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(6) Blue Honeyberry Plants (Firstberries)
Blue honeyberry plants, also known as Firstberries and also botanically named Lonicera caerulea with a genetic background in Japan, differ by the slightly later flowering and the resulting better pollination. Because which bee likes to freeze its wings in March, right?
Furthermore, they also differ from the previously known Siberian blueberries or blue honeyberries of Russian or those of general Eastern European origin. They have a more abundant harvest in June and perfect leaf quality which lasts until autumn. With the varieties in our Fruithunters® range, the edible Lonicera becomes really as interesting as garden varieties.
We Can Now Divide Blue Honeyberry Plants into Two Groups:
On the one hand, there are the very compact growing Lowbush varieties, which are more suitable for ornamental purposes, for hedges and underplanting, yes, actually also as a somewhat higher ground cover and, so to speak, also bear tasty fruits as a bonus, and then there are the Highbush varieties, which grow extremely upright and open and up to 2 m high, i.e. 3 to 4 times as high as the Lowbush firstberries can become.
Firstberry® Blue Moon and Firstberry® Blue Sea, Lonicera caerulea
£19.40 *
All a Question of Time
The old varieties from Eastern Europe got bad necrotic leaves right after the harvest and then stood naked in the garden from August on. They had done their work (in a continental climate with a short vegetation period) and went into hibernation satisfied... functional, but not a very nice sight in the garden! Actually, rather a horrific sight. Now the beautiful Firstberries® of our Fruithunters® assortment is completely different, with their striking blue-greyish green, elegant foliage.
There is Plenty of Room for Yield with our Blue Honeyberry Plants!
While the fruits of the Lowbush varieties are somewhat difficult to find under the shoots, which lie closely one on top of the other, (you just have to bend down more), the berries of the new Highbush varieties are openly visible, a pearl net of blue-ripened fruits that covers the entire bush.
Also, the Highbush varieties Blue Hokkaido and Blue Pagoda, with their larger berries, are much more fertile than the Lowbush varieties. And best of all, they taste good! Especially Blue Hokkaido, which is sweet, with the highest yield, but also Blue Pagoda, which is a bit more sour and crisp, is not far behind in yield.
Thanks to the early ripening, the new blue honeyberry plants also beat the spotted wing drosophila.
The berries do not drop so easily and are most aromatic when fully ripe.
For the first time, Lonicera honeyberry varieties keep the promise of a really big yield and perfectly fill their intended role of being blueberries for non-acidic soils.
All the firstberries (both the Lowbush and Highbush varieties) are self-infertile and must be planted together with a second variety.