Haskap cultivar information

General Fruit Growing
1

I would like to put in some haskap plants this year. But I’m trying to figure out which cultivars to use. M

I am in the Pacific Northwest and have narrowed it down to the Japanese derived varieties from Dr. Maxine Thompson (i.e Taka and Tana) or the selections from the University of Saskatchewan (ie Boreal Beast).

I have scoured the Internet. Including this forum. I can find little information on flavor of each cultivar. Especially the Maxine Thompson ones.

I was hoping people here who have grown them could give me their impressions. Especially in regards to flavor

Thank you

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I have numerous varieties, but to be honest I don’t find huge differences in flavor. The main differences are size and timing. Some of the older varieties are small and bitter, but the Saskatchewan ones and the Thompson ones are all pretty good. But you don’t need a dozen varieties like I have.

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I think I can get the three Boreals and three or four of the Thompson ones. I hope. They are all late blooming so I hope they pollinate each other. I know the Boreal series are designed to do just that. Not sure about Thompson’s. So little information about her plants is available

4

I recommend ordering from honeyberryusa. They have fantastic plants, also they should be able to help you with pollenate questions or more info on Thompson varieties. Bernice is very responsive and really nice to talk to via email.

I got my Aurora from them and the plant was extremely nice.

This is my first year my 3 bushes (indigo gem, tundra, Aurora) have given my berries, but they so far have been quite tart. But they probably need to hang a lot longer, could also be fact 1st year producing as well. I’ll probably pick some this weekend and make syrup or something.

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I’ll hit them up for info. I think I will be able to get my plants from One Green World but that isn’t certain yet. It would be closer shipping from there

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if you got aurora and a few of the boreals you would be good to go. they have the best tastes and production that ive seen online of all of them and from the ones i have. the rest really dont stand out or really get mentioned, telling me they arent very popular.

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Do the Thompson and Saskatchewan ones bloom at the same time? I’m hoping for them all to pollinate each other.

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Make sure you like them before you decide to get them lol.

I got a bunch at once once upon a time and ended up giving them all away cause i couldn’t sell them.

They’re very powdery mildew prone and you have to wait weeks after they turn color for them to ripen. The robins love them along with the chickadees.

Restoringeden.co and Onegreenworld.com has them along with most other nurseries you’ll find here

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Aurora is partially self fruitful but slightly overlaps the earlier boreal ones for pollination. the later boreals slightly over laps strawberry sensation for pollination as well. maxie solo also is self pollinating and fruits about the same time as strawberry sensation. strawberry and maxi are pretty good but low producers. check out the pollination charts under the haskap explanation page on honeyberry USA. it explains what pollinates what more exactly.

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10

My Aurora bloomed in between tundra and indigo gem. It seemed to bloom for awhile too.

Just as an fyi, I’m Maryland 7b, mine start to wake up the last week of February. I don’t have the same varieties your looking into tho.

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I bought two unnamed ones from Dr.Thompson,when she was at an All About Fruit Show in Canby,OR.The thing that sold me,was a preserve,served on crackers.
Out of hand,they are somewhat sour,but I’m getting use to them.One is an elongated berry and the other more round,which to me,has better flavor.
I’d like to find out,how they compare to the Russian types,in flavor.

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Mine are not where I see them often while in bloom, so I haven’t paid attention to bloom times. I have enough varieties not to worry.