Kamchatka BerryLonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica, also known as drywood, comes from Siberia. This shrub can withstand temperatures down to -40 ° C, which make other species die. It is also extremely resistant to spring frosts.Although the first flowers appear at the beginning of April, they withstand temperature drops down to -8 ° C, which means that they are almost never damaged, and the bushes bear fruit every year
Haskap berry requirements
Kamchatka berry looks exceptionally well in any garden.In early spring, the youngest twigs are covered with golden-yellow tiny flowers, which are replaced by tiny fruits at the turn of May and June.These are berries with a navy blue or blue color with a delicate coating in the shape of tiny bottles.Intense green leaves are very decorative in the summer.
The height of adult shrubs usually does not exceed one and a half meters, so they are ideal for small gardens. The slender twigs of the haskap berry, however, are placed a bit to the sides, so when planting, keep a distance of approx. 1.5-2 m from other plants.
The advantage of the shrub is its very early fruit ripening date - many varieties ripen at the end of May. By planting several varieties that differ in terms of fruit ripening time, we will ensure fruiting by mid-summer. The average yield of one adult bush is 2-4 kg.Although the fruits are inconspicuous, they have very valuable properties.They contain a lot of valuable anthocyanins (biologically active substances with antioxidant properties), as well as many vitamins and minerals, such aspotassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and iron.
Kamchatka berry - fruit
The fruits of the Kamchatka berry are very tasty. When ripe, they are sweet and sour and juicy. The best are picked straight from the bush, but they are also suitable for freezing and preserves.They can be made into juices, added to preserves, and even made into tinctures. As the fruits ripen unevenly, they must be picked regularly every few days.If left for too long, they may overheat and fall to the ground.
When deciding to grow haskap berries, let's buy two varieties to enable good pollination. In good nurseries we can find several Polish varieties: 'Wojtek', 'Atut', 'Duet' or from Russia: 'Dlinnopłodna', 'Sinogłaska', 'Czelabinka' and 'Wołoszebnica'. Often, in the first year after planting, we can enjoy the first fruits. It is also a long-lived plant. In a good, sunny position, properly cared for shrubs will bear fruit for up to 30-40 years.
Kamchatka berry - cultivation requirements
Kamchatka berry grows best in lighter and more sandy positions. On heavy and wet soils and in a shaded place, the fruit will be more tart and not very tasty.The bushes do not mind summer droughts.The soil for blueberry cultivation does not require liming, because this plant grows slightly acidic. Another advantage of shrubs is their easy care.
They do not require any shaping during the first 5-6 years after planting. Only in the following years do we gradually cut down the oldest branches. First of all, we remove overlapping shoots, thanks to which we rejuvenate the bush, enabling the emergence of new shoots and at the same time improving the yield. The blueberry does not require chemical protection because it is not attacked by pests and diseases. Sometimes only aphids may appear.
For good fruiting it is beneficial to feed the plants with organic fertilizers. The mulching of the soil under the shrubs with the bark of trees is also beneficial.The mulch reduces the growth of weeds and creates good moisture conditions for the roots.
