Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-03-2014, 04:33 PM
bsmitty27 bsmitty27 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: East of the big smoke
Posts: 1,496
Default Haskap berries anyone have experience with them?

Looking at getting a bunch for spring. Any info would be great.
Thanks
Brad
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-03-2014, 05:19 PM
ganderblaster ganderblaster is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WMU 226
Posts: 2,198
Default

Have you tasted them? They were a little more sour- tart than I expected. Make insane jam with them though. I plan on getting a few this Spring.
__________________
As a man thinketh in his heart so he is
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-03-2014, 05:23 PM
Redfrog's Avatar
Redfrog Redfrog is offline
Gone Hunting
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Between Bodo and a hard place
Posts: 20,168
Default

SIL grows them in Rainbow Lake. I don't care for them myself but they are supposed to be good for you. You need a male and female bush to get fruit.
__________________
I'm not lying!!! You are just experiencing it differently.


It isn't a question of who will allow me, but who will stop me.. Ayn Rand
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-03-2014, 05:29 PM
Speckle55's Avatar
Speckle55 Speckle55 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: CANADA
Posts: 6,268
Default

My buddy just gave me a jar of jelly/jam and its great

here is some info on them
http://haskap.ca/about-haskap

David
__________________
Scientific and Analytical Angler/Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-03-2014, 05:31 PM
bessiedog's Avatar
bessiedog bessiedog is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
Default Yup and yum!

Got an aunt and uncle that just sent me three jars of jam made from them and rhubarb.

Excellent!

Very hardy plant.
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-03-2014, 06:15 PM
Mhunter51 Mhunter51 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: saskatoon
Posts: 844
Default

The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon did a lot of research and plant breeding on them a few years ( may still be going on ) and I know they did have some seedlings last spring to sell. The ' Agriculture and Bio Research " was the department that I seen them in. They had a lot of info on them also. If you do a google search on ' haskap berries in saskatchewan' and check out the " usask research ' growing haskap berries in Saskatchewan ' gives a very good article on the research and tips of growing them.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-03-2014, 07:12 PM
I-Love-Eyes I-Love-Eyes is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Carvel, AB
Posts: 1,018
Default

My FIL grows those. He fights every year to keep the birds out of them--especially Robins. You need to drape a fine mesh net over the bushes. He gets his netting at Lee Valley.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-03-2014, 08:53 PM
Hoopi Hoopi is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 305
Default I planted one

Hi: You have to plant more than one of the same type...so they can cross pollinate. I bought ONE at superstore garden centre and it did not flower.

Hoopi
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-03-2014, 10:25 PM
Cnd82 Cnd82 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: County of Newell
Posts: 62
Default

We've had them for a few years now. They are very bitter to eat off the bush and we haven't been able to pick enough for jam yet. Hopefully this year. The birds love them so we always cover them early to try and save them.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-03-2014, 10:30 PM
lyallpeder lyallpeder is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,575
Default

I got some from T&T seeds in Winnipeg 2 years ago. They grew about 12 inches last year and grew about 3 cups of fruit. A little tart but still good.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-04-2014, 12:01 AM
bsmitty27 bsmitty27 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: East of the big smoke
Posts: 1,496
Default

Thanks everyone. I have never tried them but was looking for hearty fruit plants that don't mind heavy loam soils. Haska came up. I got all the info off google I could. It looks good. UofS looks like they have a good set up. Just looking for personal info like I got. Thanks guys.
Brad
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-04-2014, 08:18 AM
rhuntley12 rhuntley12 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW of Dewinton
Posts: 2,129
Default

I planted a couple last year. Got them from Costco. Was surprised they had those and goji berries. The Goji berries I planted last year were full of berries.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-04-2014, 08:29 AM
histyle's Avatar
histyle histyle is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: head of Zipper-lip Creek
Posts: 399
Default

I've got 12 haskaps that I planted about 6 years ago. All have grown quite well in the Bentley area. Berries are very tart, but make excellent jam if you can get them before the waxwings! When I bought them, they were in 4" pots & maybe 6 inches high. Five of the bushes are now approx. 4 feet high & 4 feet around. The rest are slightly smaller, with the male plants being quite a bit smaller (2 feet X 2 feet).
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-04-2014, 10:27 AM
fog fog is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 129
Default

Yes the Waxwings and I really enjoy these fruits. They are the earliest berries to need picking in my mini orchard. A 4 ft x 8 foot patch provides us with all the Haskap / Honey Berry fruit we need.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-04-2014, 10:33 AM
antlercarver antlercarver is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,391
Default Hascap berrys

We have 14 plants of different varieties so that they cross pollinate. Some grow only 2 ft. high others are 5 ft. tall. We get about a ice cream pail of fruit average per plant. They have fruit on by middle of June which is quite tart but gets better after a month or so. Robin and especially wax wings will eat all the fruit if it is not protected. Taste of the different varieties is different, some is sweeter others are more tart.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-18-2015, 10:16 PM
msguns msguns is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 415
Default

I know this thread is older... but we planted two about 6 or 7 years ago. They are the best ever this year. About 4 feet high and 3 feet plus wide. Looks like a hedge. Just picked 3 or 4 cups of berries tonight and there's triple or more that to pick tomorrow. Ate everything we picked and they weren't all that tart, we both like them raw. Our cherries are way more tart. I wish I could replace all the hedges on both sides with them (our neighbors own the hedges). Got these plant as Greenlands near Edmonton years ago. Worth the wait to see good fruit.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-19-2015, 09:26 PM
CBintheNorth's Avatar
CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 3,706
Default

Does anyone recall what varieties they planted?
I just planted a 50' hedge of aurora (pollinators) and borealis (supposedly sweet)
I was going to plant the other side as well, but all you guys saying they are very tart kind of have me worried.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 06-19-2015, 10:23 PM
Sundancefisher's Avatar
Sundancefisher Sundancefisher is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 18,775
Default

I planted 5 bushes last summer. They are doing quite well. I like the slightly sour taste. I was surprised they were ripe already. Now I need my currants and saskatoons to come in.
__________________
It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Charles Darwin
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 06-19-2015, 10:29 PM
CBintheNorth's Avatar
CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 3,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
I planted 5 bushes last summer. They are doing quite well. I like the slightly sour taste. I was surprised they were ripe already. Now I need my currants and saskatoons to come in.
I wonder if the people saying they are too tart are picking them too early?
Everything I've read says the outside AND inside must be purple to be considered ripe.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 06-19-2015, 10:37 PM
catnthehat's Avatar
catnthehat catnthehat is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,526
Default

We just planted two to find out what they are all about, I've been told to make sure they are ripe before picking or they will be tart tasting.
Cat
__________________
Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 06-20-2015, 08:00 AM
Sundancefisher's Avatar
Sundancefisher Sundancefisher is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 18,775
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CBintheNorth View Post
I wonder if the people saying they are too tart are picking them too early?
Everything I've read says the outside AND inside must be purple to be considered ripe.
not sure.

Mine are definitely ripe to the point of being a bit squishy. Very juicy and if you squeeze too hard your fingers get stained.

They are slightly tart...not face puckering tart. I would say far less tart than crab apples for sure.

eating them were yummy
__________________
It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Charles Darwin
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 06-20-2015, 08:27 AM
biggyJ's Avatar
biggyJ biggyJ is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Calgary SW
Posts: 326
Default

We planted two bushes last year, borealis and tundra varieties.

They overwintered well, but I am noticing something is munching pretty heavily on the leaves. Any suggestions on preventing further pillaging?
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 06-20-2015, 09:17 AM
CBintheNorth's Avatar
CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 3,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
not sure.

Mine are definitely ripe to the point of being a bit squishy. Very juicy and if you squeeze too hard your fingers get stained.

They are slightly tart...not face puckering tart. I would say far less tart than crab apples for sure.

eating them were yummy
Thanks for the info.
Do you recall what kind you planted?
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 06-21-2015, 09:50 AM
Sundancefisher's Avatar
Sundancefisher Sundancefisher is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Calgary Perchdance
Posts: 18,775
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CBintheNorth View Post
Thanks for the info.
Do you recall what kind you planted?
Hashap Combination No. 5
__________________
It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself. Charles Darwin
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 06-23-2015, 10:02 PM
msguns msguns is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 415
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CBintheNorth View Post
Does anyone recall what varieties they planted?
I just planted a 50' hedge of aurora (pollinators) and borealis (supposedly sweet)
I was going to plant the other side as well, but all you guys saying they are very tart kind of have me worried.
I will try and find the variety card that came on them and report back to you.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 06-23-2015, 10:22 PM
CBintheNorth's Avatar
CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 3,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sundancefisher View Post
Hashap Combination No. 5
Googled them, but nothing comes up.
I'm assuming 5 different varieties?
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 06-23-2015, 10:23 PM
CBintheNorth's Avatar
CBintheNorth CBintheNorth is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Communist Capital of Alberta
Posts: 3,706
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by msguns View Post
I will try and find the variety card that came on them and report back to you.
That would be much appreciated, thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 06-24-2015, 09:16 PM
msguns msguns is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 415
Default

Well I'm sorry to say I do not have an answer. I looked through all my tags (have a lot) and there isn't one for the haskaps. I've got one for every other berry or fruit in my yard. I can even tell you what kind of honeysuckle I have. Sorry.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 06-24-2015, 10:22 PM
CaberTosser's Avatar
CaberTosser CaberTosser is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 19,416
Default

I thought I'd seen a thread about Haskap on here, we just saw a few of them today at Costco and they were half price as the garden centre is now closed. We didn't buy any, I think I'd prefer to sample some before dedicating any real estate to them.
__________________
"The trouble with people idiot-proofing things, is the resulting evolution of the idiot." Me
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 06-25-2015, 04:34 AM
Reeves1's Avatar
Reeves1 Reeves1 is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Westlock
Posts: 5,529
Default

Caber - you may be able to try them here: http://www.saskatoonfarm.com/

I'm fairly sure that is the place I got mine from. Two types - 8 plants. They are now close to 5' tall. Only tried a couple - tart.

Very hard to keep birds out of them. Although loaded each year, we only get a couple cups. Not enough saved up for jam yet.

Cedar Wax Wings are the worst. They "harvest" before ripe.
May build a new Pheasant pen around them next spring....
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.