Honeysuckle Tomichka: variety description, planting and care, pros and cons
Variety Tomichka is a fairly popular variety among all honeysuckle fans. This is due to the pleasant taste and high content of useful elements in the fruit. Also, the plant is characterized by high resistance to frost and decorative appearance. Before planting, it is important to familiarize yourself with the description of the honeysuckle variety Tomichka, its planting and care.
Variety description
Tomichka honeysuckle is the result of the work of Russian breeders. This culture is distinguished by unusual fruits that have a pleasant sweet taste with a slight sourness.
History of selection
To develop this crop, Turchaninov's honeysuckle seeds were used. Work on the creation of the variety began in 1984. It was led by Luchnik and Gidzyuk. At the same time, the variety was certified and received recognition in 1987 - after the end of tasting tests.
Features
Shrubs of such a culture are medium in height. Their size is 180 centimeters. Such plants are characterized by dense branches that fit snugly against the trunk. The shape of the shrub is more like a circle. The plant is distinguished by large oval leaves, which are pointed towards the end. There is a small fluff on their surface.
The berries are drop-shaped. They have a flattened top and a wider base. The fruits are purple in color and have a thin skin. Ripe fruits immediately fall to the ground.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionHoneysuckle of this variety has rather sweet berries, in the taste of which there is a barely noticeable sourness. Fruits are low in calories and contain many valuable components - in particular, vitamins B and C.Fructification of honeysuckle of this variety begins at 3-4 years. Harvest ripening begins quite early - in the first half of June. From 1 bush it is possible to collect 2-3 kilograms of fruits. Full ripeness of fruits occurs 5-6 days after they turn blue. During this period, they need to be collected.
Advantages and disadvantages
The following advantages are characteristic of the Tomichka variety:
- high yield and frost resistance;
- good immunity to pathologies and parasites;
- universal purpose of fruits;
- good portability;
- decorative properties of shrubs;
- easy care;
- no need for constant transplants;
- Stable fruiting for 30 years.
At the same time, the variety also has some disadvantages. These include the following:
- low dry weather tolerance;
- need for pollinators;
- falling fruits after ripening.
Landing
To get a good harvest and strong immunity, honeysuckle needs to be planted correctly. For this, a well-lit area without a draft is suitable. It is important that the soil has a neutral pH. It should be loose and well drained. The level of groundwater should be no closer than 1 meter to the surface of the earth.
Loamy or sandy loamy soil is considered a suitable option for culture. It is important to consider that honeysuckle needs moist soil. However, it should not be stagnant moisture. Otherwise, there is a high probability of rotting of the roots and death of the plant. Therefore, the landing site should have a slight slope.
Since the vegetation process ends quite early, honeysuckle can be planted from the end of August to the second decade of November. To get a strong and he althy plant, seedlings should be bought in special farms. This will make it possible to obtain the declared variety. For planting, it is recommended to use plants aged 2 years up to 40 centimeters high. The seedling must have at least 2 powerful shoots and a he althy root system.
When planting honeysuckle, the following features should be considered:
- Before planting, it is required to prepare a nutrient composition for planting. To do this, it is recommended to mix a bucket of humus or compost with half of the earth dug out of the hole, add 100 grams of potassium s alt and double superphosphate and 1 tablespoon of wood ash.
- When planting several crops, make holes measuring 50x50 centimeters with an interval of 1.5 meters.
- Fill the hole halfway with nutrient soil and fill it with water.
- Set up the seedling vertically, spread the root system, sprinkle with earth, tamp it down and water it.
- After the soil settles, add more soil. It is important to ensure that the root collar rises above the ground by a maximum of 4 centimeters.
- Make a ditch near the trunk and fill it with plenty of water.
- Apply a mulching layer of at least 5 centimeters. It should consist of sawdust, humus and straw.
Aftercare
During the first few years after planting, the plant needs only proper watering and loosening of the soil. You need to start feeding honeysuckle from the third year of cultivation. In early spring, it is worth making organic and nitrogen top dressing.With the advent of autumn, you need to switch to potash. A suitable option would be wood ash. For 1 bush, it is recommended to use 100 grams of such a product.
Watering the shrub is required quite plentifully. In this case, the soil should be moist, but not too wet. In spring and summer, the amount of moisture needs to be increased, especially in dry weather. With sufficient rainfall, no irrigation is needed.
Immediately after planting, no trimming of honeysuckle is required. This provokes a weakening of the culture and causes a slowdown in its growth. The first pruning is carried out at the end of the growing season. During the sanitary procedure, it is recommended to remove dry, affected or broken branches.
Rejuvenating pruning is required for the sixth year of honeysuckle. In this case, all old shoots must be cut at ground level. After that, hemp should remain 30-40 centimeters in size.After pruning, up to 10 productive shoots and young branches should remain on the bush. This will help maintain high yield parameters for many years.
Preparing for winter
At the end of autumn, the bushes need to be cut. Plant residues after this procedure must be collected and burned. The soil in the trunk circle must be loosened and a new root circle made.
The plant needs to be watered and again mulched with peat, humus, straw or sawdust. To avoid the development of diseases or pest attacks, the soil near the bush must be sprayed with fungicides and insecticides.
Tomichka honeysuckle is a popular crop grown by many gardeners. For this process to be successful, it is important to take into account a number of features.
