The best varieties of honeysuckle for the Leningrad region and recommendations for choosing the right one

The Leningrad region has a warm and humid continental climate, so any berries can be grown here without any problems. Along with cherries, raspberries and currants, summer residents plant honeysuckle on their plots - a vitamin-rich, unpretentious and tasty berry that pleases with stable yields and strong immunity. It is not afraid of frost and wind, it is universal in use: the fruits are eaten fresh, dried, or frozen. Let's consider the description of honeysuckle varieties for the Leningrad region and make a rating of the best.

Requirements for choosing honeysuckle for the Leningrad region

In the North-Western region there is no abundance of fertile soils, so the main requirement for the variety is undemanding soil. Otherwise, the plant grows weak and the yield will be unstable. The region is dominated by loamy and sandy loam soils with neutral or negative acidity. Before planting, it is recommended to lime them, dig them up and add a mixture of peat, manure, and compost.

Honeysuckle must be frost-resistant to withstand sudden temperature changes and spring frosts. Recommended winter hardiness indicators are -25°C. In this region, varieties that are resistant to high humidity are popular, because due to frequent rains and fogs, the berries crack and lose their taste and marketability.

Attention! Rains cause the development of viral and fungal diseases: gray rot, powdery mildew, fruit rot. It is recommended to plant varieties with immunity to diseases and insect pests.

The best varieties for the Leningrad region and the North-Western region

A selection of the best honeysuckle varieties will help you study the characteristics of each, compare the size and taste of the fruits, yield and early fruiting.

Dessert

The variety is mid-season, frost-resistant and unpretentious in cultivation. Medium-sized and spreading bushes consistently bear fruit both in sunny areas and in shade or partial shade. Leaves are rich green, oval. The color of the berries is interesting - purple, with a burgundy tint. Weight - about 2 g, the tear is dry, the skin is strong, with a waxy coating. The pulp is tender and juicy, the taste is sweet, with a pleasant sourness, no bitterness. The berries do not wrinkle or crack; they are used for storage and transportation.

Moraine

The mid-early variety is immune to diseases and is rarely damaged by pests. The harvest is harvested in mid-June, the fruits ripen smoothly and do not fall off. The bushes are vigorous, with greenish-brown shoots, the berries are large, weigh up to 1 g. The shape is elongated, pitcher-shaped, blue-blue in color, with a waxy coating. The pulp is juicy and aromatic, the taste is sweet and sour.

To increase productivity, 2-3 other varieties are planted next to Morena honeysuckle (for example, Blue Spindle, Viola). The berries are used to make jam or eaten fresh.

Nymph

Honeysuckle Nymph is common in all regions of Russia. It is easy to care for and is not affected by fungal diseases. The variety is frost-resistant down to -30°C, so the plant is not afraid of frost and cold. The ripening period is mid-early, the bushes are vigorous.The leaves are large, dark green, the flowers are large. The berries are elongated, spindle-shaped, the average weight of one is 0.8 g. The color is blue-blue, the surface is slightly lumpy. The taste is sweet and aromatic, the berry is good in any form.

Attention! To increase productivity, 2-3 years after planting, carry out the first pruning of the plant. In autumn, dry and short branches and shoots with poor growth are removed. After another 3-4 years, the honeysuckle is rejuvenated - all old branches are cut off, leaving only young shoots on the lower shoots.

Swan

Mid-season variety The first harvest is harvested in early or mid-July. Swan is resistant to shedding; the fruits remain on the branches for 3-4 weeks after ripening. The bushes are compressed, vigorous, the leaves are large. The berries are oval, with a curved base, blue-blue in color. The fruits are one-dimensional, average weight - 1.2 g, the skin is thick, the waxy coating is weak. The consistency is dense, gristly, the taste is sweet and sour. The tasting score of the berries is 4.8 points. Resistance to frost and drought is high.

Malvina

Medium-sized bushes with an oval crown they look original on personal plots. The shoots are thin and straight, the leaves are dark green, large and oval. The berries are pear-shaped and elongated, weighing about 1 g per one. The color is blue-blue, with a thick layer of waxy coating. The taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is rich.

Honeysuckle Malvina is grown for personal consumption and on a production scale - the berries are transportable, have a shelf life, and do not spoil on the road.

Volkhova

Mid-season universal variety. The plant is medium-sized, with thick and straight shoots. The berries are oval, elongated, with a pointed tip. The weight of one is about 0.8 g, some specimens reach 1.4 g. The color is blue-blue, the peel is of medium thickness.The taste is sweet and delicate, tasting score - 4.7 points.

Volkhova is not damaged by diseases or pests, but is susceptible to soil composition - for a regular harvest, it is recommended to add superphosphate, wood ash, and potassium salt to the soil. The variety requires planting a pollinator nearby and sufficient moisture.

Yoke

The plant is medium-sized, fast-growing, the shoots are straight, with weak pubescence. The variety is early-bearing, begins to bear fruit 3 years after landings. It is unpretentious in cultivation and is rarely affected by diseases and insects. The berries are elongated, oval, blue-violet in color, the weight of one is about 0.8 g. The waxy coating is medium, the skin is durable. The consistency is delicate, the taste is sweet and sour, not bitter.

Attention! Some honeysuckle berries are bitter. The reasons for this lie in the characteristics of the variety and non-compliance with care rules. To remove the unpleasant aftertaste, the berries are frozen - low temperatures remove the bitterness. Compotes and jelly are made from such fruits.

Masha

The mid-season variety Masha is popular in all regions of the country. Summer residents value honeysuckle for its taste: the pulp is sweet and sour, with a rich aroma and a slight bitterness. Tasting score: 4.4 points. The average weight of the fruit is 1.1 g, the tear is dry or semi-dry. The color is rich blue, there is a medium waxy coating that protects the berries from cracking and mold.

The variety is resistant to temperature fluctuations in winter and is not affected by wasps and aphids. To increase productivity, honeysuckle is planted in sunny and spacious areas, with 2-3 more varieties placed nearby.

Pushkinskaya

An early-ripening dessert variety, harvested in early summer. The bushes are medium spreading, with thick shoots. The leaves are large, dark green. The berries are cylindrical, bluish-blue, thin skin, with a waxy coating.The weight of the fruit is about 1 g. The taste is delicate, sweet and sour, with a pleasant aroma.

The variety is suitable for industrial cultivation, processing, transportation and storage. The crop is early-bearing - the first harvest is harvested 3-4 years after planting.

Early varieties of honeysuckle for the Leningrad region

Early varieties produce a harvest already at the beginning of summer, the fruits are used for fresh consumption and for preparing winter preparations.

1. Summer residents select a variety Titmouse, universal to use and unpretentious to grow. The berries are oval, weigh about 0.8 g, the color is yellow-blue, almost black, rich. The taste is harmonious sweet and sour. Tasting score: 4.5 points.
2. Among the early ripening varieties, honeysuckle Pamyati Kuminova is noted. The bushes are medium-sized, shoots with weak drooping. The weight of the fruit is 1.3 g, the color is blue, the skin is strong. The taste is sweet and aromatic, the flesh is tender in taste, without bitterness. The variety is drought-resistant and frost-resistant, the tasting rating of the berries is 4.8 points.

Average

Mid-ripening varieties ripen 2-3 weeks later than early-ripening ones. The fruiting period is extended, honeysuckle is resistant to powdery mildew, ramularia, cercospora, and branch drying. Summer residents often choose Omega and Elizabeth.

1. Honeysuckle Omega It is distinguished by a flat-round crown and large oval berries. The weight of the fruit is about 1 g, the color is blue, the skin is strong, with a thick waxy coating. The taste is sweet and sour and delicate, rating - 4.5 points. The variety is frost-resistant, early-fruiting, and easy to grow.
2. Yagoda Elizaveta oval, weighs from 1.2 to 1.8 g, with a bumpy surface. Taste rating: 5 points, sweet flesh, rich aroma. Elizabeth’s bushes are slightly spreading; regular pruning is done to increase productivity.The variety is resistant to heat, drought, frost, diseases and pests, and is suitable for industrial cultivation.

Late

Late-ripening honeysuckle produces a harvest in late July or early August. The berries make vitamin-rich and delicious preserves, jams, and confitures. Late variety is popular Selena. The bushes are dense, medium-sized, with a rounded crown. The berries are black, with a blue waxy coating, a blunt tip, weigh about 1 g. The taste is sweet and sour, with a bitter taste. Selena is universal in use - suitable for drying, transportation, and cooking.

Another common late variety is Gorlinka. The berries are large, pitcher-shaped, with thick skin. The color is blue, there is a medium waxy coating. The separation is dry, Gorlinka’s tasting score is 5 points. The pulp is sweet, sour, refreshing. After processing, honeysuckle does not lose its vitamin and taste qualities. The turtle dove is not affected by diseases and pests and is resistant to drought, heat and frost.

Other options

To choose a suitable variety, pay attention not only to the timing of ripening, but also to the size of the fruit, self-fertility, and appearance of the plant.

Large-fruited

Common large-fruited varieties are Bakcharsky giant and Daughter of the giant. The name honeysuckle speaks for itself - every year gardeners collect large and heavy fruits.

1. Bakchar giant mid-season, extended ripening period. The shoots are thick, the leaves are large, dark green. The berries are oval blue, with a bloom, weigh about 1.8 g. The taste is sweet and sour, the score is 4.8 points, the flesh is fleshy and tender.
2. The Giant's Daughter - mid-late variety, universal in use. The bushes are vigorous, the shoots are fast growing. The weight of the berry reaches 2.5 g, the color is blue-violet. The consistency of honeysuckle is dense, cartilaginous.There is a waxy coating, the tear off is dry. The taste is refreshing, sweet and sour, rating - 4.8 points. Winter hardiness and drought resistance are high, heat resistance is average.

Self-pollinating

Self-pollinating varieties have bisexual flowers, so they do not require insects for pollination. This honeysuckle bears fruit consistently in any weather.

1. Among the self-pollinating varieties, Yugan honeysuckle is distinguished. The bushes are medium-sized, about 2 m high. Yugana ripens gradually, the crop is harvested 2-3 times per season. The berries are pitcher-shaped, weigh about 1.5 g, blue in color, with a thick waxy coating. The taste is sweet, with a refreshing aroma, rating - 4.8 points. Productivity is about 5 kg per bush per season.
2. Another well-known self-fertile variety is Sibiryachka. The weight of the berry is about 1 g, the color is dark purple, with a blue tinge. The taste is sweet and aromatic, tasting score - 4.9 points. Sibiryachka's bushes are medium-sized, shoots with weak pubescence. The harvest is suitable for fresh consumption, processing and transportation.

Decorative

Decorative honeysuckle attracts with its lush crown and colorful flowers. Depending on the variety, the berries acquire red, yellow, orange, and purple colors. Beautiful type of decorative honeysuckle - golden. The height of the dense bush is up to 4 m, the leaves are dark green, the flowers are golden yellow. Flowering begins in May and lasts 2 weeks. The plant rarely gets sick and is easy to care for.

Honeysuckle will decorate your home or garden plot. The height of the bush is 3 m, the leaves are thick, rich green. The flowers are lemon-red. This species grows well in the shade, is frost-resistant, but requires moisture.

This is interesting:

Decorative honeysuckle - planting and care

Recommendations for choosing a variety

To choose the right variety, gardeners recommend keeping a few tips in mind. Shade-tolerant varieties are suitable for growing in the shade; any varieties are suitable for a sunny area. If honeysuckle is cultivated for sale, pay attention to large-fruited and transportable berries, which are protected from cracking and covered with a thick waxy coating. For cooking, honeysuckle with sweet and sour pulp, without bitterness, is planted. Fruits with a bitter taste are used for freezing.

When choosing a variety, pay attention to the height and size of the bush. Compact plants with a compressed crown are suitable for small areas; vigorous and spreading ones are suitable for spacious areas. Decorative honeysuckle will decorate any garden.

Conclusion

For the North-West of the country and St. Petersburg, unpretentious and frost-resistant varieties of edible and decorative honeysuckle are chosen. Dessert, Malvina, Nymph, Swan have a pleasant taste, immunity to diseases and pests. From the large-fruited ones they choose the Giant’s Daughter, from the self-fertile ones - Yugana. Gardeners are also pleased with decorative golden and blanket honeysuckle. Before purchasing and planting a seedling, it is recommended to study a photo of an adult plant and read several reviews from experienced gardeners.