Kamchatka edible honeysuckle - Lonicera kamtschatica

,Vostorg,

Height: can reach up to 1.8 m, width 1.5 m

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

Crown: vigorous, spherical, upright shrub; young shoots 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, another variety of this species is needed, for example ,Leningradskij Velikan,

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

The most convenient harvesting method: spread fabric or other material under the bush and, for example, shake the bush with a rake handle so that 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 winter-hardy throughout the territory of Latvia. Frost resistance -34^oC to -40^oC

Growing conditions: choose a sunny location for planting honeysuckle. It requires humus-rich, moist but not wet soil, with a soil reaction of 5.5–7 pH. Prepare the planting hole 50 x50 cm in depth and width, filling it with compost or other organic fertiliser. Plant the plant as deep as it was growing 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 prolonged period, 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. Sanitary pruning is needed no earlier than after 6–7 years. The best time for pruning is after harvest. For fruiting honeysuckle bushes, the shoot tips must not be cut, as the flower buds that will form the crop are concentrated there 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.Fruit is rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements (magnesium, iron, copper, iodine), contains antioxidants, sugars, tannins, fibre, pectins, 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.