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Honeysuckle is a berry shrub reaching 2.5 to 3 m in height. Tall, with a fluffy crown, it is great for creating hedges and other landscape compositions. Honeysuckle ripens several years after planting; this time depends on the chosen variety. Not all fruits of the bush are edible; there are also ornamental species of the plant.
What year after planting does honeysuckle bear fruit?
Seedlings begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. If the bush is propagated by cuttings, the berries can ripen after a year, but with a small harvest volume. And only after 6-7 years the crop begins to bear fruit with a yield of more than 1 kg per year. Some varieties actively ripen a little earlier.
The volume of fruiting increases until the age of 15-17 years
During the period when the yield level of shrubs begins to fall, they can be renewed by cutting off some of the branches at the base.
How many years does honeysuckle bear fruit?
Younger honeysuckle seedlings bear fruit much less actively.The duration of fruiting directly depends on the chosen variety of shrub; some species are capable of producing berries for 12 years, but the average period is from 5 to 7 years. During the formation of inflorescences and ripening of berries, it is important to water the honeysuckle abundantly and regularly, as well as fertilize the soil.
Why does honeysuckle not bear fruit?
There may be several reasons for the low level of honeysuckle fruiting:
- Insufficient access to sunlight. The plant is a light-loving plant, bearing fruit best in illuminated areas. In shady areas there are much fewer leaves and berries.
- The bush was damaged by frost. The crop begins to ripen quite early, when temperatures still fluctuate. The branches and foliage of the plant are quite resistant to cold, but especially sensitive petals can easily be damaged in one frosty night.
- The bush lacks insects. Poor fruiting of honeysuckle may be the result of lack of pollination. Often the bush begins to ripen at the end of March, when the weather becomes warmer, but there are no insects yet, then the plant cannot be pollinated.
- Disease or lack of nutrients. Most types of honeysuckle bear fruit much worse if the shrub is not provided with additional fertilizing. Insects practically do not harm it. However, there is a risk of various diseases, which can also impair fruiting.
In some cases, low yields can be observed without one of the listed reasons; this can happen if the bush is too young or, on the contrary, too old to bear fruit.
Wild varieties have bitter-tasting berries, and the period of active fruiting of such plants can exceed 50 years. These types of honeysuckle also begin to ripen only 5-7 years after planting. Life expectancy is somewhat shorter, and fruiting does not exceed 15 years. Senescence begins after 8-10 years of growth, and then the yield level sharply decreases. To maintain normal fruiting, honeysuckle must be pruned in time, giving the crown a spherical shape.
What to do if honeysuckle does not bear fruit
Depending on the cause of the problem, there are several ways to combat poor shrub productivity:
- Incorrect seeding or lack of pollination. In order for honeysuckle to bear fruit better, it is necessary to plant several different varieties nearby. The optimal quantity is 10-15 bushes in one area. Then each of them will be able to cross-pollinate, giving a yield of up to 10-12 kg per year. It is also necessary to spray with water and sugar (2 tablespoons per 10 liters, respectively), this will help attract more insects for pollination.
- Incorrect soil composition. Before planting a bush, acidified soil must be filled with slaked lime. Alkaline soil should be acidified with gypsum. The best option for normal development of the crop is loamy or sandy loam soil. If the soil in the area turns out to be heavy, it must be dug up with the addition of sand and humus.
Normal fruiting of honeysuckle is possible only on fertile soil with a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5
- Insufficient moisture. Keeping honeysuckle on the site involves regular watering of the bush during flowering and fruit ripening.With a lack of moisture, the plant stops bearing fruit normally, begins to shed flowers and ovaries, and the few berries that appear acquire a bitter taste. The most abundant watering should be carried out in May and June, 4-5 buckets per bush. There is no need to water the plant often; the optimal frequency is 3 to 5 times a season, preferably in the evening.
- If the honeysuckle does not bloom or bear fruit because the crown is too thick, it is necessary to thin out the bush. As it grows, it begins to expand greatly, so for ease of maintenance, it is better to place seedlings at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other with row spacing of 2-2.5 m.
When a bush is infected with a disease, the berries ripen slowly, the flowers fall off, and the yield drops several times. To protect the crop from disease, the plant should be fertilized with humus in the spring, with phosphorus in the summer, and with ash in the autumn.
Tips for caring for honeysuckle
Honeysuckle easily tolerates partial shade, but bears fruit best in well-lit areas. The plant cannot be planted on flooded lowlands and sandstones. Before planting the bush, the soil must be thoroughly dug up and all perennial weeds and wheatgrass removed.
The crop does not adapt well to drought, so it is important to constantly monitor the maintenance of moisture in the soil and carry out regular mulching. However, you should not over-flood the root system: this can disrupt the growth process and lead to the death of the plant.
The most favorable time for landing is the second half of September and the first half of October. At the same time, one should also not forget about regular weeding of the soil and removing weeds from the site.
It is not recommended to plant the shrub in the spring, as it begins to grow early. Otherwise, the plant needs to be replanted in the summer, after picking the berries.
Seedlings up to 2 years old are best suited for planting.
The selected area should be filled with lime (200-400 g per m2) and dig a planting hole measuring 60*60 cm and up to 40 cm deep.
The bush does not need pruning for the first 3-5 years. Starting from the 6th year, it is enough to simply remove the branches that thicken the top. The best time for pruning is autumn.
In the 15th year of growth, the skeletal branches are pruned to the growth, which is located at the base. Thanks to the gradual renewal of the crown, the shrub will bear fruit much better, with a stable harvest volume.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle does not ripen immediately, but several years after planting on the site. The time when fruiting begins and its duration depend on the chosen variety of shrub, as well as on the growing conditions. If honeysuckle does not bear fruit well and its flowers fall off, you should pay attention to the following factors: soil moisture level and its composition, crown density, as well as planting location and age of the plant.
