The Crafty Cultivator

Since I’m running low on trees we’ve planted to write about here (and I want to keep up with my regular posting here), I am continuing on with some of the soft fruit we planted as well. You can read about the Nanking Cherries from last week, but this week will be about the Haskaps.

Originally native to northern forests in Asia and North America, they have gone through extensive breeding at the UofS, much like the romance series of cherries (like our Crimson Passion). They are extremely hardy. Also known as Honeyberries or Blue Honeysuckle. If you are wanting to know more about them, check out Haskap.ca as they will have much more informative knowledge than me. I just want a record of what we are growing, and will be referring to that site myself.

I would describe their flavour (from the few berries I’ve been able to taste) as a mix between blueberries and Saskatoons.

I can’t speak to which varieties taste the best or produce the most, but I do want a record here of how they are growing. Hopefully we get some fruit off the plants this year and I can share our findings.

Here are the Haskaps we planted in 2018:

• Berry Smart Blue
  • Latin- Lonicera caerulea ‘Berry Smart Blue’
  • Pollinator: Aurora, Borealis, Indigo Gem, Polar Jewel, Tundra
• Indigo Gem
  • Latin- Lonicera caerulea ‘Indigo Gem’
  • Pollinator: Aurora, Polar Jewel
• Tundra
  • Latin- Lonicera caerulea ‘Tundra’
  • Pollinator: Aurora, Polar Jewel
• Polar Jewel
  • Latin: Lonicera edulis var. kamthcaica caerula ‘Polar Jewel’
  • Pollinator: Borealis, Tundra

My plan behind having a few (more than just 2) varieties is that they can all pollinate each other throughout their bloom times. We may not get a sizeable harvest from them as they are new plants, but I hope we get enough to have enough for each of us to have a decent taste of them.  I might also have a Borealis tucked into my bed of other over-wintering things. I’m not 100% on if I rescued one or not… or if it will survive this brutally cold winter without much protection.

While I was back home visiting, I was going to get a photo or two to add to this post, but they were completely under snow, so here is 2 of the labels that my dad kept.