Good seedling growth

I just wanted to put up a few pictures of seedlings getting started. Note the fine hairs on some of the closeup pictures. Every day there are more so I am pleased to see them come. The white coated pellet is coir which is shredded coconut shells. I had a couple left so stuck them in the tray. They are not a favorite as it seems to take a long time for them to get wet to the core. More pictures soon.

Seeds germinating

Well seeds are germinating under lights and so far they are doing well for the most part. Some such as my Japanese seedling sources are quite slow while others like seed from Fialka and Amfora are nearly all done.
So far it looks like this number wise:
Fialka ---- 23/24
Amfora ---- 22/24
Dimza ---- 14/24
Morena ---- 7/24
Nimfa ---- 5/24
Leningraski Velikan ---- 3/24
Some seed leaves showing on Russian seed acquired from the Kitoy River area of Siberia as well. Time will be the judge in all cases but it is good to see new life taking place.
Here is a link to a very interesting paper from a study done in Lithuania. And here an informational page from
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area
Germplasm Resources Information Network 

Use of photos from the net!

I spend quite a bit of time searching the internet for information on the Edible blue honeysuckle and have come to know many of the sites and photos quite well. I have even been in contact with the person who has them up on a website or blog. Sadly I am beginning to see some of those photos showing up on other blogs and in reports in various Newsletters on the web. Even from a Government Department report. This is too bad as the  Photographer does not get recognition, credit, or thanks, for the use of their property but even worse is the misrepresentation of the subject matter. It is unlikely for instance that a picture from the Kitoy River area of Siberia would be "Haskap." I have as a matter of fact been in contact with this particular photographer in the past in regards to the kind of fruit he saw while on this expedition. So 2 strikes against the person who used his photo.
Others are out there and this is just not good advertising for those of us who are trying to promote the berry with integrity.

So if you like the picture and want to use it: try to contact the photographer, give credit in your use of the photo, and if you can't find the one you need there are many folks whose links or contact potential are on this blog. I do  not have pictures of Haskap but hope to have berries this year and will then.

As an aside, I  will refer you to a previous post regarding the source of many of the US registered varieties. Some of the product now being sold in Canada is from these sources but you may also find something with the Russian/European name being offered by its' original name. Just a heads up. I am sorry to say that marketing sometimes takes precedence over truth.

Winter changes

Well the winter weather has brought changes as the snow melted to some extent and the Blue Honeysuckles in pots were beginning to get uncovered. So I shoveled loose snow onto the pots to try and keep the roots covered. Now there has been new snow and they are well covered. This is a very good thing since these plants could desiccate quickly or freeze out as well.

But the good news is that it is seed planting time for me as I plan this years new crop of Blue Honeysuckle Babies. The initial planting will be about 288 seeds from about 12 different groups of seed. I was very fortunate to get seeds from of the Russian and European varieties. Also collected seed from what are seeming to be the better plants in my seedling  collection. I am trying out these new domed trays from Lee Valley Tools. One of the issues with peat pellets is moss growth on the peat exposed to light so I am trying to start with low/no light other than the light from another shelf above the trays. One thing these trays have is adjustable openings on the top to vent

 

Too dry here these days.

We arrived home safely from a working trip to Cuba to find that the snow had left the building so to speak. What a surprise! Beautiful weather for this time of year but it is beginning to dry out here. So yesterday our came some hoses and a sprinkler and the watering cans and I did a little watering of fall planted honeysuckle seedlings. Even Ed the cat can't believe there is now snow!
I will cover my very small seedlings a little better this week but for now they got some water to keep them going.

    Received word from a contact in Russia that he is trying to send me seeds again. The first envelope did not make it. It will be planting time soon but there are some other plants that need to be cleaned up first. Clematis occupy the plantroom right now and I need to find a winter home for them first.

Time for bed for the winter

Well I think I have wrapped up everything in the honeysuckle realm for the winter. Still had about 75-80 seedlings in pots and I have poured peat in around the pots and hope that will be enough for the winter. It occurred to me after I got everything snuggled in that snow might slide off the roof of the greenhouse and break some stems but OH Well!
I remembered seeing some very late blossoms and found these 2 little berries still hanging on and wishing for sunshine. The leaves on all plants are not real bright but have a nice dark fall color which looks particularly nice in the area where I planted fall rye between the rows. The fall rye will be cut with a push mower in the spring to try and get some organic matter into the plant rows.

Meanwhile I am looking for a new place to start over with all my plants so we can plan to sell our property here near the city.

Some late blooms and tall plants

Well you would have thought the blooming season was over for Blue Honeysuckle but there are at least 5 or more plants with new blossoms. One of the plants with new blossoms is this 1 1/2 year old plant. It is a very tall seedling and comes from seeds from a Polish source. Other seedlings from this source are also showing good growth but not to this extent.
Seedlings from wild collected seed from a Magadan Russian source are doing the poorest and I suspect our soil is too alkaline compared to the source area.
So far I have not gotten to the pruning which needs to be done on 2 - 4 year old plants so I am hoping the season will last a little longer before the snow comes.

There are about 100 plants in 3 litre pots as well as a few smaller pots to be planted or re-potted . A little piece of old pasture land would be very nice at this point in time!
There are 7-9 populations of collected seed waiting for the winter planting under lights.

This is the neat part of the project!

I have had several conversations over the past days about the future of Blue Honeysuckle (Haskap if you have the University named varieties) on the Canadian Prairies. As with most new crops, there is a real excitement at all levels. And as with many new crops there are many imaginative plans made, ideas cast into the mix, and entities become involved. Having lived through the early days of rapeseed processing and then canola, I can say that it will be those who care for the crop and are good, conscientious growers who will make this product find a niche in the marketplace.

Much needs to be learned about growing and management and this will separate the producers from the gardeners in terms of plantings any where in Canada. Blue honeysuckle is definitely a home gardeners fruit but has serious potential in the areas of juice, neutrceuticals, and dried fruit on a much larger scale. A Google search of Blue Honeysuckle and neutraceutical brings to the surface a number of scientific articles worth reading.
Be a grower!