Cultivar 2057: Tomichka

Tomichka is a Russian haskap, or blue honeysuckle, in the Lonicera caerulea breeding material used by the University of Saskatchewan fruit program. The sources do not describe Tomichka's fruit, plant habit, release history, or breeder. In these records, its clearest role is as a parent in Saskatchewan haskap breeding. [S1] [S2]

At the University of Saskatchewan, Tomichka was crossed with Kiev#8. That Kiev#8 x Tomichka family produced the 2007 releases Borealis and Tundra. This makes Tomichka part of the parentage behind two early named cultivars from the program. Growers and nurserymen at Haskap Day in 2006 were reportedly impressed by the row of Kiev#8 x Tomichka seedlings. [S1]

The sources do not describe Tomichka's berry size, color, flavor, texture, harvest season, storage behavior, or culinary use. The stronger evidence describes its offspring and its use as breeding germplasm, not Tomichka as a standalone cultivar. [S1]

A later University of Saskatchewan cultivar sheet for Boreal Beauty lists Tomichka among Russian varieties in the program collection. It says Russian varieties such as Berry Blue/Tomichka and Cinderella/Zolshka bloomed much earlier than Boreal Beauty, making them poor companions for pollinating that late blooming cultivar. The slash pairing suggests a close naming or synonym relationship between Berry Blue and Tomichka, but the source does not explain that relationship. [S2]

No direct hardiness rating is provided for Tomichka in these sources. Its presence in Saskatchewan breeding records and Russian haskap context supports its relevance to cold climate haskap breeding, but this packet alone does not support a zone claim. [S1] [S2]

Tomichka should be understood here as a Russian Lonicera caerulea cultivar or accession important mainly for its breeding use. It is direct parent material in the Kiev#8 x Tomichka family, not a descendant of Borealis or Tundra. The available evidence leaves Tomichka's origin, fruit quality, plant habit, and exact relationship to Berry Blue unresolved. [S1] [S2]

Summary source basis

• S1: Haskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012
• S2: ‘Boreal Beauty’

This summary currently draws chiefly from Haskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012.

Selected source quotations

“Russian varieties (such as ‘Berry Blue’/’ Tomichka’ and ‘Cinderella’/’Zolshka’) bloomed considerably earlier than ‘Boreal Beauty’”
— ‘Boreal Beauty’, p3

“the growers and nurserymen were quite impressed with the row of 'Kiev#8' x 'Tomichka' seedlings”
— Haskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012, p107

“All of these are from the same cross: Kiev#8 x Tomichka.”
— Haskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012, p106

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Tomichka is named as one parent of a Kiev #8 x Tomichka seedling family.
• Named as the second parent in the cross Kiev#8 x Tomichka.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Russian varieties (such as ‘Berry Blue’/’ Tomichka’ and ‘Cinderella’/’Zolshka’) bloomed considerably earlier than ‘Boreal Beauty’‘Boreal Beauty’, p3
• the growers and nurserymen were quite impressed with the row of 'Kiev#8' x 'Tomichka' seedlingsHaskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012, p107
• the growers and nurserymen were quite impressed with the row of 'Kiev#8' x 'Tomichka' seedlingsHaskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012, p107
• All of these are from the same cross: Kiev#8 x Tomichka.Haskap Breeding & Production - Final Report, January 2012, p106

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context