In fairy tales, rejuvenating apples are often mentioned. It turns out that rejuvenating fruits are not only in fairy tales: they also exist in real life. And they call them honeysuckle. This word consists of two words: "life" and "youth". The biologically active substances that make up the berries make them a healing dietary product and an elixir of life. Honeysuckle contains the trace element selenium, which is very rare and is called the element of youth.
Shrub description
Honeysuckle is a shrub that grows up to 2.5 meters. The plant easily tolerates transplantation. Frost resistance of honeysuckle is very high. It is able to withstand 50-degree frosts. Honeysuckle flowers are also frost-resistant: they tolerate temperatures of -80C. Edible honeysuckle is the most durable berry crop growing in Ukraine. The bush is able to live up to a hundred years. It begins to bear fruit the next year after planting. But best of all bears fruit in 7-10 years. Honeysuckle blooms before the leaves appear. A month after flowering, the berries are already edible. In the first year, the harvest is negligible. Every year it increases and reaches more than 3 kilograms per bush. The fruits of honeysuckle are blue-blue in color. Their weight is 1-2 grams. Berries do not ripen at the same time, but within two weeks.
Honeysuckle: care and cultivation
Honeysuckle is very fond of light. If the plant is planted in the shade, then it will grow poorly and will not produce berries. Loves moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging honeysuckle. Care and cultivation do not require special efforts. If there is not enough moisture, the berries will become small, the harvest will decrease not only for the current, but also for the next year, and the taste will also deteriorate. Since honeysuckle is a long-liver, it is not recommended to plant plants more often than one and a half meters. The first few years you can plant vegetables between the bushes. So that the development of the plant does not slow down, seedlings cannot be buried in the soil. Organic fertilizers are added to the planting pits for better development. If the plant is planted in the fall, then it is not pruned. When planting in the spring, you need to cut the honeysuckle. Cultivation and care are almost the same as the cultivation of other berry bushes. Only cut off this plant, unlike the others, 5 years after planting. The first 3-4 years, honeysuckle grows slowly. Care and cultivation are special at this time.
Pests and diseases
Diseases and pests do not affect honeysuckle. Care and cultivation do not require treatment with pesticides. Therefore, honeysuckle berries are characterized by ecological cleanliness.
Care and reproductionhoneysuckle
To preserve the variety, honeysuckle is propagated vegetatively. For this, the bush is divided, horizontal layering, green and lignified cuttings are used. If the plant is propagated by seeds, then the variety will not survive, moreover, sweet varieties will bring bitter berries.
Using honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is used in folk medicine. It improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract, increases appetite, helps with fever, vitamin deficiency and anemia. Honeysuckle berries are used for food. They are dried, juices, syrups, compotes, jams are made from them.
