Honeysuckle - what kind of plant?

The genus honeysuckle unites almost 200 different types of climbing, upright and creeping shrubs. In nature, the plant grows in the Northern Hemisphere, most species in East Asia and the Himalayas. In the gardens of the middle lane, planting and care of honeysuckle is common, it is both beautiful and gives very tasty and healthy berries that ripen in the garden before anyone else and are a storehouse of vitamins. But there are also poisonous species, for example, common honeysuckle, common in the forests of Russia.

Honeysuckle planting and care.

So, you have decided to plant honeysuckle in your area. First of all, choose a bright, wind-protected place - in the shade, it may not bear fruit. Sandy loam or loamy soil is best suited.

Buy two or three year old seedlings, then you can harvest the first crop in 1-2 years. When buying, carefully examine the seedlings - the branches should bend, but not break, the branches must have buds, and the roots must have a well-developed system.

It is better to plant honeysuckle in the autumn season, in late September - early October. Prepare the holes and spill them with water (if necessary, you can fertilize with compost), plant the plants, straighten the roots, but do not deeply deepen them, and fill the space of the hole with soil. Then pour again and mulch the surface to retain moisture.

Care consists in periodically loosening the soil, watering as needed. A year or two after planting, the plant can be fed with organic matter. After two to three years, if necessary, pruning is carried out, removing old or frost-damaged branches.

Honeysuckle berry is prized for its high content of minerals and vitamins like A, C, group B.

You can propagate honeysuckle by layering. In early summer, dig up the soil around the bush and pin some strong young branches with a U-shaped structure, sprinkling them with soil.

Until next spring, they will take root and then, having separated them from the mother plant with the help of a pruner, transplant them to the right place. In a couple of years, you will get a full-fledged bush.

You can also experiment with reproduction by dividing the bush (for a plant not older than five years), cuttings and even seeds!

Be sure to plant at least three different varieties on the site, as most varieties of honeysuckle are self-fertile and need pollen from another pollinator to get a rich harvest.

Beneficial features.

Honeysuckle fruits are used to make jams, compotes, jelly and jellies, make liqueurs and homemade wines from them.

The berries rubbed with sugar are used in the treatment of colds, honeysuckle jam for diseases of the stomach and kidneys.

Both fresh and frozen berries help with anemia and vitamin deficiency. And given the low calorie content (30 kcal per 100g), berries are a dietary product and are useful for obesity.

The honeysuckle berry is valued for its high content of minerals and vitamins such as A, C, group B. The content of vitamin C in honeysuckle is on par with lemon and kiwi.

And this berry also contains a rare element in nature - selenium, it rejuvenates the cells of the body. Everyone remembers the tale about rejuvenating apples? Then go ahead, plant rejuvenating honeysuckle under the window!