Early maturing resistant honeysuckle variety Vasyuganskaya

Vasyuganskaya is one of the most popular varieties of edible honeysuckle. It is unpretentious, characterized by the decorative appearance of the bushes, frost resistance, early ripening and large fruit. About what conditions are necessary for the development and fruiting of this honeysuckle, we will tell you further.

Description of the honeysuckle variety Vasyuganskaya

Vasyuganskaya is a variety of edible honeysuckle bred by domestic breeders.

It is resistant to frost and pests and has a pleasant, sweet and sour taste of berries, 100 g of which contains 58 mg of ascorbic acid, 5.7% monosaccharides, 2.7% organic acids.

Breeding history

The variety was bred in the Bakcharsky stronghold of northern gardening at the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after. M.A. Lisavenko as a result of free pollination of the elite form No. 68/2 of Turchaninov’s honeysuckle. The authors of Vasyuganskaya are I.K. Gidyuk and A.T. Tkacheva.

The variety was included in the State Register of Russia in 1990, the originator is the Federal Altai Scientific Center for Agrobiotechnologies.

Reference. The variety is named after the r. Vasyugan, flowing in the southwest of Siberia.

Characteristics, description of appearance, taste

The plant is a medium-sized shrub, reaching a height of 1 m, with a medium-spreading, rounded crown and slightly pubescent, thin and flexible shoots of a reddish-green color. The leaves are green, medium in size, pubescent, broadly lanceolate in shape with an elongated apex.

During flowering, which occurs at the beginning of May, small, pale yellow flowers with long stamens and a light aroma are formed at the tops of the shoots, collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pieces.

The berries are large, elongated, pitcher-shaped with a flat top, reach a length of 2.2 cm and weigh on average 0.8-1.2 g. They are covered with a thin, slightly bumpy skin of dark purple, almost black color with a thin layer of waxy coating.

The pulp is dense, has a sweet taste with slight sourness, without bitterness.

Application

The berries of Vasyugan honeysuckle are characterized by universal use. They are consumed fresh, frozen, dried or canned.

Bushes of this variety have a decorative appearance, so they are often used to decorate a site.

Ripening period, yield and fruiting

This is an early ripening variety - the berries begin to ripen in early June.

Fruiting begins in the second year after planting. The average yield is 85 c/ha.

Reference. The maximum yield of Vasyugan honeysuckle is 116 c/ha.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety is resistant to diseases, but in conditions of high humidity and with improper care there is a risk of powdery mildew, various forms of spotting, sooty fungus, potato virus and cucumber mosaic.

Dangerous pests include aphids, scale insects, honeysuckle fingerwings and root-knot nematodes.

Resistance to cold and drought

Vasyuganskaya can withstand frosts down to –40°C and tolerate short-term drought.

Growing regions and climate requirements

The variety prefers a temperate climate, but with proper care it grows and develops in all regions.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages of the variety:

• early maturation;
• excellent taste without bitterness;
• frost and drought resistance;
• high immunity to diseases;
• good keeping quality and transportability;
• rapid growth during the first years after planting.

Cons of Vasyuganskaya:

• uneven ripening of the crop;
• fruit shedding after full ripening;
• need for pollinating plants.

Difference from other varieties and hybrids

A comparison of Vasyuganskaya with other early ripening honeysuckle varieties is presented in the table.

Agricultural technology

Compliance with the agrotechnical requirements of the crop is a necessary condition for the annual receipt of a full-fledged harvest.

Choosing a place in the garden and preparing holes

To plant Vasyuganskaya honeysuckle, choose a lighted place located on a hill and protected from gusty winds and drafts.

Reference. Shading has a negative effect on the development and fruiting of bushes.

The plant does not tolerate excessive humidity, therefore, when choosing a place for planting, make sure that there are no swamps or other bodies of water nearby, and that the groundwater level is at least 1 m.

Preparation of seedlings

For planting, select healthy seedlings with flexible, intact roots and strong shoots. Before planting, the roots are placed in a solution of a growth stimulator (Kornevin, Epin) for 2-3 hours.

The soil on the site is dug up in advance and cleared of plant debris.Sandy soil is enriched with manure and peat; chalk, lime mortar or dolomite flour are added to soil with high acidity.

Soil requirements

The variety prefers fertile, loose soil with aeration, moisture permeability and a neutral acidity level. The best option is loam or sandstone.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

The timing of planting depends on the climatic conditions of the region: in the northern zone, characterized by early frosts, spring planting is preferred (late March - early April), in the southern regions - autumn planting (late September - early October).

Boarding order:

1. In the selected area, dig planting holes measuring 40x40 cm.
2. Add compost, superphosphate and ash to each nutrient mixture.
3. Place the seedlings in the recesses, straighten the roots, sprinkle with soil mixture so that they are buried 5-7 cm.
4. Lightly compact the soil, water with warm water and mulch.

The distance between bushes should be 1.8-2 m, between rows - at least 2.5 m.

Features of cultivation

Water the plants at the roots as the top layer of soil dries, on average 2-3 times a month.

The ground around the bushes is not loosened, and weeding is carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the root system located close to the surface.

They begin to feed honeysuckle from the second year after planting the seedlings. In early spring, organic fertilizers are applied (manure, peat, silt, compost), and during flowering and fruit formation, the bushes are watered with an ash solution (1 liter of ash per bucket of warm water).

During the first 3-5 years, only dry, damaged branches and unnecessary shoots and basal shoots are pruned, giving the bushes an unattractive shape.When the plants are 8-10 years old and fruiting declines, thin out the crown and partially cut off the upper shoots.

Important! You cannot cut off the tops of the bushes - fruits form on them.

Pollinators

Vasyuganskaya is a self-sterile variety, therefore, for the formation of ovaries and fruiting, other varieties of honeysuckle are planted nearby. Best pollinators:

• Blue spindle;
• Blue bird;
• Tomsk;
• Cinderella;
• Kamchadalka;
• Malvina;
• Moraine;
• In memory of Kuminov;
• The Giant's Daughter.

Disease and pest control

Possible diseases and pests of the variety are presented in the table.

During the flowering and fruiting period, bushes cannot be treated with pesticides.

Preparing for winter

Preparing honeysuckle for winter, the soil is cleared of fallen leaves and other debris, organic or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, dry and damaged shoots are cut from the bushes, and long branches are removed from the supports and bent to the ground. Plants are covered with spruce branches, a layer of mulch (hay or straw) or a special material - geotextile or lutrasil.

Reference. In regions with mild winters and frosts down to –15…–20°C, winter shelter is not required.

Reproduction

The optimal way to propagate Vasyuganskaya is to divide the bush. To do this, choose a strong plant at the age of 3-5 years, carefully dig it up and divide it into several parts without damaging the root system.

Some gardeners prefer to use the cutting method. Developed vertical or horizontal shoots are cut from the plant and planted in a nutrient substrate. In this case, no more than half of the specimens survive.

Seed propagation is practically not used, despite the good germination and rapid development of seedlings, since in this case the plants lose their parental genes, and the bushes grown from seeds do not bear fruit.

Difficulties in growing

When cultivating this variety, some problems may arise:

• low yield, small berries - the bushes do not receive enough light due to the fact that they grow in the shade or are too dense;
• a white coating appeared on the leaves - probably a sign of powdery mildew, which develops when growing bushes in acidic soil;
• peeling of the bark 3-5 years after planting is a characteristic feature of the variety.

Harvesting

The first berries begin to ripen in early June, mass ripeness occurs in the middle of the month. The harvest is harvested by hand in 2-3 stages as the fruits ripen.

Tips and reviews from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners recommend:

• do not plant bushes in the shade, otherwise the yield will decrease and the berries will be small;
• Avoid loosening or carry it out carefully so as not to damage the roots.

Gardeners speak positively about the variety.

Victoria, Taganrog: “I chose this variety on the advice of the store clerk, she praised it very much. I didn’t know anything about the need for pollination, but I was lucky that several honeysuckle bushes were already growing on the site. In the end, I’m happy with the variety – it bears fruit every year, the berries are large and tasty.”

Inga, Krasnodar: “I planted Vasyuganskaya 10 years ago, I was afraid that the seedlings would not take root because of the heat, but the variety turned out to be hardy. The bushes have grown, now they decorate the area, there are a lot of berries, enough to eat fresh, and for sunsets - I make jam and compotes from them.”

Conclusion

Vasyugan honeysuckle is a light-loving and frost-resistant crop that pleases gardeners with a rich harvest of tasty and healthy berries. The variety is immune to diseases, does not require care and, subject to the rules of agricultural technology, grows and bears fruit in one place for more than 20 years.