Seedlings

Well the seedlings are continuing to grow and soon they can be outside. The weather is just a little on the cold side at night but it is getting better every day. I built a new holding tray as I use 3 inch and 4 inch pots to grow seedlings on. This is some aluminum soffit sheeting in a 2 x 4 frame. Good drainage and above the ground so air will prune the roots. And the only pollinators I am seeing so far are the wild bumblebees.

On another topic is seems some Nurseries are selling Sweetberry Honeysuckle only and I think people are confusing it with the good edible varieties. Not good for Blue Honeysuckle marketing!
There has been some disappointment with some seed germination of honeysuckle seed received over the winter. I am not sure if I did something wrong or the seed was not good. Hopfully there will still be a few new plants show up.

Blue Honeysuckle Registry from 2006

In looking for names of Blue Honeysuckle selections which have been renamed to North American marketed names, I came across this Register of New Fruit and Nut Cultivars 2006 on the American Pomological Society web site. This is a great resource and very helpful.

So far I have found the following list of renamed varieties:

Blue Belle	Tomichka
Blue Velvet	Kiev # 8
Berry Blue	Czech # 17
Blue Lightening	Zarnista
Blue Bird	Sinyaya Pititsin
Blue Nova	Novinka
Cinderella	Zolushka
Blue Moon	Sergei
Blue Forest	Magadan
Blue Pacific	F-1-9-58
Blue Sky	Valery No. 2
Smokey Blue	Dimka

Another resource of value from the AgroAtlas.
A little more investigation is necessary. My speculation is that some of the varieties being marketed by some nursery/seedhouses are simply some of these older named Russian and Czech varieties given new names for marketing.

If you are visiting and have other name change information, please leave a comment with source if you can.

Honeysuckle are starting to bloom

I am working on this little greenhouse with the hope of still getting some things started here this spring. Finished putting it together and it looks ok.






Now just to find a good heater as the weather is so cold.

Found the first blossoms on Blue Honeysuckle on Wednesday. Many more plants are showing signs of blooming and will in the next few weeks.