In North Dakota Try 可以adian Haskaps Instead of Blueberries

Blueberries are delicious—but they are almost impossible to grow in North Dakota.

We don’t have the proper soil to grow blueberries. Blueberries dem和 a very acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5). 这在我们州很少见. Most of us have a prairie soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.0–8.5). Blueberries will starve in these soils.

Our winters are too harsh to grow blueberries. In the northern regions of our state (Zone 3), it is too cold to grow blueberries. The plants will freeze to death.

In the warmer regions (Zone 4), the plants can die unless they are blanketed with snow. Snow is unpredictable in our state, to say the least.

Although it is very tough to grow real blueberries here, we can grow other fruits that look 和 taste like blueberries.

加拿大haskaps (金银花caerula)很容易生长. These blue-fruited honeysuckles thrive in our prairie soils. Millions of haskaps are planted in the 可以adian prairie provinces. 这种植物耐零下40度. The spring-flowering shrubs grow up to 4 feet tall 和 require little care.

Haskaps很好吃. Their taste has been likened to a blueberry with essences of raspberry, 黑加仑和/或黑莓. 它的质地像蓝莓. The skin is thin 和 the seeds are tiny 和 edible. The berries are eaten fresh, baked into pies, made into jams, or frozen 和 sprinkled onto ice cream.

Haskaps are harvested in late June/early July. You can expect two pounds of berries per bush after three years, 和 sometimes double that yield as the plant matures. Haskap cultivars from the 萨斯喀彻温大学 are recommended for their superior flavor. ‘Borealis’ has juicy fruits 和 is a great choice for gardeners. Sprinkle a few ‘Berry Blue’ or ‘Cinderella’ plants in the row for pollination.

鸟儿也喜欢吃草包. Be prepared to put netting over the shrubs when berries show blue color.

Forget about growing blueberries 和 stop challenging the powers of Mother Nature. 取而代之的是种植haskaps. Cooperate with Mother Nature 和 you will be successful. 去 萨斯喀彻温大学 和 南大耐寒水果项目 更多资讯网址.

Written by 汤姆卡尔布, 扩展 Horticulturist, North Dakota State University. The photo was made available under a Creative Commons license specified by the photographer: karen_hine. For questions on this webpage, please contact 汤姆卡尔布.