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Edible honeysuckle is an unpretentious shrub with healthy berries. It begins to bear fruit early, which is important in regions with harsh climates. For Russia, this is a relatively new crop, so the description of the Tomichka honeysuckle variety and the rules for caring for the plant will be useful to those who are going to grow it on their site.
Description of the honeysuckle variety Tomichka
The shrub was cultivated in the second half of the twentieth century. Back in 1909, Michurin I.V. recommended edible plant varieties for cultivation. However, Tomichka honeysuckle received an official certificate only in 1984, after which it quickly spread throughout the country. The shrub was bred from the seeds of the Turchaninova variety as a result of complex selection. Gidzyuk and Luchnik worked on the hybrid with a group of associates from the Tomsk region.
The edible honeysuckle variety Tomichka turned out to be easily recognizable. A shrub of medium growth, its branches are tightly pressed to each other, only the upper part of the crown bends in an arched manner towards the ground.The leaves are small, rich green in color with a pointed tip. The surface of the leaf plate is covered with soft fluff, barely noticeable when touched. The flowers of Tomichka honeysuckle are small and are lost against the background of the foliage. Their petals are green. The bush blooms profusely.
The height of an adult plant reaches 1.5-1.8 m
The Tomichka variety is famous for its berries, which are unlike other varieties. The upper part of the fruit is flattened, and begins to expand at the bottom. Outwardly it resembles a jug or a drop. Tomichka fruits are large, their average weight reaches 1 g. The peel is thin, lumpy, and during ripening it acquires a rich purple hue. A waxy coating is visible on its surface, characteristic of all varieties of honeysuckle.
Advantages and disadvantages of Tomichka honeysuckle
Edible honeysuckle of the Tomichka variety of Siberian selection is suitable for cultivation in all regions of the country. It was appreciated by residents of northern cities and the middle zone. In conditions of unstable climate, the shrub was distinguished by good winter hardiness, abundant and early fruiting, early fruiting and friendly yield.
Fruiting of the variety begins early; the first harvest can be harvested already in early June. The berries ripen gradually in several stages. The average yield per bush is 2-2.5 kg. Under certain conditions and proper care, it reaches up to 3.5 kg. The first fruiting after planting begins four years later.
The main advantage of Tomichka honeysuckle is its high winter hardiness. The shoots of the bush can withstand temperatures down to -50°C, and the roots can safely tolerate -40°C. Flower buds, ovaries and buds do not fall off even at -8°C.However, the variety has other advantages:
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- low maintenance requirements;
- stable fruiting for 30 years;
- universal purpose of berries.
Few shortcomings were identified during cultivation. These include poor drought resistance and the need for pollinators. In addition, ripe berries practically do not stick to the branches; they need to be quickly collected before they fall off.
Planting and caring for honeysuckle Tomichka
In order for the shrub to delight you with good fruiting for many years, you need to choose the right place for it. In addition, prepare the area and maintain it accordingly.
Landing dates
Honeysuckle ends its growing season early, so it can be planted at the end of summer. The timing varies in each region; it is optimal to start work from the end of August to the second half of November. You can plant Tomichka honeysuckle in the spring, but you need to do this before the start of the growing season. Experienced gardeners have noticed that the shrub in this case takes root worse than the autumn one.
Choose two-year-old seedlings, the height of which is no more than 40 cm. A healthy plant has two or three strong shoots and a well-developed root system.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Bushes should be planted in a well-lit place, but reliably protected from cold winds and drafts. Planting in a shaded area is allowed, but fruiting will be worse. It is better to allocate the southern or southwestern side for honeysuckle. It is worth remembering that honeysuckle is a moisture-loving plant, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture at the roots, so in the selected area the groundwater level should not be higher than 1 m.
Seedlings develop well in any soil; they can be planted even in clay soil.However, for abundant and rapid fruiting, a loose, light substrate with a neutral reaction is suitable. The soil should allow air and water to pass well to the roots of the plant.
Before planting, dig up the soil on the site and prepare a nutrient mixture for the seedling. Garden soil is mixed with humus or compost, 100 g of potassium salt and double superphosphate, and a handful of wood ash are added. This mixture is used to cover the roots during planting.
Rules for planting honeysuckle Tomichka
Plant the crop in loamy soil
Planting honeysuckle Tomichka is not difficult, the main thing is not to forget about the root collar. It should not be buried more than 4-5 cm, otherwise rotting will begin with heavy watering or rainfall.
The hole for planting is made 50 x 50 cm in size. If there are several seedlings, then a distance of up to 1.5 m is left between them. The shrub is placed vertically, the roots are well straightened, sprinkled with earth, the surface is compacted and mulched with a thick layer of humus.
Watering and fertilizing
For the first few years, Kamchatka honeysuckle Tomichka only needs proper watering and loosening of the soil. Feeding begins from the third year of cultivation. In early spring, organic matter and nitrogen fertilizers are applied, and in the fall they switch to potassium fertilizers. It is best to use 100 g of wood ash for each bush.
You need to water the shrub abundantly, so that the soil remains moist, but not too wet. In spring and summer, more fluid is required, especially if there is a drought. When there is enough precipitation, there is no need to additionally water the soil.
Trimming
Immediately after planting, Tomichka honeysuckle is not pruned, like all shrubs. This weakens the plant and slows its growth.The first time they start cutting is at the end of the growing season. During the sanitary cleaning process, dry, damaged or broken branches are cut out.
After the sixth year of cultivation, honeysuckle needs rejuvenating pruning. All old shoots are cut out at soil level, leaving stumps of 30-40 cm. After the procedure, up to 10 strong productive shoots and young shoots should remain on the bush. This will keep the fruiting of the bush at a high level for many years.
Wintering
Adult plants tolerate frost and cold well, because honeysuckle is highly winter-hardy. There is no need to additionally cover the roots and shoots. However, young seedlings, especially in the first year, need insulation. To do this, the root zone is mulched with a thick layer of humus, and the shoots are additionally covered with dry soil.
Reproduction
Tomichka honeysuckle propagates in different ways, but simple methods are most suitable for amateur gardeners:
- cuttings;
- dividing the bush;
- bends.
Cuttings are the most difficult method. Both green shoots and semi-lignified ones are rooted. For successful root formation, the plant is placed in a greenhouse, and the cuttings are pre-treated with growth hormones. With proper care, young seedlings can be obtained by the end of the season. However, the survival rate is very low; you should not count on a large number of rooted cuttings.
Dividing the bush and the diversion method are the simplest methods of propagation. It is better to do this at the end of the growing season; the shoots of the current year should be broken and pinned to the ground, and then covered well with soil.
Dividing the bush allows you to get many seedlings in a short period of time
It is better to resort to division in early spring, while the bush has not yet woken up and started to grow. There is no need to dig it up completely; just select a few well-developed branches, dig them up and remove them along with the roots. Immediately plant honeysuckle in a new place.
Pollinators of honeysuckle Tomichka
According to the description, Tomichka honeysuckle is a self-sterile shrub, so it cannot be planted alone on the site to obtain harvests. For fruiting to begin, the following pollinating varieties should be placed nearby:
- Kamchadalka;
The variety is distinguished by its early fruiting period
- Cinderella;
Berry with strawberry flavor and slight sourness
- Blue spindle;
Honeysuckle with tender but bitter-tasting pulp
- In memory of Gidzyuk.
Medium ripening shrub with large elongated berries
However, these hybrids need to be planted at a distance no further than 50 m from Tomichka. Thanks to cross-pollination, the harvests will be excellent.
Diseases and pests
Despite the fact that Tomichka honeysuckle has good resistance to diseases and pests, the shrub is still affected by:
- aphid;
The pest attacks young leaves of honeysuckle
- scale insect;
The scale insect primarily attacks the shoots and leaves of shrubs
- mite;
The tops of shrubs affected by mites become covered with a whitish coating
- leaf roller;
A cobweb appears on young shoots, the leaves curl into a tube
- sawfly.
The pest eats young leaves, after which they dry out and fall off
To combat harmful insects, complex insecticides are used. Treatments are carried out several times until the result is achieved.
The most dangerous diseases for honeysuckle are fungal ones.For prevention purposes, the bush is sprayed with preparations containing copper. Treatments are carried out before the beginning of the growing season, until the leaves bloom.
Conclusion
The description of the honeysuckle variety Tomichka and reviews from gardeners show that the shrub has many advantages. Its disadvantages are minor and can be easily eliminated with proper care. Honeysuckle berries are tasty and healthy, and are easy to transport. The culture is suitable for industrial cultivation.
