Why are these berries called HASKAP?

Haskap is a term used in Asian markets for these berries, and the local use of the Haskap term is a term for marketing to these potential areas. These berries are also called Honey Berries, Swamp Fly Honeysuckle and the Blue Honey Suckle.

Will the plants grow in my area?

Blue Honeysuckle berries will likley grow in most regions of Canada and the Northern part of the United States. Honeysuckles can tolerate bone numbing cold and moderate summer temperatures.

What types of soil do these plants like?

Honeysuckles are tolerant of marginal soils but excel in better quality soils. In Prince Edward Island they aim for a 5.6-6.5 pH and as deep a topsiol as possible. Honeysuckles appear to be widley adapted.

Can I have just one plant?

No. Blue Honeysuckles, like apples, need two different varieties in order to successfully pollinate the berries.

How large do these plants grow?

Blue Honeysuckles will develop a large bush, probably 1.5 – 2 meters tall and 1.5 meters wide.

How long do I have to wait before we get berries?

Blue Honeysuckles will develop fruit on the plants the spring following planting. On better quality soils, plants will quickly develop large branches and numerous berries.

When do the berries ripen?

For most Northern regions of Canada and the USA, these berries will ripen during the late part of June. Berries will turn blue long before they attain that delicious tangy-sweet flavour.

Are there any production problems?

Yes, birds love to eat these berries so you may need to cover the bushes with netting. In wet seasons and with luch foliage of the Bluehoneysuckle Bush a fungus, (Botrytic), will cause the leaves to turn brown and defoliate. Some pruning of the bush to aid in airflow can be helpful or management using conventional crop protectants can help. Weeds are a cronic problem, various control measures such as mulches and manual control can be applied to reduce weed competition.

What can I do with these berries?

Eat the fresh, freeze them for winter, make jam, press them for fresh juice, the berries are reported to make execellent wine, fancy French pastry filling, incorporation in ice cream and yogurt, some companies are even trying to buy the berries to extract high levels of antioxidants.