Content
Honeysuckle, which has long settled in the areas of residents of regions with a cool climate, is gradually conquering the southern gardens. But the culture feels uncomfortable there, does not bear fruit well, does not reach the size of the bush and berries indicated in the description of the variety. One of the factors that can improve the situation is the comfortable placement of the culture. Honeysuckle planting distance is an issue that requires special consideration. The information will be useful for northerners who want to facilitate care and increase yields.
Honeysuckle bushes should be placed at a sufficient distance from each other.
Why honeysuckle is planted from a distance
The correct planting of honeysuckle is the key to the future harvest. Sometimes southerners, believing that the northern berry does not receive enough sun at home, place the plants closely, collect a handful of fruits annually and become disillusioned with the culture. But they themselves are to blame.
When planting honeysuckle, the distance from each other between the bushes must be maintained for the following reasons:
- In one place, the culture grows and bears fruit for up to 30 years. Shoot-forming ability in cool climates is good. In the warmth, honeysuckle, although it does not grow to the size stated in the varietal description, when it takes root, it quickly builds up its green mass. With a dense planting, the bushes thicken.
- Honeysuckle is pollinated by bees, bumblebees and wasps. Without the participation of insects, it will bloom, and it will give few fruits. The buds open very early, because the first berries appear 7-14 days earlier than strawberries. And insects at this time are not very active, they work only in the sun. To attract them, the flowers must be easily accessible and well lit. Otherwise, pollinators will turn their attention to dandelions or other plants.
- Honeysuckle is a very healthy and tasty berry. But it can be sour if the fruit gets little sunlight. When planted tightly, only the first berries will contain enough sugars. When the bush enters full fruiting, due to the thickened planting, it will become bitter-sour. In addition, the size of the berries will decrease, and they are already small.
- Honeysuckle fruits are prone to shedding. Domestic and foreign breeders are struggling with this problem. With a thickened planting, part of the crop will have to be harvested from the ground, and in varieties prone to shedding, all.
- If the distance between the bushes is not maintained, leaving will be significantly more difficult.
- The main crop on thickened plants is concentrated on branches exposed to the sun.
- With a dense planting, not only shoots are intertwined, but also roots. The feeding area decreases, which leads to a slowdown in growth, a decrease in yield.
Pollinating insects need easy access to flowers, they open too early, bees and bumblebees are still lethargic
At what distance to plant honeysuckle bushes
There is no single scheme for how to leave the distance between bushes and rows of honeysuckle when planting. The varieties are different, the conditions are also different. And although even in the special literature average figures are indicated - between the plants there is a gap of about 1.5-2 m, rows every 2-2.5 m, other factors should be taken into account.
For example, the habit of a bush depending on the variety. It makes no sense to make a distance of 2x2.5 m and even 1.5x2 m between honeysuckle with erect branches, 1 m high.The place will walk, especially in warm areas, where this variety, at best and with good care, will reach 70-80 cm.On the other hand, for tall spreading bushes on slightly acidic soils in a cool climate, 2 m between plants may not be enough.
When planning the placement of a culture on a site, you should make sure that the bush:
- well lit from all sides;
- did not interfere with other plants;
- there should be easy access to it for maintenance and harvesting;
- located in close proximity to other varieties (this is a cross-pollinated plant).
Experienced gardening tips
Honeysuckle is well known in cooler regions of Russia, but until a few decades ago it was rarely grown in gardens as a berry bush. It was believed that the fruits are too sour, with bitterness, and it is not easy to collect them, they did not have time to ripen - they had already begun to crumble.
The culture gained immense popularity in North America and Europe, and only after that did Russian gardeners pay attention to it. It turns out that honeysuckle can be delicious. Large-fruited, non-shedding varieties are easy to harvest. The demand for berries has increased so much that it rarely reaches regions where the crop is not grown.
Domestic berry producers lag behind Western ones, demand exceeds supply. But the selection is carried out at the level. Several institutes and experimental stations are engaged in culture. Wonderful varieties of Bachkarskaya and Leningrad honeysuckle have been developed, which are not inferior to foreign ones, but more adapted to Russian conditions.
Therefore, even for those who live in areas where honeysuckle grows, the advice of experienced gardeners may be useful:
- For normal fruiting of 2 varieties on the site is not enough. You need to plant at least 3.
- It is better to place the honeysuckle not in rows, but in clumps.
- The maximum distance between bushes for normal pollination is 18-20 m, and not 40, as in fruit trees. Less is better. Hymenoptera - bees, wasps, bumblebees are not very active during the flowering of honeysuckle. It is better not to expect that they will immediately fly from one bush to another, and not be distracted, for example, by a dandelion.
- If the plot is small, you can negotiate with the neighbors and plant the berries next to them, but on opposite sides of the border.
- In a small area, honeysuckle can be inscribed on a flower bed or in a landscape group - this is a beautiful healthy plant. You just need to maintain a distance and not place it next to crops requiring regular processing.
Only with the correct placement of bushes from honeysuckle can a good harvest be reaped.
Conclusion
The distance when planting honeysuckle should be large enough to provide unhindered access to the bush, feeding area and lighting. But "scattering" them in different parts of the garden is not worth it, so as not to interfere with pollination. This is the only way to achieve a good harvest.
