Lonicera kamtschatica ‘Zojka’

A strong-growing cultivar of large, sweet-sour fruit ripening in May and June. Long-lived and frost hardy shrub. Recommended both for domestic gardens and production plantations.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: Berries round, dark blue with a delicate waxy coating, very tasty, sweet-sour; ripen in May-June. The plant yields fruit in the 2^nd– 3^rd year after planting. Flowers modest, pale yellow, melliferous, without ornamental value, open in March. They require cross pollination, therefore the plant thrives in the vicinity of other varieties of the species, e.g. ‘Wojtek’.  Its upright shoots are green when new and turn brown as they mature.

HOW IT GROWS: A shrub of upright, round habit. Moderate growth rate, maximum height 1.7 m, with 0.7 m annual growth.

WHERE TO PLANT: Yields fruit best when planted in sunny sites and in light and permeable soil, of slightly acidic pH. Does not require acidifying of the soil as opposed to e.g. highbush blueberry. Robust; unlikely subject to pest and disease. Fully frost hardy (zone 3–7). Sensitive to draughts due to its shallow root system.

HOW TO PLANT AND MAINTAIN: Before planting immerse the plant container in water for 10-30 min. Place the root ball in a 40 x 40 x 40 cm hole with a 10 cm layer of well-rotten manure or compost, 0.5-1 cm deeper than it was before. Fill the hole with fertile soil. The plant does not require regular pruning. After a couple of years when the shrub becomes dense,  thinning is recommended. Excessive pruning will limit fruition.

HOW TO APPLY: The shrub is recommended for amateur cultivation in domestic gardens as well as for production plantations. Its berries are a valuable component of diet – rich in vitamins, macro and microelements (magnesium, iron, copper and iodine) they contain anthocyanins and ascorbic acid. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Delicious when eaten raw or dried, excellent for making jams, juice or liqueurs. May be used as a natural red food dye.

ORIGIN: Poland.