Lonicera kamtschatica ‘Atut’

Long-lived and highly frost hardy plant cultivated for its tasty and healthy fruit, ripening early in our climate. Its compact form reaches 1.2 m height. Long-lived and highly frost hardy plant cultivated for its tasty and healthy fruit, ripening early in our climate. The plant requires cross pollination therefore Lonicera yields fruit best when planted in a vicinity of other varieties of this species. The first berries set early – plants in the C2 container yield fruit in the 2^nd or 3^rd year after planting. After another couple of years the crop is 2-6 kg of one plant. The variety sets fruit at the end of May and the beginning of June. The berries are tasty and big – up to 2.5 cm long and 7-8 mm across, sweet-sour, juicy with a lovely aroma. They are midnight blue with a lighter waxy film. They fall after ripening, so they need to be regularly collected. Rich in vitamins, macro and microelements (magnesium, iron, copper and iodine) they contain anthocyanins and ascorbic acid. They’re delicious eaten raw and out of season they’re an excellent component of jams, juice or liquors. They can be dried or frozen and are also valuable as a natural, red food colouring. The plant does not require any special care. It is healthy, pest and disease resistant. It yields fruit best in light and penetrable soil, slightly acidic (it does not require acidifying of the soil like blueberry but it dies back when planted in alkaline soil).  Despite low soil requirements it is sensitive to draughts due to its shallow root system. Prefers sites in full sun. Does not need regular pruning. In its first seasons grows slowly and only after a couple of years when it becomes dense some thinning is recommended. Excessive prunning will limit the fruit yielding.