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In the second half of the 20th century, many varieties of edible honeysuckle were bred by breeders of the USSR. Many of them are still in demand and are deservedly popular among gardeners. The following is a description of the variety, photos and reviews of Cinderella's honeysuckle - an unpretentious and fruitful variety of this shrub, which is quite often found in household plots.
Description of Cinderella honeysuckle
Edible honeysuckle has always attracted the attention of breeders. Unlike ordinary berry bushes, the fruits of this plant are much healthier, and almost no maintenance is required. However, in nature, edible honeysuckle has a very limited distribution area. To maximize it and increase the quantitative and qualitative indicators, breeders from different countries have made a lot of efforts. Thanks to their work, many varieties of this amazing plant have appeared, suitable for growing even in the most unfavorable regions.
The fruits of Cinderella's honeysuckle are quite large
The edible honeysuckle variety (loniceraedulis) Cinderella was bred in 1974 by breeders of the N. M. A. Lisavenko. The progenitor is Kamchatka honeysuckle No. 8 (later the Start variety), the selected seedlings of which obtained the necessary properties as a result of free pollination. Variety testing was carried out from 1982 to 1990, and in 1991 the Cinderella honeysuckle was included in the State Register as recommended for planting in the West Siberian and East Siberian districts. Subsequently, this territory was expanded to cover the entire country.
The main parameters and characteristics of the plant are shown in the table below:
Parameter | Value |
Plant type | Deciduous shrub. |
Crown | Compact, medium spreading, thickened, 0.6-0.7 m high. |
Escapes | Of medium thickness, straight or slightly curved, green, without pubescence. |
Leaves | Large, oval-elongated, with a slight concavity, light green. |
Root system | Treelike, branched, the bulk of the roots lies at a depth of 0.5 m. |
Flowers | White, large, flowering time May |
Fruit | Oval-elongated, elongated, sometimes fusiform, dark, blue-violet, with a waxy bluish bloom. Weight 0.7-1.4 g. |
Ripening period | 2nd half of June |
Yield | Up to 5.5 kg from 1 adult bush |
Early maturity | The first fruits appear 3, and sometimes 2 years after planting. |
Taste | Sweet with a slight sourness and a pronounced strawberry aroma. |
Purpose of fruits | Universal. |
A short overview video on how Cinderella's honeysuckle bears fruit can be viewed at the link:
Planting and caring for honeysuckle Cinderella
Cinderella honeysuckle, like most other edible varieties of this shrub, is self-fertile. Therefore, when deciding to plant this crop, it should be borne in mind that not only the plant itself should be planted, but also the pollinator, which should be located in the immediate vicinity. Optimal for fruiting is a group of at least 4 bushes growing adjacent to each other.
When choosing a seedling, you should give preference to planting material with ZKS
When choosing planting material, you should give preference to seedlings 2-3 years old, sold in special containers. A closed root system is more stable and tolerates planting much better. The Cinderella honeysuckle seedling should have a good appearance, it should not have mechanical damage and traces of diseases. If the roots of the plant are open, be sure to inspect them for rot.
The best time to plant Cinderella honeysuckle seedlings outdoors is early spring or autumn. In areas with a temperate and warm climate, planting is best done in the autumn, at the end of the growing season. At the same time, at least a month should remain before the onset of cold weather. During this time, the seedling will have time to take root and adapt in a new place, and after winter it will confidently start to grow. In areas where winter comes early, planting Cinderella honeysuckle should be done in early spring, as soon as the ground thaws.
Choosing the right place for planting Cinderella honeysuckle is very important. In order for the shrub to grow well and bear fruit, the site for planting it must be well lit. It is desirable that the place be protected from the north wind, so honeysuckle is often planted from the south side of the fence or building. The soil should be loose and breathable, fertile, loamy or sandy loam, with a level of acidity close to neutral.
The size of the planting pit depends on the volume of the seedling root system.
Before planting Cinderella's honeysuckle, it is necessary to dig holes, the dimensions of which should correspond to the volume of the root system of the seedlings, this is at least 0.6 m in diameter and 0.5 m deep. The removed soil is mixed in equal proportions with humus, to increase fertility, a little potash and phosphorus fertilizers, wood ash are added to it, and if the soil is acidic, then lime or dolomite flour is additionally added. The Cinderella honeysuckle seedling is placed in the planting pit strictly vertically. The root collar is not buried during planting. The free space of the pit is filled with enriched soil, periodically compacting it. After filling the entire volume, the root zone is plentifully watered, and then the surface is mulched with humus.
Honeysuckle needs regular watering
Further care for the shrub is not difficult. Watering Cinderella's honeysuckle needs regular watering, but excess moisture for this culture is harmful. With insufficient rainfall, honeysuckle is watered once a week, about 10 liters under each bush. During the ripening of the fruits, watering can be done more often and more abundantly in order to avoid premature shedding of unripe berries. It is recommended to fertilize the bush starting from the 3rd year after planting. They are produced in several stages:
- Early spring. Foliar top dressing with urea (20 g per 10 l of water) or root ammonium nitrate (25-30 g per bush)
- Spring, after flowering. Overripe manure or compost is introduced into the root zone in an amount of 10-15 kg for each honeysuckle bush.
- Autumn, September-October. Root top dressing with superphosphate (25-30 g) and potassium sulfate (15-20 g) for each bush. It is better to apply in a diluted form, dissolving the required amount of fertilizer in 10 liters of water.
Low bushes of honeysuckle Cinderella can be used as ornamental plants
Cinderella's honeysuckle bushes are used not only for growing berries, but also as landscape plants, for example, to create low hedges. In this case, formative pruning of the shrub is performed to give it a more decorative look. In addition, it is necessary to thin out the crown, remove excessive thickening, remove side branches if they lie on the ground. Every year, in spring and autumn, it is necessary to clean the bushes of dry, broken and diseased shoots.
Honeysuckle pollinators Cinderella
The need for pollinators is one of the main disadvantages of Cinderella honeysuckle. If the plant is planted for the purpose of harvesting, then other species must be nearby. The best pollinators for Cinderella honeysuckle are shown in the table:
Pollinator varieties | % pollination |
Azure | 76 |
Gerda | 55 |
Fiery | 36 |
Kamchadalka, Tomichka, Amphora | 25 |
Breeding edible honeysuckle Cinderella
Reproduction of edible honeysuckle is possible both by seed and vegetative way. Healthy seedlings can be obtained from seeds, but there is no guarantee that they will retain varietal characteristics. Therefore, Cinderella's honeysuckle is propagated by gardeners vegetatively - by layering or cuttings.
Green cuttings give the highest rooting rate
The most effective breeding method is green cuttings. When using them, about half of the planting material is rooted. The best time for grafting is the ripening period of the fruit. The procedure is as follows:
- A twig of one-year growth with a length of 20-40 cm must be torn from the mother branch with a piece of cambium (heel).
- Place the cutting in a rooting stimulator (heteroauxin) for 12-16 hours.
- Plant the cutting at an angle of 45 ° towards the sun in a special bed. A mixture of peat and perlite is used as a nutrient soil. The place for the garden should provide the ability to shade the cuttings at noon and lighting in the morning.
- Moisten the cuttings regularly. After 2-3 weeks, the shoot will begin to form its own root system.
Breeding scheme for honeysuckle Cinderella layering
Another easy way to propagate Cinderella honeysuckle is to create air layers. To do this, a strongly inclined lateral shoot is fixed at the ground and instilled. In the process of regular moistening, roots and independent shoots will begin to form in the internodes of the shoot. Layers overwinter together with the mother bush, and in the spring it can be cut off from the parent branch and transplanted to another place.
Diseases and pests
The originator of the variety notes that there are no cases of the appearance of diseases or pests on Cinderella's honeysuckle, this is also evidenced by the reviews of gardeners. The shrub has a high resistance to viruses and fungi, however, for prevention in early spring, it is advisable to treat the shrub with a solution of Bordeaux liquid.
For prevention, it is advisable to treat the bushes with a fungicide in early spring.
It is also necessary to regularly remove dry and broken branches from the crown, which can become a source of infection, and remove fallen leaves.
Conclusion
The description of the variety, photos and reviews of Cinderella's honeysuckle are confirmation that this shrub may well replace traditional berry ones, especially in regions with a harsh climate. The plant really has many positive qualities, and even such nuances as the need for pollinators, a slight elongation in fruiting and the existing tendency to shed berries do not detract from all its advantages. In addition, the cultivation technique for Cinderella honeysuckle is extremely simple, the culture is unpretentious and resistant to many adverse factors, which is very important for gardeners who cannot devote enough time to planting.
