Lonicera caerulea
Haskap ( Lonicera caerulea ) , also known as honeyberry , is a cold - hardy deciduous shrub grown for its extremely nutritious , sweet - lemony blue yield .
Belonging to the honeysuckle family , Caprifoliaceae , this metal money is aboriginal to boreal timber across the Northern Hemisphere , including region of Canada , Russia , Japan , and parts of the United States .
The Chuck Berry offer a complex , tangy - sweet nip often described as a hybridization between a blueberry bush , a razz , and a pitch-dark currant .
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These low - maintenance shrubs can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 8 , calculate on the smorgasbord , and are desirable for a wide range of grease types .
With the correct pollenation partners and right siting , haskaps produce generous crops for 30 eld or more . Some cultivars start producing fruit in the first twelvemonth after planting , with full harvesting beginning around yr three or four .
I first became concerned in grow haskaps after reading about their savour and frigid margin , two traits that are often at betting odds in the world of menage yield product .
I took the dip , total a few plants to my garden , and now they ’re among the first yield I bask every season .
If you ’re curious about these attractive and productive bush , I ’ll go over everything you postulate to experience . Here ’s what I ’ll get over :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Cultivars to Select
extension
Pests and Disease
harvest
Preserving
Cooking Ideas
L. caeruleais most normally known as honeyberry or haskap , and is also sometimes called blue , edible , swampfly , or sweet berry coast banksia .
These cold hardy plants can be crop in Zones 2 to 8 , but Nipponese and Russian varieties reply otherwise in dissimilar climate and conditions .
Russian cultivar which are in the main refer to as honeyberries are usually better suited for growing in colder , gamy elevations , whereas Japanese types , haskaps , are well suitable to regions where summers can be raging .
The gens honeyberries and haskaps are often used interchangeably in North America , regardless of the multifariousness .
Common name(s):Haskap , honeyberry , blue honeysuckle
Plant type : Deciduous fruiting shrub
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):2 - 8
aboriginal to : Asia , Europe , North America
Bloom time / season : Spring , yield in former summer
picture : Full to part Dominicus
Soil type : flaxen , loamy , well - draining
Soil pH:5.5 - 8.0 , slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
Time to maturity:3 - 5 years
ripe size:4 - 8 feet tall x 4 - 8 foot panoptic
Water need : restrained
Taxonomy
Order : Dipsacales
Family : Caprifoliaceae
Genus : Lonicera
specie : Caerulea
Haskap bushes uprise at a moderate charge per unit to a mature size of two to eight feet wide and four to eight foot tall .
They might begin to expect light fruit after one year of planting , but will increase their return as they grow great , render an copious harvest after about three to four years .
The gullible farewell are about two to three column inch long . Pale yellow , tube-shaped flowers bloom in late outflow to early summer and are a front-runner for bee and butterfly .
These plants are self - ill-sorted , which means they ask hybrid - pollenation with a different cultivar to produce yield .
You ’ll need to plant at least two compatible mixed bag that flower at the same time .
After pollination , the fruits mature to a bass blue , sometimes with a Burgundy wine or purplish hue . The oval honeyberries cast in size from about a one-half inch up to two inch long , depending on the variety .
Haskaps are usually harvested in late spring to early summertime . While their grain is interchangeable to that of blueberry , the flavour is a sweet - tart , like a unique cross between a blueberry , a currant , and a raspberry .
The fruits are mellow in antioxidants , and the shrubs will allow a range of soil pH levels from 5.5 to 8.0 , make them well-fixed to cultivate for those who have troublegrowing blueberries , which do best in acidic filth .
When I bought my haskap imbed a few year ago , it was a challenge to come up them . But with each year that goes by , I notice more online sellers and local baby’s room carry them , a sign that they are becoming more popular !
Honeyberry shrub are low maintenance , not crabbed about their grease , and very insensate intrepid .
Let ’s take a look at their growing requirements :
Climate
These shrubs produce in Zones 2 to 8 , and some diverseness can outlive cold temperature down to -49 ° degree Fahrenheit .
The flowers can even defy temperature down to 14 ° F and still set yield .
Light
Honeyberry shrubs need at least six hour of sunlight to create the mellow output , so plant life ina full sun locationif potential .
They will grow attractively in part shade , but their output will be slenderly lower .
My haskaps find about six minute of full sun from mid - break of day to mid - afternoon and they grow quite well .
Soil
Haskaps are tolerant of most grunge types but they grow better in well - drained , loamy stain . They will acquire in cadaver and sandlike loam with a pH level range from 5.5 to 8.0 .
As some honeyberry types are become to mountainous regions and others to low - lie orbit , you could find unlike mixture that will bear myopic periods of sloshed dirt .
Pollination
Honeyberry shrub need a cooperator to pollenate successfully . Planting honeyberries in groups of more than two will increase the betting odds of successful pollination and produce the highest yields .
Spacing is important . You want to give your honeyberry shrubs enough room to grow to their mature size without becoming overcrowded , but you do n’t require to distance plants so far by from one another that the pollinator have too far to fly .
Three to eight feet apart is more often than not fine , calculate on the variety . chink the tatter that comes with your novel plant for spacing guideline .
Water
Honeyberry plants need regular body of water to bring out fruit . Irrigation is especially crucial during the first three days after imbed , while the flora are becoming established .
Avoid irrigate in modest amounts several times a week , as this will advance a shallow root system . Plants with shallow root systems do not do as well during dry spells and drought .
Instead , water deep once a calendar week , in the absence of sufficient rain .
This will further the roots to grow late in the soil where they can access stored moisture , making them more resilient .
After the first three to four years , these bush will require less body of water except in times of drought or during extended wry go .
Weeding and Mulching
Weed management is of import when rise haskaps as they compete for food and water .
Mulch facilitate to retain water supply in the soil by slowing evaporation and it also keeps weeds at bay . Plan to top up thelayer of mulchto about three inches late every springiness .
Fertilizing
I urge adding one or twoscoops of compostor well - rotted manure around your honeyberry shrubs every spring before refreshing your mulch .
The manure I habituate is composted with wood chip , so it read care of both tasks at the same time .
Outside of feed with compost in the outflow , haskaps do n’t want extra fertiliser .
Maintenance
Honeyberry shrub do not sucker , so there is no pauperism to control their spread head .
If bushes become too dense , pruning will encourage better air circulation between the branch and more sunlight to get through the internal subdivision , resulting in better berry production .
Pruning should be done after harvesting in the autumn , during the wintertime , or early spring .
take out older branch and any that are diseased or damaged to reduce the shrub . Never move out more than 25 percent of the overall size of the bush in the same year .
As a haskap bush gets older , it may become less fat . If this happens , you could rejuvenate the bush by chopping it down to about six inches tall .
Since these bush are so unfearing , there is no motive to do anything exceptional to protect them during the winter .
There are a kind of honeyberry cultivar available but they can be a bit difficult to ascertain .
Here are a few of my favorites :
Aurora
‘ Aurora ’ is a Canadian - bred honeyberry cultivar , best fit for zone 2 to 6 .
It produces pallid , sensationalistic - non-white flowers in the middle of May and the shrub reach out between five and six foot all-embracing and up to five feet marvellous at maturity .
The gloomy berry are quite expectant and elongate , mensurate about an column inch and a one-half long , and are ready for pick in late June through early August .
suited pollinators include ‘ Borealis , ’ ‘ Indigo Gem , ’ and ‘ Tundra . ’
Berry Blue
‘ Berry Blue ’ honeyberry is suited for grow in Zones 3 to 8 . This kind grows to a matured height of six to eight feet improbable and between four to eight feet full at adulthood .
The creamy white-hot flowers bloom from April to May . The dark blue berries are large and elongated , about an inch long , ripen in the midsection of June through July .
‘ Berry Blue ’
Suitable pollinator for ‘ Berry Blue ’ are ‘ Honeybee ’ and ‘ Tundra . ’
you’re able to find out ‘ Berry Blue ’ plantsavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Indigo Gem
‘ Indigo Gem ’ haskap grows well in zone 2 to 7 and reach a mature height of four to six feet improbable and three to four metrical foot wide .
The pallid chickenhearted flowers bloom in midspring and fruit mature by early summertime . The honeyberries of are a dusty blue color , elongated and a little smaller than those of some other haskaps .
‘ Indigo Gem ’
upright pollination partner include ‘ Aurora , ’ ‘ Honeybee , ’ and ‘ Indigo Treat . ’
you may find ‘ Indigo Gem ’ available in one - gallon containersavailable at Fast Growing Trees .
Indigo Treat
‘ Indigo Treat ’ are befit for geographical zone 2 to 7 . These shrub max out at about five animal foot tall and five feet encompassing at maturity .
The creamy white flowers flower in midspring and the berries are ready to glean from June into July , look on your local climate conditions .
Like ‘ Indigo Gem , ’ the dark puritanic honeyberries are slightly modest than those of some other cultivars .
‘ Indigo Treat ’
Suitable pollinator include ‘ Aurora , ’ ‘ Honeybee , ’ and ‘ Indigo Gem . ’
you could find ‘ Indigo Treat ’ useable in one - gallon containersat Fast Growing Trees .
Tundra
‘ Tundra ’ is suitable for cultivation in Zones 3 to 7 . This cultivar produce to four foot broad and tall at adulthood . The flowers are creamy whitened in color and bloom in April to May .
This cultivar produce one - inch drear honeyberries with a firm grain , which micturate them popular in commercial output .
The fruits mature in the midriff of June and can develop through July , depending on condition and mood .
‘ Tundra ’
Suitable pollinator include ‘ Aurora , ’ ‘ Berry Blue , ’ and ‘ Honeybee . ’
you may find ‘ Tundra ’ plantsavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
While it ’s potential to disperse honeyberry plant from seeds , the ensue seedling will typically not have the same characteristics as the parent plant .
commercial-grade growers propagate these bush asexually , using tissue paper cultures or cuttings , to produce dead ringer of the parent plants .
While you could successfully propagateL. caeruleafrom cuttings , keep in mind that most cultivars are patented and can only be propagate by licensed commercial-grade agriculturist .
The easiest way to get started is to purchase a duet of potted specimen for transplantation .
This will also see that you plant the right-hand varieties for your area and the appropriate pollenate partner .
Transplanting
First , dig a hole that is twice as wide as the container the flora is maturate in and about one or two inches deeper .
Tap and squeeze the side of the container and then carefully slide the works out . If the root are bind , gently bug them apart .
do the flora into the trap and check the depth . set the height , if necessary , by digging the hole a little deep or adding some stain back in .
You want to set the industrial plant about an in deeper than in its current container .
When you ’re satisfied with the position of the works , backfill with stain around the roots , gently tamping the soil as you go to force out air pockets .
Give the Modern transplant a good soak with two to three gallons of water and keep the dirt moist but not waterlogged for the first two to three weeks while it ’s becoming established .
Apply a two- to three - column inch bed of mulch around the base of the plant , covering the root geographical zone but not touching the stem .
L. caeruleashrubsare seldom incommode by worm pests and diseases , so there are few potential issue to mention .
Birds will likely be your biggest challenge . As the green haskap berry begin to turn down and mature , the skirt will appear , ready to share your harvest .
So design in front . You will need bird netting to cover your shrubs . Look for a gauze with holes that are one - one-half inch or less in sizing .
Be sure to get across your haskap bush all the way to the earth and secure the veiling with stakes or leaden bricks or rock .
now and again , you might notice sign of leaf miners on the leafage . These louse wo n’t harm the honeyberries and they can be controlled by organic methods .
take more about leaf miners here .
The main disease you may come across is powdery mildew .
The good news is that it generally come out after the harvest , so although the powdery coat on the parting is a bit unsightly , it typically wo n’t do much damage .
Check outour guide to powdery mildewto learn how to hold in this vernacular fungous condition .
In the first few years after constitute , haskap bushes will produce a small amount of yield , and this yield will increase by year three or four .
The fruit on some shrub will ripen all at once , and on others they may mature bit by bit and sporadically , typically beginning in May or June .
It can be tricky to know when the fruits are ripe , especially if you ’re new to growing honeyberries .
When the honeyberries start to turn blue , they wo n’t be ready to pick for at least one more week . Test by picking and splitting open a berry . If it ’s still green on the inside , it ’s not ready yet .
you’re able to either pick the fruit by hand or determine a sheet or tarpaulin under the shrub and shake up the branches .
After harvest , disperse the honeyberries out on a clean towel for inspection , off any damaged yield , leaves and other debris , and enjoy !
you’re able to put in your honeyberries in a sealed container or credit card travelling bag in the icebox for up to a week .
Beyond a week , haskaps can be dismiss , dehydrated , fermented , or stock-still . Of all these method , I detect freezing to be the easiest .
After unthaw , they will be a act softer than when fresh , but are still bursting with flavour !
To freeze down , consist the berries out on a cookie sail or a tray so they are n’t touching each other . Place the tray into the Deepfreeze until the berries are frozen .
Remove gently from the tray and place them into a postal code - top Deepfreeze bag . Squeeze out as much air as possible while you seal the bag . Store frozen Charles Edward Berry in your deep-freeze for up to a year .
The cherubic - sporting lady flavor of haskap Chuck Berry is delicious when eaten sweet , but they ’re also unadulterated for baking and preserve .
apply your honeyberries to make compote , muddle , and jellies . essay juicing them and get to dissimilar sauces .
I have n’t essay it myself , but if you ’re a home vintner , I ’ve heard haskaps make incredible wines and liqueurs .
I like to make a quick sauce to drizzle over waffles or my nightlong oats and chia pudding .
I impart the berry to the second fermentation of kombucha , squeezing them first to relinquish the succus . parched goods like gem , crisps , and cobblers are also darling in my house .
Most recipes that call for blueberry bush will work with haskaps too , like this delectable blueberry oatmeal square recipeon our sister internet site , Foodal .
Just substitute the blueberry with haskaps .
A Honey of a Berry
With their exceptional cold margin , early harvest time of year , and tangy - sweet flavour , honeyberries are an prominent choice for home gardeners in cool climates .
These rugged bush ask for picayune beyond full sun , coherent moisture , and a cross - pollination partner to reward you with bountiful crop of nutrient - ample berries .
And for more entropy aboutgrowing fruit in your landscape , have a tone at these guidebook next :
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About
Tabitha Caswell
