This berry in their plots is grown by many gardeners. The plant is unpretentious, resistant to cooling, it is not difficult to take care of it. Honeysuckle is one of the earliest berries. Collect it in the second half of June. In one place, under favorable conditions, bears fruit up to 80 years. Today there are about 200 varieties of this garden culture. But not everyone gets a bountiful harvest. To do this, you need to know a few secrets that help stimulate fruiting.
Variety Selection
You should start with the correct selection of the variety. Pay attention to highly productive varieties whose berries are suitable for fresh food. Among the best, according to reviews, we can distinguish: "Amazon", "Long-fruited", "Maria", "Elizabeth" and "Zarechnaya". But the berries quickly deteriorate and will not be able to lie in the refrigerator for long - they will withstand no more than 3 days.
If you do not plan to eat them all, it is better to freeze part. To freeze, take "Gerda" or "Blue Spindle". They are characterized by the presence in the taste of light bitterness or sour notes. But, from them yummy cooking, compotes and other preparations for the winter are obtained. Still used for making homemade wines.
By planting random varieties, even with all agricultural standards, you will not be able to achieve the desired result. Therefore, before buying, read reviews or consult with more experienced gardeners.
Dusting
Honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant. Therefore, it is recommended to plant bushes not one at a time, but as a whole group, 10 to 15 pieces each. Then the volume of the crop will increase due to pollination. Moreover, it is desirable that all varieties be different. A wide range of products for sale allows you to choose suitable options.
Pollinating insects
To a large extent, the yield indicators of this crop depend on such factors as the presence of pollinating insects during flowering. To do this, bees and bumblebees are needed.
To attract insects to the summer cottage will help one simple trick. Make a sweet solution and spray the bushes. For its preparation in 10 liters of water a couple tablespoons of sugar or honey are bred. When planting, arrange the bushes not in a row, but in a group, so that bumblebees would be more convenient. It is great if they will be next to similar neighboring landings.
Landing place
Another important factor is the choice of landing site. Honeysuckle loves the sun, so plant it in open areas with adequate lighting. The ideal option - when the first half of the day the bushes are in bright light, and the second - in partial shade. In the shade, the kidneys are worse laid. But avoid constant direct sunlight on planting, it is harmful to them. Bushes should also be protected from drafts by adjacent trees or buildings.
The plant is not too demanding on the composition of the soil and tolerates any of its species. But it will be best to bear fruit on light fertile soil, in which moisture does not stagnate. When planting, seedlings are buried in the ground by 4 - 5 cm. It is very useful to mulch the soil using humus, peat or hay.
Crown pruning
Honeysuckle needs annual pruning of the crown, as prone to active sprouting of shoots. Do not allow excessive thickening of landings. Pruning to thin out the bush is done in early spring. This will allow the insects necessary for pollination to reach the middle of the crown. The sun's rays can also freely penetrate there.
Pruning can begin no earlier than the plant reaches the age of 4 - 5 years. Previously, a similar operation is not recommended. In the early years, only broken branches or dried leaves are removed.
Watering
The amount, taste and size of honeysuckle fruits is strongly influenced by soil moisture. Observe the correct watering regime. It is especially required for the formation and ripening of fruits, which occurs in May - June. At this time, several plentiful irrigation should be carried out (4-6). At the same time, at least 4-5 buckets of water are consumed per bush. The rest of the time the plant does not need so much moisture in the soil.
Bird protection
Even if you managed to achieve a record crop of this berry, you must still be able to save it from birds. Otherwise, all efforts to care for honeysuckle will be in vain - feathered thieves peck all ripe berries. Therefore, do not forget to take care of deterrents.
You can use the usual scarecrow, but modern technical means of protection, such as ultrasonic or bioacoustic devices, are much more effective. True, such a novelty will have to be spent. But, it will be possible to no longer worry about the safety of fruits in a summer cottage.
Nutrition
So that the honeysuckle bushes give more fruit, do not forget to regularly feed them. In poor soil, the formation of ovaries significantly slows down. Apply fertilizer to the soil, alternating mineral complexes with organic. You can buy ready-made or make nutritious mixtures yourself.
