KAMTSCHATKA BLUEBERRY (Lonicera kamtschatica) –VELIKANA - 9FA98-

KAMCHATKA HONEYBERRY ‘VELIKANA’ – Lonicera kamtschatica

• Botanical name: Lonicera kamtschatica
  Variety: ‘Velikana’
  Common names: Kamchatka honeyberry, Siberian blueberry, haskap, May berry
  Family: Caprifoliaceae
  Type: deciduous fruit shrub
  Origin: cold regions of northern Asia
  Hardiness: very high; tolerates extremely cold winter temperatures
  Growth habit: compact, bushy and well-branched; maximum height 180 cm
  Fruits: elongated berries, blue-violet in colour, covered with a characteristic waxy bloom
  Fruit size: good; the ‘Velikana’ variety is appreciated for its large fruits
  Taste: aromatic, sweet and tart, with a pleasant acidic note
  Ripening period: early, generally from late spring to early summer
  Yield: abundant, with numerous fruits borne along the branches
  Fruit use: excellent fresh, or for jams, jellies, juices, desserts and processed products
  Cultivation: easy to grow and undemanding
  Exposure: full sun or partial shade
  Soil: preferably fertile, moist and well-drained
  Watering: regular during the growing season and especially during fruit ripening
  Pruning: generally limited; useful for keeping the plant well-ventilated and encouraging fruit production
  Pollination: for good fruit production, it is recommended to grow at least two compatible varieties with overlapping flowering periods. VELIKANA + VORSTORG
  Ideal for: home vegetable gardens, domestic orchards, gardens, growing in the ground and, in a suitably sized container, also in pots
  Key feature: excellent cold hardiness and very early fruiting