Lonicera kamtschatica 'Modrý triumf' - honeyberry
Honeyberry is an edible version of honeysuckle with fruit of similar taste and appearance of blueberry. Modrý triumf is a Czech variety selected for the best taste and heavy cropping. The fruit is sweet or sweet-and-sour, 25-35 mm long, oval, deep blue. The fruit ripens very early, often already in May, about two weeks before the first strawberries.
Honeyberry is easy to grow. It does not require any special soil unlike blueberries. All they need is full sun and plenty of water and fertilizer. Follow regular watering and fertilizing schedule from early spring until fruit maturity. Then the plant often drops majority of leaves. If you continue watering and fertilizing it lightly it will keep the leaves and will look tidy. The most fruiting branches are 1-2 years old long shoots. The longer the better. Older branches are best removed to keep it juvenile. Fully hardy to -40°C (USDA zone 3).
