Honeyberry varieties

[ChingfordHarry]

Hi

I have some spare space so I thought I'd try some honeyberries (in spite of having read elsewhere on this forum that I shouldn't bother).

I know that it's recommended to have two bushes of different varieties to aid pollination. The RHS site indicates that there's not a lot to choose between varieties, so not much help in choosing.

Does anyone here have any suggestions of varieties for a North-East London/Essex borders site? Plants will be in a frost pocket but in full sun until early afternoon.

[ChingfordHarry]

I've had a chance to find out a little more. It seems most of the varieties available here were bred in Canada by the University of Saskatchewan ( they have an interesting set of articles - https://haskap.ca/about) or in the States - see https://www.berriesunlimited.com/.

earlier varieties available (that pair well together) in the U.K. seem to be Aurora and Blue Banana, and later vareties would possibly be two of Boreal Beauty, Boreal Beast and/or Boreal Blizzard. All these are described as "sweet". Honey Bee, which is early and a suitable pollinator for Aurora (perhaps not Blue Banana) is supposed to be tart.

Since I want something that will (with luck) come before my main fruit crops, I think I'm leaning towards Aurora and Blue Banana.

[ChingfordHarry]

Oh - wrong link for the UoS - should be https://research-groups.usask.ca/fru...ops/haskap.php

[burnie]

I binned mine, but cannot remember the variety, I've not heard of anyone getting a successful crop, but then not many have stuck at it, mine tasted most unpleasant.

[ChingfordHarry]

Did you have two of different varieties? Like apples and pears, you need two compatible plants for successful pollination.

the taste is something that I will have to take on trust for the moment. Some people rave over them, others are not impressed, like you!

[burnie]

I was told on buying mine it was self fertile, so only had one, it pollinated just fine, it was the taste that was disappointing, so instead of buying another I binned it and replaced it with a Guzzgog instead.

[ChingfordHarry]

Many thanks for this. I've got enough gooseberries for the moment, though, and was looking to find something new. Of course, if you taste a full-sized goosegog that is unripe you'd probably never want to eat another one (until you'd tried one that was properly ripe).

I've only found one supplier(in the Netherlands) that describes them as self-fertile, and they also say having a partner is better.. It looks like they only have "Kamchatka", which is described elsewhere as "sharp".

This website (https://cultivar.guide/honeyberry) says (among other things, and paraphrasing slightly) - "the name honeyberry doubles as a highly convenient gimmick to sell product that struggles to develop even a smudge of sweetness".

So you can't say I haven't been warned!

[GingerWench]

We've had honeyberries for a few years. My 8 year old can't get enough of them but then she's a fruit bat and loves munching her way round the plot. I don't know the variety but I know we had one male bush, which tastes vile, and five female bushes. They make great jam.

THey are a bit like marmite but I don't think I'd be without them now. They can get big but you can really ignore them. The birds mostly leave them alone though the chickens my daughter taught our landlords chickens to eat them and they stripped the bush one year.

[ChingfordHarry]

Many thanks for this - I'm hoping that I haven't wasted my money, so this is encouraging. If an 8YO likes them they can't be that bad. We'll see in a couple of years I suppose! I've gone for Aurora and Blue Banana, because as I mentioned, I'm after something early, and the other "Boreal" varieties I've seen appear to be later fruiting.

When you say they're a bit like marmite I really hope that they don't taste like yeast extract, because that would be a nasty surprise!

[GingerWench]

Now marmite berries world be lovely 😍😍🤣🤣

[ChingfordHarry]

Perhaps I meant a "tasty surprise"!

[ChingfordHarry]

Quick update on my Aurora and Blue Banana. Much against my expectations, both produced a few fruit in their first Spring. I think that they taste more like blackcurrants than blueberries, but neither is really that close a match. Aurora was about a week or ten days ahead, but since this is the first year that might not be typical. If nothing else, they did provide a taste of fresh fruit at around the same time as the rhubarb, so if you don't like that (or even if you do...) they could be worth exploring (I do, and am frustrated that I can't seem to grow it successfully).

I bought from James McIntyre, who have several varieties and information on the differences and compatibility.