Honeysuckle variety Blue bird
Blue bird is a variety of honeysuckle with fruits of an early ripening period, selected by the Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia. Obtained on the basis of Kamchatka Honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtschatica).
Fruit bushes are vigorous (up to 1.3 m, and sometimes up to 1.8 m), massive, with a spreading dense oval crown. Shoots are thin, straight, not pubescent. The leaves are oblong-oval, with a pointed tip and a rounded base.
Berries of medium size (length - up to 2 cm, weight - 0.75 - 0.9 g, the largest - up to 1.2 g), oblong elliptical shape, blue-blue (almost black in color, with a blue tint). The skin is thin, with a clear waxy coating. The pulp is tender, with a very good mild sweet-sour taste (due to the high sugar content, the sourness is barely felt), delicate aroma and light astringency. The taste of the fruit of the honeysuckle Bluebird is somewhat similar to blueberries. The chemical composition of the variety is as follows: the sum of sugars (6.4%), vitamin C (17 mg / 100 g), P-active substances (631 mg / 100 g). The variety is intended for universal use.
Ripening of berries occurs in the period from 14th to 22nd June, earlier than wild strawberries. Sprinkling of berries is low.
The shrub begins to harvest from the 3rd year after planting. The total fruiting period is 20 - 25 years. The average yield of the variety is 1 - 2 kg / bush or 61 c / ha, maximum - 2.5 kg / bush or 90 c / ha.
This honeysuckle is winter-hardy and practically unaffected by diseases and pests.
The variety is practically self-fertile. The best pollinators of the Blue Bird can be the following varieties: Blue Spindle, Cinderella, Kamchadalka, Malvina, Moraine, In memory of Kuminov, Titmouse, Start.
In terms of care, the variety is undemanding and unpretentious to soil and climatic conditions. Loves moisture, but grows poorly with excessive waterlogging.
The main advantages of this honeysuckle: dessert taste of berries, resistance to shattering, winter hardiness, unpretentiousness, practically not susceptible to disease.
Disadvantages: only average yield.
In which photo is the bluebird? The shape on the top and bottom photo is different.
In three photos, there are three different shapes of berries. Does honeysuckle taste different with age? Today the bluebird has borne fruit. Quite sour, but planted this variety to have sweet berries.