Haskap honeysuckle - Lonicera kamtschatica

,Krupnoplodnaya,

Height: can reach up to 1.8 m, 1.5 m wide.

Growing conditions in Latvia’s climatic zones: can be planted throughout the whole territory of Latvia.

Crown: a vigorous, oval-shaped shrub; young shoots are green, mature ones brown.

Flowers: blooms in April with pale yellow, inconspicuous, soft, funnel-shaped flowers rich in nectar. During the blooming period, the flowers can withstand a temperature drop to -8°C for nine hours. Self-sterile; for pollination it needs another variety of this species, such as ,Leningradskij Velikan,, or another.

Fruits: elongated oval, large, dark blue, with an uneven surface and a lighter waxy coating, very tasty, sweet-sour, without bitterness. Ripen 30–40 days after flowering - at the beginning of June. Yields 2–6 kg per bush; suitable both for processing and for fresh consumption.

The easiest harvesting method: spread fabric or other material under the bush and, for example, shake the bush with a rake handle so the berries fall onto the fabric. But they can also be picked by hand.

Foliage: leaves rounded-elongated, 6–10 cm long, bluish green.

Winter hardiness: very hardy throughout the whole territory of Latvia. Frost resistance -34^oC to -40^oC

Growing conditions: choose a sunny place for planting honeysuckle. It needs humus-rich, moist but not wet soil, with a soil reaction of 5.5–7 pH. Prepare the planting hole 50 x50 cm deep and wide, filling it with compost or other organic fertiliser. Plant the plant as deep as it grew in the container and water thoroughly. As honeysuckle has a shallow root system, it is recommended to water it during the growing season, as it is sensitive to drying out. Planting distance from one another 1 m. Mulching is recommended to preserve moisture.

Important to know! If the soil is too dry for a long time, bitterness may appear in the fruit.

Protect from hares! They gnaw the young shoots, but honeysuckle bears fruit on this year’s one-year-old shoots!

Care:Fertilising. In spring, on moist soil, spread 30 g of ammonium nitrate around the plant. Well-rotted manure or compost may be incorporated. Later in the growing season, fertilise with a complex NPK fertiliser. Loosen the soil around the bush very carefully and shallowly so as not to injure the root collar and roots.

Pruning: After planting in a permanent place, honeysuckle is usually not pruned for at least 5–6 years. санитарy pruning is needed no earlier than after 6–7 years. The best time for pruning is after harvest. On fruiting honeysuckle bushes, the shoot tips must not be cut, because this is where the flower buds that will form the crop are concentrated to the greatest extent. The framework branches must also not be cut out at the base, because crown renewal takes place thanks to dormant buds at the base of the framework branches.

Medicinal value.The fruits are rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements (magnesium, iron, copper, iodine), and contain antioxidants, sugars, tannins, fibre, pectins, and organic acids. These activate metabolism in the human body. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

The berries can be eaten fresh, dried or frozen. They can be used to make jams, compotes, juices and jellies.