LOVED ONE

Hippophae rhamnoides «LOVED ONE» – a medium-sized fruit tree with a flat-round crown and without thorns, which is easy to grow as a decorative shrub up to 250 cm tall. The berries of this variety have a pure sweet taste, medium weight from 0.6 to 0.8 g, contain 7-7.3% sugar and 0.7-0.8% acid, as well as 5% oils. Due to the fact that berries easily detach from the pedicels, the harvest collection becomes a simple and fast process.

The variety is distinguished by high yield – up to 14 kg/bush (≈0.8 kg/m²) and can give up to 84 centners per hectare. Fruiting begins after 4-5 years after planting in open ground, and berries usually ripen by the end of August. Hippophae «LOVED ONE» is resistant to frost down to -35 °C and withstands drought with moderate moisture, which makes it suitable for growing in the Ural, Western Siberia and Central regions.

Care for the plant is simple: one-year-old seedlings with a root system length of not less than 20 cm. When planting, holes are dug 4-5 cm above the ground level, after which it is necessary to maintain soil moisture and carry out pruning in the spring period. Regular watering (30-40 l/m² for young plants, 60-80 l/m² for adults) and fertilization with nitrogen fertilizers in May-June, as well as phosphorus-potassium in October contribute to healthy growth. The plant is resistant to diseases, but with insufficient care, rot and root diseases may occur; protection from pests is carried out with a net, traps and electric devices.

Collected berries can be consumed immediately or processed: they are suitable for canning, making medicinal preparations and other products. They are recommended to be stored at a temperature of 0-+6 °C in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Due to the combination of decorative qualities, high yield and ease of care, Hippophae «LOVED ONE» is an excellent choice for both gardeners and commercial plantations.