Actinidia kolomikta «Slastena» is a powerful, tree-like vine up to 10 m high that grows quickly and is perfect for vertical greening thanks to its beautiful foliage and rapid growth. The leaves are of medium size, green on the underside, bronze in spring, and emerald green in summer. One male specimen of kolomikta is required for pollination, and pruning is best done after leaf fall, in autumn.
The fruits of «Slastena» have a cylindrical shape, about 1.5 g in length, with a blunt-rounded base and tip. They are olive-green in color, soft and melting in the hand, with a sweet taste, a bright marmalade aroma, and a strong fruity aftertaste. Sugar content is 15%, of which monosaccharides are 12.2%. The fruits contain up to 1618 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of product.
Yield is high: up to 2 kg of berries can be obtained from one bush. The fruits ripen in June–August; when harvesting, they are not damaged, with a dry detachment, which facilitates transportation and storage. To preserve vitamin C, it is better to harvest the fruits unripe – ripe berries do not withstand transportation well and ripen during storage. Store them in a dark, cool, clean, dry, and well-ventilated room to avoid quality loss.
Actinidia «Slastena» is practically not affected by diseases and pests, and also possesses frost resistance, making it a reliable choice for gardening. Due to its high vitamin C content and sweet taste, the berries are widely used in the food industry: juices, compotes, jellies, jams are made from them, and they are also used as raw material for vitamin extracts and non-alcoholic beverages.
