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Honeysuckle Delight, which appeared on the market not so long ago, is popular with gardeners in many Russian regions. It retains the unique properties of the wild parent. The plant is hardy, winter-hardy, unpretentious to care for. The taste and useful qualities of the berry, like other varieties of honeysuckle, are excellent.
Breeding history
For more than 80 years, the Bakcharskoye horticultural enterprise has been successfully operating in the Tomsk region, which is engaged in the development of new varieties of fruit and berry crops. All plants have a high level of winter hardiness and excellent taste.
Currently, the company specializes in obtaining unique varieties of honeysuckle. Experimental plantations are located on an area of 50 hectares. Over the years of activity of the horticultural economy, many varieties and hybrid forms with attractive characteristics have appeared. Among them is the honeysuckle variety Delight, here it is in the photo below. Variety testing began in 2012.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The honeysuckle bush of the Delight variety, according to the description and reviews of gardeners, stands out among other crops with strong growth and a rounded shape. There are few skeletal branches, the crown is sparse and seems openwork thanks to the dark green leaves. Both the height and width of the plant are within 170 cm.
Fruits are deep purple with a thick waxy bloom. The mass of fusiform berries is about 2.6 grams. Tasters rate the palatability at 4.8 points. The edible berries of the Vostorg honeysuckle variety contain up to 8.9% sugar, so they taste sweet and sour, without bitterness. The fruits are somewhat reminiscent of blueberries and blueberries, fragrant with a pleasant aftertaste.
The fruit ripens in the second decade of June. Unlike other varieties and hybrids, the berries on honeysuckle hold on tightly, do not crumble so much. Fruits with a dense skin are convenient to transport, the presentation is not lost. The purpose of honeysuckle is universal. Compotes, jam are prepared from berries, ground with sugar or frozen fresh.
Pollinators
Almost all varieties of honeysuckle are self-fertile, that is, they require cross-pollination. Moreover, it is important to have other varieties of plants. At least three honeysuckle bushes should be planted on the site for pollination at a distance of 1.5-2 meters.
Excellent pollinators of the Delight variety are:
- Yugan;
- Daughter of the Giant;
- Bakchar Giant;
- Silginka;
- Strezhevchanka.
Features of fruiting
Flowering and fruiting of honeysuckle begins early, at the age of three. In the first year, about 1.3 kg of dark purple fruits are harvested from the bush. At the age of 6-15 years - the maximum yield, up to 5.5 kg.
The berries begin to be harvested in June, they ripen together, which facilitates the harvesting process. The shedding rate of the fruits of the Vostorg variety, according to the description and reviews, is average. You need to start collecting fruits when the berries turn dark blue.
Advantages and disadvantages
To decide on growing any plant, in addition to the description, you need to know the positive and negative sides. The honeysuckle variety Delight has a lot of advantages that prevail over disadvantages:
- early and amicable ripening;
- large-fruited;
- a planted three-year-old bush is already producing its first harvest;
- high yields with minimal effort;
- winter hardiness, the possibility of growing in many regions of Russia;
- the shedding of berries is minimal;
- ease of cleaning due to the shape of the crown;
- berries are easily removed (it is best to shake them off on a litter);
- the separation is dry, so the fruits do not flow even during long-term transportation and storage;
- The Delight variety is resistant to many diseases and pests.
The disadvantage of honeysuckle Delight can be called partial shedding (only overripe berries) and damage to flowers and fruits from recurrent spring frosts. But there is no salvation from this.
Growing secrets
Hybrid honeysuckle Delight is subject even to novice gardeners, since cultivation does not cause any particular difficulties. You just need to take into account some of the nuances.
Landing dates
Honeysuckle can be planted in spring. Moreover, you need to start work before the buds have blossomed. Experienced gardeners prefer autumn for breeding Delight varieties - from late September to the second half of October.
Site and soil selection
Judging by the description and characteristics, Honeysuckle Delight is an unpretentious berry bush. But she gives a good harvest:
- In areas that are lighted and protected from the winds.
- In areas where groundwater approaches the surface no higher than one meter.
- On neutral or slightly acidic soils.
- When the root system is in the shade and the crown is well lit by the sun.
Planting a bush
Honeysuckle has its own life cycles that differ from other plants:
- Winter sleep stops in early spring, leaves bloom at the root of March.
- The dormant state begins in the last days of July.
These features must be taken into account when planting honeysuckle. It is best to plant the bushes from September to the end of October. In the spring, the plants will immediately begin their development, will be able to build up the root system and green mass. The distance between the bushes should be at least 150 cm. Honeysuckle grows well next to currants.
And now about the landing rules:
- The pit is prepared in advance, the depth and diameter is 40 cm or more (depending on the size of the root system).
- Drainage is laid at the bottom. It can be stones, plant branches, bark.
- Compost (2 buckets), wood ash (1 liter jar) and 3 tablespoons of superphosphate (no more!) Are added to the soil.
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The pit is filled with water, a mound is made in the center, on which a honeysuckle bush is planted, like on a chair. The roots are gently smoothed out, filled up with soil and watered again to compact the soil and remove air pockets. After that, a layer of mulch is poured. The root collar must not be deepened more than 5-6 cm!
- The branches after planting are not shortened so that the growth of the bush does not slow down.
Care
You can get an excellent harvest from any berry and fruit crops only with proper care.
Watering
Honeysuckle variety Delight is a lover of abundant watering. The lack of moisture negatively affects not only the taste characteristics of the berries, but also leads to a decrease in their size and adds bitterness.
It is necessary to water the bushes throughout the growing season, because after the return of the harvest, the plants begin to form the next year's harvest.
Top dressing
In the first two years, if the soil was well filled before planting, no special feeding is required. In the third year, organic fertilizers are applied under each bush. The Delight variety responds well to infusions of chicken droppings, mullein, fermented herbs.
Top dressing is carried out in early spring, until the buds begin to swell, during flowering and in the fall after leaf fall. Honeysuckle, unlike many garden plants, is very fond of wood ash. It must be added under the bushes during the formation of the ovaries.
Pruning
Special attention should be paid to pruning bushes.The fact is that fruit buds are formed on young shoots. They cannot be shortened.
Each adult bush of the Delight variety should have no more than 18 skeletal branches, the excess ones must be removed in September. As a rule, fruiting decreases after 15 years, and at 20 the plant is considered old.
Rejuvenating pruning gives the plant new vigor for fruiting. To do this, in the summer, cut off all the growing shoots on a stump. Young twigs will appear soon, on which the harvest will ripen next year.
Protection against diseases and pests
The honeysuckle variety Delight, although resistant to fungal diseases, can suffer from:
- reddish olive blotch;
- powdery mildew;
- tuberculariosis.
You should not wait for the spread of the disease, it is better to prevent it. For the prevention of honeysuckle, Delight is treated with Bordeaux liquid or the preparation Speed.
Insects and birds love to feast on the fruits. Most often, honeysuckle is attacked by:
- aphid;
- caterpillars of leafworm and honeysuckle fingerfly;
- willow shield.
For processing, chemicals or Fitosporin are used. Well helps in the fight against pests infusion of wormwood, garlic. These biological agents need to be sprayed with honeysuckle bushes of the Delight variety. Planting calendula and marigolds save plants from pests and diseases.
Reproduction
Seed breeding method of honeysuckle Delight, like other varieties of this culture, is not welcomed by gardeners. The fact is that varietal qualities are not preserved. But by dividing the bush, layering or green cuttings, you can successfully get new seedlings at home:
- You can divide a honeysuckle bush that is at least eight years old. A part of a bush with three skeletal branches and a root at least 20 cm long is cut with an ax and immediately planted in a permanent place.
- A novice gardener can also cope with reproduction by layering of the Delight variety. It is necessary to bend the shoot of the first year to the ground and sprinkle it with earth. A year later, a small bush is transplanted to a new place.
- Lignified cuttings from Delight honeysuckle (at least 17 cm) are cut at the end of March and immediately planted in a nursery at an angle. 2 buds are left above the ground. After a month, the plants will start to grow.
- Honeysuckle is propagated by green cuttings after flowering, at the end of June. They choose a green twig, pluck it from the heel. Then the cutting is buried 5 cm into the fertile soil in the nursery.
Conclusion
The berries of the honeysuckle variety Delight rightfully call the fruits of youth. They contain a substance that improves heart function, cleanses the blood vessels. Berries are useful not only for children, but also for adults.
Many dishes are prepared from the fruits, but the most valuable is honeysuckle, ground with sugar.
