Honeysuckle is not only delicious but also very healthy. We present the best varieties with large fruits.
Bakcharsky giant
This variety is suitable for planting in various regions of Russia, as it tolerates both frost and heat well. It is not particularly productive, but produces very large fruits, weighing up to 2.5 grams and up to 4 cm long, with a distinct aroma.
Harvesting should be done with extreme care; it is advisable to spread cloth or plastic under the bush, as ripe berries fall off very easily.
The 'Bakcharsky Giant' grows up to 2 meters tall and has a beautifully formed oval crown. It thrives when weeded regularly.
The Leningrad Giant
The variety got its name from the fact that it was bred by biologists from St. Petersburg. It is a tall bush, up to 2.5 meters tall, with a rounded crown. It is resistant to many diseases and temperature fluctuations.
The fruits are very large, weighing up to 4 grams and up to 3.5 cm long, with a fairly uniform surface without any noticeable bumps. The main distinguishing feature of this variety is that the berries grow in clusters and cling firmly to the branches, making harvesting much easier. The first fruits can be harvested no earlier than three years after planting. It pollinates well when grown alongside the varieties 'Morena,' 'Malvina,' and 'Sinyaya Ptitsa.'
The berries of the "Leningrad giant" are best suited for winter preparations, which will be an excellent means of preventing colds due to their high content of ascorbic acid.
Delight
This variety was bred in 2012. The bush reaches approximately 1.7 meters in height and has a rounded shape with intertwined branches. Gardeners love it because it begins to bear fruit in the second half of June the year it's planted. The size of the fruit depends directly on the amount of sunlight. With sufficient light and sunny weather, the berries grow to a weight of up to 2.6 grams. They have a sweet taste and a tart aroma.
Thanks to the dense wax coating, the berries tolerate transportation well and are stored for a long time.
Yugana
This self-fertile variety was bred in 2010 in the Tomsk region. The bush is relatively short (up to 1.5 m) and spreading. Planting the "Daughter of the Giant" and "Vostorg" varieties nearby will increase its fertility.
The berries are sweet and large, weighing up to 2 grams and up to 4 cm long. Unripe berries hold very firmly on the branch, but ripe ones fall off easily, so it's recommended to place a cloth or plastic sheet under the bush when harvesting.
This variety is characterized by uneven ripening of berries, which depends on the climate.
Amphora
This variety was bred by Pavlovsk biologists for Russia's cold regions. It is ideal for growing in the country's colder regions.
The bush reaches 1.5 m in height, and its bark has a raspberry hue, so it is often used for landscaping of private plots.
The fruits have virtually no aroma and a slightly sour taste with hints of bitterness. They do not fall off and have a thick skin.
This variety isn't particularly productive and begins bearing fruit in the third year after planting. However, it tolerates low temperatures well and produces fruit even with limited sunshine and warmth. It pollinates well when mixed with the varieties 'Nymph,' 'Arena,' and 'Altair.'
Bazhovskaya
This honeysuckle variety was bred in the Urals by crossing Kamchatka and Altai species. It bears fruit late, no earlier than the fourth year after planting, but the berries have a distinctly sweet flavor. Bitter notes can develop due to insufficient watering during dry summers.
The bush is spreading and tall (up to 2 meters). The berries are shaped like elongated barrels with an uneven surface.
The yield is average, and the berries are quite large, weighing around 1.8 grams. They fall easily and require timely picking.
The bush is susceptible to aphid attacks and therefore requires additional treatment.
The Giant's Daughter
A high-yielding variety with large berries, reaching 2.5 grams in weight and 3.5 cm in length. Good results are achieved when pollinated by nearby "Vostorg" or "Bakcharsky Velikan" varieties.
The berries are very sweet and shaped like a bumpy pear. They cling firmly to the branch and don't fall off when picked, making the task much easier for gardeners.
This variety grows tall and spreading, requiring little maintenance but losing flavor if under-watered. It tolerates frost well and requires no fertilizing. Harvesting begins three years after planting.
Long-fruited honeysuckle
This variety was bred for the Ural climate. It's relatively short but spreading. Its purple bark makes it suitable for landscaping and garden decoration.
It blooms in late May, and the first harvest can be collected in early July or late June. The berries are long, up to 2.7 cm, and can weigh up to 2 grams. The fruit is aromatic, juicy, and sweet, without the bitterness typical of some varieties. They ripen evenly and practically do not fall off.
