Honeysuckle Sibiryachka

Edible honeysuckle Sibiryachka is a popular frost-resistant fruit shrub variety, well adapted to growing in most regions of Russia. In addition to a pleasant, memorable taste, its berries are large in size. Growing and caring for the bushes is easily mastered even by novice summer residents, the plants are unpretentious, quite decorative, can be used as part of hedges, when landscaping a site.

The variety was registered in the State Register in 2000. It was bred by the specialists of the N.I. MA Lisavenko using honeysuckle 1-55-39 and a mixture of pollen.

This variety of honeysuckle is characterized by the formation of medium-sized spreading bushes about 1.6 m high. The crown is oval in shape, not very dense. The branches are colored brownish brown. Shoots of medium length, curved, with the top hanging down, first red, then turning light green. Leaves are wide, lanceolate, pubescent on both sides.

Sibiryachka's fruits are of outstanding size, weighing 1-1.4 g. The shape of the berries is elongated, with a slight bend, drop-shaped. The fruits are dark purple in color, there is a faint waxy bloom on the surface. The skin is thin, easy to bite. The fruit attachment strength is average, but they hardly crumble.

Sweet and sour berries are highly rated by tasters - 4.9 points. The fruits are good both fresh and prepared. Suitable for freezing for the winter. The pulp of the berries is very tender, juicy, with a delicious aroma.

The bush begins bearing fruit for 2 years. In terms of ripening, the variety belongs to the early ones. Harvesting begins in mid-June. Fruiting is regular, annual.

Honeysuckle Sibiryachka has a high yield. Harvesting on average is 3.2 kg per bush, the maximum figures reach 3.7 kg.

The variety successfully takes root in all climatic zones. Has no restrictions on the choice of the growing region.

Siberian is a self-fertile honeysuckle. It is well pollinated by other varieties with the same flowering time. In this capacity, Turchaninov's honeysuckle, Kamchatka and Altai, is suitable for her. The greater the variety of plantings, the more abundant the harvest will be.

With proper cultivation, Sibiryachka can be successfully grown in one place for 15-30 years without losing the ability to bear fruit.Bushes are planted in autumn, early October, as well as early spring, before the start of sap flow.

Sibiryachka's survival rate is good. But for successful growth, it needs good follow-up care. In the early years, shoot growth is slowed down. In the root zone, it is advisable to regularly weed out the grass. Water the bushes as the soil dries up.

Adult plants from 3-4 years after planting need feeding. It is advisable to mulch the soil with peat and other organic fertilizers. Until 6-10 years of life of the bush, only sanitary pruning is performed. Then they begin to thin out and rejuvenate it, removing the thickened sections of the crown, which have fruited shoots.

Sibiryachka bushes are rarely affected by diseases. This honeysuckle is also highly resistant to pest attacks. Fungal diseases are mainly affected by bushes with excessive watering.

Plants are not afraid of severe frosts. The overall assessment of winter hardiness is high. Frosts during the flowering period do not lead to shedding of buds.

Plants are drought-resistant, take root well in climatic zones with low rainfall. When choosing a place for planting bushes, it is worth giving preference to areas protected from the through wind, illuminated for most of the day. Plants do not take root in the lowlands; in the shade, the fruits become smaller. Any soil is suitable, but always with a loose light structure. The best choice would be a moisture-absorbing, neutral acid loam.

According to summer residents, Sibiryachka's honeysuckle fully justifies the promises of breeders. It is perfect for growing in the North and the middle zone, is not afraid of frost and heat, requires moderate watering. Especially a lot of references in reviews are associated with the large size and taste of the fruit. In almost any climate, they amaze with their magnificence. Productivity, as gardeners note, Sibiryachka is increasing gradually, by the age of 15, giving the collection volumes even more than the maximum declared.

The variety has some drawbacks, but they are insignificant. Gardeners note that the bush, especially with strong thickening, is not very convenient for harvesting. And also there are references to the tendency of the variety to re-flowering. If such buds are not removed, the plant's yield will be noticeably lower in summer. Another minor drawback is the poor suitability of the berries for transportation due to the rather thin skin.