Haskap - Lonicera kamtschatica

,Leningradskij Velikan,

Height: can reach up to 2 m, 1.4 m in width

Growing conditions in Latvia’s climatic zones: can be planted throughout the territory of Latvia.

Crown: vigorous, upright, spherical-shaped shrub; young shoots green, mature ones brown.

Flowers: blooms in April with pale yellow, inconspicuous, soft, funnel-shaped flowers rich in nectar. During the blooming period, the flowers tolerate temperatures dropping to -8°C for nine hours. Self-sterile; for pollination, another variety of this species is required, such as ,Leningradskij Velikan,

Fruits: narrowly oval, barrel-shaped, large, dark blue, with an uneven surface and a lighter waxy coating, very tasty, sweet and aromatic. Ripen 30–40 days after flowering - at the beginning of June. Fruit yield 2–5 kg per shrub, suitable both for processing and for fresh consumption.

The easiest harvesting method: spread a cloth or other material under the shrub and, for example, shake the shrub with a rake handle so the berries fall onto the cloth. But they can also be picked by hand.

Foliage: leaves rounded-elongated, 6–10 cm long, bluish green.

Winter hardiness: very hardy throughout the territory of Latvia. Frost hardiness -34^oC to -40^oC

Growing conditions: choose a sunny place for planting haskap. It requires humus-rich, moist but not wet soil, with a soil reaction of 5.5–7 pH. Prepare the planting hole 50 x50 cm in depth and width, filling it with compost or other organic fertiliser. Plant the plant as deep as it grew in the container and water thoroughly. As haskap has a shallow root system, watering during the growing season is recommended, as it is sensitive to drying out. Planting distance from one another 1 m. Mulching is recommended to retain moisture.

Important to know! If the soil is too dry for a prolonged period, bitterness may appear in the fruit.

Protect from hares! They gnaw the young shoots, but haskap bears fruit on this year’s one-year-old shoots!

Care:Fertilising. In spring, on moist soil, apply 30 g of ammonium nitrate around the plant. Well-rotted manure or compost can be incorporated. Later in the growing season, fertilise with a complex NPK fertiliser. Loosen the soil around the shrub very carefully and shallowly so as not to damage the root collar and roots.

Pruning: After planting in a permanent place, haskap is usually not pruned for at least 5–6 years. Sanitary pruning is needed no earlier than after 6–7 years. The best time for pruning is after harvest. On fruiting haskap shrubs, the shoot tips must not be cut, because that is where the flower buds that will form the crop are most concentrated. The skeletal branches must also not be cut out at the base, because crown regeneration occurs thanks to dormant buds at the base of the skeletal branches.

Medicinal value.Fruits are rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements (magnesium, iron, copper, iodine), and contain antioxidants, sugars, tannins, fibre, pectins and organic acids. These activate metabolism in the human body. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

The berries can be eaten fresh, dried or frozen. They can be used to make jams, compotes, juices and jellies.