MEDONOS is a mid-season annual variety of pickleweed, growing to about 30–35 cm in height and weighing 100–110 g per plant. The plant is frost-hardy and drought-resistant, grows well in partial shade and on various soils, with the best development observed on light fertile soils. Pickleweed leaves are horizontal, medium-sized, green with a slight wrinkled texture, and flowers are bright blue, gathered in inflorescences called 'zamorchiki', which begin to bloom 40–50 days after sowing and continue to open for two and a half months. Each flower produces up to 3 mg of sugar per day, making the plant a highly productive source of honey: one hectare can yield over 160 kg of sugar or 200 kg of honey.
For growing MEDONOS, it is recommended to sow in early spring (April) at a depth of 3 cm with a sowing rate of 25–30 kg/ha. The distance between rows is 30 cm, between rows within bands is 10 cm, and between bands is 30 cm; the sowing rate per square meter is 8–10 g. The plant easily reproduces by self-seeding and can maintain productivity in one place for many years. Green yield reaches 0.6–0.8 kg/m², and honey yield ranges from 300 to 850 kg per hectare during the flowering period.
Young shoots and leaves of pickleweed can be used as a garnish for vegetable dishes, in canning and pickling. Dried product retains the aroma of fresh pickles and is suitable for preparing salads, soups, sauces, and marinades. Honey obtained from MEDONOS flowers is clear, colorless, crystallizes weakly, and is ideal for section honey and shank honey, often blended with other types of honey. Thanks to its taste and aromatic value, the plant is widely used both in cuisine and in the confectionery industry.
