Honeysuckle-Haskap STRAWBERRY SENSTION

The Strawberry Sensation variety takes its name from the taste of the fruit, which is supposed to resemble alpine strawberries. The fruits are round, but more elliptical with a size of about 2 cm. Because of the flavour and firmness of the fruit, they are excellent for direct consumption and all kinds of processing, especially in cold cooking, confectionery, fruit salads and mixes, drinks and so on. The taste is described as very sweet, pleasant and aromatic. The crown of the bush is compact, grows well and gradually takes on a dome shape. The fruit ripens during June, but ripening may be conditioned by location, so this figure may be inaccurate. 

Much of the growing experience in northern Europe and Canada, where these varieties are popular, may be based on their conditions and geographical location. There is often an indication of self-pollination of this variety, but it is always advisable to have two bushes, ideally of a different variety flowering at the same time, with Honeysuckle-Haskap. Suitable pollinators might be Boreal Blizzard, Boreal Beast or Giant's Heart. 

Honeysuckle-Haskap kamchatka (lonicera caelurea) as a species

Honeysuckle-Haskap kamchatka (Lonicera caerulea) is the only representative of Honeysuckle-Haskap , which are also known as ornamental and climbing plants. Honeysuckle-Haskap berries are increasingly popular, although its name is not as established in the market and among consumers as it is with other fruit species. Also colloquially and popularly called the Kamchatka blueberry, it forms a dark purple berry that can be classified as a first fruit in the garden. Early varieties can bear as early as April or May, and some of them produce tasty fruit during the summer. The fruit, which resembles blueberries in colour and several other characteristics, has a similar flavour between the varieties, although less pronounced, and thus differs from the classic blueberry. The taste of the fully ripened fruit is a pleasant addition to any garden where the Honeysuckle-Haskap kamchatka can be a vanguard for other fruits, for example in gardens where it is planned to benefit from the successive ripening of different species.

Growing Honeysuckle-Haskap kamchatka

Honeysuckle-Haskap has a number of essential characteristics that greatly increase its attractiveness to growers. The plant produces small yellow or greenish-yellow flowers relatively early, and the flowers themselves are characterised by excellent frost-resistance, which allows this fruit to be grown in the more northern regions of Slovakia. The blossom is often said to be resistant to -7°C (USDA zone 5). It is important to summarise a number of characteristics in a few points, as they may be decisive in your choice. 

- Growing Honeysuckle-Haskap does not require soil with acidic pH values

- It is fully hardy, significantly resistant to diseases and pests, both in terms of the plant and the fruit. 

- It produces young shrubs one year after planting (ideally the container plants in our range, whose roots are not weakened in any way that could inhibit growth). Higher yields come in the third year and more. 

- It is a long-lived and hardy shrub, reaching or exceeding 1,5 metres in size. 

- The fruits are high in vitamins A, B, C, P, iron and other beneficial substances. 

- The leaves, crown and overall growth are similar to blueberries, but the leaves are more elongated and finer. The fruit is more elongated, possibly shaped into the peculiar shapes typical of the fruit, or may resemble the fruit of an olive tree (depending on the variety)

- Dry branches and shoots are removed or the plant is cut back as necessary - for aesthetic reasons, for example. However, the plant itself does not require any intervention for the first few years after planting.

- Honeysuckle-Haskap kamchatka requires a pollinator. Another variety flowering at the same time is ideal. 

- The use of the fruit for direct consumption and processing can be compared to all uses, as with blueberries. 

- If the plant is planted during early spring, care is needed to avoid shriveling the flowers and to keep them free from damage and abrasion. Otherwise, the plant can be planted throughout the year when the ground is not frozen. 

Honeysuckle-Haskap is an excellent and undemanding substitute for blueberries

Growers' experience with classic blueberries is met with their demands for acidic soil and suitable fertilizers. The grower who does not have the means to provide soil with the appropriate pH, does not have the experience to care for them, or needs to rely directly on their own garden soil without interfering with the composition, can rely on Honeysuckle-Haskap . It does not require a specific pH, but will thrive in any humid garden soil that other plants thrive in. Acidic soil won't harm it, but it will produce excellent results when grown sparingly with added nutrients. For example, in the form of home-ripened compost or suitable fertilisers for berries.