An early sweet variety of honeysuckle "Silginka"

Honeysuckle is an early berry that is not afraid of frosts. For residents of cold regions, where the variety of crops grown is limited, this berry is just a godsend. Rich in vitamins, Silginka will delight you with a harvest of delicious fruits at the beginning of summer.

Description of the Silginka honeysuckle variety

Silginka is a tall shrub of the Honeysuckle family, which is distinguished by its frost resistance and can withstand frosts down to -40 ° C. The height of the bush reaches 1.5 m. The erect branches form a rounded shape and have a slight thickening. On one bush, up to 15-18 green branches develop, which darken with age. The leaves are medium in size, have an elongated oval shape, in the axils of which flower buds are laid.

Origin and development

The first cultivated varieties of honeysuckle appeared relatively recently, the plant was especially fond of the inhabitants of the northern regions, where the variety of berries that can withstand frost is not so great. Most of the honeysuckle varieties are bred in Russian nurseries.

Silginka is one of the first cultivated varieties of honeysuckle, bred in 1978 in the Tomsk region.

Breeding history

The Silginka variety was obtained by crossing the Turchaninov and Roxana varieties in 2004, and in 2011 it was included in the state register. The breeders of the Bakchar Research Nursery sought to obtain a variety that would tolerate winter frosts well, yielding fruits with high taste.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins, useful properties

Honeysuckle berries in their biochemical composition are in many ways superior to other berry crops. It is in the early summer period that this important source of vitamins is especially appreciated.

Honeysuckle contains 9% sugars and 4% acids, a high content of ascorbic acid and active substances important for humans: rutin, leukoanthocyanins, chlorogenic and caffeic acids. These substances increase the strength of the capillaries. Honeysuckle fruits are useful for hypertension, atherosclerosis. Their pulp contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, iodine, manganese, copper, silicon, retinol, B vitamins, etc.

100 g of berries contain:

• ascorbic acid - 150 mg;
• potassium - 70 mg;
• sodium - 35 mg;
• phosphorus - 35 mg;
• magnesium - 22 mg;
• calcium - 20 mg;
• thiamine - 3 mg;
• riboflavin - 3 mg;
• iron - 1 mg;
• beta-carotene - 0.3 mg;
• manganese - 0.1 mg;
• iodine - 0.1 mg;
• copper - 0.1 mg;
• silicon - 0.09 mg;
• aluminum - 0.08 mg;
• strontium - 0.08 mg;
• retinol - 0.05 mg.

The chemical composition and taste of honeysuckle may vary depending on weather and climatic conditions cultivation... At high humidity, a lot of ascorbic acid accumulates in the berries; in arid regions, the content of tannins and sugars is higher.

The use of berries contributes to:

• elimination of salts of heavy metals and excess cholesterol from the body;
• stabilize pressure;
• normalize the work of the digestive tract;
• strengthen the heart muscle;
• improve blood circulation and strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
• strengthens the immune system and helps the body fight infections.

Honeysuckle berries are not the only ones that can benefit. Its flowers, leaves and bark contain many useful substances that have anti-inflammatory, diuretic and choleretic effects.

A decoction of flowers and leaves will help with gastritis, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, it is recommended to increase appetite and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

A decoction of young twigs helps in the treatment of viral infections, has a diaphoretic, antipyretic, antiseptic effect, strengthens the immune system.

Application features

Silginka berries are not only consumed fresh, but they are also used for making jam, compotes, and tinctures. In folk medicine, there are many recipes for decoctions of leaves, flowers and honeysuckle bark, which have a healing and strengthening effect on the body.

Ripening period

Silginka fruits ripen in late May - early June, this is the very first of all berries that ripens, about a week before the strawberries ripen.

Productivity and fruiting

The yield of the variety is quite high, with mature bush you can collect from 2.5 to 3 kg of berries.

Disease and pest resistance

Silginka is resistant to almost all fungal diseases, but many insects are a threat to shrubs. Fingerwing honeysuckle, aphids and weevils feed on the sap, foliage and berries of the plant.

Cold and drought resistant

Silginka can withstand frosts down to -40 ° С, early flowers of honeysuckle are able to endure up to -10 ° С. It tolerates drought painlessly, the bushes are watered as needed.

Characteristics, description of appearance, taste

Silginka bushes are considered medium-sized and reach a height of 150-160 cm, in width it can grow up to 1 m. Green, erect branches darken over time, the bark exfoliates on them, which is considered the norm for these shrubs. The oval leaves are bright green in color. Large flowers are formed in the axils of the leaves in pairs, which are replaced by large fruits. The weight of the fruit reaches 1.5 g, the rind is covered with a waxy bloom, smooth and soft, the taste is sweet with a slight sourness.

For which regions it is best suited and what is the exacting climate

Honeysuckle is not the most demanding shrub, it can grow almost everywhere. In the northern regions, it withstands the strongest and recurring, spring frosts, in the southern regions with a warm climate, some problems are noted. The shrub can bloom again in autumn or during long, winter thaws. Summer flowering and fruiting then can no longer wait. In warm winter, the buds can swell and be damaged by frost.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Silginka has few drawbacks and they can be easily prevented; the advantages of the berry significantly distinguish this variety.

Benefits:

• large-fruited;
• early fruiting;
• amicable maturation;
• sweet fruits;
• unpretentiousness;
• drought and disease resistance
• frost resistance;
• crop stability over 30 years;
• good transportability.

Among the disadvantages are:

• the need for pollination, the deficiency is eliminated by planting a bush of another variety next to it;
• shedding - up to 30% of the yield.

What is the difference from other varieties and hybrids

The main distinguishing feature of the variety is the absence of bitterness in the taste of berries, they are juicy, sweet and refreshing. Thanks to frost resistance and drought resistance, you do not have to worry about the plant in cold winters or dry summers.

Agrotechnics

The main requirement in growing a shrub is a free space around it of at least 1.5 m. And for good pollination and harvesting, a bush of a different variety is planted nearby.

Honeysuckle prefers light, drained areas where there is plenty of sunlight and no stagnant moisture.Lack of lighting will affect the amount of the crop. Too clay soil can cause disease.

It is important for a shrub to prepare a support, it can be a trellis or trellis. The distance between the support and the bush should be at least 10 cm, for good air circulation and the possibility of cutting the bush.

In the selected area, a hole is dug about 50 cm deep and wide, roughly guided by the size of the root system of the bush, it should exceed the size of the root by 10-15 cm.

Ground requirements

Honeysuckle prefers light, drained soil. If the soil is too clayey, it is diluted with humus or compost and wood ash is poured.

Timing, scheme and landing rules

The best time to board - late summer or early autumn. Before the onset of cold weather, the shrub will have time to take root, build up the root system, and in the spring it will start to grow actively. Autumn planting will allow you to get a harvest in the second year after planting.

Growing features

Honeysuckle is a moisture-loving plant, it will respond with gratitude to regular watering, which is carried out in the evening. The main thing is not to allow moisture to stagnate, so that the roots do not rot.

Weeding and loosening are also important to enrich the roots with oxygen. They loosen the soil around the bush without deepening the tool, since the root system is located close to the surface.

Advice! It is advisable to mulch the soil around the shrub, this will help to retain moisture and prevent the growth of weeds. Chips, straw, sawdust or pine needles are well suited for the role of mulch - when decomposing, they will provide the shrub with additional nutrition.

As it grows, honeysuckle forms the correct crown and does not need pruning, only dried branches should be trimmed.

It is advised to feed the shrub once, in spring and summer. To do this, take two buckets of compost, 50 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium salt. A small furrow is made around the perimeter of the bush, into which fertilizers are poured, poured with water and sprinkled with earth. After flowering, it is important to feed the plant with organic fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. This will help the plant gain strength before the long winter.

Pollinators

Even with proper care, it is not always possible to harvest a good harvest of honeysuckle. Although bisexual flowers can be self-pollinated, this is not always the case. Therefore, experienced gardeners are advised to plant nearby shrubs of a different variety, or, as they are called, pollinating agronomists.

For cross-pollination Silginka varieties are well suited Tomichka, Sibiryachka, Bakcharsky giant, Yugan, Delight, Giant's daughter. The more species grow in close proximity, the better the pollination and the greater the berry yield.

Reference! If insects pollinate only one of the flowers, ovaries will form around the entire inflorescence. This will ensure high yields under adverse conditions.

Disease and pest control

Silginka is resistant to various diseases, but sometimes it can be affected by powdery mildew... This happens in cold, rainy summers. Leaves are covered with white bloom. For prevention, it is important to remove all the foliage under the bush in the fall, as fungal spores can winter in it. In the fight against powdery mildew, the biological product "Fitosporin" helps.

Pollenfly, aphids, scale insects, leafworms are the most dangerous enemies for honeysuckle. These insects capture the leaves and young shoots of the plant and draw out all the juice from them. "Agrovertin", "Fitoverm" will be excellent helpers for insect control.

Harvesting and storage

Honeysuckle berries ripen gradually, starting from the top of the bush, on the lower branches ripening will take place last.

The first harvest of Salminka can be harvested in early June.

Ripening of berries occurs gradually - from the top of the bush, so the harvest is harvested in several stages. It is very convenient to spread the film under the bush and shake the branches, ripe berries will sprinkle and they can be easily collected.The collected berries are cleaned of debris, leaves and twigs, and then put into storage. The berries are stored in the refrigerator for no longer than a week.

Storage features

Transport must be done with care and only over short distances. Delicate berries are easily injured.

Preparing for winter

Honeysuckle is frost-hardy and does not need special preparation for winter. You can carry out a small pruning of dried or creeping branches on the ground.

Reproduction

Reproduction is done in several ways:

1. Layers. To do this, in the spring, it is enough to dig in a side branch, without separating it from the mother plant, and water it.
2. By dividing the bush. The overgrown bush is simply dug up and transplanted.
3. Seeds. This is a very difficult and troublesome method and is mainly used by breeders. After separation, the seeds are removed in the refrigerator for a month, then sown in containers and buried under the snow. In the spring, they are planted in the ground. Harvest with this method of planting will have to wait for several years.
4. Cuttings. To do this, the branch is broken off and placed in a greenhouse, after the roots appear, they are planted in the ground. Only annual green twigs will do.

Growing difficulties

With proper planting in a bright, wind-protected area, and the presence of a number of pollinating shrubs, Silgink's honeysuckle will not cause trouble and will delight you with a rich harvest.

Reviews of experienced gardeners about the variety

Summer residents from different regions of the country speak only positively about the old variety.

Peter, Naro-Fominsk: “Silginka proved to be worthy at my site. It gives a good harvest every year, the berries are very sweet, without bitterness. The grandchildren eat with pleasure. "

Anna, Volzhsky: "They planted Silginka for my son, the berry is early and rich in vitamins. Even without fertilizers, in favorable weather, we harvest the first crop in May. The berries are tasty, sweet and sour-free. I make preserves, jams, and compotes. "

Conclusion

Honeysuckle will delight gardeners with delicious berries and help to cope with spring vitamin deficiency. One has only to plant several varieties of this delicious berry on your site and you will be provided with a harvest of juicy and tasty fruits.