An unpretentious variety of honeysuckle to grow, Blue Bird

Bluebird is an edible honeysuckle variety suitable for growing in northern regions. Among its positive characteristics are unpretentiousness in care and the ability to adapt to different climatic conditions. Let us consider in detail the rules for planting and growing Bluebirds and the agrotechnical requirements of the variety.

Description of the honeysuckle variety Blue Bird

Honeysuckle Bluebird is the result of the work of domestic breeders. The fruits contain 6.4% sugars, 17 mg of ascorbic acid and 631 mg of P-active substances.

Origin and development

The variety was bred at the Siberian Horticulture Research Institute named after. M. A. Lisavenko as a result of a spontaneous mutation caused by cross-pollination of Kamchatka honeysuckle.

Reference. In specialized nurseries this plant is sometimes found under the name “2-24”.

Characteristics

The bush is vigorous (height - 1.2–1.4 m, with proper care - 2 m) with a dense ellipsoidal crown with a diameter of 1.7-1.8 m. The shoots are thin, hairless, the bark on young branches is light green, last year's - brick brown. The leaf blades are oval, with sharp ends, green, smooth and shiny.

The flowering period begins immediately after frost. At this time, small bell-shaped flowers of a yellowish tint appear on the bushes, located in the leaf axils of 2 pieces.

The spindle-shaped berries reach a length of 2 cm, weigh 0.75–0.8 g each, and are covered with a thin inky-purple skin with a bluish-gray bloom. The taste is sour-sweet, slightly tart, with a pleasant fruity aroma.

Features of application

The berries are consumed fresh and used for processing: making preserves, jams, marshmallows, confitures and compotes.

Ripening period, yield and fruiting

This is an early ripening variety of honeysuckle - the harvest is ready for harvesting in early June. The bushes bear fruit for 20–25 years, starting 3 years after planting. The average yield is 1–1.5 kg per plant. With proper care and favorable climatic conditions, bushes aged 6–8 years produce 2.5–3 kg of berries.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety is characterized by high immunity to pests, but if the rules of care are not followed, Bluebird honeysuckle is affected by powdery mildew, mites and aphids.

Resistance to cold and drought

The bushes tolerate a drop in air temperature to -40...-45°C without additional shelter, but react negatively to sudden seasonal temperature changes, for example, a winter thaw.

The crop does not tolerate prolonged drought, and swampy soil provokes rotting of the root system. Optimal humidity level soil — 50–60%.

For which regions is it best suited?

The variety is recommended for growing in the North-West region. Thanks to its frost resistance and ability to quickly adapt to different climatic conditions, Bluebird is successfully cultivated in all areas.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main advantages of the Blue Bird:

• frost resistance;
• immunity to diseases and pests;
• ease of care;
• ability to adapt to different climatic conditions;
• long fruiting period;
• universal use of berries;
• early ripening of the crop.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• need for pollinating varieties;
• sensitivity to temperature changes;
• demands on the level of soil moisture;
• relatively low yield.

Differences from other varieties and hybrids

Comparison of Bluebird with other early ripening honeysuckle varieties:

Agricultural technology

In order for Bluebird bushes to produce a stable harvest for many years, it is important to meet their deadlines. landings, choose a suitable location and provide the plants with proper care.

Choosing a place in the garden

To plant honeysuckle, choose a lighted place, protected by trees or buildings from cold gusty winds. The permissible depth of groundwater is at least 1.5 m.

Due to intolerance to soil waterlogging, the crop is not planted in lowlands and wetlands.

Preparing for landing

It is advisable to buy 2-year-old seedlings 25–60 cm high with a closed root system and many thin white root shoots visible on the surface of the earthen ball.

24 hours before planting in the ground, the seedlings are removed from the container, the rhizome is cleared of the soil, washed under running water and all dry areas of the plant are removed. After this, the roots are soaked for 18–20 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator (40 drops of Zircon per 1 liter of water).

Reference. When planting honeysuckle in sandy loam soil, no additional sand is added.

In the fall, the area is dug up to a depth of 40 cm and spilled with a solution of copper sulfate (1 liter per 10 m²) for disinfection. After 7–10 days, for every 1 m² of soil, add 20 kg of manure, 400 g of wood ash and 10 kg of sand, and re-dig the soil to a depth of 20 cm.

Soil requirements

The highest yields are observed when Bluebird is grown in light, loose and fertile soil with good aeration, moisture permeability and acidity within pH 5–7. The best option is loam and sandstone.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

The optimal time for planting Bluebird is late summer, 1–1.5 months after harvest. In the southern regions, planting bushes is allowed in mid-late September.

Landing rules:

1. 20 days before planting, dig holes measuring 40x40 cm in the prepared area so that there is a pollinator plant in the center, and bluebird bushes around it.
2. Fill each hole 1/3 full with a nutritious soil mixture (half of the excavated soil, 20 kg of compost and 1.5 kg of wood ash).
3. Form mounds of soil mixture approximately 10 cm high in the center of the holes.
4. Cover the holes with polyethylene or tarpaulin.
5. After 20 days, remove the cover and pour 5 liters of water into each hole.
6. When the moisture is absorbed, make a depression in the center of the hill and place the roots of the seedling in it, spreading them over the entire area.
7. Fill the voids with soil so that the root collar is flush with the soil.
8. Compact and water the soil in the tree trunk circle, using 7–10 liters of water for each plant.
9. Mulch the tree trunk circle with compost.

The minimum distance between plants is 1.5 m.

Features of cultivation

The frequency of watering depends on climatic conditions: in hot weather, honeysuckle is moistened every 3-4 days by pouring 10–15 liters of water under the root of the bush. If it rains frequently, reduce the amount of watering.

After moistening, the soil in the tree trunk circle is loosened to a depth of maximum 5 cm to improve its moisture and breathability, and mulched with compost.

Feed the bushes start 3 years after planting according to the following scheme:

• in the spring, before the buds swell, with a urea solution (10 g of substance per 10 liters of water) at the rate of 3 liters for each bush;
• 10 days after flowering - wood ash (300 g per bush);
• 14 days after harvesting - with a nutrient solution (30 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water).

Every 3-4 years, the urea solution is replaced in the spring with organic matter: 15–20 kg of rotted manure on the tree trunk.

They begin to prune bushes at 4-5 years of age. Remove all branches that thicken the crown, leaving only stumps 20–40 cm long, so that the bush has a maximum of 15–18 strong shoots. A third of the skeletal branches are left untouched; the tallest side shoot is cut off from the rest.

Important! The procedure is carried out in spring or autumn. The main thing is that the air temperature must be above 0°C.

When the bushes reach the age of 12-15 years, anti-aging pruning is carried out - they get rid of 3-5 non-fruiting shoots per season.

Pollinators

This is a self-sterile variety that requires suitable pollinating varieties for fruiting:

• Cinderella;
• Moraine;
• Titmouse;
• Kamchadalka;
• Start;
• Blue spindle.

Disease and pest control

Diseases and pests affecting the Bluebird:

To prevent the development of diseases and pest attacks, at the beginning or end of the season, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux mixture, and during the active growing season, the soil and foliage are dusted with wood ash once every 10 days.

Preparing for winter

In mid-September or October (depending on the climatic conditions of the region), moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out - 30–40 liters of water are poured under each bush. After this, the tree trunk circle is loosened and mulched with compost and peat mixed in equal proportions. The height of the mulch layer is 10 cm.

Reproduction

Honeysuckle Bluebird reproduce vegetatively:

1. Green cuttings. After the bushes flower, cuttings 12 cm long are cut from young shoots so that each has 3 buds. They are soaked for a day in a solution of a growth stimulator (“Kornevine”, “Heteroauxine”), planted in the ground and covered with plastic bottles or polyethylene, regularly watering and ventilating.
2. Lignified cuttings. From the shoots of the current year, which have 2–5 internodes, at the end of September – beginning of October, after the leaves have fallen, cuttings are cut, wrapped in burlap or paper, buried to a depth of 10 cm and covered with leaves. In the spring, they are planted in the ground at an angle of 45° so that 1 internode remains above the surface.
3. Dividing the bush. Before the buds swell or after the leaves fall, bushes at the age of 3–5 years are dug up, divided into several parts with pruners, and each is planted in a permanent place.

Possible difficulties during cultivation

Problems when cultivating Bluebird:

• shedding of unripe berries - the bushes do not have enough moisture;
• slow development of bushes, cessation of fruiting - planting in lowlands or excessive watering, which led to swampy soil;
• curvature of leaf blades and the appearance of a whitish coating on them are signs of powdery mildew.

Harvesting

When the berries begin to darken, a film or cloth is spread under the bushes to preserve the crumbled part of the crop. About 15 days after this, the plants are shaken to collect the remaining fruits on the branches.

The berries are sorted, getting rid of all damaged specimens. Whole fruits without signs of disease or damage are placed in shallow paper-lined containers and stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days.

Tips and reviews from experienced gardeners

Gardeners recommend:

• place 3 varieties of honeysuckle on the site at once and, if possible, organize a planting of 10–15 bushes - this will have a positive effect on the size and taste of the berries;
• To attract pollen-carrying insects to the area during the flowering period, spray the leaves and the outside of the buds with honey syrup (40 g per 10 liters of water).

Farmers respond positively to the variety.

Irina, Volgograd: “This is not the most productive variety, but we have enough berries. Initially, we planted the bushes to make a hedge, but due to their self-sterility, the idea failed - we abandoned it and grow bushes in groups. The fruits are very tasty both fresh and processed. During all this time, the plants never got sick with anything.”

Mikhail, Mr.Belgorod: “For preventative purposes, I treat honeysuckle at the same time as other plants, so during the entire period of growing Bluebird, I have not encountered the bushes getting sick or being attacked by pests. I like that the variety bears fruit consistently and for a long time, the berries ripen early, they are very tasty.”

Conclusion

The Blue Bird honeysuckle variety was bred by domestic breeders and is characterized by a high degree of resistance to frost, diseases and pests, ease of care, early ripening of berries and their universal use. Among the disadvantages of the plant are self-sterility, sensitivity to temperature changes and low yield.