There is little i know about Haskaps though i do know my original attempts ended in failure many years ago. The sun was to hot for them here in Kansas. Anyone have recommendations on variety, where to buy them etc.? Here is what i think there is to choose from according to hartmanns commercial nursery
“This new fruit has the potential of becoming the fruit of the future! Haskap berries popularly known as Honey Berries are tasty and nutritious. The flesh of the deep blue fruits ripen with a red to purple colored pigment an indication of high nutrient fruit. Fruit size and shapes will vary depending upon the variety, but for the most part the shapes are oblong and 1.0 to 1.5 grams per berry. The flavors are honey sweet, juicy, with a hint of tartness and aromatic blends of black currants, blueberries, and black raspberries. The plant is best described as a multi-stemmed shrub, much like a highbush blueberry bush and are easy to grow. It is recommended to plants using the same methods as blueberry plants, but the plant requires a pH above 5.0 and will grow in most soil types and climates. The following 5 cultivars have a USDA hardiness of zones 7-3.”
University of Saskatchewan
AURORA – BU-W-7300 The fruits are large and powdery blue with an elongated, slightly tapered shape. The stem scar is dry with high quality fruits and excellent choice for fresh or IQF frozen. The berries are longer than wide with an average berry weight 1.9 grams. The flavor of fruits is regarded as sweet when ripe. The plants grow upright to 6 feet with a 3 feet width.
CINDERELLA - This cultivar is extremely vigorous, growing to a mature height of 4 feet and spreading 3 feet. The medium size fruits have good quality, and are best eaten fresh from the bush to enjoy the excellent fresh blend of flavors. This is a good choice for home gardens and u-pick growers.
Origin: University of Saskatchewan
Tundra- lives up to its name, as the plants have extreme tolerance to cold climate conditions. The plants grow vigorously and will grow to a mature height of 6.5 feet within a few years. Tundra is considered to be the best cultivar for the commercial grower. The fruits have the excellent firmness with a small dry stem scar, and can be harvested mechanically with a blueberry harvester.
The fruits are large compared to other cultivars with the average fruit weighing 1.5 grams, similar to a medium size blueberry. The firm fruits will melt as they are eaten and are highly aromatic, black raspberry sweetness with a blueberry tang. The fruits shape, light blue color, and size are very attractive for fresh markets and well suited for Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) for the process markets.
Origin: University of Saskatchewan*
Indigo Gem- yields fruits that are excellent in quality. This cultivar would be the choice for mechanical harvest for the fresh or process markets. The fruits of most Haskap cultivars are soft and melt in your mouth when eaten whereas the Indigo Gem has thicker skin and flesh therefore the fruit is chewier much like a grape. This is a good attribute for the process market because when the berries are cooked they will remain a similar shape.
The plants will produce consistent average yields, in one test area the variety produced twice the amount of fruit compared to other cultivars. Plants are vigorous and will grow 5.5 feet at maturity. The shape of the fruits are shorter and oval with an average weight of 1.3 grams. The fruits have good firmness with nice blend of sweet and mild tanginess. Indigo Gem will be a very suitable fruit for shipping long distance for the fresh market and a good choice for the frozen markets.
Origin: Russia
Czech 17-, also known as Berry Blue is super vigorous. The plants will grow to a mature height of 5 to 6 feet and 3.5 feet wide. The medium fruits are firm and will yield 10 to 15 pounds. The flavor of the fruits is good, but this variety is best for making deserts and juicing. An abundant amount of flowers are grown and appear over a long period of time, making Czech an excellent pollinator for all Haskap cultivars. Fruiting occurs for more than 6 weeks beginning in the early part of summer.
Origin: University of Saskatchewan*
**Indigo Treat - ** fruits are high in flavor. The flavor of black currants is more pronounced, with a strong aromatic sweetness of black raspberries and blueberries. The light blue fruits are longer and flatter than other cultivars, and are attractive for the fresh markets.
This is one cultivar that will definitely melt in your mouth. The fruits have excellent firmness with a stem scar that is small and dry, a good attribute for mechanical harvesting and the fresh markets. The plants have medium to high vigor growing to 5.5 feet tall, with average to high yields.
As the name implies honeyberryusa has them available but seem more focused on retail sales Honeyberry, Haskap, and other Cold Hardy Fruit Trees
As your aware University of Saskatchewan (usask) is behind most of the varities Links - University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program - University of Saskatchewan
