Honeysuckle Morena is a popular variety that is designed specifically for growing in cold climates. Gardeners in the northern regions are happy to plant this crop because it has sweet berries and is easy to care for. When choosing this crop, you should read the description of the blue honeysuckle variety Morena. This will help you choose the right place for planting and provide the plant with quality care.
Description of the variety
Moraine is a medium-sized, squat bush with a rounded crown. This variety of honeysuckle has not too dense foliage of a bright green hue. The shrub is distinguished by its compact size and thick brown-green shoots without fluff. In good conditions, honeysuckle can reach 150-170 centimeters in height and width. The life cycle of the culture is 30-35 years. However, productive fruiting lasts only 20-25 years.
The bush begins to bloom at the end of May. During this period, the compact crown is covered with yellow flowers that emit a pleasant aroma. During this period, the plant looks very decorative. Therefore, this variety is often used in landscape design.
Breeding history
The Morena variety was created in the early nineties of the last century. He was taken out at the Pavlovsk experimental station named after Vavilov. Plekhanova and Kondrikova worked on the selection of this crop.
Characteristics of Morena
The culture is considered early ripening. This variety belongs to the large-fruited varieties. Mature bushes bear fruits weighing more than 1-1.3 grams. However, sometimes their mass reaches 3.5 grams.
The berries are distinguished by an elongated pitcher-shaped shape with a pronounced bumpy surface. An important feature of the variety is the uniform size of the fruits. Ripe berries are characterized by a bluish-blue color. On top they are covered with a thick skin with a waxy coating.
The variety has a universal purpose.The collected fruits easily withstand transportation and can be stored for some time. You can make delicious jam and fruit drinks from them.
Advantages and disadvantages
The key advantages of this variety of honeysuckle include the following:
- stable yield;
- high resistance to frost;
- large fruit sizes;
- low maintenance requirements;
- pleasant taste;
- possibility of growing in different regions;
- high content of vitamins and microelements;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- minimal berry shedding;
- early period of maturation.
When planting a crop, it is worth considering its disadvantages. The main disadvantages of the variety include the following:
- not very high yield parameters;
- need for pollinators.
Instructions for planting and care
It is recommended to plant the plant in late summer or autumn. The optimal time for planting is the last week of September. This will allow the plant to take root well and form buds by spring.
To carry out planting work, it is recommended to perform the following steps:
- divide the area into rows with an interval of 2-3 meters;
- determine a place for each plant - they should be placed with an interval of 1.5-2 meters;
- dig a hole for planting - its diameter should be 40-45 centimeters;
- pour water into the hole and wait until it is completely absorbed;
- pour 10 liters of manure or compost into each hole - it is also permissible to add superphosphate or potassium sulfate;
- mix soil with fertilizer and make a small hill;
- place the plant in the hole and straighten its roots;
- sprinkle the crop with soil, deepening the root collar by 3-5 centimeters;
- compact the soil;
- pour 10 liters of water under the bush;
- Sprinkle the tree trunk circle with dry soil.
Before planting, do not trim the branches of the plant.Carrying out this procedure will worsen the survival rate of the culture. This species is considered not capricious, and therefore does not require intensive care. However, standard rules of agricultural technology still need to be followed. They include moistening the soil, applying fertilizer, forming a crown, removing dried shoots, and loosening the soil. It is also necessary to engage in disease prevention and preparation for frost.
When growing honeysuckle of this variety, it is worth considering that the crop requires systematic watering. This is especially true in dry weather. Morena also responds well to the application of organic fertilizers. In order for the soil to better absorb nutrients and water, it needs to be systematically loosened, weeded, and cleared of weeds and debris. It is recommended to apply fertilizers from the third year of bush growth.
How to trim correctly
In the first 4 years, it is better not to prune the bush. This procedure will cause a slowdown in growth and reduce yield parameters. Honeysuckle is not prone to forming a dense crown. In addition, it independently takes on a spherical shape.
From the age of 4, it is recommended to carry out exclusively sanitary pruning. In this case, you need to remove old and diseased shoots. This will help make room for new growth. During pruning, it is strictly forbidden to touch young branches. They provide the basis for fruiting.
Pest Control
Mature plants are resistant to pest attacks. At the same time, young bushes sometimes suffer from the following parasites:
- Aphids – leads to curling and drying of foliage, which eventually falls off. In this case, the bush turns brown. These parasites are visible to the naked eye.If pests are identified, it is worth treating with Confidor or Actellik.
- Leaf roller butterfly - the main danger is the caterpillars that absorb the juices of the plant. In this case, the leaves of the bushes are rolled into a tube and pulled together by a web. After some time, the bush turns yellow and dries out. “Fitoverm” and “Dimilin” help to cope with parasites.
- Willow scale insect is quite rare and affects shrubs under the bark. On the surface of the shoots, bulges are formed that are similar in shape to a comma. Fitoverm helps to cope with pests.
- Spider mites - the parasite first infects the lower part of the leaf, after which small white dots appear on top. After some time, it moves to the top of the leaves, and the entire bush is covered with cobwebs. A solution of laundry soap will help deal with pests. In case of extensive damage, it is worth treating the bush with special preparations - “Aktofit”, “Fitoverm”, “Vertimek”.
It is worth treating the crop only if pests are visually detected. The crop needs to be sprayed 2-3 times. This is done with an interval of 10-14 days. During fruit ripening, you can only use folk remedies or biological preparations.
The nuances of pollination
This variety is considered self-sterile. This means that pollinating crops need to be planted nearby. Among them it is worth highlighting the following varieties:
- Amphora;
- Viola;
- Blue bird;
- Blue spindle;
- Nymph;
- Malvina.
How to store and transport crops
This honeysuckle variety has a short harvest period. Many gardeners place a film under the bushes on which the berries fall off. This makes the process of collecting them easier.If we consider transportation issues, the fruits of this variety can hardly withstand transportation over long distances.
Morena is a popular honeysuckle variety that produces tasty and large fruits. This plant has a stable yield and does not require complex care.
