SLASTENA

The shrub of the 'Slastena' honeysuckle grows slowly, featuring a compact, rounded crown, dense branches with brown-red bark, and small oval leaves covered with a fine fuzz. Pale pink flowers appear in May-June, followed by large oval fruits in a blue-violet hue. These berries have thick skin, a waxy coating, and weigh up to 1.5 g. The taste is sweet and sour, with a delicate and refreshing aroma; sugar content is about 13%, and acidity is 1.8%.

The shrub begins fruiting in the second year after planting and can yield more than 4 kg per shrub with proper care. 'Slastena' is self-sterile, so for maximum yield, it is typically planted alongside pollinator varieties such as Amfora, Nimfa, or Fialka. The plant is hardy to frost down to -45 °C and tolerates drought well, though yield and berry quality decrease during severe dry periods.

Fruits can be eaten fresh or used for jams, compotes, and baking. To protect against fungal diseases, wood ash, colloidal sulfur, calcined soda, or copper-soap solution are applied; for aphid and mealybug infestations, use 'Actellik' or 'Rogor'. Thanks to its high yield, hardiness, and pest resistance, 'Slastena' is suitable for cultivation in any region of Russia.