The best varieties of honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is a shrub that appeared in our gardens not so long ago, only 10-15 years ago. The varieties of honeysuckle, bred by modern breeders, are so diverse that they allow you to grow this garden crop in different climatic zones. It should be noted that honeysuckle was IV Michurin's favorite berry, he is the creator of many of its main varieties.

General description of the plant

Honeysuckle belongs to perennial shrubs, the height of an adult bush ranges from 0.5 m to 3 m, depending on the variety. The leaves are oblong, smooth, green on the outside, paler on the inside. It usually blooms in mid-May, even before the leaves are completely dissolved, the flowers are white-pink, collected in a brush. The wonderful scent of the flowers attracts bees, which contributes to good pollination.

The plant is unpretentious and frost-resistant. Begins to bear fruit at the age of 3 years and gives a very good harvest, from 2 to 4 kg of berries from a bush. Fragrant bushes with bright berries can decorate any garden.

The fruits ripen in early summer, have an oblong shape, size from 1 to 5 cm, are colored blue with a gray coating. The berries have a rather exquisite taste, sweetish with sourness. Honeysuckle berries contain a lot of vitamins and antioxidants, their use contributes to the prevention of heart attacks and strokes, cleansing the gallbladder, they are useful for poisoning, colds and inflammations.

The berries are frozen, dried, made from them jam, jam, preserves, compote, juice, and even get an unusually tasty wine. The calorie content of berries is low, only 30 kcal per 100 g. The sugar content is not more than 9%.

Honeysuckle bushes are planted either in late summer or early spring. The plant needs pollinators, and therefore at least two varieties of honeysuckle are planted next to each other. Planting sites are sunny with well-fertilized soil. The bushes are planted at a distance of at least 1.5 m from each other. Caring for honeysuckle is simple, you only need to cut off the dried branches.

The only drawback of honeysuckle is that the skin of the berries is too thin and delicate and their ability to simultaneously crumble from the bush. So that the berries are not damaged when falling, gauze or other soft mesh fabric is pulled under the bushes. But this disadvantage will soon be overcome. Modern breeders are working on developing honeysuckle varieties with stronger skins.

The best varieties of honeysuckle for central Russia

Altair

An early maturing variety of honeysuckle, resistant to frost, diseases and pests. The height of the bush is up to 1.4 m, the berries ripen in mid-June, the weight of the berry is about 1 g. Up to 2 kg of crop can be harvested from a bush.

Delicious and sweet berries of a bright blue color with a waxy coating, do not fall off the bush for a relatively long time, are suitable for planting in summer cottages.The pollinators of this variety are Malvina, Blue Spindle, Morena.

Bakchar Giant

A large-fruited variety with an average ripening period. The bushes are 2 m high and 1.3 m wide. They are frost-resistant, slightly susceptible to diseases and pests.

Fruits are bright blue with a bluish bloom, up to 5 cm long, weighing 1.8-2.5 grams. ripen at the end of June. 2-3 kg of harvest is harvested from the bush. Berries can be harvested for the winter by freezing, making wine, jam, jelly, compote and juice from them. The best pollinators of the variety are Amphora, Lazurnaya, In Memory of Gidzyuk, Nymph, Pride of Bakchar.

Blue spindle

Early maturing honeysuckle, resistant to frost, disease and pests. The height of the bush reaches 1 meter. The berries are large, up to 2.7 cm long, blue with a bluish bloom, berry weight up to 1.5 grams, yield up to 2.5 kg per bush.

The pulp of the berry is sweet and sour, but if the watering was insufficient, then a slight bitterness is felt, so it is imperative to observe the watering regime. The disadvantages of this variety include the thin skin of the fruit and the ability to quickly shedding from the bush. Pollinator varieties - Cinderella, Blue Bird, Tomichka, Kamchadalka, Azure, in Memory of Gidzyuk.

Long-fruited

Honeysuckle of this variety is very frost-resistant, ripens early, by June 10. The bush is 1 meter high, the yield reaches 3 kg.

Berries in the form of an oblong cylinder 2.7 cm long, weighing about 2 grams. The skin of the berries is tender, violet-blue with a whitish bloom, the crumbling is average. The pulp is sweet and sour, there is no bitterness.

Pollinators - Sineglazka, Morena, Izuminka, Smolinskaya, Chernichka, Chelyabinka.

Cinderella

The bushes of this variety are small, up to 70 cm in height. The berries have a cylinder shape, a dark blue color with a blue bloom and a wonderful sweet and sour taste with a strawberry aroma. Fruits ripen by mid-June, berry weight up to 1.4 grams.

The yield of the bush is up to 3 kg. It is inconvenient to pick berries due to the short stature of the bush. But the plant is frost-resistant. Resistant to diseases and pests. Berries also quickly crumble. Pollinators of this variety are Lazurnaya, Gerda, Amphora, Kamchadalka, In Memory of Gidzyuk, Leningrad giant, Parabelskaya.

Leningrad giant

The bushes of this variety are distinguished by their height - 2 m. The berries are also large, up to 3 cm in length. The skin is dense, dark blue with a bluish bloom. Fruit ripening occurs unevenly throughout the month.

The pulp is sweet and sour, fibrous, ripening time is late June - early July, berry weight up to 4 grams. The yield of the bush reaches 3.3 kg. The fruits are located on the bush in large clusters, which greatly facilitates their collection. The best pollinators of this variety are Gzhelka, Blue Bird, Start, Malvina, Morena, Blue Spindle, Memory of Kuminov.

Moraine

The bush of this variety reaches a height of 1.7 m, the berries ripen by mid-June. The berries have a thin, almost transparent, blue skin with a waxy coating. The pulp has a pleasant taste, without bitterness. The fruits do not fall off the bush for a long time.

The yield reaches 2 kg per bush. The plant is frost-resistant, resistant to diseases and pests. The best pollinators of this variety are - Malvina, Goluboe Vereteno, Amphora, Viola, Kamchadalka, Start, Pamyat Kuminov, Blue Bird.

Nymph

The height of the bush reaches 1.7 m. The plant is resistant to cold weather, diseases and pests. The berries are 3 cm long, curved and lumpy. The fruits ripen at the end of June.

The pulp is sweet and sour with a pleasant bitterness, the skin is bluish with a gray waxy bloom. Berry mass up to 3 gr. The yield of the bush reaches 2 kg.

The plant is hardy and rarely gets sick. The best pollinators are - Lazurnaya, Pavlovskaya, In Memory of Gidzyuk, Amphora, Chosen One.

Blue bird

The bushes of this variety are vigorous, reaching 1.8 m. The berries ripen at the end of June. The skin is blue-black with a strong bloom.

The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, reminiscent of the taste of blueberries. Average length of fruits, about 2 cm, weight up to 1.2 g. The yield reaches up to 2 kg per bush.

The plant is resistant to cold weather, diseases and pests.The best pollinators for this variety are Titmouse, Start, Cinderella, Blue Spindle, Pamyat Kuminov, Malvina, Kamchadalka.

Tomichka

The height of the bush of this variety reaches 1 m, the fruits ripen in the second half of June. Berries weighing up to 2 grams. look like a jug with an uneven surface and a purple skin with a blue bloom.

The pulp is sweet and sour, the berries tolerate transportation well. The plant is resistant to cold and disease, but sometimes it is affected by aphids.

The yield reaches 3.2 kg per bush. The best pollinators are - Pavlovskaya Blue Spindle, Giant's Daughter, Blue Bird, Bakcharskaya, Vasyugan. Bakchar Giant.

Honeysuckle varieties for northern regions of Russia

Due to the harsh northern climate, not all berries can be grown in Siberia. But honeysuckle is so hardy that its first berries appear at the beginning of June. Breeders have obtained special varieties of honeysuckle, suitable for planting in the northern regions.

Azure

Berry mass 1 gr. The pulp is sweet and sour with bitterness. Productivity up to 2 kg. Secondary flowering is possible, but this is bad for the yield. Fruit shedding is weak.

Fire opal

Berry mass up to 1 gr. The pulp is sweet and sour with bitterness. The yield is high - up to 4 kg per bush. Practically does not fall off. Most often, wine is made from the berries of this variety.

In memory of Gijuk

The bush is 1.8 meters high. Pear-shaped berries weighing up to 1 gr. The yield reaches 2-3 kg per bush. The berries do not crumble. The application is extensive.

Laura

Berries weighing 1.1 gr. The pulp is tender, the taste is sweet, aromatic. Friability medium Fresh application and for processing.

Volkhova

The bush is up to 2 m high. The berries are elongated with a pointed top, weighing up to 0.9 gr. The taste is sweet with a hint of strawberry. Productivity up to 2 kg per bush. Berries fall slightly. Application as a dessert.

Lenarola

Berries weighing 1.2 grams. The taste is sweet and sour, fragrant pulp, thick skin. Decorative large flowers. Medium resistant to aphids, average crumbling. Application in desserts and fresh. Productivity up to 2 kg per bush.

Also suitable for planting in regions of Siberia are the above-described varieties of honeysuckle Tomichka, Cinderella and Bakcharsky Giant.

The southern varieties include Dolphin, Golubinka, Rassvet, Zarnitsa. It is better not to plant them in areas of the middle lane. Because in the event of a warm autumn, they can bloom again, which will significantly reduce the yield and weaken the plant.

May honeysuckle, description of varieties

Honeysuckle Vitamin

It ripens earlier than all varieties at the end of May. The bush reaches a height of 1.5 m. The berries are 1.5 cm long, sweet and sour, with a wonderful aroma, weighing about 1.8 g. The fruits do not crumble, the bush bears fruit for about 25 years.

Honeysuckle Karina

The bush is 1.5 m high, the fruits ripen at the end of May. Berries are 3 cm long, oblong, dark blue. The taste is sweet and sour. It blooms with very fragrant small flowers. The fruiting period is within a month.

Sweet honeysuckle

• Altair;
• Amphora;
• Dessert;
• Gourmet;
• Nymph;
• Pavlovskaya;
• Slav;
• Bullfinch;
• Souvenir;

Large-fruited honeysuckle

• Bazhovskaya;
• Enchantress;
• Long-fruited;
• Cinderella;
• The chosen one;
• Azure;
• Nymph;
• Moraine;
• Siberian;

High-yielding honeysuckle

• Cinderella;
• Fire Opal;
• Blue spindle;
• Long-fruited;
• Siberian;
• Moraine;
• Katyusha;
• Drops;
• Titmouse;
• Violet;
• Sirius;

Early fruit varieties of honeysuckle

• Cinderella;
• Moraine;
• Tomichka;
• Long-fruited;
• Blue Spindle;
• Viola;
• Enchantress;
• Blue bird;
• Sineglazka;

Honeysuckle varieties resistant to fruit shedding

• Fire Opal;
• Nightingale;
• Zest;
• Borel;
• Azure;
• Omega;
• Roxanne;

Why gardeners love honeysuckle

1. Honeysuckle blooms early. Flowers are very beautiful in color - white, pink, yellow and lilac. Flowering continues for a month.
2. Honeysuckle flowers have an incredibly pleasant scent. This attracts a lot of bees and other plant pollinators. Beekeepers often place hives near the planting of honeysuckle.
3. Honeysuckle bears fruit early.Some varieties produce berries at the end of May. At this time, the vitamin berry is extremely necessary in our diet.
4. Honeysuckle berries are rich in nutrients and help to improve health in case of hypertension, vitamin deficiency, to recuperate after the flu and colds.
5. The beautifully flowering and fragrant honeysuckle bushes are often planted as hedges in gardens.

Edible honeysuckle is not only a useful plant that can give a rich harvest of delicious berries, but also a bright decoration of the spring garden. Let's see which varieties of honeysuckle should be preferred.

Based on the opinion of experienced gardeners, we have selected the top ten varieties. Although, in terms of decorative qualities, these shrubs can sometimes be inferior to other types and varieties of honeysuckle, but first of all they are famous for their good yield, winter hardiness and unpretentiousness.

In the list, the varieties are located not by popularity (they are all held in high esteem by gardeners), but alphabetically.

1. Altair

This early maturing variety has already managed to fall in love with many gardeners due to its resistance to cold, common diseases and pests. Delicious and sweet berries (blue-blue with a waxy bloom) ripen on a bush with a dense and squat crown in mid-June and do not crumble for a long time. Therefore, Altair is great for people who come to the country no more than once a month. After all, even fully ripe berries remain on the plant until you pick them.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
Up to 1.4	June 12-16	0,9-1	1,7-2	Blue spindle Malvina, Morena

2. Bakchar giant

This large-fruited variety of medium ripening is suitable for those who have enough free space on the site. After all, the powerful bushes of the Bakchar giant reach a height of almost 2 m, and a width of 1.3 m. The crown is oval, spreading, loose. Thanks to the sparse crown, it is convenient to pick fruits from the bush.

Leaves are gray-green, matte. Berries are large (up to 5 cm long), elongated-oval, slightly asymmetrical, dark blue with a waxy bloom. Fruits can be eaten fresh, frozen, and can also be used for making wines, juices, jellies, compotes, and preserves from them.

The plant is winter-hardy, resistant to diseases and pests.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
1,7-1,9	end of June	1,8-2,5	2-3	Amphora, Pride of Bakchar, Azure, Nymph, In memory of Gijuk

3. Blue spindle

This early maturing honeysuckle is distinguished by its high yield, good resistance to frost and drought, as well as to diseases and pests.

The crown of the bush is rather rare, the shoots are thin, straight, greenish in color. Leaves are oval, elongated, dark green. The berries are large (about 2.7 cm long), shaped like an elongated spindle. The skin is blue with a waxy bloom. The flesh is sweet and sour, but can taste bitter during drought. Therefore, when growing this honeysuckle, you must observe the watering regime.

The disadvantage of this variety is that ripe berries quickly crumble.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
Up to 1 m	June 12-23	1-1,5	1,5-2,5	Cinderella, Kamchadalka, Azure, Bluebird, Tomichka, In Memory of Gidzyuk

4. Long-fruited

This is one of the first zoned Ural varieties. Long-fruited honeysuckle is characterized by high winter hardiness and early ripening of fruits in the form of an elongated flat cylinder. Their length is up to 2.7 cm. The bush is spreading, with a rounded crown. Shoots are thin, long. Leaves are lanceolate, elongated, dark green.

The skin of the fruit is thin, violet-blue, with a whitish waxy coating. The pulp is sweet and sour, tender, without bitterness. Sprinkling rate of ripe berries is average.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
Up to 1 m	June 10-20	0,9-2	1,4-3	Zest, Smolinskaya, Sineglazka, Morena, Chernichka. But the best pollinator variety is Chelyabinka

5. Cinderella

On compact low bushes with a dense crown, thin light green shoots and leaves of the same color, tasty berries ripen in the form of an elongated cylinder or spindle. The skin is thin, dark blue (almost black) with a blue bloom. The pulp is soft, sweet and sour, with a light strawberry aroma, very tasty.

Due to the low growth of the bush, picking berries is difficult, and they also quickly crumble. However, most of the fruits are located on the outside of the crown, therefore, when manually harvesting, it is possible to save the crop.

The variety has a very good winter hardiness, flowers are immune to recurrent spring frosts. In addition, the plant is resistant to disease.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
0,6-0,7	June 15-22	0,6-1,4	1-3	Azure, Gerda, Amphora, Kamchadalka, Leningrad giant, In memory of Gidzyuk, Parabelskaya, Tomichka

6. Leningrad giant

An adult shrub of this vigorous honeysuckle can reach a height of just over 2 m. It is erect, slightly spreading, with a compact rounded-oval crown. The berries are large (about 3 cm long), as a rule, elongated-cylindrical. They ripen unevenly throughout the month. The berries are arranged in bulky bunches, so they are easy to pick.

The skin is dense, dark blue, with a thin layer of gray waxy bloom. The pulp is dense, fibrous, delicate in taste, sweetish-sour, does not taste bitter.

The variety is resistant to diseases and pests, the plant is not damaged by frost even in severe winters, flowers can withstand spring frosts down to –7 ° С.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
1-2	June 20 - July 30	1-4	1-3,3	Gzhelka, Blue spindle, Malvina, Morena, In memory of Kuminov, Bluebird, Start

7. Morena

This early-maturing honeysuckle has a rather wide (up to 1.7 m) and squat crown of an oval shape, lanceolate leaves of a light green color and large fruits (up to 3 cm long) in the form of an elongated jug. They have a thin, almost transparent, blue-blue skin with a pronounced waxy coating. The pulp of the berries is sweet and sour, tender, with a light aroma, without bitterness. Ripe fruits do not fall off the bush for a long time.

The winter hardiness of the variety is above average. The plant is rarely damaged by pests and practically does not get sick.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
Up to 1.7	June 15-30	1-3	1,2-2	Viola, Amphora, Blue spindle Kamchadalka, Malvina, In memory of Kuminov, Bluebird, Start

8. Nymph

The shrub of this variety is medium-sized, with a rounded and slightly spreading crown, prone to thickening. Shoots are long, straight, brownish-green. Leaves are oblong-oval, dark green. The berries are rather large (up to 3 cm long), elongated, resemble a spindle in shape, sometimes they are curved and have bumps on the surface.

The skin is bluish-blue, covered with a waxy bloom of medium intensity. The pulp is fibrous, sweetish-sour, slightly tart, with a spicy aroma and light bitterness. On young plants, ripe berries do not fall off for a long time, and on old plants, ripe fruits quickly end up on the ground.

The variety is very winter hardy, suitable for growing in extreme conditions. The plant is rarely sick.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
Up to 1.7	June 13-30	1-3	1,3-2	Amphora, Chosen One, Azure, Pavlovskaya, In memory of Gijuk

9. Bluebird

This variety is obtained on the basis of Kamchatka honeysuckle. Bushes - vigorous, with a spreading oval crown. Shoots are thin, straight. Leaves are oval, with a pointed tip. Berries are medium (up to 2 cm long), in the form of a slightly elongated ellipse. The skin is bluish-black, with a strong waxy bloom. The pulp is tender, sour-sweet, slightly tart.The fruit tastes like blueberries.

Honeysuckle Blue bird is unpretentious in care, almost does not get sick, does not freeze in winter and is not afraid of harmful insects.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
1,3-1,8	June 14-22	0,8-1,2	1-2	Blue spindle, Cinderella Kamchadalka, Malvina, Morena, In Memory of Kuminov, Titmouse, Start

10. Tomichka

This plant has a compact, semi-spreading crown, the ends of the shoots falling to the ground. Leaves are light green, slightly pubescent. The berries are shaped like a jug or a wide drop with a depressed top. They have an uneven surface, the skin is blue-violet (almost black) with a waxy coating. The pulp is sweet and sour, without bitterness. The berries are not crumpled during transportation.

In rare cases, the plant can damage aphids.

Bush height (m)	Ripening period berries	Fruit weight (g)	Yield (kg per bush)	Pollinating varieties
1,5-1,6	June 10-20	1-2	2,5-3,2	Blue Spindle, Blue Bird, Pavlovskaya, Bakcharskaya, Vasyugan, Daughter of the Giant, Bakchar giant

Do you grow edible honeysuckle on the site? If you have not yet decided to "settle" this useful shrub in your garden, read our article 5 reasons to grow honeysuckle in the garden. We hope she will dispel all your doubts!

Every year the earliest berry becomes more popular - edible honeysuckle. Breeders are making honeysuckle varieties more and more attractive to gardeners. Emphasis is placed on important consumer properties: the size of the fruits, their taste, an increase in yield and a decrease in shedding.

Brief description of culture

Honeysuckle came to our gardens from the Far East. Here it grows in floodplain forests, on the outskirts of bogs, in river valleys. Wild honeysuckle berries are slightly bitter. But the best cultivated varieties of edible honeysuckle can boast not only sweetness and variety of tastes, but also different aromas. You can grow fruits that have a slight sourness or bitterness, opt for completely sweet berries. There are even varieties with a strawberry flavor.

The flavor and appearance of berries is often compared to blueberries. But the fruits of honeysuckle are not only tasty, they are very healthy. Vitamins and flavonoids, antioxidants and antibacterial substances make berries a tasty and useful prevention of ailments.

Honeysuckle bushes start growing early in spring. It blooms in the first days of May, and in the first days of summer it already treats us with fruits, ahead of the earliest varieties of garden strawberries. Among the descriptions of edible honeysuckle varieties, you can find later varieties that allow you to extend the period of consumption.

The most popular varieties of honeysuckle

Cinderella

The dark, almost black berries of this early variety, covered with a gray bloom, surprise with a mild strawberry scent. The industrious honeysuckle Cinderella begins to bear fruit early. The harvest of berries can be obtained already in the second year after planting.

Cinderella is distinguished by a significant yield, giving 3 kg from a low bush (0.7-1.2 m). The berries crumble a little. The plant almost never gets sick, tolerates frost well. Most varieties of honeysuckle are better pollinated and set more fruit when adjacent to other varieties. For Cinderella, the Leningrad giant, Titmouse, Amphora, Roxana will be welcome neighbors.

Moraine

Ripens very early. Perhaps this honeysuckle is the best among the early varieties: its fruits ripen a week earlier than most other early ripening varieties; berries are able to stay on the bush for a long time without crumbling.

Large, long (up to 3 cm) berries are easy and pleasant to pick. Their taste is tart-sweet, there is no bitterness. The fragrant and juicy berries with a thin skin are so tasty that even the low yield of this variety can be forgiven. For better pollination of Morena's honeysuckle, its proximity to Viola, Nymph, Amphora, Blue Spindle is desirable.

Kamchadalka

Beautiful and fruitful. The cold-resistant representative of the Siberian selection belongs to the varieties of medium ripening terms.Large berries of a slightly pointed shape grow on a high one and a half meter bush. The length of delicate fruits with a thin skin is up to 2.7 cm. The berries do not crumble.

The variety grows well in temperate climates, tolerates temperature extremes well. It also pleases with its yield, reaching 3.5 kg. For pollination of this variety of honeysuckle, Cinderella, Parabel, Tomichka, Blue Spindle are recommended. The graceful conical shape of the crown and elongated leaves with clear outlines make it also a good decoration for the garden landscape.

Leningrad giant

Tall bushes of this variety (over 1.5 m) begin to delight with ripe fruits from the end of June. Fruiting is stretched out in time, berries can be harvested throughout July. They are able to hang for a long time without crumbling. More than 3 kg are removed from the bush. massive fruits. Harvesting is easy as the berries are arranged in large bunches.

In order for the variety to be able to fully manifest itself, it is necessary to plant a Blue Bird, Blue Spindle, Morena or Gzhelka with it. The Leningrad giant is considered one of the best varieties for medicinal purposes, making jam and compotes. He also holds the record for winter hardiness. The beautiful oval crown of a shrub with bright foliage allows it to be used to decorate the site.

Amphora

On medium-sized bushes (1.2-1.5 m.) Purple fruits with a whitish bloom grow. They have a characteristic jug-like shape and large size, reaching 2.5 cm in length. The berries covered with a dense skin are good in maturation, they are excellently transported. Since shedding is completely unusual for fruits, they are harvested in one go. All these qualities make it possible to classify Amphora as one of the best varieties of honeysuckle for commercial use. Well transported.

Regular fruiting of Amphora begins from the third year of cultivation. It is well pollinated with Bazhovskaya honeysuckle, Morena, Altair. Frosts Amphora tolerates well and is recommended for the northern regions of Russia.

Blue spindle

Unpretentious variety. This classic variety of edible honeysuckle perfectly tolerates frosts, including Siberian ones, does not suffer from spring returns of cold weather, and is highly resistant to diseases. Stable fruiting of the Blue Spindle variety begins from the 4th year of cultivation. The yield increases annually, reaching 3 kg. But to increase it, it is necessary to have Morena, Kamchadalka, Tomichka or Blue Bird in the garden.

Attracts the Blue Spindle with large fragrant berries. Their slight bitterness resembles that of wild strawberries. The processed variety is very tasty. Of the shortcomings, shedding of fruits is noted, therefore, when the ripening period begins, it is advisable to spread fabric, paper or any covering material under the bushes.

Pavlovskaya

Another classic variety. He was one of the first, characterized by the minimum shedding of berries. Although the variety has average yields (1.5-2 kg per bush), it bears fruit regularly and the berries ripen together. Their taste is sweet, dessert, sourness is almost imperceptible. The size of the berry is up to 1.6-1.8 cm.

The variety is winter-hardy and self-fertile. For normal fruiting, joint planting with Tomichka, Vasyugan, Blue Spindle, Blue Bird is necessary.

Blueberry

It is easy to guess from the name which flavoring note prevails in this variety of honeysuckle. The excellent sweet and sour taste of aromatic berries is good for both fresh berries and processed ones. Elongated berries are covered with a thin skin. They are not very large, rarely reaching 1.7 cm.

Medium-sized bushes have a spreading crown. Their fruiting period begins at 4 years of age. Perhaps this honeysuckle is the best in terms of yield: up to 5 kg can be harvested from an adult bush. The variety is classified as medium-late, cold-resistant, unpretentious. Fruit shedding is insignificant.

Features of growing honeysuckle

Its wild ancestors grow in wet forest areas. Hence, we can conclude that honeysuckle will feel most comfortable in conditions of sufficient moisture.When planting it in your area, consider the possibility of regular watering.

Although the plant needs good enough light, constant exposure to the sun depress the honeysuckle bushes. The best place to plant a plantation will be a site where it will be slightly shaded by tree crowns at noon.

In order for the pollination of flowers to take place as efficiently as possible, it is necessary to plant several varieties in the garden. The more varietal variety, the better. Planting fragrant flowers also helps attract beneficial insects.

Honeysuckle unpretentious, hardy, tasty and very useful.
Its only drawback, probably, is that the berries ripen at different times and crumble if they are not picked in time. But it is possible that it will gradually disappear, since many varieties have already appeared for which this is not typical.

And the task of modern breeders is to breed honeysuckle varieties with a very early ripening period, a rich set of biologically active substances and the absence of fruit crumbling.

Honeysuckle varieties

Siberian selection

The most common group of varieties of Siberian selection. Breeders of the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after MA Lisavenko (Barnaul) and the Bacharsky support point of the Altai Territory developed high-yielding varieties of honeysuckle, resistant to winter temperature fluctuations, in which a large amount of P-active substances were found. The varieties of Siberian honeysuckle are especially good for making jams, compotes, juices, and wine.

Bakchar giant The height of the bush is 1.9 m with an oval crown, the shoots are thick, straight. Fruits are elongated-cylindrical, very large, average berry weight 1.8 g, maximum 2.5 g. Sweet and sour taste. Productivity 2.5-4 kg per bush. The crumbling rate is average. It is not affected by diseases and pests. Purpose - for fresh dessert consumption and processing, transportability is good.

Cinderella The bush is dense, 1.3 m high, with a rounded crown. Fruits are round-oval, berry weight 1-1.3 g. Taste is sour-sweet, delicate, with a strawberry aroma, thin skin. Productivity is about 2 kg per bush. The bush is weak, it slowly increases its yield. Sprinkling of berries is average (reviews of summer residents about this vary greatly). Suitable for fresh dessert consumption and processing.

Azure The mass of the berry is 0.7-1.0 g. The taste is sweet and sour with a slight bitterness, the pulp is tender with a blueberry aroma. Productivity is 1-2 kg per bush, there is a secondary flowering in autumn, which affects the yield. The crumbling rate is weak. The appointment is universal.

Fire opal The mass of the berry is 0.7-1 g. The taste is sweet and sour with bitterness, a high content of vitamin R. The yield is more than 3-4 kg per bush. Does not crumble. Purpose - technical (including wine), but tasty and fresh.

In memory of Gijuk The bush is 1.8 m high, densely branched, with a reverse conical crown. Fruits are elongated pear-shaped, berry weight 0.8-1.0 g. Taste sweet and sour with light astringency. Only when fully ripe does it become a little sweeter. Productivity is 2-3 kg per bush. Practically does not crumble. The appointment is universal.

Tomichka Bush 1.5 m high with a rounded crown. Fruits are elongated-elliptical with a roller at the top, berry weight 0.8-1.2 g. Sour-sweet taste with a slight bitterness, thin skin. Productivity is about 2 kg per bush. The crumbling is strong. It is prone to secondary autumn flowering. The appointment is universal.

Also known are the varieties Berel, Gerda, Goluboe Spindle, Sibiryachka and others.

Leningrad varieties
Received at the Pavlovsk experimental station VIR. They are characterized by a compact, dense crown, dense leaves and sweet berries.

Volkhova The bush is vigorous, up to 2 m high, with a dense oval crown. Fruits are oblong-oval with a pointed tip. Berry weight 0.6-0.9 g. Sweet taste with strawberry tinge. Productivity is 1.5-2 kg per bush. The crumbling rate is weak. For fresh dessert consumption and processing.

Laura The mass of the berry is 1.1 g. The taste is sweet, aromatic, the pulp is tender. Productivity is about 2 kg per bush. It falls off when ripe, medium. Good for fresh consumption, as well as for processing ..

Lenarola The average weight of the berry is 1.2 g. The taste is sweet and sour, aromatic, the skin is thick. Productivity is about 2 kg per bush. The crumbling rate is average. The appointment is universal. High decorativeness, large flowers, medium resistance to aphids.

Nymph Bush 1.8 m high, densely branched. Fruits are large, oblong-elliptical and elongated-fusiform, sometimes slightly crooked. The mass of the berry is 1.2 g. The taste is sweet with sourness and a pleasant aroma, the skin is dense. Productivity is about 2 kg per bush, in some years there is a secondary flowering. The crumbling rate is low. The appointment is universal.

Honeysuckle varieties of the Ural selection

Received at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing (Chelyabinsk). The bushes are mostly low (no higher than 1.5 m). Berries often have a tart bitterness. Most varieties are of medium yield, but bear fruit regularly and stably.

Zest The bush is compact, 1.2 m high. Fruits are elongated-oval, weighing 0.9 g. The taste is sweet and sour. Productivity 1.2 kg per bush. The shedding rate of fruits is average.

Blueberry Bush 1.2 m high with a wide reverse conical crown. Fruits are oblong-elliptical with a flat top. The mass of berries is up to 0.8 g. The taste is sweet and sour, the skin is thin, resembling blueberries in shape. The yield is not more than 1 kg per bush, the shedding is average. Fruiting is regular. A variety of universal use.

The varieties Bazhovskaya, Volshebnitsa, Lazurite are also popular.

Moscow varieties

Grow well in central Russia varieties of Moscow selection, for example, obtained in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Moskovskaya 23 Densely branched bush, 1.9 m high, with a wide-rounded crown. Fruits are oval-elliptical, weighing 0.8 g. Dessert taste, sweet and sour. Productivity is 3 kg per bush. The shedding rate of fruits is average.

Titmouse A bush 2 m high with a spreading-rounded crown. Fruits are elongated-elliptical, weighing 0.9 g. Taste sweet and sour with a refreshing aroma. Productivity 2.5 kg per bush. When ripe, the fruits almost do not crumble.

Fortune The bush is densely branched, up to 2.5 m high. Fruits are pear-bell-shaped with a roller at the top, weighing 0.9 g. The taste is sweet and sour. Productivity 2.4 kg per bush. Fruit shedding is weak.

Seaside varieties of edible honeysuckle

Varieties of the Far Eastern Experimental Station of the VNIIR named after N.I. Vavilov (Vladivostok) often ripen at an early date and are prone to shedding. It is better not to use these varieties (Dolphin, Golubinka, Rassvet, Zarnitsa and others) for central Russia because of the frequent secondary flowering (in the case of warm autumn), which leads to a decrease in yield and a weakening of the plant.

According to the description of characteristics

For convenience, we present a list of honeysuckle varieties according to the main characteristics:
SWEET VARIETIES: Altair, Amphora, Dessert, Gourmet, Nymph, Pavlovskaya, Slavyanka, Bullfinch, Souvenir.

HARVEST VARIETIES: Berel, Blue Spindle, Cinderella, Long-fruited, Ivushka, Kapel, Katyusha, Morena, Moskovskaya, Narymskaya, Fire Opal, Salute, Selena, Sibiryachka, Titmouse, Sirius, Violet.

EARLY VARIETIES: Berel, Viola, Sorceress, Blue spindle, Long-fruited, Cinderella, Morena, Sineglazka, Blue bird, Tomichka.

VARIETIES WITH LARGE FRUITS (weighing 1 g and above): Bazhovskaya, Sorceress, Long-fruited, Cinderella, Chosen One, Raisin, Lapis Lazuli, Swan, Lenita, Morena, Narymskaya, Nymph, Omega, Pavlovskaya, Sineglazka, Sibiryachka, Violet.

VARIETIES RESISTANT TO FRUIT SHALLOWING: Borel, Raisin, Azure, Fire Opal, Omega, Nightingale, Roxana.