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Do you call them HONEYBERRIES or HASKAPS?
It’s a big controversy around here – and it seems there is a ton of confusion! So let’s clear that up. Plus we’ll talk about pollination (another source of confusion) and varieties that we love for Alaska orchards.
HASKAP VS HONEYBERRY – WHICH IS RIGHT? (or should it be called honeysuckle berry?)
I love this question – because the answer is so fun! Ready for the answer? It’s all of the above!
Here’s the longer explanation: Haskaps originated in Japan and tend to be a sweet berry. Honeyberries grow wild in Russia and are extremely cold-hardy but the berries tend to be very tart. So, the folks at the University of Saskatchewan put their heads together and decided to find a way to fuse the two. I don’t know much about plant hybridization but I do know that when you marry a haskap and a honeyberry, you get the varieties that we sell that are super tasty and also cold hardy. It’s a win-win!
POLLINATION:
First, yes – you do need two different varieties for pollination. But Alaska is different from many areas in that our season is so short, all of the varieties we carry tend to pollinate each other. In the lower 48, you might not be able to have blizzard and aurora pollinate each other because aurora blooms so much earlier but for whatever reason we are guessing longer days and a shorter season), they bloom at roughly the same time – at least in southcentral – so you can buy any two plants and should not have issues with timing for pollination.
To dispel a crazy myth we keep seeing online – there is no male or female honeyberry. There are simply different varieties that will pollinate each other.
VARIETIES:
Aurora: A medium to large berry that is ultra juicy and if left to ripen completely on the vine it’s on the sweet side. It’s a crowd favorite here on the farm and one of the most popular and requested varieties. It has excellent flavor. Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall. (Your farmer’s favorite)
Honeybee: Honeybee is often used as a pollinator but it’s a great berry on its own! It’s a small to medium berry that can lean on the tart side so they are better for processing and they are a very productive plant. Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall.
Blizzard: A large, sweet berry, they ripen with aurora in our area. They are an awesome fresh-eating berry. It’s hard just to eat one! Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall.
Beauty: Beauty produces a very large berry (our largest) and is on the sweet/tart side. Their flavor rivals aurora and its popularity is also equal. They taste more like a wild blueberry to the farmer – to me, they are just plain good. 🙂 Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall.
Borealis: A sweet/tart, plump berry that is awesome for pie and jam! Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall.
Tundra: Tundra has a blueberry-like flavor that’s sweeter than borealis. Tundra is great in muffins and pies. Plant grows upright and is bushy – can get up to 6′ tall.
Indigo Yum: A medium sized berry, more on the tart side than aurora and beauty. The indigo series grows lower to the ground (4′ high and 4′ wide).
Indigo Treat: Also a medium berry that has a blueberry-like flavor. The indigo series grows lower to the ground (4′ high and 4′ wide).
TIp: The bigger sized berries are awesome for smoothies, fresh eating, and pies. Medium ones are best for baking in muffins and cakes because the bigger berries are too big for a muffin.
Be sure to come out to the farm this weekend and grab some orchard plants (we’ve got them all covered) plus veggie starts, gorgeous hanging flower baskets for mom, and more! We’re open Friday & Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 1-4.
Hint: Friday there will even be a food truck made with fresh milled Alaska barley and pepperoni from Alaska pork! How cool is that?!?!