What Haskaps would like you to know

 Although Haskap bushes can easily handle Siberian winters, they are quite fussy about how and where they are planted, and who their neighbours are. Haskaps do best in a sunny location, in well-drained loam or sandy loam soil. They will tolerate well-drained clay soils.

Their shallow root system means they can’t compete with weeds or other plants closer than 1 m from the trunk.  A root system close to the surface of the soil also means that they are not drought tolerant until they are three years old at least.  Newly planted bushes should be kept moist for the first 2-3 weeks and given 1” of water every week thereafter. Mulches help a lot, of course.  Planting Haskap bushes in the fall gives them a chance to develop a root system before the heat of summer. Most varieties fit easily in the suburban yard.

 Pollinators: finding the perfect pairing

 There is a lot of mis-information about Haskap plants at nurseries: some plants are labelled male or female – there is no such thing. Often varieties of plants available for sale are not compatible. They may produce some berries, but more likely will be `one-pie wonders’

Like many other fruit crops, Haskaps requires pollen from an unrelated variety in order to set fruit. Generally speaking, closely related plants will not set fruit. To pollinate each other, both Haskap plants must bloom at the same time and be genetically compatible.

When two compatible varieties of Haskaps are planted close to each other, both bushes will set fruit. The reverse is also true: without a fully compatible pollinator, yields will be greatly reduced. Commercial growers use a ratio of 2 primary plants to 1 pollinator planted in the same row.

Pucker up: sweet or tangy

 Haskap berries can be very tart and tangy, too much so for some people. One University of Saskatchewan cultivar in particular has overcome this problem: Aurora.
According to Reg Tomiye, owner of Haskap Farms in Kelowna, his berry customers agree that Aurora berries are the sweetest.

“As for jam, we use a mixture of varieties to get a unique taste,” he said.

Another Haskap grower, who sells plants as well as berries in a Salmon Arm nursery, points out that berries take a long time to ripen, and that many growers pick them prematurely, when they haven’t reached maximum flavour or sweetness.  According to Heather Graham, co-owner of Meadow Brae Farms. “Berries can be blue on the outside but not on the inside. They should be blue throughout when they are ripe to pick.”

She favours the Boreal Blizzard variety, which produces heavy berries perfect for fresh eating, freezing and baking.

The best source of information for growing and selecting Haskap
plants is:

Haskaps – Gardening at USask – College of Agriculture and Bioresources | University of Saskatchewan (link)

This is Anne’s  first article with us — an engaging, well‑researched look at Haskap berries. Drawing on her years as a newspaper and magazine staff writer, she brings a journalist’s clarity and curiosity to every topic she explores. Since completing the Master Gardener program in retirement, Anne has developed a strong commitment to sourcing credible, research‑based information, especially from university extension programs.

We’re delighted to feature her work and look forward to more thoughtful, evidence‑grounded contributions from her.