Haskap
Lonicera caerulea
Also known as: Honeyberry, Blue honeysuckle, Sweet berry honeysuckle, Edible blue honeysuckle, Kamtschatica honeysuckle
Quick facts
- Category
- fruiting
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 730 to 1095 days
- Harvest type
- continuous production over weeks or months
- Spacing
- 150 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- -45–28°C
- pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1 to 1.6 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 24 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 2 to 7 (winter low around -46°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- cool (spring and fall crops)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Haskap works in:
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (haskap works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.4 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended for pure aquaponics. Fish waste alone doesn't provide enough of the nutrients this crop demands (typically potassium, calcium, or boron). It can be grown in a hybrid system where the reservoir is supplemented with hydroponic-style nutrients, but expect to dose actively.
Care notes
An easy, ultra-cold-hardy fruit bush for outdoor aquaponics integration in northern climates where blueberries are marginal. Container growing (20 L) or in-ground near the system. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5 (much more pH-flexible than blueberries, which is a significant practical advantage). Temperature: extremely cold-hardy; requires winter chill but tolerates any amount of cold. Performs well in USDA zones 2-7; may struggle in hot climates (zone 8+). Full sun to partial shade (DLI 14-20 mol/m2/day). Cross-pollination is required: plant at least two different cultivars that bloom at the same time for fruit set. Fruiting begins in the 2nd year from nursery stock. Each mature bush produces 2–5 kg annually. The extremely early ripening (before strawberries) is the primary marketing advantage. Harvest when berries are uniformly dark blue and slightly soft. They bruise easily and store poorly (2-3 days fresh); freeze immediately for best quality. For northern aquaponics growers (Canada, northern US, Scandinavia), haskap fills a niche that no other fruit can match.
Notable varieties
A starting shortlist of cultivars worth knowing about. Not exhaustive: the seed catalogs list hundreds of named varieties. These are the ones home growers commonly choose between.
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | hybrid | 1095 | University of Saskatchewan 2012 release. The flagship pollinator + producer, considered the best-flavored haskap with sweet hazelnut-noted berries. Reaches 1.8 m. Pairs as pollinator for Borealis, Tundra, Indigo series, Honey Bee. The variety to plant first. |
| Borealis | hybrid | 1095 | U of Saskatchewan, the original commercial release that started the modern haskap industry. Large sweet-tart berries hidden under leaves (which protects them from birds). Slightly less vigorous than Aurora. Needs cross-pollination. |
| Tundra | hybrid | 1095 | U of Saskatchewan release. Technically self-fertile but yields much higher with Aurora or Berry Blue pollinator. Drought-tolerant once established, urban-tolerant. Reliable for home gardens with consistent moisture. |
| Indigo Gem | hybrid | 1095 | U of Saskatchewan Indigo series. Larger berries than Borealis, slightly tangier flavor. Pairs with Aurora. Heavy producer once mature. The variety preferred for jam and processing. |
| Honey Bee | hybrid | 1095 | U of Saskatchewan release, vigorous fast-growing companion for Borealis/Tundra/Indigo series. Excellent pollinator. Produces larger fruit than Tundra. Recommended if you can fit a third cultivar. |
Verified against: u-of-saskatchewan, agriculture-and-agri-food-canada, u-of-vermont-extension. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.