya grow nearby.
Disease and pest control
Diseases and pests that can affect Roxana are described in the table.
| Disease/pest | Description | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Cercospora | Gray-green spots appear on the leaves, which gradually acquire a brown color and dark edging. | The bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. |
| Mosaic | Unusual milky patterns are visible on the leaf plates. | The area is treated with Oxychoma solution. |
| Rust | The appearance of orange or red spots of irregular shape on the bushes. | Plants are treated with Karbofos. |
| Powdery mildew | The foliage turns yellow and falls off, the shoots dry out and turn brown or black. | Affected bushes are treated with fungicidal preparations, for example, “Skorom”, “HOM” or “Topaz”. |
| spotting | ||
| Tuberculariosis | ||
| Spider mites | The leaves turn yellow and fall off, and cobwebs appear on the branches. | Plants are treated with Fitoverm or Kemifos. |
| Aphid | A sticky coating appears on the shoots, the leaves curl and become deformed. | Spray with Kinmiksa or Inta-Vira solution. |
| Shields | The leaves turn yellow, become deformed and fall off. | Treatment with a solution of “Aktellika”, “Confidora”, “Rogora”. |
Spraying is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 15-20 days.To prevent pest attacks in the spring, the bushes are watered with hot (+80...+90°C) water to destroy the larvae.
Difficulties in growing
Possible problems when cultivating Roxana:
- low yield or the formation of small and sour berries - the bushes do not have enough sunlight;
- yellowing, deformation, curling of leaves are signs of pest attack;
- the bushes stop developing, stop bearing fruit, deteriorate and die - symptoms of rotting of the root system.
Preparing for winter
Due to the high degree of frost resistance, Roxana honeysuckle bushes do not require winter shelter. The exception is cultivation in regions where the air temperature in winter drops below -40°C.
In this case, an additional layer of mulch is created, and the bushes are covered with agrofibre or plastic film, which are removed in late April - early May.
Reproduction
Roxana is propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.
For seed propagation Ripe berries are ground on a paper towel, covered with a layer of paper and the planting material is stored at room temperature. In June, the seeds are sown in a container with moist soil, buried 1 mm, and covered with film. Shoots appear after 20 days; at the end of autumn they are transplanted into open ground.
Reference. This method is most often used by breeders.
For cuttings young strong shoots with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 15-18 cm are used. The cuttings are planted in the ground, buried by 10 cm so that at least 2 buds remain above the soil surface, and covered with film to accelerate the development of the root system. Rooting takes about a month.
When propagated by layering at the beginning of summer, several strong young shoots are selected from the base of an adult bush, tilted to the ground, fixed and sprinkled with soil. Regular watering is carried out until spring, and then they are separated from the mother plant and planted in a permanent place.
Harvest and storage
The harvest is harvested in mid-July, in the south - at the end of June. This is done in several stages, as the berries ripen, since the fruits are prone to shedding.
In a dark, dry and cool room, honeysuckle is stored for 3-4 months, in the freezer - 7 months.
This is interesting:
Features of planting and caring for honeysuckle in the Urals
Kamchatka honeysuckle - description and best varieties
Decorative climbing honeysuckle - cultivation, propagation and care
Tips and reviews from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners recommend:
- when using agrofibre or polyethylene as a winter shelter, open the bushes daily for 1.5-2 hours to ventilate and eliminate the risk of developing diseases;
- to preserve moisture and slow down the growth of weeds, mulch the ground with peat or humus;
- Cover the bushes with gauze for the winter to protect the buds from birds.
Gardeners speak positively about the variety, noting the decorativeness of the bushes, the taste of the berries and the high yield.
Sergey, Novosibirsk: “Roxana is a great honeysuckle. It bears fruit consistently, the berries are large and tasty, and not bitter at all. I read that they recommend planting other varieties nearby and followed the advice - I planted several Tomichka bushes nearby. As a result, the yield increased, and the fruits became sweeter and larger.”
Maria, Perm: “I chose Roxana on the advice of my neighbors and was pleased. The bushes are beautiful, they decorate the area, and the berries are simply delicious - juicy, sweet with a slight sourness.The yield is also encouraging - there are enough fresh berries to eat and jam to make.”
Conclusion
Roxana is an unpretentious frost-resistant variety of honeysuckle, ideal for growing in northern regions with harsh climates. It is characterized by large fruit, pleasant sweet and sour taste, stable yield and decorative appearance of the bushes. Among the shortcomings, only low resistance to drought and a tendency to shed berries are noted.