Honeysuckle Aurora

Honeysuckle variety Aurora is a typical representative of a whole series of unique Canadian varieties with new, atypical characteristics for this plant. The variety will be a real decoration of the garden and can be safely considered for commercial cultivation. He has fantastic large berries, impressive yields, incredible growth rates and a very beautiful little bush.

Aurora is a Canadian variety that was bred by the University of Saskatchewan. This educational institution has already bred several popular varieties of honeysuckle: Borealis, Honey Bee, Tundra. All of them radically changed the idea of ​​honeysuckle breeding. They are unique: compact, grow quickly and, unlike other varieties of honeysuckle, give off fruits within a month without shedding. This feature of the shrub makes life easier for gardeners and opens up new commercial prospects. The parents of the variety are the Japanese seedling MT 46.55 and the Russian variety Nightingale, bred at the famous Pavlovsk experimental station in the Leningrad region. The Nightingale has a unique feature - the berries do not crumble. Plants from Japan have a longer dormant period and are better adapted to warm climates. Work on the development of a new variety was carried out for 5 years, from 2007 to 2012.

The bush is low, up to 1.2 m, up to 80 cm in diameter, dense, with straight stems, convenient for picking berries. Young shoots are fluffy, mature branches are covered with smooth red-brown bark. Leaves are oval, smooth, medium green. The flowers are white-yellowish, bloom in mid-May, depending on the climate, they can bloom in April. The flowers have a pleasant aroma that intensifies in the evening.

The berries are huge, 1.9-2.1 grams each, can reach 3 cm in length, up to 1 cm in diameter. The shape is a jug, with a small roller at the end. The skin is blue-blue, with a strong waxy bloom, strong. The pulp is dense, fleshy, at the same time juicy and tender. The berries tolerate transportation well.

The taste is sweet, with a light aroma. The tasting mark is the highest - 5 points. This is one of the most delicious varieties of honeysuckle. There is absolutely no bitterness, there is sourness, but there is just enough of it to make the sweetness seem even brighter. The bouquet is very successfully crowned with a light aroma, and the picture is completed by an excellent consistency - large berries with a delicate, moderately elastic pulp are very pleasant to eat. Berries are ideal for a fresh table, for desserts, ice cream, mousses, pies, juices, smoothies, dietary cuisine. But they can also be suitable for any type of honeysuckle harvesting.

The variety is medium early; in the conditions of the Russian Federation, berries begin to ripen at the end of June, in Ukraine - from the beginning of June, and in some countries the first berries are tried in May. The term for the return of the crop is extended, lasts at least a month. The beginning of fruiting can vary depending on the climate; in a rainy summer, the beginning can shift by 1 week. The early maturity is outstanding, the first harvests can be obtained in the 2-3rd year after planting. The fruits are not prone to shedding, they hold well on the stalks for up to 1 month. First, the fruits ripen on the upper branches. The variety is convenient for mechanical harvesting.

The yield is fantastic - on average 5-6 kg from an adult bush, although for a small bush of honeysuckle and 2 kg is a large indicator. Aurora gives 2 kg at a young age, then gradually the yield increases.

The winter hardiness of the variety is very high, withstands temperatures down to -46 ° C, this Canadian honeysuckle will feel great in the middle lane, in the Urals and in Siberia. In the south, common honeysuckle can suffer from heat in summer, there it lacks humidity and softness of the air, and a long warm autumn can provoke untimely flowering in the bushes, however, Canadian varieties are effective in both Krasnodar and Stavropol regions. Aurora was specially bred under a milder American climate.

The variety is partially self-fertile. To increase its yield, varieties of the same manufacturer are planted nearby: Borealis, Tundra, Honey Bee, Indigo Gem, Blue Banana. Other mid-late Canadian varieties blooming at the same time are also suitable: Heart of the Giant, Strawberry Sensation, and other varieties from the Blue Treasure series.

Honeysuckle Aurora is best planted in the sun, but partial shade is acceptable, especially if the climate is dry and hot for the plant. In partial shade, the yield will be higher. The soil is better slightly acidic, pH 5, but neutral soils will do. If sphagnum, horsetail, plantain or buttercup grow on the site, then the soil is acidic; before planting, you need to add lime, dolomite flour or chalk. Slightly reduces the acidity of manure and compost.

The optimal type of soil is loam, which is good for moisture and air, nutritious, but not too greasy.

If the soil on the site is structurally unsuitable for honeysuckle, the planting hole should be no less than the diameter of the crown - 80 cm. All soil from the hole is taken out, and when planting, it is filled with a useful mixture.

The plant is compact, so it can be grown in container culture.

Aurora will need moderate to heavy pruning. In the first 5 years, thinning is enough (diseased, damaged, thickening branches are cut out), then everything is removed except for 4-6 mature and the same number of young branches.

The variety has good resistance to diseases and pests. Aurora has excellent powdery mildew immunity, higher than many other varieties. Suitable for ecological gardening.

The variety thrives in mild, warm climates and is very drought tolerant. Watering will be needed only for young plants, in the future - only in dry summer.

Foreign gardeners have a very high opinion of the variety. This is the best hybrid that the University of Saskatchewan has created. The berries are really sugar-tasting, truly sweet, not tart or sweet-sour, the fruits are very large, 3-3.2 cm long, and all the berries are leveled and calibrated.

Russian gardeners also give Aurora first place. This is the most delicious berry, it stands out both for its brightness of taste and the fact that it has a unique bouquet. Its aroma is compared with strawberry, confectionery, it is so original that the berry is suitable for flavoring ice cream, desserts, mousses, baked goods. Unripe berries can be more acidic, but gain sweetness over time.

Aurora is a vivid contender for a leadership role in the modern honeysuckle range. It is worth considering for anyone who chooses only the best varieties.