Early ripening variety of honeysuckle “Blue Cliff”
Honeysuckle is a crop genetically adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Therefore, it is widespread in regions where spring frosts, severe frosts and hot days are common. Based on wild species of shrubs, breeders have created many varieties bearing sweet berries. Blue Cliff is one of the most popular.
Description of honeysuckle Blue Cliff
Blue Cliff is a new variety that meets all the needs of gardeners from regions with cold and changeable climates. Honeysuckle It is distinguished by its large sweet fruits and excellent frost resistance. The bushes are low-growing, medium-spreading, with straight green shoots on which there are elongated, medium-sized, oval-shaped leaves.
Origin
The variety was bred at the Bakcharsky OPSS, in the village of Bakchar, Tomsk region. Authors Savinkova N.V. and Gagarkin A.V. in 1987 carried out free pollination of the selected form of Kamchatka honeysuckle 2-64-32. During this period, a team of scientists was collecting a collection of wild berries, the study of which was supposed to help the emergence of new promising crops with improved consumer qualities.
Characteristics
The variety has a standard bush with a raised, rounded shape, which gives a great advantage during mechanized harvesting. The berries are clearly visible because the foliage is small.
The fruits are large, dark purple, with a strong waxy coating and a slightly bumpy surface. The shape is elongated oval. Weight - from 2 to 2.6 g, average number of seeds.The tasting committee gave the fresh berries a score of 4.9 out of 5 possible points. The skin of the fruit is of medium thickness, the taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, the aroma is moderate.
Composition per 100 g:
- dry soluble substances - 14.7%;
- sugar - 9.8%;
- acids - 3.1%;
- vitamin C - 42.3 mg.
Features of application
Blue Cliff is a universal variety, suitable for both fresh consumption and use in preparations. The jams and compotes that are distinguished by their delicate aroma and rich color are especially tasty. The berries store well, pureed with sugar, and are suitable for freezing.
Productivity and fruiting
Honeysuckle is distinguished by the uniform ripening of fruits, which are almost (up to 90%) identical in size and weight. The average yield of a bush is achieved by 3-4 years and is 3.5-4 kg of berries that are not subject to shedding.
Reference. The maximum yield reaches the plant when it is 7-8 years old, when it is in its prime.
Fruiting is annual, without interruption, abundant, lasting up to 15 years of crop life. At the time of harvest ripening, the branches are hung with purple-blue clusters, clearly visible on the branches.
Ripening period
The first ripe berries appear in early July. Mass ripening usually occurs in the middle of the month. The dates shift by several days due to weather conditions, so in cloudy and cool summers the harvest is carried out later.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Previously it was believed that shrubs are not subject to no diseases, no insect attacks, but with the spread of honeysuckle across different regions of the country, it became clear that the crop needed to be protected from pests and infections.
If improperly cared for, plants are at risk of:
- ramulariasis is a consequence of the activity of fungi, leading to weakening of the plant;
- cercospora - infection by fungi, leading to drying out of the bush;
- tubercularosis - wilting and subsequent death of leaves and shoots;
- powdery mildew - deformation and death of shoots and foliage, which results from infection with a fungus;
- Rhea mosaic virus is a disease spread by nematodes.
Insect pests and their larvae weaken bushes by sucking juices from young shoots and leaves. Massive pest attacks lead to crop loss and even death of the weakest plants.
Most often the following appear on bushes:
- rose leaf roller - a fluffy caterpillar weaving young shoots with a web;
- honeysuckle - a butterfly that eats the ovary, destroying not only the pulp of future berries, but also the seeds;
- aphid - small insects that, without prevention and control, can appear in two generations per season;
- gooseberry moth - a voracious caterpillar that eats young shoots;
- willow and acacia scale insects - insects that suck juices from shoots.
Resistance to cold and drought
Blue Rock is a frost-resistant variety. During testing, the shrub tolerated winter air temperature drops to -49...-50.6°C well. Even during the flowering period, the crop is very resistant to cold; flowers tolerate freezing down to -7...-8°C without negative consequences.
Drought resistance is average. Good watering is required during the period of active growth and fruiting.
Climate requirements
Hot and dry regions are not suitable for growing Blue Rock: there the shrub grows reluctantly, develops slowly, and bears fruit poorly.Attempts to adapt honeysuckle to grow in the southern regions did not lead to the desired result - genetically inherent frost resistance makes the plant develop better and bear fruit abundantly in regions with a cold climate.
Weather-resistant and unpretentious plant can withstand unpredictable weather changes: sudden winter thaws, spring cold snaps. The variety is suitable for the Far East, Siberia and the Urals.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Advantages of the bush:
- stability of fruiting;
- convenience of picking berries both manually and mechanically;
- frost resistance and ability to withstand heat;
- unpretentiousness;
- dense fruits that are easy to transport;
- stable immunity to pests and diseases with proper care.
There are few disadvantages:
- the tendency of bushes to thicken with age;
- weak growth of layerings.
Differences from other varieties and hybrids
The crown of the variety is compact, the plant is 1.2 m high and is well suited for industrial cultivation on a large scale. Harvesting berries that ripen together is easy to do using combine harvesters. Fruits with thick skin do not wrinkle when moving along the conveyor.
Agricultural technology
The best time to plant honeysuckle is early autumn, September. At this time, the growth of culture stops, and the time of rest begins. Properly planted bushes take root well and enter fruiting time on time.
Choosing a place in the garden
This undemanding variety is best planted in areas shaded by the crowns of tall trees or outbuildings so that direct rays of the sun do not often fall on the bushes.
Attention! It is important to avoid low-lying, swampy and overly wet areas in the garden. On dry hills the shrub will grow stunted.
Too much shading has a negative effect on the development of the bush. Intense lighting causes the berries to become smaller and the yield decreases.
Preparing for landing
In order to please honeysuckle with a harvest as soon as possible, two-year-old bushes are purchased. When choosing, take into account that the plants have several branches, a well-developed root system, and several buds on each shoot.
Before planting, each specimen is carefully inspected, broken branches are removed, roots that are too long are cut to 30 cm. The exposed root system is dipped in a liquid solution made from 1 kg of clay and 10 liters of water so that the roots are protected during the adaptation period.
Soil requirements
Blue rock is not picky about soil composition, but grows and bears fruit better in crumbly, loose soil with good drainage. High acidity is undesirable - it is neutralized with dolomite flour. The most suitable pH index is from 5.5 to 6.5.
Since the bushes grow for a long time in the same place without replanting (up to 20 years), the soil is carefully prepared:
- They dig to a bayonet depth, turning each layer over.
- Remove the rhizomes of weeds.
- Add the necessary substances or fertilizers.
- Level the surface with a metal rake, breaking up lumps.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
In spring, the survival rate of seedlings is about 80%. Planting is carried out as soon as the snow cover melts, in late April - early May. Autumn is the most preferable for planting: bushes planted before winter tolerate frost well and adapt more easily. The best time is the third ten days of September - the first days of October.
The area prepared for honeysuckle is marked. The holes are dug at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other.The dimensions of the holes must correspond to the parameters 40x40x40 cm. Planting technology:
- Half a bucket of water is poured into the hole.
- Pour soil onto the bottom, forming it in the form of a mound.
- Place the seedling on top, carefully straightening the roots.
- Fill the hole, trying to fill and eliminate all voids, lightly compact the earth.
- Water again.
The soil on top is mulched using sawdust, straw, peat, and pine needles.
Features of cultivation
Since honeysuckle’s root system is located close to the surface, the top layer of soil in the root circle is dug up carefully. Weeds are removed carefully, without turning out clods of soil.
Blue rock grows well next to barberries and black currants. Fruit honeysuckles include cherries, plums and apple trees.
Honeysuckle responds well to feeding. In the spring, fertilizers are applied with nitrogen, in the fall - with potassium and phosphorus.
Regular pruning not only creates a good bush shape, but also has a beneficial effect on yield. Trimming rules:
- in the first year, the seedling is pruned, leaving 3-5 strong shoots;
- Dry and broken branches and some of the young shoots that thicken the crown are removed annually;
- after 7 years, they do strong anti-aging pruning, removing old branches.
Pollinators
Blue Rock honeysuckle is self-sterile and therefore requires pollinators. For convenience, plants are sold in groups, which include crops that are most beneficial for obtaining a bountiful harvest.
The plant interacts well with the varieties Fianit, Berel, Morena. These shrubs bloom at the same time.
Disease and pest control
Honeysuckle is treated in the fall, since in the spring toxic substances can enter the ovaries. During the dormant period, sanitary pruning is carried out and damaged branches and leaves are burned.
On a dry, windless day, plants are sprayed with insecticides, and the treatment is repeated after 1-2 days. Fungicides are used to control diseases.
Preparing for winter
Adult healthy plants are not prepared for the cold season. Young, newly planted shrubs shelter for the winter spruce branches or straw.
Advice. Covering with snow will protect shoots from frostbite when strong winter winds blow or there is a threat of icing during thaws.
Reproduction
Since the basal shoots of the variety are very weak, it will not be possible to propagate Blue Cliff by layering. The best option for honeysuckle is cuttings. Cuttings are taken from green shoots at the end of June, and from woody shoots - at the beginning of winter, keeping them sprinkled with leaves and straw in the basement until spring.
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Difficulties in growing
Honeysuckle is a less common crop, since not everyone can get a good harvest. Possible difficulties and their causes:
- seedlings do not take root - poor planting material;
- absence of ovaries - no pollinating plants;
- low yield - weak activity of pollinating insects due to cloudy weather;
- small berries - poor watering, exposure to intense sunlight.
Many people underestimate the importance of pruning, but regular pruning is essential for good fruiting.
Harvesting
Already in the first half of June, the ripening of berries begins. The active process continues for a month, the harvest is harvested until mid-July. The fruits hang until the last day of harvest, even the ripest ones do not fall off. They are easily separated from the thin stalk, the tearing is dry, the juice does not flow out.
Harvesting is easy to do both manually and using combines on an industrial scale. They begin when most of the berries have reached the same size, are easily separated from the stalk, and taste sweet.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle Blue Cliff is an easy-to-care variety that produces up to 4 kg of tasty berries of equal size and shape by the age of 4. The shrub can withstand drought, frosts down to -40...-50°C, and is resistant to pests and diseases. If you follow the recommendations, you can grow strong bushes that produce a bountiful harvest.