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At the Siberian Research Institute named after. Lisavenko, based on Altai honeysuckle, created a new variety, Fire Opal. Based on the results of variety testing in 2000, the crop variety was included in the State Register with a recommendation for cultivation in the Siberian and Ural regions. Description of the honeysuckle variety Fire Opal will help you get acquainted with the crop, learn about the features of its planting and cultivation.
Description of honeysuckle Fire opal
Fire opal is a honeysuckle variety with a mid-early fruiting period. The berries reach biological ripeness in the second half of May.
Berries of the Fire Opal variety are dark blue with a bluish coating.
On average, 4 kg of fruits are harvested from one bush; with proper agricultural technology, the yield increases to 6 kg. The Fire Opal variety is an early ripening variety; the first flowering occurs in the fourth year of growth.
Description of honeysuckle:
- Fire opal grows in the form of a bush, 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 the growing season are spent on the formation of the root system, the growth of the above-ground part is insignificant. Then the growing season is aimed at shoot formation and fruiting. During the season, the honeysuckle bush forms up to 45 young branches.
- The surface of the current year's shoots is dark green with a brown tint, smooth. Over time, the color becomes gray, the bark becomes peeling and rough.
- The foliage is dense, the leaf blade is dark green, convex or straight with rounded, slightly drooping tips. The stipules are large, fused with the stalk, the edges are wavy.
- The flowers are simple, medium-sized, light yellow. Located on the tops of annual shoots in pairs in leaf axils.
- The berries are broadly oval in shape, up to 1.6 cm in length. They grow densely, are well attached to the stalk, do not fall off after ripening, tearing is difficult, dry.
- The pulp is dense, juicy, beige, sweetish-sour; if the crop is insufficiently illuminated, the taste of the berries may have a slight bitterness.
- Honeysuckle fruits are universal in processing, retain their nutritional value for a long time, and are characterized by high transportability.
Honeysuckle Fire Opal is one of the first to bloom and bear fruit on the site. The deciduous plant retains its decorative shape for a long time; the foliage turns brown and does not fall to the snow.
The fire opal variety is highly winter hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -35 °C. The culture is not afraid of a sharp drop in temperature after the start of sap flow. Winters well without additional shelter.
It tolerates moisture deficiency worse; growing in southern climates requires additional watering. In dry summers, the yield decreases due to small berries. Resistance to infections is high, resistance to pests is worse.
Planting and caring for the honeysuckle variety Fire Opal
According to the characteristics of the Fire Opal variety, the plant is quite unpretentious and survives in any conditions. To ensure that the growing season of honeysuckle is complete and that the bush produces a high yield of berries with good taste, the biological requirements of the crop are taken into account when growing.
Landing dates
The crop bears fruit on last year's shoots; sap flow begins early, when the temperature reaches zero. The growing season completely stops in the second half of August, and from September the biological cycle stops. This is the optimal time for planting. In temperate climates, 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 estimated planting time is September.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Particular attention is paid to the location of the Fire Opal variety. The plant is light-loving, but at the same time it reacts poorly to direct sunlight, the stems dry out, the bush becomes loose, and budding weakens. The fruits are small and sour.
The area 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 crop will experience a lack of light, and fruiting will sharply decrease.
The Fire Opal variety grows best in neutral or slightly acidic soil.If the composition does not meet the requirements, it is adjusted by adding certain funds. Liming helps reduce acidity. You can acidify the soil using pine litter and high-moor peat. The soil for planting honeysuckle is chosen to be fertile, light, and aerated. The crop will not grow on sandstones; loamy or sandy loam soil is suitable. Soil humidity should be moderate; stagnant or high water levels are not suitable for the Fire Opal variety. For this reason, shrubs are not planted in lowlands or ravines.
The site for honeysuckle is prepared at the time of planting or in advance. The soil is dug up and the weeds are removed along with the roots. Dig a hole so that it is 10 cm wider than the volume of the root. The depth is chosen taking into account the drainage cushion and the layer of nutrient mixture. The root collar should not be buried in the ground. The approximate depth of the planting hole is 50 cm.
Rules for planting Kamchatka honeysuckle Fire opal
A seedling at least two years old, with several stems and a strong root system, is suitable for growing honeysuckle. Before purchasing planting material, pay attention to the bark of the branches; it should be smooth and without damage.
Before planting, the exposed root is placed in a growth stimulator for 2 hours.
If the seedling is in a transport container, soaking may not be necessary.
Before planting, the pot is filled with water and the honeysuckle is removed. Prepare a nutrient substrate from peat, compost and turf soil in equal proportions. Add superphosphate to the mixture; if the soil composition is acidic, add wood ash.
Landing algorithm:
- The bottom of the pit is covered with drainage.
- Part of the nutrient mixture is poured on top.
- The honeysuckle is placed in the center and the roots are distributed along the bottom.
- Fill with the rest of the substrate, compact, and fill the hole to the top.
The plant is watered, mulched, and the stems are cut to 1/3 of the length. During mass planting, maintain a distance between holes of at least 1.5 m.
Watering and fertilizing
Honeysuckle variety Fire Opal is characterized by average drought resistance; the root ball should not be allowed to dry out. Water the plant as needed to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. For honeysuckle, aeration plays an important role; after watering, a crust may 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, the Fire Opal variety does not need fertilizing in the first two years. The bush is fertilized from the third year of vegetation in 2 doses, in the spring they use organic matter and urea, in the fall - a complex of mineral fertilizers and compost.
Pruning Honeysuckle 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 produces more shoots. In subsequent years of growth, pruning is carried out after picking the berries; for good air circulation, old branches in the central part of the bush are removed.
The crop bears fruit on young shoots; old skeletal branches are replaced with new ones once every 2 years.
At the end of September, the bush is given a sanitary cleaning, weak, curved stems growing inside the bush are removed.
Wintering
Frost-resistant honeysuckle Fire opal overwinters without crown cover; the tree trunk circle can be mulched.The adult crop is cut off, moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out, and this is where the preparatory activities end.
Seedlings with an unformed root system without shelter may die. The following activities are carried out for the winter:
- hill up, cover with a layer of mulch;
- if abnormal frosts are expected, the crown is collected in a bunch;
- wrapped with covering material;
- covered with spruce branches.
Reproduction
Varieties created through selective breeding, which include Fire Opal, cannot be propagated by seeds independently. The process is lengthy, and the result can be unpredictable.
The crop is propagated vegetatively. The most suitable option is cuttings. The material is harvested in the spring from last year's shoots. They are placed in the ground, and the rooted cuttings are planted on the site the following fall.
Honeysuckle can be propagated by layering. The lower woody stem is dug into the ground. In place of the vegetative buds, root shoots will appear by autumn. In the spring you will see from the sprouts which parts have taken root. Around the beginning of September they are planted.
Pollinators of honeysuckle Fire opal
The plant is not self-fertile; it is pollinated by hawkmoth butterflies, 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, the varieties Morena, Kamchadalka, and Blue Spindle are suitable.
Diseases and pests
The Fire Opal cultivar can be affected by powdery mildew.Fungal infection spreads when soil moisture is high. To eliminate the disease, watering is reduced, damaged areas are cut off, and the bushes are treated with Topaz.
Of the pests, willow scale insects, leaf rollers and aphids are especially dangerous for the plant. At the beginning of the season, for prevention, they are treated with Bordeaux mixture, if insects are detected, with Fitoverm or insecticides.
Conclusion
Description of the honeysuckle variety Fire Opal reveals the biological characteristics of the crop. Compliance with agricultural technology will be the key to the formation of a healthy plant with high productivity and a decorative crown. Preventive measures will prevent the development of infection and the spread of pests.
Reviews of honeysuckle Fire Opal
