A TreeTime.ca Guide to Haskaps
Haskaps, also known as Honeyberries, are gaining recognition and steadily growing in popularity. You can find them at U-Picks and farmers’ markets, and don’t be surprised if they start popping up at your local grocery store. For most of the year, they are available frozen, but they can also be found in other forms, such as powdered, freeze-dried, or made into juice or wine. They’re often used in baked goods, jams, and even ice cream. The possibilities are endless!
If you’re eager to get in on the Haskap trend, whether by planting them in your home garden or starting a U-Pick Haskap farm, our Haskap Fruit Guide and Pollination Guide have everything you need to kickstart your project successfully.
Haskap Berry Basics:
- Appearance: Haskap berries are dark blue/purple and resemble an elongated blueberry.
- Taste: Haskaps have a higher acidity, making them more tart or sour compared to some other berries. The taste is generally described as a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry. Different varieties of Haskaps have a range of tastes and flavors, with some being sweeter than others. Taste preferences vary from person to person—while some enjoy the tartness, others prefer the sweeter varieties.
- Varieties: There are many varieties of Haskaps to choose from. The majority of varieties stem from either Russian or Japanese genetics. Many of the most popular varieties sold in Canada originate from the University of Saskatchewan Fruit Breeding Program
- If you need help selecting varieties for your project check out our Haskap Fruit Guide
Planting and Care:
- Cross-Pollination: To achieve optimal fruit production, Haskaps require cross-pollination. This means planting at least two different varieties that are compatible with each other. Compatibility depends on bloom time and genetics. Plants that are too closely related will not cross-pollinate each other.
- The planting ratio does not have to be 1:1. Often a ratio of 1:5 is used, where 1 pollinizer is planted for every 5 plants to be pollinated.
- For more details, refer to our Haskap Pollination Chart.
- Cold Hardy: Haskaps thrive in colder climates, typically suited to hardiness zones from 2a to 7. This makes them an excellent choice for colder regions, like the Canadian prairies. However, they can struggle in warmer climates if they don’t get enough winter chilling units.
- Mulching: Applying mulch is highly beneficial for trees and shrubs, including haskaps. The general consensus is that any mulch is better than no mulch for plant growth and success.
- To learn more, visit our blog on the Benefits of Wood Chip Mulch.
- Bird Protection: Birds love Haskaps just as much as humans do. So birds can often fly away with your harvest before you even get a chance to eat them. There are many methods used for deterring birds. These include:
- Bird netting: Cover shrubs with netting to prevent bird access.
- Diversion Planting: Grow other, more attractive food sources nearby to divert birds.
- Visual Deterrents: Hang shiny, reflective objects in the surrounding area
- Predator Decoys: Use fake owls, hawks, or even snakes to scare away birds
- Sound Devices: Use motion-activated sound devices that play predator calls.
- Enclosures: Plant Haskaps within an enclosed structure like a frame with chicken wire.
Haskap Harvest:
- Yields: Yields will be small for the first couple of years after planting. In general, Haskaps start producing larger amounts of berries around 4 years old.
- Ripening: Haskaps are among the first berries to ripen in the summer, but they can turn blue up to two weeks before they are fully ripe. For the best-tasting berries, wait until the insides are fully purple before harvesting. They are typically fully ripe 6-7 weeks after blooming.
- Our Haskap Bloom & Ripening Time Chart can give you a general idea of when to expect harvest. It represents the average bloom and ripening times for the average year on the prairies. But this will fluctuate as both are dependent on the local climate and growing season’s weather.
- Firmness: In general, haskaps are not known for being very firm; they can be delicate and crush easily when ripe
- Harvest Methods: There are three main methods used for harvesting Haskaps.
- Hand-picking: This is the most common harvesting method. It allows for only the ripe berries to be harvested and is the gentlest approach, minimizing damage to the berries.
- Shaking: To harvest by shaking, place a tarp or small plastic kiddie pool around the shrub and gently shake it. This method helps release the berries from the branches, but it may also result in some unripe berries and debris being collected as well as some berries getting damaged.
- Mechanical Harvesting: Haskaps with firmer berries can withstand mechanical harvesting. However, since most Haskaps are not very firm, mechanical harvesting is not suitable for all varieties.
- Storage and Uses: Haskaps are delicious when eaten fresh, but due to their short shelf life, they are often stored frozen. These versatile berries are also perfect for baking, dehydrating, and making preserves, smoothies, juice, and wine.
- Tip: To freeze berries without crushing them, spread them out evenly on a tray or baking sheet and place them in the freezer. Once fully frozen, transfer them to a single bag or container for storage.
Haskaps are a unique and versatile berry making them a delicious addition to your landscape. Whether you’re growing them for personal use or commercial production, understanding their growing requirements, pollination needs, and harvesting methods will ensure your project is a success. If you have any advice or strategies that have worked for you, please reach out and let us know so we can share with others.
If you want more information or looking to purchase Haskap seedlings, visit our Haskap page on TreeTime.ca, or feel free to contact us at 1-844-873-3700 or [email protected].