A dear friend of ours gave us some Haskap jam. It's a deep, rich, luscious-looking purple jam that tastes like blueberries, but not quite. Haskap is new to us, so I thought I'd do a little homework and you and I can learn about it together.
Haskap berries are also called honeyberries, and they come from a variety of edible honeysuckle.
The haskap originally calls Siberia and Russia home, which is good news for prairie gardeners because if a shrub can make it there, it can make it anywhere! My research said that it has been developed for commercial use at the University of Saskatchewan (go, green and white!) by Dr. Bob Bors, who is also an expert on apples and cherries.
The Haskap is a hardy shrub that can stand temperatures of almost -50; they are drought tolerant, and are not fussy about soil except that it drain well. The shrub will grow into a manageable size, about three feet high, so it will fit in many gardens. The Haskap is also resistant to diseases and garden pests. It checks off every box for being a great addition to our gardens!
What is the flavor? The Haskap has great yields of delicious berries that taste most like blueberries, but with a smidgen of saskatoon and raspberry flavor mixed in. They are delicious and can be made into jams, jellies, canned fruit, frozen fruit, the possibilities are endless. I also read that the Haskap is just as high or higher in antioxidants than blueberries, which, as you know, are consistently on the list of "super foods" that are extremely good for us.
One article that I read listed several varieties of Haskap, including Blue Belle, Berry Blue, Cinderella, and Svetlana, the pollinator choice at the U of S. But from the descriptions of each of these varieties, any one of them sounded like they would be excellent !
I would love to give these a try, because it sounds like they produce well in a relatively short period of time. You and I could be sitting outside one summer morning, enjoying a piece of toast spread with our own delicious Haskap jam!
So if you are looking for something new to try in the garden, why not consider the Haskap? I think that they would also make great shrubs if you are newly landscaping your yard. Why not plant something that will do double-duty? They'll look great, and provide you and your family with delicious berries.
What a winter we've had so far! The first official day of winter was just this week, but I'm sure we all feel as though winter had been around for a long time. But as of December 21, the days are starting to get longer again. That's something we can cling to on these dark, dark mornings!
One behalf of my family, we all wish you a very Merry Christmas, and health and happiness in the new year. May the blessings of love, laughter, health and friendship be yours in abundance! Thank you for your kindness and friendship, it's a joy for me to be gardening with you!
Till next week, have a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season!
