No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
==Background Information== | ==Background Information== | ||
Approximately 180 honeysuckle species are identified. They are arching shrubs or twining vines, some are fragrant and are grown as garden ornamentals. Most have mildly poisonous berries. Other edible honeysuckles include ''Lonicera augustifolia'' (Narrow-leaf Honeysuckle) and ''Lonicera villosa'' (Mountain Fly Honeysuckle). | Approximately 180 honeysuckle species are identified. They are arching shrubs or twining vines, some are fragrant and are grown as garden ornamentals. Most have mildly poisonous berries. Other edible honeysuckles include ''Lonicera augustifolia'' (Narrow-leaf Honeysuckle) and ''Lonicera villosa'' (Mountain Fly Honeysuckle). | ||
===Taxonomy=== | ===Taxonomy=== | ||
Family: Caprifoliaceae ("honeysuckle family") | Family: Caprifoliaceae ("honeysuckle family") | ||
| Line 35: | Line 36: | ||
==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
===Range=== | ===Range=== | ||
| Line 52: | Line 54: | ||
Flowers yellow - white.<ref name=whitefield1996 /> | Flowers yellow - white.<ref name=whitefield1996 /> | ||
Fruits 0.8-1.0cm long, dark blue. Thin skin.<ref name=cockrallking2016 /> | Fruits 0.8-1.0cm long, dark blue. Thin skin.<ref name=cockrallking2016 /> Unique flavor variably compared to blueberry (but more tart + acidic), raspberry, saskatoon, blackcurrant | ||
===Growth Habit=== | ===Growth Habit=== | ||
| Line 63: | Line 65: | ||
Fruiting in summer (May), often the first berries to come into fruit.<ref name=toensmeier2013>Toensmeier, E; Bates, J (2013). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ipA1e_EXJHoC Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City.] Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN 9781603583992.</ref> | Fruiting in summer (May), often the first berries to come into fruit.<ref name=toensmeier2013>Toensmeier, E; Bates, J (2013). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ipA1e_EXJHoC Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City.] Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN 9781603583992.</ref> | ||
Lifespan approx. 25-30 years.<ref name=L2g /> New plants produce first (limited) crop in second growing season. 3-4 year old plants start cropping heavily.<ref name=L2g /> | |||
==Requirements== | ==Requirements== | ||
===Hardiness=== | ===Hardiness=== | ||
===Soil Type=== | ===Soil Type=== | ||
Tolerant of most soils.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Well-drained, organic matter rich soil is ideal.<ref name=rhs /> | Tolerant of most soils.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Well-drained, organic matter rich soil is ideal.<ref name=rhs /> Semi-toleratant of wet soil conditions, but not clay.<ref name=L2g /> | ||
===Soil pH=== | ===Soil pH=== | ||
Tolerates acidic and alkaline soil.<ref name= | Tolerates acidic and alkaline soil,<ref name=rhs /> from pH 4-8, ideal pH 5.5-6.5.<ref name=L2g>[https://luv2garden.com/honey_berry.html Blueberry Honeysuckle | ||
How to Grow Honey Berry (Vegetable Garden Reference Center).]</ref> | |||
===Shade Preference=== | ===Shade Preference=== | ||
Full sun | Full sun | ||
===Shade Tolerance=== | ===Shade Tolerance=== | ||
Moderate shade, cropping reduced | Moderate shade, cropping reduced | ||
===Aspect=== | ===Aspect=== | ||
===Exposure=== | ===Exposure=== | ||
Not tolerant of high winds.<ref name=L2g /> Choose or create a sheltered site (e.g. see [[windbreaks]]). | |||
==Cultivation== | ==Cultivation== | ||
Easy to grow | Easy to grow | ||
===Planting=== | ===Planting=== | ||
Other sources advise Potted or bare rooted plants in winter.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | Other sources advise Potted or bare rooted plants in winter.<ref name=crawford2016 /> For the first few years deep water to promote healthy root system development.<ref name=L2g /> | ||
===Forest Gardening=== | ===Forest Gardening=== | ||
| Line 88: | Line 102: | ||
===Companion Planting=== | ===Companion Planting=== | ||
===Allelopathy=== | ===Allelopathy=== | ||
===Propagation=== | ===Propagation=== | ||
Semi ripe cuttings in late summer. Hardwood cuttings in winter.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | Difficult from seed. The tiny seeds only germinate after deep chilling (cold stratification). Put in a freezer for 3-4 months.<ref name=L2G /> Easier to buy young plants or take cuttings. | ||
Semi ripe/softwood cuttings in late summer. Hardwood cuttings in winter.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | |||
===Maintenance=== | ===Maintenance=== | ||
Low maintenance. Annual application of balanced fertilizer.<ref name=rhs /> Over fertilization will lead to vigorous growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.<ref name=rhs /> Mulch around base of plant. | Low maintenance. Annual application of balanced fertilizer.<ref name=rhs /> Over fertilization will lead to vigorous growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.<ref name=rhs /> Mulch around base of plant. | ||
===Watering=== | ===Watering=== | ||
===Pruning=== | ===Pruning=== | ||
===Problems=== | ===Problems=== | ||
Generally resistant to pests and disesases.<ref name=pemberton2019>Pemberton, T; Gearing, D; Marsh, C; (2019). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/edible-shrubs/oclc/1088729543 Edible Shrubs.] Plants for a Future. ISBN 9781791954949.</ref> | Generally resistant to pests and disesases.<ref name=pemberton2019>Pemberton, T; Gearing, D; Marsh, C; (2019). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/edible-shrubs/oclc/1088729543 Edible Shrubs.] Plants for a Future. ISBN 9781791954949.</ref> | ||
* '''Birds:''' some species will damage the buds, others will eat the crop. Consider using nets or cages to keep birds off.<ref name=L2g /> | |||
==Harvest== | ==Harvest== | ||
Harvest when berries darken and soften.<ref name=crawford2016 /> | Harvest when berries darken and soften.<ref name=crawford2016 /> Darkening starts from skin and goes towards center of fruit meaning they can be blue on the outside before they are fully ripe, tasting bitter. Wait until berries are deep purple - red on the inside.<ref name=L2g /> | ||
Stores for about 1 week. | |||
Approx. 2.3-2.7kg (5-7 lbs) per mature plant.<ref name=L2g /> | |||
==Preservation== | ==Preservation== | ||
* Freezing | * Freezing | ||
==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
Berries can be eaten raw. | Berries can be eaten raw. | ||
| Line 115: | Line 141: | ||
Secondary uses: | Secondary uses: | ||
* [[Bee-friendly plants|Bee plant]] (like most honeysuckles) | * [[Bee-friendly plants|Bee plant]] (like most honeysuckles).<ref name=L2g /> | ||
==Cooking== | ==Cooking== | ||
Generally speaking, can substitute for blueberry in recipes, e.g. in pies or crumbles.<ref name=whitefield1996>Whitefield, P (1996). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3rd3e69BnC8C How to make a Forest Garden.] Permanent Publications. ISBN 9781856230087</ref> Seeds are very small, so no need to sieve. | Generally speaking, can substitute for blueberry in recipes, e.g. in pies or crumbles.<ref name=whitefield1996>Whitefield, P (1996). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3rd3e69BnC8C How to make a Forest Garden.] Permanent Publications. ISBN 9781856230087</ref> Seeds are very small, so no need to sieve. | ||
| Line 125: | Line 152: | ||
* High in Vitamin C | * High in Vitamin C | ||
* High in calcium | * High in calcium | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Berries]] | [[Category:Berries]] | ||
Revision as of 20:24, 27 May 2019
Template:Italic title This article discusses cultivation, uses and preservation of Lonicera caerulea (Honeyberry / Haskap berry), a cool temperate climate shrub with edible fruit in the honeysuckle family. The plant may perform moderately well as part of the shrub layer in a temperate climate forest garden.
Background Information
Approximately 180 honeysuckle species are identified. They are arching shrubs or twining vines, some are fragrant and are grown as garden ornamentals. Most have mildly poisonous berries. Other edible honeysuckles include Lonicera augustifolia (Narrow-leaf Honeysuckle) and Lonicera villosa (Mountain Fly Honeysuckle).
Taxonomy
Family: Caprifoliaceae ("honeysuckle family")
Genus: Lonicera
Species: L. caerulea
Common names
- Honeyberry
- Sweetberry Honeysuckle
- Haskap (haskappu, hascap, hascup)
- Blue-berried Honeysuckle / Blue honeysuckle
- Honeyberry Honeysuckle
- Deepblue Honeysuckle
- Bluefly honeysuckle
- Edible honeysuckle
- Swamp fly honeysuckle
Etymology
Lonicera after Renaissance botanist Adam Lonicer.W
Caerulea/caeruleus dissimilation of caeluleus, derived from caelum (“sky, heaven”) + -uleus (diminutive suffix indicating small size or youth).
Haskap from Ainu language meaning "little present on the end of the branch".
History
Originally cultivated as a food crop in Siberia, northern China and northern Japan. Some cultivars have been developed at the University of Saskatchewan and the commercial growing of haskap is growing in Canada.[1]
Varieties
Characteristics
Range
Native to:
Albania, Amur, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Chita, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Korea, Kuril Is., Magadan, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Primorye, Romania, Sakhalin, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia
Introduced into:
Norway
[Source= Plants of the World Online][2]
Morphology
Mature height 1.2-1.5 m (5"), spread 1.5 m (5")[3][4]
Flowers yellow - white.[5]
Fruits 0.8-1.0cm long, dark blue. Thin skin.[1] Unique flavor variably compared to blueberry (but more tart + acidic), raspberry, saskatoon, blackcurrant
Growth Habit
Fast growing, deciduous shrub.[6] Not a climber, unlike the commonly known ornamental honeysuckles.[5]
Reproduction
Self-sterile,[4] i.e. at least 2 cultivars needed for cross pollination and good cropping.[7]
Flowering from late winter[3] to spring (March-April in UK).[4] Flowers frost tolerant.[4]
Fruiting in summer (May), often the first berries to come into fruit.[7]
Lifespan approx. 25-30 years.[8] New plants produce first (limited) crop in second growing season. 3-4 year old plants start cropping heavily.[8]
Requirements
Hardiness
Soil Type
Tolerant of most soils.[4] Well-drained, organic matter rich soil is ideal.[3] Semi-toleratant of wet soil conditions, but not clay.[8]
Soil pH
Tolerates acidic and alkaline soil,[3] from pH 4-8, ideal pH 5.5-6.5.[8]
Shade Preference
Full sun
Shade Tolerance
Moderate shade, cropping reduced
Aspect
Exposure
Not tolerant of high winds.[8] Choose or create a sheltered site (e.g. see windbreaks).
Cultivation
Easy to grow
Planting
Other sources advise Potted or bare rooted plants in winter.[4] For the first few years deep water to promote healthy root system development.[8]
Forest Gardening
Like many berries, cropping is reduced in shade. In this regard, there are potentially more productive options for the shrub layer which will perform slightly better in partial shade (e.g. Gooseberry, Jostaberry, currants). However, marked hardiness, early cropping, disease resistance and low maintenance are potentially useful factors. Honeyberry plants may be best positioned in relatively sunnier patches in a forest garden to perform best, and they may benefit from the wind-sheltered microclimate provided by nearby trees.
One author of a forest gardening textbook gave honeyberry a "good" rating (2 out of 4) to describe the plants potential to perform in a temperate forest garden.[4]
Companion Planting
Allelopathy
Propagation
Difficult from seed. The tiny seeds only germinate after deep chilling (cold stratification). Put in a freezer for 3-4 months.[9] Easier to buy young plants or take cuttings.
Semi ripe/softwood cuttings in late summer. Hardwood cuttings in winter.[4]
Maintenance
Low maintenance. Annual application of balanced fertilizer.[3] Over fertilization will lead to vigorous growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.[3] Mulch around base of plant.
Watering
Pruning
Problems
Generally resistant to pests and disesases.[6]
- Birds: some species will damage the buds, others will eat the crop. Consider using nets or cages to keep birds off.[8]
Harvest
Harvest when berries darken and soften.[4] Darkening starts from skin and goes towards center of fruit meaning they can be blue on the outside before they are fully ripe, tasting bitter. Wait until berries are deep purple - red on the inside.[8]
Stores for about 1 week.
Approx. 2.3-2.7kg (5-7 lbs) per mature plant.[8]
Preservation
- Freezing
Uses
Berries can be eaten raw.
- Jams
- Jellies
- Fruit leather
Secondary uses:
Cooking
Generally speaking, can substitute for blueberry in recipes, e.g. in pies or crumbles.[5] Seeds are very small, so no need to sieve.
Add recipes or links here
Nutritional Values
- High in antioxidants (3x higher than blueberries).
- High in Vitamin C
- High in calcium
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cockrall-King, J (2016). Food Artisans of the Okanagan: Your Guide to the Best Locally Crafted Fare. TouchWood Editions. ISBN 9781771511537.
- ↑ Lonicera caerulea (Plants of the World Online).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Honeyberry (Royal Horticultural Society).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Crawford, M (2016). Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops. Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Whitefield, P (1996). How to make a Forest Garden. Permanent Publications. ISBN 9781856230087
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pemberton, T; Gearing, D; Marsh, C; (2019). Edible Shrubs. Plants for a Future. ISBN 9781791954949.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Toensmeier, E; Bates, J (2013). Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City. Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN 9781603583992.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 [https://luv2garden.com/honey_berry.html Blueberry Honeysuckle How to Grow Honey Berry (Vegetable Garden Reference Center).]
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedL2G