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In the Siberian Research Institute named after Lisavenko, on the basis of Altai honeysuckle, a new variety, Fire Opal, was created. According to the results of variety testing in 2000, the variety of the crop was entered into the State Register with the recommendation of cultivation in the Siberian and Ural regions. Description of the Honeysuckle variety Fire Opal will help you get acquainted with the culture, learn about the features of its planting and growing.
Description of Honeysuckle Fire Opal
Fire opal is a medium-early fruiting honeysuckle variety. The berries reach biological ripeness in the second half of May.
Berries of the Fire Opal variety of dark blue color with a gray coating
On average, 4 kg of fruits are harvested from one bush; with proper agricultural technology, the yield rises to 6 kg. The Fire Opal variety belongs to early maturing, the first flowering occurs in the fourth year of growth.
Description of honeysuckle:
- Fire opal grows in the form of a shrub, the height of which rarely exceeds 1.5 m. The density is average, the branches are upright, the crown is spreading.
- The first 3 years of vegetation are spent on the formation of the root system, the increase in the aboveground part is insignificant. Then the growing season is aimed at shoots and fruiting. During the season, the honeysuckle bush forms up to 45 young branches.
- The surface of the shoots of the current year is dark green with a brown tint, smooth. Over time, the color becomes gray, the bark is peeling, rough.
- The foliage is dense, the leaf blade is dark green, convex or straight with rounded slightly lowered tops. The stipules are large, fused with the stem, the edges are wavy.
- The flowers are simple, medium-sized, light yellow. They are located on the tops of annual shoots in pairs in the leaf axils.
- Berries are broadly oval in shape up to 1.6 cm in length. They grow densely, are well fixed to the stalk, do not crumble after ripening, difficult separation, dry.
- The pulp is dense, juicy, beige, sweetish-sour; with insufficient illumination of the culture, a slight bitterness may be present in the taste of berries.
- Honeysuckle fruits are versatile in processing, retain their nutritional value for a long time, are characterized by high transportability.
Honeysuckle Fire opal is one of the first on the site to bloom and bear fruit. The deciduous plant retains its decorative shape for a long time, the foliage turns brown and does not fall to snow.
The fire opal variety is characterized by high winter hardiness, it can withstand temperatures as low as -35 ° C. The culture is not afraid of a sharp drop in temperature after the start of sap flow. Winters well without additional shelter.
Deficiency of moisture tolerates worse; cultivation in a southern climate requires additional watering. In dry summers, yields fall due to small berries. Resistance to infections is high, it resists pests worse.
Planting and caring for the Fire Opal honeysuckle variety
According to the characteristics of the Fire Opal variety, the plant is quite unpretentious, survives in any conditions.In order for the vegetation of honeysuckle to be full, and the shrub to give a high yield of berries with good taste, the biological requirements of the crop are taken into account when growing.
Landing dates
The culture bears fruit on last year's shoots, sap flow begins early when the temperature reaches zero. Vegetation stops completely in the second half of August, from September the biological cycle stops. This is the optimal time for planting. In a temperate climate, Fire Opal honeysuckle is placed on a site with the condition that the seedling has time to take root before the onset of frost, the approximate planting time is September.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Particular attention is paid to the location of the Fire Opal variety. The plant is light-loving, at the same time it reacts poorly to direct sunlight, the stems dry out, the bush becomes loose, budding weakens. The fruits are small and sour.
The site should be open, but with periodic shading
The best option is the south side behind the wall of the building; honeysuckle does not like drafts. A place near large fruit trees with a dense crown is not considered, here the culture will experience a lack of light, fruiting will drop sharply.
The Fire Opal variety grows best on neutral or slightly acidic soil. If the composition does not meet the requirements, it is adjusted by the introduction of certain funds. Liming helps to reduce acidity. You can acidify the soil with the help of coniferous litter, high moor peat. The soil for planting honeysuckle is chosen fertile, light, aerated. The culture will not grow on sandstones; loamy soil or sandy loam will do. The moisture content of the soil should be moderate, stagnant or high water occurrence for the Fire Opal variety is not suitable. For this reason, do not plant shrubs in lowlands or ravines.
The area for honeysuckle is prepared at the time of planting or in advance. They dig up the soil, remove the weed along with the roots. Dig a hole so that it is 10 cm wider than the root volume. The depth is chosen taking into account the drainage pad and the layer of the nutrient mixture. The root collar should not be sunk into the ground. The approximate depth of the planting hole is 50 cm.
Planting rules for Kamchatka honeysuckle Fire opal
For breeding honeysuckle, a seedling not younger than two years of age is suitable, with several stems and a strong root system. Before purchasing planting material, pay attention to the bark of the branches, it should be smooth, without damage.
Before planting, the open root is placed in a growth stimulator for 2 hours.
If the seedling is in a transport container, soaking can be skipped
Before planting, fill the pot with water and remove the honeysuckle. A nutritious substrate is prepared from peat, compost and sod soil in equal proportions. Superphosphate is added to the mixture, if the composition of the soil is acidic - wood ash.
Landing Algorithm:
- The bottom of the pit is closed with drainage.
- Top covered with a part of the nutrient mixture.
- Honeysuckle is placed in the center, roots are distributed along the bottom.
- Fall asleep with the rest of the substrate, compact, fill the hole to the top.
The plant is watered, mulched, the stems are cut to 1/3 of the length. For mass planting, the distance between the pits is maintained at least 1.5 m.
Watering and feeding
The honeysuckle of the Fire Opal variety is characterized by an average drought resistance, the root ball must not be allowed to dry out. The plant is watered as needed to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. For honeysuckle, aeration plays an important role; after watering, a crust can form, it must be loosened. Young bushes are watered regularly using a small amount of water. When watering adult honeysuckle, they are guided by precipitation.
If a nutrient mixture was used during planting, feeding the Fire Opal variety is not needed in the first two years.The shrubs are fertilized from the third year of the growing season in 2 doses, in the spring they use organic matter and urea, in the fall - a complex of mineral fertilizers and compost.
Honeysuckle Pruning Fire Opal
The first pruning is carried out immediately after planting. Up to four years, only the upper part of the branches is removed so that the plant gives more shoots. In subsequent years of growth, pruning is carried out after picking the berries; for good air circulation, old branches are removed in the central part of the bush.
The culture bears fruit on young shoots, old skeletal branches are replaced with new ones every 2 years.
At the end of September, the bush is sanitized, weak, curved stems growing inside the bush are removed
Wintering
Frost-resistant honeysuckle Fire opal hibernates without crown cover, you can mulch the trunk circle. An adult crop is cut off, water-charging irrigation is carried out, this is where the preparatory measures end.
Seedlings with an unformed root system without shelter may die. For the winter, the following activities are carried out:
- spud, cover with a layer of mulch;
- if abnormal frosts are foreseen, the crown is collected in a bunch;
- wrapped with covering material;
- cover with spruce branches.
Reproduction
The varieties created by selection, to which the Fire Opal belongs, are not accepted to propagate by seeds on their own. The process is lengthy and the result can be unpredictable.
The culture is bred in a vegetative way. The most suitable option is grafting. The material is harvested in the spring from last year's shoots. Placed in the ground, the next autumn, rooted cuttings are planted on the site.
You can propagate honeysuckle by layering. The lower stiff stem is buried in the ground. Root shoots will appear in place of vegetative buds by autumn. In the spring it will be seen by the sprouts which parts have taken root. They are seated around the beginning of September.
Honeysuckle Pollinators Fire Opal
The plant is not self-fertile; it is pollinated by hawk moths, bumblebees and bees. To attract pollinators, the plant is sprayed with sugar syrup at the beginning of flowering.
The most common pollinators of honeysuckle are bees.
As pollinator varieties, honeysuckle with the same flowering time is planted on the site. For Fire Opal, Morena, Kamchadalka, Blue Spindle varieties are suitable.
Diseases and pests
Cultivar Fire Opal can be affected by powdery mildew. A fungal infection spreads when the soil is moist. To eliminate the disease, watering is reduced, damaged areas are cut off, the bush is treated with "Topaz".
Of the pests, willow scutes, leafworms and aphids are especially dangerous for the plant. At the beginning of the season, for prophylaxis, they are treated with Bordeaux liquid, if insects are detected with "Fitoverm" or insecticides.
Conclusion
Description of the Honeysuckle variety Fire Opal reveals the biological characteristics of the culture. Compliance with agricultural technology will be the key to the formation of a healthy plant with a high yield and decorative appearance of the crown. Preventive measures will prevent the development of infection and the spread of pests.
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