Honeysuckle Cinderella

Cinderella is a precocious honeysuckle variety that has long been known to gardeners. The berries of this variety are large in size, and their health benefits are enormous.

Honeysuckle varieties developed in the second half of the 20th century are very popular among summer residents. For example, Cinderella was developed in 1974. It was created by the work of breeders Zholobova, Kalinina and Archer, employees of the Lisavenko NIISS). This is a Siberian enterprise. Later, the plant was sent for variety trials in the most severe conditions, and it easily overcame them. However, it was possible to get into the State Register of Culture only in 1991.

Honeysuckle Cinderella is a low-growing deciduous shrub. It can bear fruit for many years without the need for transplants. Here are other features of medium-spreading bushes:

• bushes have a standard height of 0.5-0.7 m, grow up to one meter without pruning;

• the crown is wide-round, rather thickened, but still compact, the branches are not knocked out to the sides;

• shoots are thin, usually curved, but some are straight, pubescence is absent;

• shoots are green, but on the sunny side it can be pale pink;

• leaf plates are large, slightly concave, ovate with a long tip, green or light green;

• the roots are treelike, branching strongly, going deep into the ground by half a meter;

• abundant flowering, during this period honeysuckle acquires large light flowers.

The name Cinderella was given to this honeysuckle for a reason, because the plant really works like a fairytale heroine, trying to provide gardeners with a large and useful harvest. The fruits harvested from such plants can be described as follows:

• the mass of berries is 1.0-1.4 grams, the smallest fruits reach 0.7 g;

• berries are considered large;

• the resulting crop has a cylindrical or fusiform shape;

• the skin color is very dark, close to black, but there is a bluish tinge on the surface;

• the skin is thin, compacted, but not tough;

• the pulp is pleasant to the taste, juicy, rather tender;

• berries are attached to the branches at a satisfactory level, they can crumble.

A feature of this variety is a delicate strawberry aroma. The fruits are very useful for all categories of people, moreover, they do not lose their taste and useful qualities during culinary treatments. A high expert assessment of sweet and sour taste (up to 5 points) suggests that this variety is also recommended by tasters.

Cinderella is an early subspecies of honeysuckle, capable of producing berries in the second year of the growing season. Fruiting of the variety is annual, the berries are removed from the bush in the middle of the first summer month.

Here everything will depend on the age of the shrub, but in general, the variety is very productive. So, plants at the age of 4 years give on average a kilogram of berries or a little less, shrubs 6-8 years old - about 2 kilograms, and those that are already 13 years old - 2.8 kg or even more.

Due to its good winter hardiness, Cinderella can take root not only in regions with a stable climate, but also in areas of risky farming. So, gardeners of Siberia can choose this culture for themselves. It is no less popular in the Far Eastern region, in the North Caucasus, in the Middle and Lower Volga regions, and so on.

The minus of Cinderella is the need for pollinating shrubs. The independent formation of ovaries on the bushes is not observed. For plants to produce a harvest each year, they must be pollinated by one of the following varieties:

• Azure;

• Gerda;

• Blue bird;

• Fire Opal;

• The pride of Bakchar.

It is best to choose two-year-old seedlings of a healthy appearance and with glossy leaves for planting. The root system should be with an earthy clod. In order for the culture to take root one hundred percent, you need to look for a nursery in your region of residence. So the plant will not suffer from new conditions for it. Planting crops depends on the climate. If winter comes early, spring planting is best. In case of late and warm winters, planting is recommended in autumn.

It is necessary to irrigate the first-year bushes weekly, while the dose of water is 20 liters. Then, when the substrate dries up a little, it must be loosened. Particular attention is paid to watering during the active formation of berries and their ripening. Water more often, but reduce the amount of water - no more than 8 liters. If the soil dries out, the berries will turn bitter. When the crop is harvested, watered as needed, there is no special schedule.

In the third year, the plants are fed for the first time even before bud break. Use urea by dissolving a tablespoon of it in a bucket of water. After flowering, compost is used, covering 10 kg of product under each honeysuckle bush. In the fall, Cinderella is fertilized with potassium (20 g) and superphosphate (25 g). Top dressing is diluted with water.

Cinderella needs to be shaped. The first shaping is carried out immediately after the end of planting work. The shrubs are examined, get rid of weak branches. Choose from 3 to 5 most developed shoots, cut off by one third. In subsequent years, they are limited to sanitary pruning. Rejuvenation of the bushes is carried out when they are 7 years old. To do this, in the fall, after stopping sap flow, the old branches are thoroughly cut out. When spring begins, hemp will quickly sprout new growth.

When creating Cinderella, breeders used varieties that are practically not subject to disease. The described culture took all the best from them, so cases of its disease are extremely rare. Sometimes plants can be affected by moniliosis or powdery mildew. And also on shrubs from time to time ticks, glass-makers start up, sometimes aphids breed. But all this happens very rarely. To prevent the plants from getting sick, they can be treated with biological preparations or Bordeaux liquid at the beginning of spring. This will be enough.

The plants have very high winter hardiness indicators, so they will not need insulation. Attention should be paid to seedlings in the first and second year after planting. In the fall, they are wrapped in leaves up to the middle part of the bush, and then covered with a snow mass. Adult plants do not need this either.

Cinderella is unpretentious in growing, but she gives the sweetest berries only in illuminated areas. Shading does not affect the decorative effect of the bush, but it does affect the taste of the fruit. Planting should be done in the southern parts of the garden, near fences and buildings.

Only neutral soil is suitable, without an increased level of acids or alkalis. Looseness and nutritional value are the key to a comfortable growth of honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle Cinderella is a real favorite of gardeners. Almost all the reviews about her are positive. Summer residents are very pleased with the unpretentiousness of the culture, its excellent taste. For the winter, the fruits are often frozen or made into jam. Some summer residents noted that the berries are slightly bitter.

Some gardeners grow Cinderella more in decorative qualities. They plant it to frame and decorate the paths. It is noted that even with one pollinator bush, the plant produces a small crop.