I live in southeastern MA zone 6b. I was thinking of growing honeyberries in pots (I need to move plants sometimes due to whims of family and other factors). I was thinking of the varieties Boreal Beast, Boreal Beauty, and Boreal Blizzard. These are supposedly more heat tolerant than other varieties, but will they handle my climate?
We get 10-20 days above 90°F each year. Due to climate change, my zone will likely shift hotter and we’ll probably get more 90°F or above days per year. I have a spot with part shade to protect them from afternoon sun, but I’m not sure how many hours of sun it gets. With the heat and the potentially less than ideal hours of sunlight in the part shade spot, I’m not sure if it’s worth it to grow honeyberries. Will I get a full harvest in those conditions, assuming I keep them well watered? Or will they struggle to produce?
What percent shade cloth do you use and what do you use to support it? Do your honey berries produce well or do you think they need a cooler climate to get a good harvest out of them? And what varieties do you grow?
I’m in zone 8a. I have Aurora, Tundra, and Honeybee all second year. Had a few fruits produced this spring. My plants get morning sun and afternoon shade. They didn’t look great in the height of summer last year but they look great this spring.
I agree that they will do well in your zone. They produce fruit a couple weeks earlier than strawberries typically, so fruiting is over before the really hot weather kicks in. So there should be no problem getting a harvest. Just look for them early! (I have a friend in 6a who didn’t think her honeyberries were producing and was ready to pull them out until I showed her they were loaded with large berries already in March). They can bloom in Feb. and tolerate 25F degrees in full bloom. Just look for the fruits early in the spring, and keep an eye on them, birds are a serious issue!
If you can put them in a place that gets sun in Feb., but is shaded in July, that would be great. Or, you can pot them and move them in the heat of summer - those varieties have tolerated -10+F degrees outside on the ground in pots in Canada where those varieties were developed. They may even go dormant if the weather is hot.
Of importance, keep them watered, for they are not drought tolerant. And, keep the weeds at bay, especially the first couple of years. Once they are large bushes, it is a bit easier to keep the weeds under them at bay. And, net them, for birds will stuff themselves to the point they cannot fly - litterally.
I’m near Birmingham, AL so hot and humid all summer. They looked pretty ragged by fall but they look fantastic right now, putting on alot of growth. I think it is key to give them midday to afternoon shade for growing in the lower South.
My Aurora looks the least haggard (that’s not saying much) of my 3 (indigo gem, tundra, Aurora) and I have them planted south facing full sun in 7b (oops). They all 3 come back every year but look burnt come July and go dormant, then wake up end of Feb.
Those look amazing! Would you say they taste just like a combination of blueberries and raspberries, as some online sources say? I’ve already got blueberries and raspberries so if they just taste like both I’m wondering if honey berries are unique enough to be worth growing.
I only tasted them not ripe (they need to hang for 2 weeks after turning blue) and they were very tart and I wasn’t impressed. I netted them so I can give them a good fair taste this year. If I’m not impressed I’m replacing with black currants.
I’m going to see how they are as a jelly and syrup too. I can let you know in probably a week or 2.
I would say when ripe they are very similar to blueberries. Maybe a little less watery, but pretty similar. (we can’t grow blueberries here, so the only ones in memory are store bought). Before ripe, they can be more sour and grassy tasting.
If blueberries grow well for you, I wouldn’t bother unless the early season is a factor.
