Honeyberry Growers Guide PDF

Your Essential
Honeyberry Guide
Simple ideas on establishing a healthy
and productive orchard 
Published by
AgriForest Bio-Technologies Ltd
Quality Plants Through Tissue Culture Technology
BY LOGIE J CASSELLS PAGE ! 1 EDITION 2016

Your Essential Honeyberry Guide
Simple ideas on establishing a healthy and productive orchard
Preface
• Why it’s just not another berry?…………………………….…………………………….6
1. Introduction
• Honeyberry - From Russia with Love………………………………………..……………10
• What does it taste like?…………………………………………………….…..……………12
• Why has it remained ‘World’s tastiest secret?’………..……..……………..……………13
• The early Honeyberry varieties did not excite………………………….…..……………13
2. Honeyberry Basics
• Honeyberry - the plant of many names…………………………..…………….…………15
• Its footprint is larger than you think……………………………………..…..……………17
• It’s humble Siberian origins………………………………………….……..………………18
• Botanical guide to species of genus Lonicera caerulea………….……..……..……………19
• Honeyberry pollination…………………………..…………………………………………23
• World production of Honeyberries?………………………………………….……………24
• Honeyberry nutrition…………………………..……………………………………………29
3. Where will Honeyberries grow?

• In more places than you think………………………………………………..….…………30
• Creating a temperate benchmark………………………………….……..…….………31
•Examples: Quebec, Nova Scotia and Florida………….………………..……………35
• Honeyberry winter hardiness and chilling hours…………………..………..….………38
• So where will it thrive?…………………………..…………………………………….……41
• North America……………………………………………………………..……….……42
• Examples:Oregon, British Columbia, Minnesota, Northern Arkansas, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
• UK and Europe……………………………………………………………..……………57
• Examples: Scotland, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Spain
• New Zealand and Australia……………………………………..………..………….…71
• Examples: South Island and Tasmania

• South America.……………………………………………………………………..……75
• Examples: Chile
• Where are the Goldilocks zones of the Northern and Southern hemispheres?.………78
4.Other essential Honeyberry orchard or business guides?

• Nutrition Rules.……………………………………………………………………..….……79
• The Intelligent Gardener.………….……………………………………………….…….…80
• Super Business - How I started SuperJam from my Gran’s kitchen.………..….………81
• The Ultimate Soil and Health Library.…………………………………………….………81
• Further Honeyberry reading.………….……….………….………….…..……….………82
5.Honeyberry Home gardeners

• The perfect garden plant..………….………….………….………….……….….…………83
• Rat droppings or healthy berries..………….………….………….………….……………83
• Every garden should have one or three?..………….…………….………….……………84
• Honeyberry Pollination in gardens.….………….………….………….…….……………84
• How to grow Honeyberries in your garden?.….………….………….….…….…………85
• Harvesting and bird netting..………….………….…………..….………..…….…………90
• Selling at your local farmer’s market?.…….………….………….……….………………91
6. Honeyberry Seasonal Cycle

• Spring - Wakey, wakey.….………….………….………….………….…………..…………94
• Summer - Berries galore..………….………….………….………….………..….…………98
• Fall - Gold fall colours…………….………….………….…………………….………..…103
• Winter - Waiting for Santa..………….………….………….………….….………….……104
7. Starting to draft your story of Honeyberry success

• Crafting of your ‘Honeyberry Story’.….………….………….………….……….………105
• Five easy steps to Honeyberry heaven..………….………….…………….……..………106
• Natural or Organic Honeyberries?..………….………….………………..…..…………108
8. Site Preparation and Soil Tests

• Site selection and row orientation.….………….………….………….….….……………111
• Soil health is everything..………….………….………….………….…….………………114
• Six secrets to soil test success.….………….………….………….…………..……………117
• Start amending with an annual cover crop..………….………….………..…….………124

9. Honeyberry ‘Soil Therapy Report’ example
• Introduction - Don’t drive blind.….………….………….………….…….………………126
• NTS Soil Therapy Example Report for Honeyberry Fruit Farm.….…….….…………126
• Two often forgotten important trace minerals.….………….………….….….…………132
10. Ordering Plants

• Only the best varieties will do.….………….………….………….………………………134
• Honeyberry pollination groupings..………….………….………….……………………135
• Honeyberry plant variety guide:
• Berries Unlimited.….………….………….………….…………..………….…………138
• Polish Łukaszewska..………….………….………….…………..………….…………148
• University of Saskatchewan.….………….………….…………..………….…………153
• Maxine Thompson.….………….………….………….…..….…….…………………158
• Russian Registered varieties.….………….………….…………..……………………161
• How many plants an acre?.….………….………….………….…….……………………162
• Agriforest Bio-Tech - Tissue Culture Technology..………….……..……………………163
• Size of plant to purchase and logistics..………….………….……..……….……………166
11. Orchard Soil and Plant Health

• Compost tea and microbe production.….………….………….……….….…..…………168
• Hidden dangers of Roundup or Glyphosate..………….……………….….……………171
• Top Honeyberry blunders to avoid.….………….….……….………….……..…………173
12. Honeyberry Orchard Establishment

• The basic guidelines summary.….………..….………….………….……………….……180
• When and what size to plant.…….………….………….………….…………….….……184
• Organic certification process.….………….………….………….…………….…….……186
• Importance of inter-row plant spacing..………….………….…………….…….………189
• Weed suppression with cover crops..………….………….……………..……….………191
• Orchard pest control.….………….………….………….………….………..…….………192
• Irrigate or not to irrigate?..………….………….………….………………………………193
13. Global Honeyberry Orchard Examples

• Nova Scotia, Canada.….………….………….………….………….………….…..………197
• Tayside, Scotland.….………….………….………….………….……………….…………200
• British Columbia, Canada.….………….………….………….…………..………………210
• Poznan and Krakow, Poland.….………….………….………….………………..………211

14. Orchard Management Practices
• Importance of having a management plan.….………….………….……………………217
• Do not forget about your organic matter.….………….………….…..……….…………222
• Key plant and soil health monitoring tools.….………….………….…..………………223
• Soil and foliar sprays practices..………….………….………….……………..…………231
• Pollination and Bee practices.….………….……….…….………….……………………234
• Pruning practices.….………….………….………….………….……….….…..…………238
• Weed and disease control.….………….………….………….…………..…….…………239
15. Orchard Harvesting Practices

• Expected Honeyberry yield timeline..………….………….………….…………………243
• When to harvest and ripening..………….………….………….…………………………245
• The beauty of Brix - Ten things you need to know..………….…………………………247
• Bird netting or Birdgard system?..………….………….…………………………………250
• Mechanical harvesting solutions and logistics..………….………….….………………253
• Removing the field heat..………….………….………….………….……….……………260
• Picking for the fresh or frozen market.….………….………….………….…..…………262
16. Honeyberry pricing and Future Markets

• Become a farmer, not a banker..………….………….………….……..….………………264
• The price of Honeyberries today and tomorrow..………….………..….………………266
• Demographic overview - who is eating my berries?..………….………………………268
• Food nutrition really matters.….………….………….………….………….……………271
17. The Future is Bright

• There is no conclusion, only the next step……..…………………….…..……………272
18. Appendix
• References and sources.….………….………….………….………………………………280
• Honeyberry plant variety data sheets..………….……………….………………………281
• Climatic regional data sheets.……….………….………….………….…..………………310
Acknowledgements
Our grateful thanks go to all of those who have helped and contributed to this effort, especially for reading the
manuscript and making helpful suggestions: Cheryl Storm for her cheerful and indefatigable help: Graeme
Sait for sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the soil and how to care for it: Lidia Delafield for her
Honeyberry knowledge and encouragement; Dr. Kamlesh Patel for his support during the books creation;
Stewart Arbuckle’s passion and eye for detail in creating a Honeyberry orchard based on the book’s principals
.

Preface
Why it's not just another berry?
We firmly believe whether you say Haskap or we say Honeyberry or vice versa. This
emerging fruit is not just any ordinary berry, far from it. It has a tremendous future ahead of
it. If you have not yet tasted the berries, we believe you will be amazed at its delicious and
complex flavour and be surprised that you have never heard of it before.
We love a Dutch scientist's insightful quote following his trip to the Russian Institute of
Horticulture: "I do not know why Russians are engaging in breeding any other crops for which they
have lagged behind for decades when they have such a miracle."
Many North American and European observers suggest this miracle is one of the
world's tastiest and colourful secrets. It presents passionate growers who 'farm like

Honeyberries Many Shapes
winemakers' endless profitable opportunities in a world that is ‘berry mad’ for smoothies and
becoming more passionate by the day regarding food health and how food is grown and
made. So what's the catch?
We do not believe there are any, apart from having to net for birds and its ‘new’.
Farmers or fruit growers tend to be a conservative group compared to their winemaking
cousins. So the key catch or obstacle as in any business, once you have made your exciting
new gadget or in this case grown your perfect berry, is ‘who is going to buy it?’ This is why
the winemakers who grow bottles of wine rather than grapes have the ‘story’ advantage to
making money. They tend to know why their customers are their customers.
Once you have created or crafted your own orchard ‘story.’ You will be able to take
advantage of the long list of Honeyberry or if your story demands it Haskap advantages.

• Easy to grow organically and locally in healthy and balanced soil (ideal pH 6.4)
• Global products have commercially proven it as a premium fruit
• Achieves the Holy Grail in fruit, as it makes a range of world class alcohol ( High
tannins and Brix of 20 plus)
• Low orchard running costs and plant is very cold and frost hardy
• Harvest mechanically and no annual pruning or trellising needed
• Attractive yields per acre of 8,000 to 12,000 pounds ( 1,000 plants per acre)
• Low global supply and premium pricing ($2.50 to $5.00 per pound)
• Berries are suitable for fresh, frozen and process markets
• Very healthy and nutritious - high antioxidants and mineral content
• Unique taste, colour and kids love them!
It is important to return to this idea of ‘story’, every single company knows WHAT they
do, however, only the successful ones can articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. When we
say, WHY we do not mean to make money, that is simply the result. By WHY, we mean what
is your ‘story’s’ purpose, cause or belief? WHY does your Honeyberry dream exist? WHY do
you get out of bed every morning to work in the orchard?
Most businesses or growers act or communicate with their customers, from the outside
in. They say WHAT they do, sometimes say HOW they do it, but they rarely say WHY they
do WHAT they do. Today’s consumers are no longer interested in buying WHAT you do;
they buy WHY you do it. This is the reason why consumers perceive Apple as being
authentic. Everything they do works to demonstrate their WHY, ‘to challenge the status quo and
to empower the individual’. Regardless of the products they make or the industry in which they
generate it is clear that Apple ‘thinks differently.’

We believe there are no secrets when establishing a Honeyberry orchard or Russian
miracle. The combination of climate, people, and terroir make a quality of fruit that is
perfectly unique and impossible to reproduce. Exceptional Honeyberries - whether fresh,
frozen, or simply jam - is about a place, but without your efforts and planning any future
orchard will remain a hillside or meadow covered with weeds, grass, and a few wildflowers.
There is always some 'magic' in the way the finest orchards or vineyards are farmed
and loved. However, this magic is akin to removing the tarnish off a silver chalice rather than
building the chalice itself. So we wish you luck with your Honeyberry dreams and crafting
your 'story.' Please enjoy our guide, put it to good use, and we encourage you to think
differently and farm like a winemaker. As you may recall, Canola was just a good idea 30
years ago.
Orchards are not made by singing ‘Oh, how beautiful,’ and sitting it the shade.
Young Honeyberry Orchard, Scotland

1. Introduction
Honeyberry - From Russia with Love

We would like to introduce you to a new idea, it's called a Honeyberry and its from
‘Russia with Love.’ It is considered to be one of the world's tastiest secrets. To do this
properly, we need to take you back to 1996 to the starting article that put forward the thought
that the Honeyberry (at that time it was called Blue Honeysuckle) - a berry from Russia could
become an important commercial crop in North America.
It's a wonderful introduction and starting point to show the great strides that have been
made by North American plant growers like Maxine Thompson, Jim Gilbert, Dr. Bob Bors
and Lidia Delafield. Together they have continued to improve Honeyberry varieties to
increase commercially harvestable yields to over 10 pounds per plant, lengthen the
harvesting season, increased berry size, and most importantly enhance its taste and flavour.
Also, the plant has shown its self to be far more adaptable to warmer temperate growing
regions.
We believe that the hard graft of the last twenty years is just now starting to produce
some cracking new varieties, which can thrive over a far larger footprint than was originally
thought. It may have taken 20 years to take root, but we firmly believe that this berry can
thrive outside its native region and is set to become a major commercial crop in North
America and Europe over the next 20 years.
The article below is by Dr. Maria N. Plekhanova and is excerpted below as it

originally appeared as "Blue Honeysuckle: A New Berry From Russia" in Pomona 29(1),
Winter 1996, 46-48, published by the North American Fruit Explorers. An edited version
appeared in the March, 1998 issue of the Global Newsletter on Underutilised Crops.
"Blue Honeysuckle - A New Berry From Russia"
Sweet blue honeysuckle, a new berry plant, has currently gained wide popularity with gardeners
in the Russian north, in the zone of risky horticulture. Practically in any amateur's or farmer's
garden, from three to 15 plants may be found. Large nurseries are eagerly growing the blue
BY LOGIE J CASSELLS PAGE 1! 0 EDITION 2016

honeysuckle bushes and sell[ing] them to the population. Commercial plantations of the crop, each
covering from 10 to 25 hectares [25 to 62 acres], are concentrated mostly in western Siberia.
The major advantage of blue honeysuckle that facilitated its rapid spread over Russia is its extra-
early ripening. The taste and colour of berries reminds one of high-bush blueberry. Blue honeysuckle
ripens 10 to 14 days earlier than strawberry. Ripening occurs when the orchards produce very
few vitamin-containing products, therefore blue honeysuckle makes a good addition to the people's diet,
as its berries contain 6-8% sugars, 2-3% acids, 40-170 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams, and
from 1,200 up to 1,800 biologically active polyphenols per 100 grams. Berries can be consumed fresh
or frozen. They are used for producing jam, juice, fruit and berry infant food mixtures, [and]
beverages, as well as for obtaining natural food pigment or dark red colour, which is used in caramel
and marmalade production.
By 1995, over 50 blue honeysuckle varieties had been registered in Russia. All of them were
developed from Lonicera caerulea. Among the species forms, those with bitter-tasting, hardly edible
berries prevail. Good-tasting sour-sweet berries with nice aroma are characteristic only of L. caerulea
var. kamtschatica that grows in the Asiatic part of Russia on the Pacific Coast, in Kamchatka
Peninsula and in eastern Siberia. It is from seedlings of that particular strain from Kamchatka that the
first varieties of blue honeysuckle, namely `Sinyaya Ptitsa', `Goluboye Vereteno', `Gerda', `Fialka',
`Morena', etc. have been selected. All of them are noted for large fruit.
One berry reaches 1.5 to 2 grams in weight at a length of 3 to 4 centimetres. Ripe berries are
easy to detach from the pedicel; they can easily be harvested both manually and with a berry-picking
combine. The other advantage of blue honeysuckle is its outstanding winter hardiness, allowing for
cultivation of the crop as far north as far north as agriculture in open ground is even possible, even
beyond the Polar Circle. In winter, the plants can stand frosts down to -46 degrees Celsius [-51
degrees Fahrenheit] without being damaged. In springtime, flowers withstand frosts of -8 degrees
Celsius [18 degrees Fahrenheit] this crop is only suitable for cultivation in the northern temperate
climates. In the south, winters with frequent fluctuations from cold to warmth will damage flowering
buds.
Blue honeysuckle is a thick upright bush from 1.0 to 1.8 meters, 1.5 to 2.0 meters in diameter.
These are the dimensions reached by the bush on the 10th to 14th year after planting. During the first
years, the plant grows comparatively slowly, but a yield of 300 to 500 grams of berries [per bush] can
be obtained in the second to third year after planting. Maximum yields of 2 to 5 kilograms per bush are
obtained from 7- to 15-year-old plants. Blue honeysuckle is a long-lived plant that can be grown in a
Garden for 25 to 30 years.

Blue honeysuckle is a cross-pollinated plant, like apple, plum, or sour cherry. A good yield of
berries is obtainable only by planting two to three different varieties together. Bumblebees and bees act
as pollinators, for blue honeysuckle is a good nectar plant that flowers in early May. Concerning soil
requirements, blue honeysuckle is not demanding. Soil acidity may vary from acid to neutral, with
pH from 5 to 7. Humus content in soil should be high; its deficiency can be compensated for with
organic fertilizers. Blue honeysuckle grows well on moist land, but swamped places are inappropriate.
The highest yields can be obtained in open, sunny places.
The best season for planting blue honeysuckle is autumn. Spring planting is absolutely
unacceptable, for plants start growing at an air temperature around 0 to 2 degrees Celsius [32 to 36
degrees Fahrenheit] when the soil is not ready for field work.... No pruning is performed on young
plants. After 8 to 10 years of fruiting, lightening or thinning type [of pruning] should be applied. In
order to obtain annually long shoots and, consequently, good yields, application of nitrogen mineral
fertilizers is recommended in spring., and of phosphorus and potassium in autumn. Soil around plants
should be mulched with organic matter.
Blue honeysuckle is resistant to fungus diseases of leaves and berries. Protection from birds is
required at harvest season.... The plant is propagated by green cuttings, bush division, and ... tissue
culture. Seed sowing is used only for breeding purposes.The N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant
Industry (VIR), the Russian plant gene bank, holds the first place in Russia in domestication of blue
honeysuckle and other wild-growing fruit and berry plants. Its collection of blue honeysuckle
varieties and species is the most complete one in Russia and numbers over 400 accessions.
What does it taste like?

How would we describe the flavour of a Honeyberry? Well, with great difficulty!
Flavour is how our brains synthesize aromas, taste, and texture into an overall experience.
The challenge comes when we need to communicate this and for others to agree. Although
related, flavour, aroma, and taste are not exactly interchangeable.
The berries have an excellent wild fruity aroma and a bitter tang to them. They have a
bittersweet taste and a deeper berry flavour to them compared to other soft fruits. The tang
is sharp, but not tarty and it makes you want to come back for more. The simple taste
description is a cross between a Black Raspberry and a Wild Blue Blueberry, with a hint of a
Sangiovese grape. Sounds delicious? We and many others think so!

Why has it remained the ‘World’s tastiest secret?’
There are some 18th and 19th-century references to an “edible, early ripening wild
berry resembling a Blueberry” in Russian and Japanese texts. The historically closed societies
of both these nations made publication of any information concerning this edible blue-berry
difficult. Perhaps we could argue one of the best side benefits of glasnost, which marked the
collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1986, was the introduction of the Russian-bred Honeyberries
and research to the world.
The early Honeyberry varieties did not excite

We have listed over 30 of our favourite Honeyberry and Haskap varieties in this guide
from our four favoured breeding sources in North America and Europe - Berries Unlimited,
Polish Łukaszewska, University of Saskatchewan and Maxine Thompson. This includes a list
of our current ‘Best of the Best’ - Only the best varieties will do, page 135.
It may surprise readers that Honeyberries or Sweetberry Honeysuckle was first

introduced into Canada in the 1920's by George and Julia Bugnet at the Agricultural Research
Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta and many of these plants are still alive today. They proved to be
long lived, but their berries were small, bitter and poor quality. It's not surprising that its
potential was politely forgotten as a notation in botanical history. How different would the
blue soft fruit industry have been if the Bugnet's had bred an Aurora or a Happy Giant or a
Wojtek or Blue Banana!
To understand the hard work and fabulous progress our four plant breeders have made
since its North American rediscovery in the mid-1990’s. We must remind you what was
available back in the day for them to work their magic. We have listed the two original
Canadian and four traditional Russian varieties which were considered Honeyberry
standards for any grower to have in the orchard. Once you have compared their plant spec
sheet with todays it is not hard to grasp why the 'Old Guard' left many growers unimpressed
and are no longer favoured. Although Berry Blue or Czech 17 will always have a soft spot in
our hearts and is considered one the best Russian varieties introduced into North America.

Early Canadian Varieties
• George Bugnet - Heritage Canadian ornamental blue honeysuckle, also called

“Sweetberry Honeysuckle,” Adapted to cold regions of Alberta. Origin: Agricultural
Research Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada. Selection of Russia L. caerulea subsp.
Pallassii made in Canada; introduced in the 1920’s; propagated by Canadian
nurseries. Fruit: small; bitter; poor quality. Plant very cold hardy. Yields unknown.
• Julia Bugnet - Heritage Canadian ornamental blue honeysuckle, also called

“Sweetberry Honeysuckle,” Adapted to cold regions of Alberta. Origin: Agricultural
Research Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada. Selection of Russia L. caerulea subsp.
Pallassii made in Canada; introduced in the 1920’s; propagated by Canadian
nurseries. Fruit: small; bitter; poor quality. Plant very cold hardy. Yields unknown.
Early Russian Varieties
• Amfora. (translation = amphora). Midseason, large fruited, blue honeysuckle

released for northern and northwestern Russia. Origin: N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant
Industry, Pavlov Experiment Station, in St. Petersburg, Russia by Maria N,
Plekhanova, Rossana open pollinated; introduced in 1997. Fruit: midseason ripening,
about 22 June in St. Petersburg; 1.0 - 1.2 grams berry; ascorbic acid 59 mg/100 grams;
7.2% SS. Plant: medium yielding, 1.0 to 2.1 kg (2 to 4 pounds) per bush.
• Berry Blue (cv. Czech No. 17). Tall blue honeysuckle. Origin: Czech Republic by a
private nurseryman. Selection of L Cerulean var. kamtschatica. Fruit: large fruit. Plant:
medium yield; not self fertile; vigorous, productive plant with upright growth habit
to 2.4 meters tall; winter hardy to -40C. Medium yielding, 3.0 to 4.0 kg (6 to 8 pounds)
per bush.
• Blue Belle (cv. Tomichka). (translation = one from Tomsk). Early blooming blue
honeysuckle. Origin: Bakcharskii Agriculture Station of the M.A. Lisavenko Siberian
Horticulture Research Institute, Tomsk, Russia, by I.K. Gidzuk and Z.I. Luchnik. Elfin
(=Dolfin) open pollinated; introduced in 1987. Fruit: early-midseason ripening, good
tasting; medium size, 0.9 grams; ascorbic acid content 46 mg/100 grams; 7.5% SS;

taste is sour-sweet. Plant: medium yielding, 1.8 to 2.5 kg (4 to 5 pounds) per bush;
grows to 1.5 meters tall; cross pollination needed; harder to propagate than other
cultivars.
• Blue Bird (cv. Sinyaya Piqtitsin). (translation = blue bird). One of the three earliest
Russian blue honeysuckle releases. Origin: Bakcharskii Agricultural Station of the
M.A. Lisavenko Siberian Horticultural Research Institute, Tomsk, Russia, by Z.P.
Jolobova, I.P. Kalinin, and Z.I. Luchnik. Start open pollination; selected in 1973;
introduced in 1980. Fruit: Early-season ripening. Medium size 0.79 to 0.87 grams;
ascorbic acid content 72 mg/100 grams; 6.4%SS. Plant: Medium yielding, 1.0 to 2.0 kg
(2 to 4 pounds) per bush.
2. The Honeyberry Basics
Honeyberry - the plant of many names

You will be glad to hear that this brilliant ‘Blue Diamond’ is very content to be living
outside Russia and Japan – either in a garden or a commercial orchard setting.
Russian Honeyberry varieties

Before we start to explore its origins we have to address its many names and the
general chaos this creates. There is no confusion that it is a proud part of the botanical species
of genus Lonicera, with the original tetraploid classification Lonicera caerulea.
First of all, it's not the berries fault. Its name merely depends on where you live and
who you talk to or in what language. In Russia, its name is жимолости (pronounced –
zhimolost), in Poland, its named Jagoda Kamchatika. If we visit its newer home in Quebec, its
name is Camarise and other parts of Canada it’s Haskap – a derivative of the Japanese word
Haskappu. In Germany, it is known as – Geisblatt, In Italy – Capri foglio, in Spain –
Madreselva. Honeyberry is most popular in the US and the UK. And we have not even
started with the more common names, which the worst must be Swamp Fly Honeysuckle.
Where were they when they thought of that one? Apparently stuck in the middle of a swamp
looking for things to do, while waiting for help to come.
Honeyberry Google Trends
Google Trends
#
A quick look at Google Trends above suggests that the three most common names used
since 2005 are Honeyberry, Haskap and Blue Honeysuckle. However, Blue Honeysuckle
seems to become less and less used over time. We love the name Honeyberry because it
describes what it is and consumers prefer it. Others use Haskap because they prefer to

emphasize on the Japanese origin of the berry for their story. There is no right or wrong,
expect for being consistent in the story or brand you are trying to promote.
Its footprint is larger than you think

It is tough to determine where the Honeyberry originated from that everyone will agree
on. We have only just started to look for it outside of Russia and Northern Japan.
Honeyberries Global Footprint
The map above shows that the berry is more widespread in the Northern Hemisphere
than is given credit for. You may be surprised to read it’s a native to Europe. The footprint is
divided into two camps Lonicera caerulea (Western Europe, Siberia and Northern Asia) and
Lonicera villosa (North America). However, one thing we do know for sure is that the best
tasting varieties come from in general Western Siberia and Hokkaido from the following
varieties:

• Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast Pojark (Honeyberries)
• Lonicera Turczaninowii Pojark (Honeyberries)
• Lonicera emphyllocalyx (Haskap – Japan and the Kuril Islands)
Honeyberries have been harvested as wild berries in western Russia, northern China
and northern Japan for centuries where it's been long treasured and used in folk medicine.
This blue member of the honeysuckle family (Lonicera) was officially documented in 1756 -
‘Description of the Land of Kamchatka’ by Russian explorer Stepan Krasheninnikov’s.
Lush berry shrubs, such as honeysuckle, bilberries and cranberries, dominate the tundra
landscape. The Kamchatka honeysuckle and mountain ash decorate the foothills and valleys.
Honeysuckle is a shrub, which lives 50 to 70 years. Its berries are large and have a delicious taste.
It’s humble Siberian origins

Stepan Krasheninnikov, a famous Russian scientist, and traveler, who became world
famous for his studies of Kamchatka lands, was born in Moscow in 1711.
Honey berry’s Native Lands

In 1733, Stepan Krasheninnikov left St. Petersburg for Siberia, starting the trip, which
made him world famous. While on the way to the Urals and Siberia, scientists performed
historical and geographical research, they studied flora, fauna, and way of living of the local
population. The scientist and his wife traveled throughout Siberia and returned to St.
Petersburg in 1743, about ten years after he left the city for Kamchatka and covered about
27,500 kilometres.
In 1745, the scientist started working in the Botanical Garden of St. Petersburg and later
headed it (This is why the home of the Honeyberry collection is located there). At the same
time, he began recording the enormous material he brought back from Kamchatka. In 1752,
the book “Description of Kamchatka Land” was sent to the printing presses. It was published
in 1756 after the scientist had died because the printing of the accompanying maps took
longer than anticipated. This book, a jewel of Russian cultural and scientific heritage, was
translated into German, English, French and Dutch languages. For a long time, the book
remained the only source of information about Kamchatka and became immensely popular
all over the world.
Agricultural research to develop this berry into a commercial crop began in the former
Soviet Union in the 1950s with selections primarily from Lonicera, kamtschatica from northern
Magian and Kamchatka and edulis, turczaninowii and boczkarnikowae from the southern
regions. In the 1970s, a research programme was started in Hokkaido, Japan, to develop
selections from their local subspecies, Lonicera emphyllocalyx.
A Botanical guide to species of genus Lonicera caerulea

In this section, we have invited Honeyberry expert and grower Lidia Stuart from
Berries Unlimited to help us create a general framework that helps map out the differing
Honeyberry regions and to understands the origins of many of today’s Honeyberry varieties.
Lidia Stuart believes that many of the best cultivars will come from the following three key
varieties:
• Classification 4 - Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast Pojark (Honeyberries)

• Classification 5 - Lonicera Turczaninowii Pojark (Honeyberries)
• Classification 7 - Lonicera emphyllocalyx (Haskap – Japan, and the Kuril Islands)

We have taken the 1994 work of Russian researcher Maria Plekhanova, who attempted
to re-categorize many of the existing genus classifications. Her work was not ratified by the
Russian agricultural authorities but provides an interesting starting point to why some
varieties are larger or smaller than others and sweeter and why some types are referred as
Honeyberry or Haskap. Also, it shows why nobody agrees on anything in the ‘Honeyberry
World.’
Honeyberry – Tetraploid Lonicera contains 36 chromosomes

This important number essentially gives twice the amount of genetic material as diploid
Lonicera, allowing the grower more opportunity for ‘breaks’ or more dramatic plant advances
than with diploids.
1. Lonicera caerulea – The original tetraploid classification given to the species found in
the wild from Asia, and Northern America. Its numerous subspecies have interbred and
have created many of today’s Honeyberry varieties.
2. Lonicera pallasii Ledeb (syn. L. caerulea subsp. pallasii Ledeb). – This plant grows in
forests of northern Russia, in the areas of Murmansk, Archangelsk, and Belogorsk, in the
Urals, in lowlands of western and eastern Siberia – the Buriatskaia Republic and in
areas of Scandinavia. Plant Notes: The berries are considered sour and bitter and are
considered inedible by local inhabitants. High plant vigour and fruit not falling at
maturity.
3. Lonicera altaica Pall (syn. L. caerulea subsp. altaica) – It grows in areas of Altai (a
mountain range in Central Asia), where Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan come
together and are where the rivers the Irtysh and Ob have their headwaters. Also, it is
found in the Sajan Mountains (a mountain range in southern Siberia, Russia) at about
3,500 feet above sea level. Plant Notes: The berries are considered bitter, and is noted for
especially high vitamin C and polyphenol content. It’s a source of very frost and
drought resistance varieties.
4. Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast. Pojark (syn. L. caerulea subsp. kamtschatica Sevast.

Pojark) – Slowly growing shrub with sweet and sweet sour fruits, without a bitter taste.
It grows in Kamtchatka, Sakhalin and Magadan regions, in marginal tundras, on
downhills and riversides.

5. Lonicera Turczaninowii Pojark (syn. L. caerulea subsp. turczaninowii Pojark) –
Located in the areas of Primorsky Krai (capital Vladivostok). This maritime territory
situated between the Sea of Japan to the east and northeastern China to the west.
Republic Yakutia or Sakha is located in eastern Siberia and stretches to the Henrietta
Islands in the far north and washed by the Laptev and Eastern Siberian Seas of the
Arctic Ocean. The Chitinskaya Region found in southeast Siberia near the Chinese and
Mongolian borders. Plant Notes: The berries tend to have a thick skin.
6. Lonicera caerulea subsp. venulosa Maxim – It grows in regions of Primorsky Krai

(capital Vladivostok). This maritime territory is located between the Sea of Japan (East
Sea) to the east and northeastern China (formerly Manchuria) to the west. And
Khabarovsk (A region in Krai Provence near the Chinese border, at the confluence of the
Amur and Ussuri rivers). Plant Notes: For varieties it is a source of high growth, early
and high fertility and sweet-sour fruits with unique bitter or tangy taste.
Maria Plekhanova proposed to combine classification number 5 – Lonicera

Turczaninowii Pojark. (syn. L. caerulea subsp. Turczaninowii Pojark) and classification
number 8 – Lonicera edulis Turcz. Ex Freyn. (syn. L. eludis subsp. Turcz. Ex Freyn) as one wild
tetraploid variety – Lonicera caerulea subsp. venulosa Maxim. The majority of classifications
still count number 5 and 8 as separate varieties and do not list number 6.
7. Lonicera emphyllocalyx (syn. L. caerulea subsp. emphyllocalyx) – It grows in the

Kuril Islands and Hokkaido, Japan. This archipelago found in Sakhalin province, far-
eastern Russia. It extends for 750 miles from the southern tip of the Kamchatka
Peninsula (Russia) to the northeastern corner of Hokkaido island (Japan) and separates
the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. Berries have a sweet flavoursome taste. Plant
Notes: The common name for this variety of Lonicera is Haskap.
8. Lonicera edulis Turcz. Ex Freyn (syn. L. eludis subsp. Turcz. Ex Freyn) tetraploid in
Khabarobvskii and Primorskii kraii. See map on page 18 - No. 1.
9. Lonicera stenantha – This is found in Middle Asia and blooms late in the season.

10. Lonicera villosa – This is native to northern North America. The fruit is edible but
bitter in taste. It is found as far south as Pennsylvania and far West as Wisconsin. Plant
Notes: The common name for this variety of Lonicera is Mountain Honeysuckle.
11. Lonicera cauriana Fern.
Honeyberry – Diploid Lonicera contains 18 chromosomes
In general most plants, in general, are diploid, meaning they have two complete sets of
chromosomes. Diploid Lonicera has 18 chromosomes, one set of nine from the pod parent and
one set of nine from the pollen parent
12. Lonicera edulis Turcz. Ex Freyn (syn. L. eludis subsp. Turcz. Ex Freyn) – Diploid
species often have sweet and delicious berries. It grows in the fertile black-earth of the
southeastern Siberia province of Amur, along the Amur River (near the Russian/
Chinese border) and Hokkaido, Japan.
Plant Notes: The common name for this variety of Lonicera is Haskap.
13. Lonicera boczkarnikowae Plekh (syn. L. boczkarnikowae subsp. Plekh). This

species is found in the Southeastern part of Primorsky Krai (capital Vladivostok).
Maritime territory is located between the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east and
northeastern China (formerly Manchuria) to the west. See map on page 18 - No. 2.
Plant Notes: The berries have a sweet flavoursome taste. Lonicera regeliana Boczkar.
(syn. L. caerulea subsp. regeliana Boczkar) is sometimes referred to as Lonicera
boczkarnikowae Plekh. (syn. L. boczkarnikowae subsp. Plekh.)
14. Lonicera iliensis Pojark (syn. L. iliensis subsp. Pojark)– Found in Middle Asia – late
season. See map on page 18 - No. 3.
15. Lonicera villosa – This is native to northern North America. The fruit is edible but
bitter in taste. Found as far south as Pennsylvania and far West as Wisconsin.
Plant Notes: The common name for this variety of Lonicera is Mountain Honeysuckle.
Over the past five decades in Russia, many cultivars have been selected and named,
primarily from eight major government research centres distributed across the country:

Pavlovsky, Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Nishhniy, Novgorod, Bakchar, Barnaul and
Vladivostok. Also, it is standard practice for individuals to grow seedlings in their garden
and select the best ones for local propagation. In the 1970s, selection work began in
Hokkaido, Japan, using the locally available subspecies, empyllocalyx.
Over the past several years, Honeyberry selection programmes, using Russian and
Japanese plant materials, have been initiated in Romania, Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden,
Canada and America. Recently, in north-eastern China where wild berries (ssp edulis and
boczkarnikovae) have long been harvested, there is increasing interest in selecting new varieties
for commercial production. The good news is there is still considerable scope with which to
make significant selection advances and the majority of the subspecies used in this
development are tetraploid.
Honeyberry pollination
Honeyberry flowers are hermaphrodite and are most self-incompatible. To obtain a
healthy harvest, it is generally accepted two or more cultivars must be planted together for
cross-pollination. Ideal Honeyberry pollinators include Bumblebees, Hive or Honeybees (one
or two hives per acre) and other native or local bees.
We recommend four to six cultivars (planted in equal number) per acre depending on
the size of the orchard. This creates a well balanced and diverse natural orchard, with luxury
Bumble Bees Hard at Work

pollination, above average fruit set and excellent yields. We have also found that Brix levels
tend to be higher with greater balanced varietal plantings.
In commercial orchards, we would advise planting alternate rows rather than mixing in
the rows and would group the rows per ‘Honeyberry Harvest Groupings’ – Early, Mid, Late,
and Very Late. For example Wojtek row and Honey Gin row, Aurora row, and Happy Giant
row, and Strawberry Sensation and Boreal Beauty row.
A further advantage of planting four to six varieties is that it allows you to recreate the
delicious, flavoursome taste of Wild Honeyberries or create your own unique flavour with
differing berry shapes tailored to your local market. This could be sold in a fresh or frozen
format.
World production of Honeyberries?

Trying to calculate the number of planted acres and wild Honeyberries in the World is
very difficult to impossible, given the lack of data in potentially its largest commercial market
Russia. However one thing is for sure there are many more acres of global Blueberries under
cultivation than Honeyberries. The generally expected figure is there are about 250,000 acres
of Blueberries, which has increased dramatically since 2005 when the figure was at around
100,000 acres.
Blueberries may still have a long way to go until they surpass table grape sales but they
are much closer to catching up with Strawberries and Cherries. Six times more strawberries
than Blueberries were sold in 2013, and double the number of Cherries. However, Blueberries
have the edge on both – a superior shelf life to Strawberries and they trump Cherries when it
comes to all-year-round supply.
Since the 1950’s Honeyberry has gained popularity in Russia as a garden plant, with the
release of new cultivars. Many commercial plantations of 20 to 50 acres have been established
primarily in western Siberia. Large quantities of these berries are harvested annually from
both wild and orchard grown plants in Russia. Sadly there are no official estimates available,

but production is primarily for the local and overall Russian market. So we are going to guess
at around 1,000 acres of older varieties.
In Hokkaido, Japan many berries are also collected from wild plants. Commercial
orchards have expanded since the mid-1970’s after the release of several new cultivars from
their Agriculture Experiment Station. It is believed there are about 400 acres under cultivation
in this region.
Plantings in Canada have increased dramatically over the past three years, again with
the introduction of new highly productive varieties. It is believed that there are about 1,200
acres planted across Canada, with about 75% (approximately 1,000 acres) having been
planted in Quebec. There are no large commercial plantings of these newer varieties in the
United States however, we believe this will change dramatically in the coming years.
The largest newly planted acreage of Honeyberries in Europe is found in Poland and it
is believed there are about 200 to 250 acres. Elsewhere there is growing demand from growers
and the next largest country is the UK, with about 50 acres planted.
If we total these best guesstimate figures together, we get a global planted acreage of
3,200 acres - Russia 1,000 acres, Japan 400 acres, Canada 1,200, Poland 250 acres, UK 50 and
other 300 acres. Despite the doubling of planted acreage in more productive Honeyberries
varieties over the last three years. The global commercial Honeyberry crop is still only a
'David' of one percent of the current global 'Goliath' Blueberry market. Over the next two
decades, we believe this gap will narrow dramatically and one day the acreage of
Honeyberries will perhaps surpass ‘Goliath.' As you may recall Canola or oil seed rape was
just a good idea thirty years ago.
Quebec Honeyberry or Camerise Example
Sometimes it can be interesting to chart the birth of an idea to see how it has evolved. If
we examined Quebec's plantings since 2007 with today's eyes or with current Honeyberry
variety's productivity. We would expect a 2016 Quebec harvest of conservatively 400 tons,
rising to about 3,000 tons by 2020. However sadly this will not be the case and perhaps a

more realistic figure for this year will be about 25 tons and perhaps 1,000 to 1,500 tons by
2020.
Number of Honeyberries planted per year in Quebec from 2007 to 2015
1. Old Russian Wave (8% of plantings)

• 2007 - 2,000 plants or 2 acres
• 2008 - 6,000 plants or 6 acres (Total 8 acres)
2. Borealis and Tundra Wave (37% of plantings)

3. Indigo Series and Aurora Wave (55% of plantings)

• 2015 - 300,000 plants or 300 acres (Total 1,008,00 acres)
Why is this? Well, simply today's varieties are so much improved from the poor tasting
and unproductive old Russian ones in the first planting wave. Yields and growing techniques
were enhanced by the time of the introduction of Tundra and Borealis, however harvesting
techniques had not.
Future Quebec yields from 2017 could be any range of numbers. However, more
importantly, the yield trend is upwards and without a doubt, it will become one of the largest
Honeyberry growing regions in North America. Varieties that are being planted are
improving as are the growing techniques. This suggests that the big leap in production will
come in 2019 and 2020. When the 2014 and 2015 newer plantings begin, to reach maturity.

A New Zealand Blackcurrant road map?
The rapid expansion of Honeyberries or Camerise planting in Quebec could be

compared to the introduction of Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) into New Zealand in the early
1970's. More extensive plantings followed in the late 1970's and the early 1980's in areas of
Nelson, Canterbury and Southland on the South Island. Today the majority of growers are
found in the Canterbury region on the South Island, see below.
Five New Zealand Blackcurrant Regions
New Zealand Blackcurrants

Regions
Source: New Zealand Blackcurrant Association
The number of commercial growers and acreage peaked in the 1980's and then fell as
the Southland region shrank as it proved unsuitable due to its cooler climate. There are
currently 37 New Zealand growers with about 3,400 planted acres and producing 6,500 to
9,000 tons of fruit a year (5% of the World's production). This compares to World production
(Ex Russia) of 92,000 acres (161,000 tons), of which over 60% is based in Poland. The next
largest European producers are Lithuania 6,000 acres, UK 4,800 acres and France 2,000 acres.
Although there are fewer producers and reduced acreage, yields have continued to
improve since the 1990’s thanks to plant research and superior varieties.

New Zealand plant growers aims driving this improvement were -
• Colour, flavour, acidity, sugar content
• Enhancing health-related qualities (e.g. vitamin C, anthocyanin)
• Berries for different end products, IQF vs. concentrate/juice
• Consistently high fruit yield
• Natural pest and disease resistance
• Growth habits for efficient machine harvesting
• Lower winter chill tolerance
Blackcurrants have become viewed as a commodity fruit in recent years, with raw
wholesale berries being priced at about $0.70 per pound versus a frozen IQF price of approx.
$1.60. The export of New Zealand processed product is worth about $17.5 million a year.
In 2020, Quebec Honeyberries at a production of around 1,000 to 1,500 tons, would give
a farmer's market value ($2.75 per pound) of around $5.5 to $8.3 million. Or a frozen organic
IQF market value ($5.00 per pound) of around $10 to $15 million. Current market prices have
been used as we believe that future high consumer demand will maintain the Honeyberry
price premium over other soft-fruits, as in Russia and particularly if berries are organic.
Therefore the supply demand balance for Honeyberries is expected to remain favourable
over the next decade, given plantings are only 1% of that of planted Blueberries.

Honeyberry nutrition
The health and medical benefits of the Honeyberry have been long recognized in the
folklore of indigenous Siberians. In Hokkaido, the Ainu people considered these wild fruits
as ‘the elixir of life’. Several studies on the chemical composition of fruit have demonstrated
exceptionally high vitamin C content and high values for both total phenolics and
anthocyanins, all compounds known in contributing to good health in humans.
In a study reported in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, March 2005,
researchers found Blue Honeysuckle berries to possess the highest content of phenolic acids
compared to other berries tested. Tested against Blueberries, Mulberries, Juneberries, Black
Currants, and Blackberries, the berries from the Honeyberry consistently produced the
highest level of antioxidants.
In 2009, a group of Slovak researchers published a study that analyzed the anthocyanin
content of six uncommon berries, including Black Mulberries (Morus nigra), Cornelian
Cherries (Cornus mas), Dewberries (Rubus caesius), Blackthorns (Prunus spinosa),
Rowanberries (Sorbus aucuparia), and Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica. In this study,
Honeyberries had by far the highest levels of anthocyanins. Fruits and berries rich in
anthocyanin flavonoids have several potential health benefits, including Anti-Inflammatory
Properties, Good for the Eyes, Inhibitory Effects Against Colon Cancer Cells and
Cardiovascular Benefits.
There is also accumulating scientific evidence that bioactive compounds such as

antioxidants found in berries have significant other potential health benefits. Researchers at
Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture, based in Nova Scotia, have just announced
their intention to examine the anticancer activity of Honeyberry’s bioactives after being
awarded a grant from the Cancer Research Training Program. So in summary, the
Honeyberry is a tasty and nutritional powerhouse!
Honeyberry Nutritional Facts

Nutrition facts for fresh Honeyberries are provided per 100 grams in the table below.
Honeyberry, the Ultimate ‘Superberry’
3. Where will Honeyberries grow?
In more places than you think

We think the Honeyberry will grow in far more places than is considered possible
today. In our ‘it’s footprint is larger than you think’ section (Page 17), we pointed out that the
native distribution of the Honeyberry is widely spread over many different climatic or
regional zones from the Russian Arctic to more moderate coastal ones of Northern Japan.
It is becoming well known by growers for its extreme cold hardiness, frost tolerance of
its spring flowers, low heat unit requirements, early fruit maturity, unique deep flavour, high
content of tannins, antioxidant compounds, pectin and Vitamin C, ease of care and very few
pests and diseases. In summary, it is your perfect berry?

Honey berry’s Native Footprint
Lat. 62
Lat. 42
#
The Honeyberry is considered a cold climatic plant that thrives in healthy soil between
latitudes 42 to 62 (hardiness zones 2 to 7). However, it is proving itself remarkably adaptable
to growing regions outside its native habitat – Siberia/Hokkaido. We believe that provided
the plant’s soil needs – organic matter, mineral and biological makeup, sufficient rainfall
between July and September and about 1,200 plus chilling hours are met. There is a very
good chance the plant will thrive, outside its Goldilocks Zone band of latitude 42 to 62. The
fundamental problem with the hotter Southern and warmer Western regions is the lack of
rainfall between July and September compared to its natural habitat. The second problem
more difficult problem to overcome is new fruit can become damaged or sunburnt with early
high temperatures, especially if grown in poor soil.
Creating a temperate benchmark
To create a good temperate Western Honeyberry benchmark to access new growing

regions, we need to research the plant's native climatic characteristics. We are interested in
the three key climatic factors - average temperature (Chilling hours, Pollination Heat Units
and Harvest times), sunshine hours (Sweetness of berries and Harvest time), and average

Climatic comparisons: Poznan vs. Vladivostok
Climatic comparisons: Poznan vs. Sapporo
Please note - Sunshine hours per day. Average rain fall per month

rainfall (Soil and plant health, fertilization and growth habit). Once these have been
established, we can look into each month in more detail regards wind speeds, cloudy days
etc. We have used the climatic data from Meteoblue climatic diagrams which are based on 30
years of hourly weather model simulations and available for every place on Earth. This
allows us to create a set of averages or ideal climatic ranges where the plant should be able to
thrive in balanced, healthy soil. We must and will re-stress the importance of well-balanced
soil - organic content and its mineral and biological makeup. To plant Honeyberries in soils
that do not meet its essential requirements either new or native regions for commercial
growers is very unwise. Following this path is planting future Honeyberry disappointment
regarding plant health, attracting pests and reduced productivity.
Luckily we already have such a Honeyberry benchmark outside their native habitat,
where they have thrived for over ten years to compare with Vladivostok, Western Siberia
(Latitude 50) and Sapporo, Hokkaido (Latitude 43). This region is Poznan in Poland, where
the fruit is harvested two weeks earlier than in Siberia (same varieties) and three to four
weeks earlier than Hokkaido (different varieties).
If we compare Poznan’s climatic data to Vladivostok and Sapporo, despite the Polish
winters being warmer there are easily sufficient chilling hours. The Polish early spring and
warmer summer temperatures are warmer, which supports an earlier harvest. Pollination is
not a problem with a third of March being above 10c and the average temperature for April
being 15c. Rainfall is 30% to 50% less than the native regions and despite this, there is no need
to irrigate in Poland. However, the lack of precipitation in July and August may reduce the
vigour of the second growth flush after harvest. Poznan's summer temperatures in July and
August are similar to both the native regions. Indicating the plants will start to go dormant in
the fall rather than late summer. A further advantage of knowing a regions climatic
conditions is to fine tune the plants soil or foliar feed programme and determine whether it
will be fall or spring based. Similar to other fruit trees or berry plants, Honeyberry plants
benefit from feed immediately before flowering.
This comparison between the three regions allows us to create a benchmark of climatic
averages or ranges to very quickly determine if a new proposed area is suitable. Researching
a potential growing zone's latitude and hardiness zone can assist in determining if
Honeyberries will grow. Looking deeper into the regional and local climatic characteristics

will provide more needed detailed information to determine the success of your orchard and
allow your plants and bottom line to flourish.
Climatic comparisons: Sapporo vs. Vladivostok
It's important to address whether Japanese Honeyberries or Haskap (Lonicera

emphyllocalyx) fruit later due to weather conditions or varietal ones. In the table above we
have listed the key climatic conditions for Sapporo, Japan and Vladivostok, Russia. Despite
their similar Latitudes, Sapporo has a warmer climate because being situated on the island of
Hokkaido. Honeyberries in Vladivostok are ready for harvest in late June and so you would
expect Honeyberries to fruit in mid-June. However, they are generally ready to harvest in the
middle of July, about two or three weeks later.
This suggests that the varietal differences must contribute in Lonicera emphyllocalyx
fruiting later, despite the warmer seasonal weather. This discovery has helped plant growers
like Maxine Thompson, University of Saskatchewan and Berries Unlimited to cross and
produce later fruiting cultivars to expand the Honeyberry harvesting window by two or
three weeks. In terms of Quebec, this would expand their harvesting window from late June

to mid/the end of July. We have a long way to go until we can match other soft fruit’s longer
harvesting windows. However, we expect that in the next few years plant growers will have
lengthened the Honeyberry window to match that of the Blackcurrants - late June to early
August.
Examples: Quebec, Nova Scotia and Florida
So we have a basic Honeyberry benchmark, let us take it for a spin! We are going to
compare three potential new Honeyberry Orchard plans to determine whether they will
thrive or only survive. They are Quebec (Granby Latitude 45), Nova Scotia (Halifax Latitude
45) and Florida (Orlando Latitude 29). Five years ago, it was uncertain whether the plant
would thrive in the first two regions because they were viewed as too warm outside
hardiness zone two. Orlando Florida? Why not, as anything is possible at Disney or is it?
In the example of Quebec - we need to take ourselves back to 2006, when Honeyberries
or Camerise were first planted as a commercial crop in Quebec. Let's see if our climatic
comparisons would indicate 'thrive or survive’ when to expect Honeyberry blooms and the
harvest window. We can see from the benchmark table below that the Latitudes differ by
seven latitude points. Would expect Quebec-grown berries to be harvested earlier than Polish
ones?
The average temperatures are very similar throughout the bloom to harvest period.
However, the colder temperatures in February and March indicate that the Quebec berries
will be fully ripe a week or two later. Average rainfall comparison in the critical time March
through August are favourable, with Quebec on balance receiving more rain than Poznan.
These earlier wetter conditions, as the frost leaves the ground may hamper attempts for an
early pre-flower spray. However provided the soil is healthy in organic matter. Orchards
should be able to provide adequate drainage in March and April, where the spring rains are
greater than Poznan.
So if asked back in 2006 following this basic research, "Whether a Honeyberry orchard
would flourish near to Granby, Quebec?" We would have said, "In healthy soil, It will thrive
absolutely!" And the expected harvest window to occur around late June. So all in all it’s not
surprising that given the Provence's favourable climatic conditions, available berry

Climatic comparisons: Granby vs. Poznan
processing facilities and closeness to large consumer markets that it hosts nearly 75%
(approx. 1,000 acres) of Canada's planted Honeyberries.
In the example of Nova Scotia, we must take ourselves back to 2010, when the
Honeyberries or Haskap's first commercial orchard was created. Let's see how our climatic
comparison would indicate 'thrive or survive' and when to expect Honeyberry blooms and
harvesting window. The Latitudes between coastal Nova Scotia and Poznan differ by seven
latitude points to the South.
This more southernly exposure could suggest that they may fruit together with the Gulf
Stream may allow the fruit to ripen at the same time or earlier than in Poznan. A closer
examination of the climatic data shows that Nova Scotia spring and early summer
temperatures are cooler than those found in Poznan by about 20 to 30% because of the cold
Northwest winds. This delays blooming too early May and the berries ripen about a month
later than Poland in mid-July. 

Climatic comparisons: Halifax vs. Poznan
A coastal orchard comparison in Nova Scotia shows the powerful effect the sea has on
the winter and summer climate regarding average temperatures, sunshine hours, and
rainfall. Coastal regions are warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer months. The number
of sunshine hours can drop by the coast by in some cases by 30 to 50%, and rainfall is about
25% higher. Because of this, the warmer inland temperatures (+10%) allow the berries to
ripen by about one or two weeks before those by the coast.
So if asked back in 2010, "Whether a Honeyberry orchard would flourish near to Halifax
elsewhere in the Provence?" We would have said, "In healthy soil, yes thrive absolutely!" And
the expected harvest window to occur around mid-July. The challenges in Nova Scotia are
not in the growing of the berry but the processing of the berries and the creation of a broad
mid size diverse soft-fruit industry.

Climatic comparisons: Orlando vs. Poznan
In the example of Orlando, Florida, the Latitudes between it and Poznan differ by
twenty-three latitude points to the South. We believe even with Disney's help it would not be
possible to create a working Honeyberry orchard. Perhaps a green-thumbed gardener with a
passion for Honeyberries could make then survive, but grow?
We do not think so. The lack of sufficient chilling hours between November and March
and crushing heat in May through to September would send even the most optimistic
commercial grower back to the drawing board for another fruit. Surprisingly there is a
sufficient rainfall base to work with.
Honeyberry winter hardiness and chilling hours

Honeyberries are extremely winter hardy and cold tolerant. In winter, the plants can
stand frosts down to -46c without being damaged. In springtime, flowers withstand frosts of
-8c. The spring frosts may partially damage the young leaves, but do not hurt the flowers and
its ovaries.

American 1,200 Chilling Hours Map
The plants are also becoming well know for its adaptability to new local growing
conditions outside its native homelands, especially if the soils and climatic conditions meet
its requirements. It was once thought that it would only grow in the cold middle Canadian
hinterland. Where it is easy to make winter climatic comparisons to Western Siberia.
The Honeyberry expansion is not just restricted to North America. There are now
exciting plot trials and commercial orchard projects underway in Germany, UK, Belgium,
Netherlands, Chile, New Zealand and even in Southern Australia, on the Island of Tasmania.
We welcome readers to please add to this growing list of regions of optimism.
It has now been proved that Honeyberries will grow and can thrive in the warmer
climatic conditions of the Canadian Maritimes (hardiness zones 4 to 6), the UK - both in
Scotland and Southern England (hardieness zones 7 to 9) and in Eastern and Southern Poland
(hardiness zones 7 to 9). All these areas easily meet the plants best guesstimate requirement
of around 1,000 to 1,200 chilling hours per season, between a latitude of 45 to 58 degrees.

The chilling hours map on the previous page was prepared by the University of
Maryland to help the fruit and nut industry estimate if there are sufficient hours for their
intended fruit. We are prudent in suggesting Honeyberries need around 1,000 to 1,200 hours
of chilling hours. No one has done research to show that they will survive with less. We
firmly believe the eventual figure will be less than 1,000 hours provided that the plants live in
soils that are extremely healthy Perhaps taking us down to Raspberry levels of 700,
Blackberry of 500, Currants of 800 and Quince of 400 hours. Will we ever get down to levels
of Grape and Pomegranate at around 200 hours? We do not think so.
When potential growers are situated in areas between 500 to 1,000 chilling hours. We
believe that you must look to soil health being at luxury levels to ensure the plant thrives
rather than just survives. So it would be best to start or think prudently by planting a couple
hundred of plants rather than thousands.
The Maryland map helps illustrate where it may be possible to grow Honeyberries in
the United States – above the 1,200 ‘Chilling Hours Line’. Of course there other local factors
that will determine whether Honeyberries will flourish rather than just grow in the three blue
boxes below. These include the amount and timing of seasonal rains, soil quality and summer
temperatures. However, it is a good starting point to decide if your optimism may or may not
be rewarded.
What are chilling hours? Well, simply deciduous fruit plants or nut trees need a certain
number of hours of cold temperatures to break out of winter dormancy (hours between the
temperatures of 2c to 10c (35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). The chilly temperatures actually
break down the hormones that are preventing the tree or plant from growing. Extreme lows
below 0c (30 or 32 degrees Fahrenheit) are not counted. Once dormancy has been established,
plants will not resume growth until they have had a minimum period of time (chilling hours)
at low temperatures. Once they have reached their minimum, as soon as temperatures warm
up or days are longer, the plant will start growing and flowering.
This is known commonly as “bud burst”. If it’s too early, and there is another freeze,
then the flowers of the next crop of fruit will be damaged or drop off. Further problems
include poor flowering, ineffective pollination and poor foliage production.

So where will thrive?
We are great believers in change and are optimistic by nature. So by 2050, we believe
that there will be many more acres and Honeyberry orchards in the World than the current
small total of 3,200. This coming expansion will not be restricted to particular regions of the
World. However, as in grapes, there may be many centres of excellence because of local
'Terroir'. It will be a truly global Honeyberry footprint. One that will challenge the 92,000
acres of Blackcurrants and one day surpass the total area of international blueberries
currently planted - about 300,000 acres.
We have listed examples below where Honeyberries are thriving and new potential
regions where we believe they will flourish. We also point out if soil health, irrigation or
other factors need to be taken into account to make your Honeyberry dreams come true.
Differing regional ripening periods
In warmer climates (for example Oregon or British Columbia), we find that the berries
take longer to ripen 80 to 90 days versus in colder climates 50 to 60 days. This is to do with
fruit plant’s ethylene production and how it controls fruit ripening. Recent studies show that
specialized receptors in plant cells bind to the ethylene. The first known plant genes involved
in this process, ETR1 and CTR1, were identified in 1993. They keep the fruit ripening genes
from activating until ethylene is produced.
The reason for differing ripening periods, we suspect relates to the CO2 levels around
the fruit. CO2 can be used to reduce ethylene to increase shelf life and improve food storage.
So the colder countries like Poland would have less biological soil activity (and hence less
CO2 – their byproduct). Warmer regions like Oregon would have higher biological activity in
warmer soils and hence more CO2, which reduces ethylene production and slows ripening.

North America - Seven sites
• Examples: Oregon, British Columbia, Minnesota, Northern Arkansas, North Carolina,

Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
North America Hardiness Zones
In this North America section, we have examined seven general growing areas of
Corvallis - Oregon, Abbotsford - British Columbia, Minneapolis - Minnesota, Fayetteville -
Arkansas, Asheville - North Carolina, Pittsburg - Pennsylvania and Hartford - Connecticut.
Honeyberries grow in many of these areas, and we will comment on if new orchard
growers need to be aware of any particular factors for their orchards to prosper rather than
just survive. We have also included expected blooming time and harvesting windows. We

have used Poznan as our climatic benchmark for these regions regarding average
temperature, Sunshine hours and rainfall.
In all our regional examples, we expect soil health conditions to be at good to luxury
levels. That is not to say that plants will not grow in these regions in average soil. For
Honeyberries to thrive, we would like to highlight two key soil health yardsticks that
growers should pay close attention to. These and other soil health factors expanded through
Section 8 - ‘Site Preparation and Soil Tests’ (page 111) to Section 14 (page 217) to ‘Orchard
Management Practices’ (page 217).
1. Base Saturation – The key to productive and healthy soil The cations of Calcium
(68%), Magnesium (12%), Potassium (7%) and Sodium (1.5%) must be in balance to
allow availability of other needed or added elements
Soil type determines the appropriate percentages of Calcium and Magnesium. So in the
case of a heavy clay soil, it requires a saturation of 70 – 75% Calcium and 10%
magnesium. Magnesium is the element which holds it together and excess levels in clay
conditions produce a tight, closed soil with poor aeration and drainage.
Conversely, in sandy soil, the problem is too much air and reduced water retention. In
this case, we increase the Magnesium base saturation to 20% to close up the soil. The
Potassium base saturation should not exceed 7%, as weed problems can be directly
related to Potassium levels exceeding 7.5%.
Sodium base saturation levels should not exceed 1.5%, but the most critical
consideration is that Sodium levels should never exceed Potassium levels. In this
unfortunate situation, the plant will uptake sodium instead of Potassium. The problem
will not become visible until hot weather conditions, when the Sodium can expand,
bursting the cell walls and causing major plant damage.
Please note that many soil tests do not test or list the cation Aluminium. It only
becomes available in low pH situations (below 5 to 5.5), and an excess of this element
suggests a significant 'Calcium availability' deficiency to the plant. Hydrogen becomes

excessive when there are insufficient available cations to fill the colloid. It will be displaced as
soon as the cation ratios are in balance
2. Von Liebig’s Law of the Minimum is important when considering your soil's trace
element needs. The law states that growth and yield of the plant are determined by
nutrients in the least supply, not by those in abundant supply. For example, when a
Honeyberry goes into its time of stress – the time when it produces a berry – it is not the
abundant supply of Nitrogen or Potassium which will determine yield, but the nutrient
which is most deficient. In most cases this is Boron.
Example - Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is seven Latitude points above
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be cooler than Poland. However,
thanks to the warm winter winds mostly from the West, blowing over the relatively warm
Pacific Ocean. The North American West Coast is milder than the East Coast, where winter
winds often blow from the Northwest, bringing air from snow-covered parts of Northern
Canada. From time to time, cold air moves south into Washington state, but the Cascade
mountains east of Seattle block most of this frigid air.
The largest obstacle for Honeyberries in the Corvallis region is the lack of natural
rainfall between May and September, by in some cases up to 90% below the needed levels.
Thereby negatively affecting the quality of the harvest and the plants second growth spurt
after harvest. It may also be advisable to plant Japanese Honeyberry or Haskap varieties from
Lonicera Emphyllocalyx. These are later fruiting varieties by about two or three weeks,
including Maxine Thompson's Haskap varieties, Berries Unlimited varieties such as
Strawberry Sensation, Giant's Heart, Blue Cloud and Blue Treasure, and University of
Saskatchewan varieties Boreal Beauty and Boreal Blizzard.
Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March and April to
allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average temperatures
being around or above 10c in November, December, January, February and March there are a
sufficient number of chilling hours.

Climatic comparisons: Corvallis vs. Poznan
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Corvallis area. Please
note the varieties for Corvallis measured are Japanese Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in
the Late to Very Late harvesting categories. Times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal
and soil conditions.
Honeyberry Seasonal Summary

• Buds - March
• Blooms - Late March to Early April
• Harvest - Early to Mid June
Example - Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is three Latitude points below
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be similar to Poland. However,
thanks to the warm winter winds mostly from the West, blowing over the relatively warm
Pacific Ocean, The North American West Coast is milder than the East Coast.

Climatic comparisons: Abbotsford vs. Poznan
The largest obstacle for growing Honeyberries in the Abbotsford region, similar to
Oregon is the lack of natural rainfall between July and August, by in some cases up to 30% to
50% below the needed levels. Negatively affecting the plants second growth spurt after
harvest and the quality of next year's harvest.
It may also be advisable to plant Japanese Honeyberry or Haskap varieties from

Saskatchewan varieties Boreal Beauty and Boreal Blizzard. Russian dominated varieties in the
Mid category would fruit about two weeks earlier.
Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March and April to
allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average temperatures
being around or above 10c in November, December, January, February and March there are
more than sufficient number of chilling hours.

Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Abbotsford area. Please
note the varieties measured are Japanese Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to
Very Late Harvesting categories. Russian dominated varieties would fruit in early June.

• Buds - March
Example - Minneapolis region, Minnesota, United States
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is seven Latitude points below
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be warmer than Poland in winter.
However this is not the case given its position near the centre of the United States. The
average spring and early summer temperatures and rainfall compare very well with Poznan.
The increased sunshine hours should ensure the berries are sweeter than in other areas with
less sunlight.
Climatic comparisons: Minneapolis vs. Poznan

Max temperatures comparisons: Minneapolis vs. Poznan
Minneapolis
Poznan
The largest obstacle for growing Honeyberries in the Minneapolis region are the 30c
July and August temperatures. We can see above that there about 10 days of temperatures
above 30C in July and August. There is just sufficient water and it is very likely that these

temperatures will likely send the plants into early dormancy starting as early as mid to late
August. This could negatively affect the plants second growth spurt after harvest.
It may also be advisable to start with Russian Honeyberry varieties in the Early or Mid
categories. Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March and April
to allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average
temperatures being around or above 10c in November, December, January, February and
March there are more than a sufficient number of chilling hours.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Minneapolis region.
Please note the varieties measured are Russian Mid category Honeyberries. Times may vary
per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March
Example - Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is eighteen Latitude points below
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be far hotter than Poland. It is not
surprising that the fruit is ready to pick in mid-May and is one of the earliest ripening
regions. Honeyberries will grow this far south, and there are sufficient chilling hours.
However, you need to be a very passionate commercial grower to battle with the searing heat
of the Summer months.
The largest obstacle for growing Honeyberries in the Fayetteville region is the crushing
plus 30c heat in months of July and August - over 30 days (see chart below). It is not
surprising to see the plants go dormant by mid-August because of the high temperatures.
Honeyberries tend to go dormant in sustained temperatures over 30c. However, the
increased sunshine hours in April and May should ensure the berries are sweeter than in
other areas with less sunlight.

Climatic comparisons: Fayetteville vs. Poznan
Fayetteville

This region receives considerably more rainfall to Poznan in the months of March to
May. Despite the highrainfall, it may be wise to irrigate the plants and to maintain soil health
at luxury levels. With the very high temperatures, it is unlikely to see a second growth spurt
after harvest.
It may be advisable to plant Russian varieties in the Early and Mid harvesting
categories to cope with the late frosts seen in April and to beat the climbing early summer
heat before harvest. Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March
and April to allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Fayetteville region.
Please note the varieties measured are Russian Mid harvest category. Times may vary per
Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - February
• Blooms - Early March to mid-March
• Harvest - Early to Mid May
Example - Asheville region, North Carolina, United States
Honeyberries are not knowingly grown in this region. This region is sixteen Latitude
points below Poznan, and you would expect its average winter temperatures to be far
warmer than Poland. Its high altitude does help to cool its summers. We believe the fruit
would be ready to pick in early to mid-May and would be one of the earliest regions for fresh
fruit. The increased sunshine hours in April and May should ensure the berries are sweeter
than in other areas with less sunlight.
This region receives considerably more rainfall to Poznan during the year. If we
compare this potential growing area with Nova Scotia where rainfall is at similar levels (see
table below). There are no ill effects seen with the plants. However, soil health is important to
provide good drainage.

Climatic comparisons: Asheville vs. Poznan
It may also be advisable to plant Japanese Honeyberry or Haskap varieties from

Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March to allow native
and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average temperatures being
around or above 10c in November, December, January, February and March there are more
than a sufficient number of chilling hours. In the mountainous area of Asheville, spring frosts
could be problematic for other soft fruit, Blackberries and Raspberries in particular. It
expected these late frosts would not be a problem given the cold hardiness of the plant and
frost tolerance of flowers.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Asheville region and
please note the varieties measured are Japan Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to

Very Late harvest category of varieties. Times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and
soil conditions.
• Buds - February
• Blooms - Early March to mid-March
• Harvest - Early to Mid May
Example - Pittsburgh region, Pennsylvania, United States
Honeyberries are not knowingly grown in this region. This region is twelve
Latitude points below Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be
warmer than Poland in winter and this is the case. The average spring and early
summer temperatures compare very well with Poznan. The spring rains are heavier
but are en par with Nova Scotia. The increased sunshine hours should ensure the
berries are sweeter than in other areas with less sunlight.
The only obstacle to be mindful for growing Honeyberries in the Pittsburgh
region are the sort periods of 30c July and August temperatures. There is sufficient
Climatic comparisons: Pittsburgh vs. Poznan

Pittsburgh
water to cope with these days of heat stress. However, theses temperatures may start
to send the plants into early dormancy starting as early as late August. This could
negatively affect the plants second growth spurt after harvest.
Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during March and
April to allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the
average temperatures being around or above 10c in November, December, January,
February and March there are more than a sufficient number of chilling hours.
Orchards in this area could be planted with Early and Mid harvest category
Russian Honeyberries and Late and Very Late harvest category Japanese based
Honeyberries should be able to be harvested before the summer heat in July. Expected
average blooming time and harvesting windows for Pittsburgh region. Please note the
varieties measured are Russian Mid harvesting category. Times may vary per
Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March


Example - Hartford region, Connecticut, United States
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is ten Latitude points below Poznan,
and you would expect its average temperatures to be warmer than Poland in winter and this
is the case. The average spring and early summer temperatures compare very well with
Poznan. The spring rains are heavier but are en par with Nova Scotia. The increased
sunshine hours should ensure the berries are sweeter than in other areas with less sunlight.
The only obstacle to be mindful for growing Honeyberries in the Hatford region are the
short periods of 30c July and August temperatures. There is sufficient water to cope with
these days of heat stress. However, theses temperatures may start to send the plants into
early dormancy starting as early as late August. This could negatively affect the plants
second growth spurt after harvest.
Climatic comparisons: Hartford vs. Poznan
Temperatures during pollination are more than sufficient during late March and early
April to allow native and hive bees to do their work in the orchard. Despite the average

March there are more than a sufficient number of chilling hours. Late frosts in April will not
prove a problem to the cold hardy blooms.
Orchards in this area could be planted with Early and Mid harvest category Russian
based Honeyberries. Also, Late and Very Late harvest category Japanese based Honeyberries
should be able to be harvested before the summer heat in July.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for Pittsburgh region. Please
note the varieties for Hartford are measured with Russian Mid category Honeyberries and
times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March
North America Summary
We have categorised the reviewed regions under three general headings. Further
research would have to be carried out to determine whether a Honeyberry orchard would
thrive or be economic. However, it provides a sound starting point to access whether your
future plans are to be built upon a solid and commercial footing. We are confident we will
add further North American regions in future additions.
• Goldilocks Zones - Hartford, Pittsburgh, Abbotsford, Minneapolis and Asheville
• Grow with Care - Corvallis
• Survive or Economic? - Fayetteville
We have compared the North American temperature profiles in more detail and listed
these tables in the Honeyberry plant variety and regional Appendix (pages 281 to 310). These
tables help to estimate blooming and harvest times, determine pollination temperatures,
number of chilling hours and if summer temperatures will allow a second flushing of growth
after harvest.

UK and Europe - Seven sites
• Examples: Scotland, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Spain.
European Hardiness Zones
Example - Dundee, Eastern Scotland, UK
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is five Latitude points above
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be colder than Poland in winter.
However, this is not the case thanks to the Gulf Stream. The average spring compares very
well with Poznan, but the summer temperatures are cooler despite similar sunshine hours.
The Scottish soft fruit industry (majority based in Tayside) has changed dramatically
compared to 20 years or so ago when everything was picked by hand and mostly destined to
be processed into jam or juice. Growers used to arrange for special buses to collect fruit

pickers from the likes of Dundee and Fife until harvesting machines started to take over.
Sadly, about that time, the industry came under pressure from cheap imports from Eastern
Europe and the area where fruit was grown declined dramatically.
Back in 1982, Scotland produced 5,000 acres of raspberries and 1,500 acres of
Strawberries. Over the past 10 years, the area of Raspberries in Scotland has contracted to 400
acres, Strawberries are down to 300 acres in the same period and Blackcurrants down from
800 acres to 600 acres.
That may appear depressing reading until you realise that the value of Scotland's soft
fruit production has actually increased by $100 million (152 per cent) to an estimated $180
million over the last ten years. The increase in crop value is mostly down to better yields and
better prices as a result of selling to retailers rather than processors.
While Strawberries, Blueberries and Currants are hand-picked for the fresh market,
almost all Blackcurrants are mechanically harvested and processed into juice for Ribena.
Climatic comparisons: Dundee vs. Poznan

The significant change in Scotland has been the development of growing fruit in
polytunnels which don't come cheap. An acre of polytunnel costs about $25,000 and should
produce between 25 and 30 tonnes of Strawberries in a season.
While the UK market for soft fruit has grown rapidly over the last decade, Scottish
growers have to compete with their counterparts south of the border for market share. The
annual value of crop for the fresh market is very dependent on if the Scottish crop season
overlaps with England's.
The only factor to be mindful for growing Honeyberries in the Eastern Scotland region
is the changeable weather. However, other soft fruits appear to love the Scottish weather, as
the area is famous for its production of Raspberries and Strawberries. Most soft fruits prefer
heat units rather than hot sunny days. It seems that Scotland has the correct balance of
climatic factors for growing Honeyberries.
Rainfall is slightly below Poznan's but the cooler conditions suggest that irrigation will
not be needed. The advantage of having cooler July's and August is that it will be easy to
flush out a second growth spurt after harvest. Wind is sometimes considered a problem in
Scotland. However a comparison with Poznan (page 60) shows that this not one to worry
about.
Orchards in this region could be planted with Early and Mid harvest category Russian
based Honeyberries.Also Late and Very Late Category Japanese based Honeyberries should
be to be harvested without any problems.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Dundee region.
Please note the varieties for Dundee are measured with Russian Mid category Honeyberries
and times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March
• Blooms - Early to mid-April
• Harvest - Late June to Early July
Dundee
Poznan

Example - Southampton region, Southern England, UK
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is one Latitude point below Poznan,
and you would expect its average temperatures to be similar than Poland in winter. However,
this is not the case thanks to the Gulf Stream. The average spring and early summer compare
very well with Poznan.
Southampton’s Rainfall is slightly below Poznan's in the important June and July
months and will need to be monitored closely to flush out a second growth spurt after
harvest. We have compared the number of rain days with Poznan and days without rain is
higher in the Southampton area. If soil health is at luxury levels, it is felt that irrigation is not
necessary.
Climatic comparisons: Southampton vs. Poznan

Orchards in this early could be planted with Early and Mid harvesting category
Russian based Honeyberries. Also, Late and Very Late harvest category Japanese based
Honeyberries should be able to be harvested without any problem.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Southampton region.
Please note the varieties for this area are measured with Russian Mid harvest category and
times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March

• Harvest - Mid June to Late June
Example - Lille region, Northern France
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is one Latitude point above Poznan,
and you would expect its average temperatures to be very similar to Poland in winter. The
average spring and summer again compare very well with Poznan. In fact, the summer
months are a near carbon copy of that of Poznan.
Rainfall is 10% below Poznan's in the important June and July months and will need to
be monitored closely to flush out a second growth spurt after harvest. If soil health is at
luxury levels, it is felt that irrigation is not necessary.

Climatic comparisons: Lille vs. Poznan
Orchards in this early could be planted with Early and Mid harvest category Russian
should be able to be harvested without any problems.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Lille region. Please
note the varieties for this area are measured with Russian Mid harvest category and times
may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March
• Harvest - Mid June to Late July

Example - Cologne region, Germany
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is two Latitude points below
Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be very similar to Poland in
winter. The average spring and summer again compare very well with Poznan. In fact, the
summer months are a near carbon copy of that of Poznan and Lille.
Rainfall is en par Poznan's in the important June and July months, and this should flush
out a second growth spurt after harvest. If soil health is at luxury levels, it is felt that
irrigation is not necessary.
Climatic comparisons: Cologne vs. Poznan

should be able to be harvested without any problems.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Cologne region.
Please note the varieties for this area are measured with Russian Mid category Honeyberries

• Buds - March
• Harvest - Late June to Early July
Example - Budapest region, Hungary
Honeyberries are not knowingly grown in this region. This region is five Latitude
points below Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be very similar to
Poland in winter. The average spring and summer are warmer by about 20% with Poznan.
The increased sunshine hours should help the berries to be sweeter than in other areas with
less sunlight.
Rainfall is about 20 to 40% lower than Poznan's in the primary June, July and August
months. Even if soil health is at luxury levels, it is felt that irrigation will be needed. The plus
30c temperatures in July and August will probably send the plants into early dormancy
starting as early as late August. This could negatively affect the plants second growth spurt
after harvest.

Climatic comparisons: Budapest vs. Poznan
Budapest

based Honeyberries, and Late and Very Late harvest category Japanese based Honeyberries
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Budapest region.
Please note the varieties for this region are measured with Russian Mid harvest category
Honeyberries and times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil conditions.

• Buds - March
• Harvest - Mid June to Late June
Example - Milan region, Italy
Honeyberries are not knowingly grown in this region. This region is seven Latitude
points below Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be warmer to
Poland in winter. The average spring and summer are warmer by about 20% with Poznan.
The increased sunshine hours should help the berries to be sweeter than in other areas with
less sunlight.
The biggest obstacle of growing Honeyberries in this region is the lack of rainfall and
the cost of irrigation. Precipitation is about 20 to 80% lower than Poznan's in the prime May,
June, July, August, and September months. On average the number of rain days is only 5
days a month. Even if soil health is at luxury levels, irrigation will be a necessity. The plus 30c
temperatures in July and August will probably send the plants into early dormancy starting
as early as late August. This could negatively affect the plants second growth spurt after
harvest.

Climatic comparisons: Milan vs. Poznan
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Milan region. Please
note the varieties for Milan region are measured with Russian Mid category Honeyberries

• Buds - March
• Harvest - Early June to Mid June

Example - Bilbao region, Spain
Honeyberries are not knowingly grown in this region. This region is nine Latitude
points below Poznan, and you would expect its average temperatures to be much hotter than
Poland in winter and spring. The mean summer is similar to Poznan.
The biggest obstacle of growing Honeyberries in this region is the lack of rainfall and
being on the cusp of the needed number of chilling hours. This is shown the chart below.
Precipitation is about 50% lower than Poznan's in the prime July, and August months. Even if
soil health is at luxury levels, irrigation will be needed.
It may also be advisable to plant test plots of Japanese Honeyberry or Haskap varieties
from Lonicera Emphyllocalyx. These are later fruiting varieties by about two or three weeks,
Climatic comparisons: Bilbao vs. Poznan

Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Bilbao region. Please
note the varieties measured are Japan Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to Very
Late harvest category of varieties and times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal
conditions.

• Buds - March
• Harvest - Early June to Mid June
UK and European Summary
research would have to be carried out to determine whether a viable Honeyberry orchard
would thrive or be economic in each area. However, it provides a sound starting point to
access whether your future plans are to be built upon a solid and commercial footing. We are
confident we will be adding further European countries in future editions.
• Goldilocks Zones - Dundee, Southampton, Lille, Cologne
• Grow with Care - Budapest and Milan
• Survive or Economic? - Bilboa
We have compared the UK and European temperature profiles in more detail and listed
after harvest.

New Zealand and Australia - Two sites
• Examples: New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand and Australian Hardiness Zones
Example - Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is nine Latitude points below
Poznan, however in the Southern hemisphere. The average temperatures are much hotter
than Poland in winter and spring. The mean summer temperatures are similar to Poznan.
The biggest obstacle of growing Honeyberries in this region is the lack of rainfall. This
is shown the table and chart below. Precipitation is about 30% to 40% lower than Poznan's in
the prime July, and August months. This converts to the southern hemisphere to November
through to February. Even if soil health is at luxury levels, irrigation would be wise.

Climatic comparisons: Christchurch vs. Poznan
March there are more than a sufficient number of chilling hours. It may also be advisable to
plant Japanese Honeyberry or Haskap varieties from Lonicera Emphyllocalyx. These are later
fruiting varieties by about two or three weeks, including Maxine Thompson's Haskap
varieties, Berries Unlimited varieties such as Strawberry Sensation, Giant's Heart, Blue Cloud
and Blue Treasure, and University of Saskatchewan varieties Boreal Beauty and Boreal
Blizzard.
Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Christchurch region.
Please note the varieties measured are Japan Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to
Very Late category of varieties. Times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil
conditions.

• Buds - September
• Blooms - Early to mid-October
• Harvest - Early December to Mid December

Example - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Honeyberries are grown in this region. This region is nine Latitude points below
Poznan, however in the Southern hemisphere. The average temperatures are much hotter
than Poland in winter and spring. The mean summer temperatures are similar to Poznan.
The biggest obstacle of growing Honeyberries in this region is the lack of rainfall. This
the prime May to August months. This converts to the southern hemisphere to November
through to February. Even if soil health is at luxury levels, irrigation would be wise.
Climatic comparisons: Hobart vs. Poznan

Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Hobart region. Please
note the varieties measured are Japan Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to Very
Late category of varieties. Times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil
conditions.

New Zealand and Australian Summary
would thrive or be economic in each area. However, it provides a sound starting point to
access whether your future plans are to be built upon a solid and commercial footing.
• Goldilocks Zones - South Island, New Zealand
• Grow with Care - Tasmania, Australia
• Survive or Economic? -
We have compared the New Zealand and Australian temperature profiles in more detail
and listed these tables in the Honeyberry plant variety and regional Appendix (pages 281 to
310). These tables help to estimate blooming and harvest times, determine pollination
temperatures, number of chilling hours and if summer temperatures will allow a second
flushing of growth after harvest.

South America - One site
• Example: Chile
South America Hardiness Zones
Example - Santiago, Chile
Honeyberries are being trialled under quarantine in this region. This region is nineteen
Latitude points below Poznan, however in the Southern hemisphere. The average
temperatures are much hotter than Poland in winter and spring. The mean summer
temperatures are similar to Poznan.
The biggest obstacles of growing Honeyberries in this region is the lack of rainfall. This
the prime April to September months. This converts in the southern hemisphere to October
through to March. Even if soil health is at luxury levels, irrigation would be a necessity. The
second more pressing problem is that it seems there is not a sufficient number of 1,200
chilling hours. This area will prove if Honeyberries can grow in the 500 to 750 chilling hour
range.

Climatic comparisons: Santiago vs. Poznan

Expected average blooming time and harvesting windows for the Santiago region.
Please note the varieties measured are Japan Honeyberries or Haskap. They are in the Late to
Very Late category of varieties. Times may vary per Honeyberry variety, seasonal and soil
conditions.

South America Summary
We have categorised the reviewed region under three general headings. Further
would thrive or be economic. However, it provides a sound starting point to access whether
your future plans are to be built upon a solid and commercial footing. This region does
support high bush Blueberry orchards and vineyards.
• Survive or Economic? - Chile
We have compared the South American temperature profiles in more detail and listed
after harvest.

Where are the Goldilocks regions of the world?
Source: wine section.blogspot.com
There are many fabulous possible and existing northern and southern "Goldilocks
Zones' around the world. Our favoured areas are to be found in the traditional soft fruit
growing regions, which have the infrastructure to support and the ability to process fruit
locally. Other important factors for selecting these areas are they have adequate rainfall,
sufficient chilling hours and a supporting story of local terroir. We have highlighted five of
these zones (blue boxes) on a map of the 'Wine Producing Regions of the World'.
Honeyberries are being grown in all of these regions, however only commercially in the three
northern hemisphere ones. It is interesting to see that all of these regions lie at the upper wine
growing bands between 10c and 20c.
Our favoured 'Honeyberry Goldilocks Zones' would be
• East Coast of Scotland and England

• Poland, Northern France, Northern Germany and Scandinavia
• South Island of New Zealand
• Western and Eastern Canada
• North Central and North Eastern United States
If you are not on this list, do not worry. Please start a plot trial and prove us wrong!

4. Other essential Honeyberry orchard or business
guides?
We would like to bring certain books and resources to your attention. We believe these
books will make the task of establishing a Honeyberry orchard more productive and
enjoyable.
Nutrition Rules
The first one is ‘Nutrition Rules!’ by Graeme Sait. It is a 300-page plus inquiry into the
mechanics of what he has dubbed ‘Nutrition Farming’ an important guide for the
improvement of our health in 21st Century and the framework for a new agricultural
paradigm. Nutrition Farming is the sustainable production of nutrient-dense food for the
protection and sustenance of all who consume it.
“A universal book at the forefront of change to sustainable agriculture and modern life. In this
volume, Graeme Sait has encapsulated the new direction of agriculture for the 21st century –
protecting our biodiversity and health through natural farming”
– Lindsay Bock, publisher, Acres
The good news is that Graeme is offering a free digital copy of his highly acclaimed
book, worth over $40 if you sign up for his very informative newsletter at www.nutri-tech.au

The Intelligent Gardener
Secondly, we highly recommend ‘The Intelligent Gardener’ by Steve Solomon – This

practical step-by-step soil health guide and the accompanying customizable web-based
spreadsheets are essential tools for any serious garden or commercial grower who cares
about the quality of the produce they grow.
Steve points out that centuries of intensive agriculture have depleted our soils to
historic lows. As a result, the vegetables and fruit you consume today may have less than half
the vitamins and minerals that the equivalent serving would have contained a hundred years
ago. This is a matter of grave concern since poor nutrition has been linked to myriad health
problems including cancer, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. For
better health we must increase the nutrient density of our foods to the levels enjoyed by
previous generations.
To grow Honeyberries of the highest nutritional quality the essential minerals lacking in
our soil must be replaced, but this re-mineralization calls for far more attention to detail than
the simple addition of composted manure or NPK fertilizers.
The Intelligent Gardener simplifies the process while simultaneously debunking much
of the false and misleading information perpetuated by both the conventional and organic
agricultural movements. In doing so, it establishes the simple link between healthy soil,
healthy food and healthy people.

Super Business - How I started SuperJam from my Gran’s kitchen
The third book is ‘SuperBusiness’ by Scottish Wunderboy Fraser Doherty. This

remarkable and uplifting story shows what is possible when you match your passion with
the desires of today’s health conscious consumers sugar-free jam.
SuperJam, the company he launched at 18, is set to sell a million jars of his sugar-free,
fruit-based jam to 2,500 supermarkets around the world this year. He shows what is possible
if you grow jars of jam rather than berries for supermarkets.
The Ultimate Soil and Health Library
We strongly recommend readers visit and explore this wonderful resource the Soil and
Health Library. It includes key books that began the organic farming and gardening
movement. There is a broad collection of materials by William Albrecht, books and papers by

Victor Tiedjens and also many more from the BioDynamic movement. This website provides
free downloadable e-books about agriculture and food nutrition.
Further Honeyberry reading
• Small Fruit Growing in Hokkaido No 1. Hasukappu. F. Nakajima 1996. In Japanese
• Usefulness of honeysuckle fruits fro juice production. J. Oszmianski, A. Kucharska

and E. Gasiewcz 1999.
• Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Drinks Today and in the XXI Century. L. Michalczuk
and W. Plocharski 1999.
• Blue Honeysuckle: a new berry crop in Russia. M.N. Plekhanova 1994.
• Blue Honeysuckle in Garden and Nursery. M.N. Plekhanova 1998.
• Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) - a new commercial berry crop for temperate
climates: genetic, resources and breeding. 2000.
• The Flora of the USSR, Vol. 23. A.I. Pojarkova 1999.

5. Honeyberry Home gardeners
The perfect garden plant.
Wellcome home gardeners and thank you for considering growing this very rewarding
plant in your garden. Honeyberries are very easy to grow and offer you the added benefit of
being the first berry to fruit in the season, about 10 to 14 days earlier than your local native
Strawberry. The flavoursome berries are packed with healthy treats like antioxidants, active
polyphenols, pectins, tannins, and vitamin C. They are rich in minerals and the berries
potassium content of 70 mg is twice that of Blackcurrants, Raspberries, and Blackberries.
They are delicious eaten fresh, frozen or dried.
Rat droppings or healthy berries?
Honeyberries are very easy to grow in healthy soil and in variety groupings of three or
more. The result will be tasty, delicious and flavoursome berries, grown in your nutritious
and healthy garden soil. The only pests you will have to be on your guard for, are pesky local
birds looking to devour your berries.
If you decide another course of action. That is to say grown in poor soil or one variety
only or grown in a small pot. Then probability suggests you will be rewarded with a weak

tasting ‘Rat Dropping.’ So please do not blame the plant, as the ultimate test of your
gardening skill is the size and taste of your Honeyberries. Also beware of garden centres
selling two varieties in one or two gallon planters. It is very unlikely that this small pot could
provide the needed environment to create a healthy fruit set and fruitful harvest.
Every garden should have one or three?
What do they taste and look like? Well, they are blue in colour – with a white waxy
coating. There any many differing shapes and sizes that depend on the variety planted (page
160). They range from 2 cm oval berries to 4 cm long cylinders. There is even one shaped like
a miniature blue Banana. The taste has been described as a cross between a Black Raspberry
and a Wild Blueberry, with a hint of Elderberry. We are of course biased! However, we think a
Honeyberry is the most flavoursome and tasty berry you can grow in the garden.
They can be used for producing jam, juice, salad dressings, and even homemade wines
or beers. The important thing to remember is to have fun and be creative in the kitchen. One
of the Russian’s favourite Honeyberry combinations is with Strawberries and Peaches. A final
note on its unusual dark red colour. It may look very dangerous next to your white New
Zealand wool carpet. However you have it on good authority it comes out with lemon juice
and water and a little help of white wine.
Honeyberry pollination in gardens
Honeyberry flowers are hermaphrodite and are most self-incompatible. In obtaining a

healthy harvest, it is accepted two or more cultivars must be planted together for cross-
pollination. Ideal Honeyberry pollinators include Bumblebees and other native or local bees.
We recommend three to six unrelated cultivars per Honeyberry harvest groupings

(planted in equal number) per garden depending on the garden plot size. It creates a well
balanced and diverse natural grouping, with luxury pollination, above average fruit set and
excellent yields. We have also found that berry Brix levels tend to be higher with greater
balanced varietal plantings, in equal numbers.

In commercial orchards, we would advise planting alternate rows rather than mixing
the rows, as with a home garden. We would group the rows per Honeyberry harvest
groupings – Early, Mid, Late, and Very Late. For example Wojtek row and Honey Gin row,
Aurora row, and Happy Giant row, and Strawberry Sensation and Boreal Beauty row.
A further advantage of many varieties is that it allows you to create your own delicious
blend of flavoursome tasting wild Honeyberries or create your unique group of with
differing berry shapes tailored to your children or grand-children’s liking.
How to grow Honeyberries in your garden?
You will be very glad to know that these plants are very easy to grow and they do not
need acidic soil. Sure it has some quirky habits, but nothing compared to the High Bush
Blueberry. By following the few very basic steps below, your Honeyberry plants should
thrive for twenty to thirty years and provide you with over eight pounds plus (per plant) of
tasty fresh fruit every season.
Site selection in your garden
Select a sunny location with well-drained soil that is free of weeds and is well-
worked in organically rich soil. Honeyberries do not like overly dark wet sites in your
garden. The highest yields can be obtained in open, sunny places. Although the new
berries ripen through heat units rather than sun units in May, June or July.

Spacing
Honeyberries should be planted on garden plant centres of about 1.75 meters (5

feet apart. This depends on the variety. The plant is a thick upright bush from 1.5 to 2.0
meters (4 to 6.5 feet) high and a similar 1.5 to 2.0 meters (4 to 6.5 feet) in diameter.
They are fully mature in the 4th or 5th year after planting. However by the second or
third year, after establishment, a yield of up to three pounds of berries can be obtained.
Planting and pruning
The best season for planting Honeyberries is in the fall. Spring planting should
be planted with care or avoided, so not to damage the young emerging growth.
Honeyberry plants can awaken very early and can start growing at an air temperature
around 0 to 2 degrees Celsius (32 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit) when your soil is not ready
for garden work. No pruning is needed on young plants, if grown from tissue culture.
After 8 to 10 years of growth, a light pruning is required to remove the mature old
growth or broken branches and to allow newer vigorous young stems.
If you need to prune because the plant has grown too large. Please remember it is
not recommended to cut the tops off new young growth, as this will reduce next year’s
berry yields. Also do not be worried by peeling bark as this is normal to the
Honeyberry plant and Honeysuckle family.

Very cold hardy
One of the many advantages of the Honeyberry is due to its Russian origins. It
has outstanding winter hardiness. In winter, the plants can stand frosts down to minus
46 degrees Celsius or minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit without being damaged. In
springtime, flowers can withstand frosts of minus 8 degrees Celsius or 18 degrees
Fahrenheit. The plant is a native of northern climates and requires around 1,000 to
1,200 chilling hours. However it southern or warmer climate trials, it is showing
remarkable adaptability in home gardens.
Soil and Honeyberry fertilizing
Honeyberry plants do not like acidic soil of a pH or 5 and below. They tolerate a
soil range of a pH from 5.5 to 7. We aim for our orchards to be around a healthy
balance soil of pH of 6.4. This is similar to your vegetable garden. The soil’s humus or
organic matter should be high at around 10 to 15% and we have seen significant
results from 20% organic matter.
The plants do have a normal nitrogen requirement in the spring. However be

careful not to over do it as excess nitrogen will lead to more foliar or leaf production
and weakening of fruit production. They also benefit from a balanced phosphorus and
Potassium feed in the fall. Be careful not to disturb the plant’s shallow roots under the
plant. Its root system is very thick and extensive, distributed within a radius of 1.7 m
(5 feet) from the plant. The bulk of the roots is about 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm) in
depth, however can go deeper in rich organic soil.
In Southern or Western areas where drought is common in the summer months,

the plant should be well watered so that next season’s berries do not become bitter.
How do we define ‘Summer Drought?’ We consider 10 inches or 25 cm of rain between
July and September to be sufficient, but please preface this with local knowledge. The
plants respond well to a spring or fall mulch of a balanced mix of fungal compost and
well-rotted wood chips ( or natural charcoal or biochar if this is available).

Honeyberries in Bloom
Compost tea
Soil life is often the forgotten factor in commercial orchards but not in gardens.
Farmers should be encouraged to farm like gardeners, rather than the other way
around. When we apply minerals to the soil, its not just for to keep our Honeyberry
plants healthy. A balanced minerally fertile soil is home to over five billion
microorganisms, which inhabit every teaspoon of healthy soil. Disease protection,
nutrient uptake, available nitrogen supply and mineral stability are all functions of an
efficient microbial workforce. They also work for free, but they need to be loved and
spoiled to work in harmony with your garden’s soil.
Cost effective compost tea or microbe brewers can be easily purchased through
amazon.com. We recommend you start small with the ‘Compost Tea in a Bucket (5
gallon) systems for about $100. These brewing kits include – the air pump, air stone,
tubing, instructions and often microbe and food ingredients.

Here are some microbe secrets for you to consider
1. Your fertiliser requirements can be dramatically reduced when you combine

microbes with minerals amendments. Experiment by applying compost and
microbes with your mineral blend for maximum results.
2. It is always a good idea to send your new garden workforce to work with a
healthy lunchbox. This will improve both their performance and colonisation.
The favourite “lunch” treats include humates, fish and kelp.
3. Humates are a wonderful ingredient for your soil as it helps to stabilise,

magnify and retain nutrients while also providing the highly desirable
“lunchbox” effect. Dissolve 4 teaspoons into the Compost Tea Bucket, after it has
brewed, wet soil thoroughly. The diluted 15 gallons should cover approximately
200 square feet.
4. Honeyberries love fungal dominated soil, about ten fungi to one bacteria. So
add greater amounts of kelp or humic acid.
5. We would also recommend foliar sprays of compost tea every three to four
weeks over the growing season. The most important times to foliar feed the
plant is before the flowers open and after harvest.
The more minerals your soils biology can deliver to your Honeyberry plant, the
greater the flavour (Brix of 15 plus) and the higher the medicinal value of the berries
you are growing. Please note chlorinated water should be aerated for 30 minutes
before brewing and water temperature should not exceed 25c.
The best starting place to research needed minerals or compost tea starter packs
for the home gardener is Michela Astera’s soilminerals.com. It is an invaluable source
of products and help. His ‘Soil Mineral Supplement’ packs have kept our garden’s soil
and Honeyberries in great health.

Harvesting and bird netting
The berries are very easy to pick and harvesting times depend on your local climate.
They tend to be ready to harvest 10 to 14 days earlier than your local native Strawberry. In
their native Southern Urals and Western Siberia, they harvest around mid June. In Western
Poland they harvest around the middle to late June and in Scotland early to mid July. In the
North Eastern states of North America, they harvest in late June to mid-July. The earliest
berries we have tasted are those produced in North Arkansas – around middle of May. We
recommend you begin harvesting on a Brix of 15 or higher.
Birds and other pests
The Honeyberry plant is resistant to many fungal diseases of leaves and other
berry plants. If you have fungus problems the source of this trouble probably lies in
the soil rather than the plant. We have seen very few aphids or other insect damage in
our orchards.
Honeyberry’s many Shapes and Sizes

The only real pest of Honeyberries or any fruit garden is birds. In North
America, the main bird pest is the Cedar Waxwing. In Russia, it is Snowbirds or
Sparrows. So for your family to enjoy fresh Honeyberries you need protection from
birds at harvest time. The simplest garden solution is bird netting and put up the nets
as soon as the berries turn blue. This is about 20 to 30 days before harvesting. Avoid
draping the nets on young plants, as the early new growth or shoots will grow
through the nets and become tangled. We find a row posts and wire solution similar
to that found in vineyards works best.
On the topic of deer and other animals, we have heard out West that coyotes are
partial to the berries! The best answer to this problem is local knowledge. We have
found that deer in the summer months prefer the grass in the orchard rows rather
than the leaves of the Honeyberry plants. The key deer problem window is during
March and April if there is still snow on the ground and they tend to graze the top
buds that are starting to form.
How long will it remain productive?
The simple answer to this question is a very long time! A Blackcurrant has a life
span of 4 to 5 years, Redcurrant 15 years, a Raspberry fruit years are considered to be
2 to 4 years and a Strawberry is most productive up to 3 years of age. In Russia,
Honeyberries remain highly productive until the age of 25 to 40 years old. There are
some cases where 150-year-old plants are still laden with berries every season. In
Russia, the plant is considered a plant that will be able to be enjoyed not only by your
children but by your grandchildren and even by your great-grandchildren.
Selling at your local farmer’s market?
How much do Honeyberries sell for? Well, how long is a piece of string? The best way
to answer this is to describe the Honeyberry price premium to Strawberries in Ukraine and
Russia.

Freshly Picked in Poland
In Ukraine, the price of a kilogram of Honeyberries is 5 to 7 times higher than the

prices for Ukrainian Strawberries. In Moscow, it is 3 to 5 times higher. Even in the
Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions of Russia, where the Honeyberries are commonly found in
commercial orchards or in the wild. The strawberry premium there is 1.5 to 2.0 times.
The current prices of Honeyberries vary from whether they are organic or not or frozen
or fresh. As a guide, in Poland commercial frozen sell for around $2.60 a pound. In North
America, commercial grade one frozen sell for about $5.00 plus and fresh a for about $10.00 a
pound at the local farmers market.
6. Honeyberry Seasonal Cycle
We thought one of he best ways for ‘Budding Honeyberry Novices’ to obtain a feel for
this new fruit is to join us by taking a Honeyberry seasonal tour through an example orchard.

This will hopefully give you a monthly or even a weekly picture of what changes to expect
when the flowers or green berries start to show or when to expect harvest time or their fall
bedtime.
The average seasonal dates are for the Canadian Maritimes, with some local differences.
We have enclosed in the table below seasonal comparisons for other Honeyberries areas
around the globe. The earliest flower in North America is in Arkansas around mid-March and
the latest is in Nova Scotia early May. Please enjoy the Honeyberry tour from being asleep in
early January gently covered in snow to late December, patiently waiting for Santa to arrive.
Differing regional ripening periods
In more temperate climates (Oregon), we find that the berries take longer to ripen - 80
to 90 days versus in colder climates 50 to 60 days. It has to do with the fruit plant’s ethylene
production and how it controls fruit ripening. Recent studies show that specialized receptors

in plant cells bind to the ethylene. The first known plant genes involved in this process, ETR1
and CTR1, were identified in 1993. They keep the fruit ripening genes from activating until
ethylene is produced.
The reason for differing ripening periods, we suspect, relates to the CO2 levels around
the fruit. CO2 can be used to reduce ethylene to increase shelf life and improve food storage.
So the colder countries like Poland or Quebec would have less biological activity (and hence
less CO2 – their byproduct). Warmer regions like Oregon or Arkansas would have higher
biological activity in warmer soils and hence more CO2, which reduces ethylene production
and slows ripening.
Spring - Wakey, wakey

First Signs of Life

Flowers and Bees begin to Appear

First Green Berries

Summer Arrives and Berries Galore

Blue Berries at Last

What a Beautiful Sight

Brix Moves Above 12

Harvest Time has Arrived

Fall Arrives and Time for Bed

Winter and Waiting for Santa

A New Seasonal Cycle begins
7. Starting to draft your story of Honeyberry Success
Crafting of your own ‘Honeyberry Story’

We hope our ‘Essential Honeyberry Guide’ can help reveal your soil’s or business
plan’s limiting factors or critical areas of weakness that need to be addressed early on in the
planning process. The simple goal of this book is to enable you to quickly establish a
profitable natural Honeyberry orchard by eliminating many of the costly start-up and
ongoing errors associated with a new fruit such as Honeyberry.
Developing any fruit or berry orchard and bringing it to full production requires a
substantial investment in capital, time, and labour. Estimates vary widely and depend on
circumstances unique to the site and the individual choices that are made - organic or non-

organic. However, necessary orchard development costs can be from $15,000 to more than
$20,000 per acre, not including land costs.
Significant negative cash flow may occur for at least the first 3 years until the plants are
established enough to produce a marketable crop. Therefore, careful consideration should be
taken of the financial and labor requirements before proceeding with plans for a honeyberry
orchard.
Always prepare for the fact that no plan ever goes according to plan. Progress is more
important than perfection. There is a contradictory relationship between farm planning and
chance and is best described by Dwight D. Eisenhower’s famous remark about warfare: “In
preparing for battle, I have found that planning is essential, but plans are useless.” This captures the
need for flexibility when putting any agricultural plan into action, as nature can change our
best-laid plans with the seasonal unexpected event.
Five early easy steps to Honeyberry heaven
Careful advance Honeyberry orchard establishment planning is vital in creating a

successful Honeyberry orchard that is optimized for profitability and long-term success. Your
future success starts with good pre-establishment preparation.
We have listed four key early steps, which we firmly believe you should consider
within your orchard or business planning process.
1. Define your short and long term targets for creating a successful Honeyberry
business. We have seen many different business plans with different ambitions.
However, the key thread that ties them all together is creating an orchard that
you can build a highly profitable brand upon. It's important that you define and
rank these targets. Then set up a management plan, to set achievable milestones
to ensure its success.

2. Test your Orchard’s or proposed site’s soil. Basic soil mineral and biology
results can reveal your soil’s limiting factors or important areas of weakness that
need to be addressed. It is important to look to build these areas up over several
seasons, starting with mixed cover crops in the first season. Our aim is not to
start by dumping valuable minerals or amendments to your soil, as these may be
quickly leached out in their first season of application. Rather to improve your
soil’s biology first with a summer or winter cover crop, to release the minerals
tied or locked up in the soil.
3. Develop an orchard fertility management program, custom built to your

orchard and local terroir. We you to advise starting work on correcting the soil’s
limiting factors with microbes, soil amendments, and cover crops that will give
you the best return on your investment. Deciding to work with a consultant or
agronomist may seem unappetizing, with the question of the cost being utmost
in most prospective grower’s minds. However to avoid the potentially
disastrous consequence of ‘finding out too late,’ we firmly believe it makes sense
to consider the costs of NOT having expert advice.
4. Monitor and make adjustments as necessary through out the season. The two
simplest tools of seeing if your fertility management program is on track or
needs a mid-season adjustment is through the use of Brix measurement and leaf
tissue analysis. The latter allows you to avoid any unnecessary nutrient
deficiency that could cause plant stress, and open the doors to disease, and
insect attack, all of which will reduce your yield potential. Brix has a direct effect
on the quality and flavour of the fruit and provides an indication of the crop’s
natural immunity level to resist disease and pest pressure.
5. Always plan for the fact that no plan ever goes according to plan and progress
is more important than perfection.
It's important to consider these five achievable steps early, to allow you build an
orchard story of healthy terroir, with a flexible nutrient system. Its long-term aim is to reduce
costs, reduce chemical reliance, regenerate the soil, boost plant vitality and enhance the
orchards profitable and flavoursome yields.

Natural or Organic Honeyberries?
We feel one of the easiest decisions when considering establishing a Honeyberry
orchard is to be organic. The three most important reasons to support this are
1. Pesticides - These can be absorbed into the soil and berries, and leave trace
residues. The most well-known one is glyphosate. It was invented and patented
in the mid-seventies by the Monsanto Corporation and marketed as “Roundup”.
It became their flagship product until the patent expired in 2000. The lower
priced generic glyphosate products should theoretically have decimated sales
for Monsanto but they cleverly introduced their genetically modified “Roundup
Ready” crops to maintain their market share.

New research by Doctor Don Huber of Purdue University helps to explain how
glyphosate affects soil-life. He found that glyphosate kills the subgroups within
the soil responsible for the delivery of iron and manganese into the plant. In fact,
in one study he found that if a mere 2.5% of the spray solution made direct
contact with the soil, it served to reduce Manganese uptake by 80% and Iron
absorption by 60%. The loss of manganese-reducing organisms naturally lowers
the levels of Manganese in our food and may have health implications for
humans (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and livestock (reproductive issues).
2. Nutrients - In 2007 a Newcastle University study (United Kingdom) reported

that organic produce boasted up to 40 percent higher levels of some nutrients
(including vitamin C, Zinc, and Iron) than its conventional counterparts.
Additionally, a 2003 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
found that organically grown berries and corn contained 58 percent more
polyphenols, antioxidants that help prevent cardiovascular disease and up to 52
percent higher levels of vitamin C than those conventionally grown.
Recent research by that study’s lead author, Alyson Mitchell, Ph.D., an associate
professor of food science and technology at the University of California,
pinpoints a potential mechanism to explain why organic techniques may
sometimes yield superior produce.
It’s a simple difference in soil fertility, says Mitchell: “With organic methods, the
nitrogen present in composted soil is released slowly and therefore, plants grow
at a natural rate, with their nutrients in balance. Vegetables fertilized with
conventional fertilizers grow very rapidly and allocate less energy to develop
nutrients.”
Buying organically grown fruit and vegetables from local farmers has further
benefits. Nutrient values in produce, peaks just after harvest. So as a general
rule, the less produce has to travel, the fresher and more nutrient-rich it remains.
It’s not surprising farmers markets are so popular.

3. Generation Y or the Millennials - Move over Baby Boomers, the Millennials
(the generation born between 1982 and 2001) are taking over. And this
paradigm shift will change how food is eaten and sold as we know it.
Millennials are drawn to socially responsible companies, they are mindful

eaters, and they adore all things organic, even the cotton in their clothing. After
surveying 300 consumers under the age of 35, the consultancy BFG recently
found that 70 percent purchased organic foods, even though only a 20 percent
actually had any confidence that they could define organic. Once food is cast in
the glow of the word ‘Organic,’ young consumers will be more willing to pay a
premium for it. Potato chips, sell at about 20 percent premium when labeled
‘Organic.’ Another study indicated that the more affordable an organic product
was, the less likely it was to be perceived as nutritious. When people are
shopping for organic foods, they apparently take high price tags as evidence that
something's worth purchasing and nutritious. Simply put, the Millennial
Generation desires honesty and they want to believe.
In 2012, a research report - “Trouble in Aisle 5” released by investment group

Jeffries Alix Partners looked at the impact the Millennials will have on the grocery
market as they continue to mature. At the same time, the purchasing power of the
Baby Boomer generation is slowly fading and Boomers will have less impact on what
is available at the supermarket.
They are also more willing to pay for fresh and healthy food and are willing to
go to great lengths to find it because they are also more aligned with the “food
movement” than previous generations. Their big loves are things like organic farms,
small batch jams, and artisan cheese. This shift by millions of people will change the
food court forever as power is shifted from large mass market company brands and
Supermarkets to “the little guy” selling online or at the local corner store.
Key points to consider from the Jeffries Alix report - “Trouble in Aisle 5”
• The Millennials have much less brand loyalty and are more willing to buy food
through different distribution models. This generation is not afraid to purchase

food online and to look outside of the traditional grocery store to find what they
want. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are more brand loyal and shop at the
regular grocery store for everything.
• Millennials are less married to the ‘one stop shop’ concept of grocery store
shopping and hence the rapid growth of Farmers Markets.
• Specialty (ethnic, local, organic or natural, and fresh) sellers either in traditional
shops or online will benefit from these changes in preference.
• Traditional branded processed food manufacturers will be the big “losers” in

the new food paradigm.
• Millennials are considered to be very focused on paying as little as possible for

products. They are also much more willing to pay more for specific attributes in
food, such as organics or natural, local, ethnic and specialty or artisan foods.
8. Site Preparation and Soil Tests
Site selection and future row orientation

The most significant and unchangeable decision in the life of any orchard is the choice
of its site. In well-suited regions, the analysis may be largely a matter of cost, proximity to
local or export markets, labour supply, and availability of water. All of these decisions will
influence the profitability of the Honeyberry orchard.
In more questionable areas, the same factors need to be taken into consideration, but
identifying a site where the plants can thrive and mature is crucial to the very survival of any
future orchard. Once the limits of the site are known, additional questions regarding variety
type, irrigation, row spacing and needed soil amendments may be made. However the
answers to these topics are site specific and they may be only valid for a particular site.

Local knowledge is always critical and needs to be considered in orchard layout and
localized site evaluation. Much of this is not captured in general topography maps or climatic
data which cannot provide that much detail.
So, what is required of a Honeyberry orchard site?
• An early growing season of sufficient length. The growing season is determined

by the number of days between the last 2c in spring and the first fall frost.
• Sufficient winter chilling hours. Current research indicates that Honeyberries

need in the region of 1,000 to 1,200 chilling hours between 2c to 10c. However,
there is growing research to suggest that this figure may be adjusted downwards
to around 800 hours.
• Adequate sunlight and heat. There must be sufficient sunlight hours to ensure an
ample supply of carbohydrates are produced by photosynthesis to mature the
berries and to maintain future productive potential.
• Mineral nutrients. The supply and the availability of essential mineral elements
in the rooting zone must be well balanced

• Adequate water supply. A steady and sufficient supply of water is needed to
allow the plants to function properly. However, soil water must not be in excess or
roots and plant growth will suffer. In cold climate regions, irrigation is not
needed. However, the soil structure must retain enough water in the root zone to
provide the orchard plant needs between rains.
• Internal soil drainage. The site of the orchard should not retain excessive
moisture that results in ponding or high water tables that restrict root growth and
respiration.
• Air drainage. Honeyberries are very frost tolerant during winter and early spring.
However, the plants would benefit from a site that allows cold, dense air to drain
away. Otherwise increased 'freeze-thaw' injury could occur.
Row Orientation
Row orientation is less critical than row spacing. On level sites, orient rows to maximize
length and minimize the number of end posts, if bird netting is required. Most sites are not
level and we advise not contour rows around hills, as the bird netting, supports will be
structurally weak. Low lying areas should be used as alleyways or turning areas for the
mechanical harvesters rather than for planting.
Sunlight management in the plant rows should be maximized. Research studies have
shown that rows oriented in a north-south direction receive more sunlight, have better air
movement among plants, and produce slightly higher yields than those oriented east to west.
Therefore, where possible, align rows as closely as possible to a north-south axis, however,
row orientation should be paired with site constraints like topography and erosion potential.
In some regions, strong south and southwest winds may dictate row direction more than
capturing sunlight. In most orchard locations, it is essential to orient rows across a slope to
minimize soil erosion.
Typical row lengths are between 200 and 300 feet, but it depends greatly on the site.
Breaks in orchards rows can contribute to more efficient orchard operations, particularly

those that are mechanized, such as spraying, or harvesting. The value of these features
should be weighed against the maximization of plant numbers and total orchard productive
space.
Soil health is everything
We are very privileged to have the help of Nutri-Tech founder Graeme Sait and his
many teams to help solve the nutrition puzzle of what a healthy Honeyberry plant requires
regarding soil health. We encourage prospective and existing growers to attend one of Nutri-
Tech's founder's Graeme Sait's many two or four-day NTS Certificate courses In Sustainable
Agriculture courses, held throughout the world.
Soil health is everything in an orchard be it an Apple or Honeyberry and we are

currently paying a high price of depletion in our soils, which are shadows of their former
selves. The loss of minerals, microbes and humus from our soils has required ever increasing
levels of chemically based fertilisers which has, in turn, further worsened the losses.
Over the last twenty or more years Graeme has questioned the logic of continuing
down this current path. This is best illustrated by the fact that we have used more chemicals
every year since we began the “chemical experiment of extractive farming” in agriculture and
yet every year there has been a global increase in pest and disease pressure.

2015 was a record year for chemical usage in agriculture around the world, with a 14%
increase. This significantly surpassed the previous year, which was also a record. Coating our
soils and food with more questionable and toxic chemicals each year, with less and less
response, is surely the definition of 'crazy.'
So what determines a healthy soil in an orchard? The cornerstones of a highly
productive and disease-resistant soil are minerals, microbes, and humus. Minerals are the
plant’s building blocks for the phytonutrients (vitamins, antioxidants and protective
compounds like anthocyanins) that determine medicinal qualities in fresh food. The
availability of minerals to plants is determined by its supply, balance, and soil biology.
Since the 1950's. we have annually removed minerals from our soils through crop
removal and have chosen to only replace three or four in NPK. We also have also elected to
ignore the biology that delivers these minerals in a soluble form and protects the plant.
However, it is more than the simplistic, NPK approach and neglect of biology which has
impacted soil health, and hence created a decline in farm profitability. We have forgotten
nature's basic rule of balance in our soils. No mineral is an island and each mineral impacts
another or numerous others.
When looking to enhance or repair the health of your orchard, the starting point in the
orchard’s balance equation is always Calcium, the trucker of all minerals. Whether you are an
interested Honeyberry grower or just a home gardeners your first priority is to meet your
soil’s and plant's Calcium requirements.
We encourage farmers to grow like gardeners and recognise that soil from differing
terroir's or regions has a different Calcium storage capacity based on its clay component. A
thorough soil test will provide its base saturation details or the percentage of storage space
available on its clay colloid. Then the grower can correctly determine the appropriate needed
Calcium to be amended. The understanding of this balance is essential in achieving
productive and healthy soil because over liming can actually be worse than doing nothing. It
is all about getting it 'just right' and hence 'the rule of balance' analogy.
If a grower becomes too enthusiastic and oversupply's the soil's need for Calcium. This
can negatively impact the uptake of the seven other essential minerals.

The correct amount of Calcium in relation to Magnesium (the Ca: Mg ratio) effectively
determines how well a soil can breathe. An open and well-structured soil facilitates
improved photosynthesis (the most important process on the planet) and provides the
optimum conditions for earthworms and other members of your 'free' aerobic, microbial
workforce. Plant roots expand unimpeded in this natural open medium and moisture moves
in freely from above and below.
So it is Calcium, as a starting point and then all other major and trace minerals that
need to be addressed and balanced to sustainably achieve high fertility. Zinc for leaf size or
the plant's the solar panel, Copper for plant resilience, Boron for reproduction, Molybdenum
and Cobalt to access free Nitrogen from the atmosphere and Silica for the cell strength that
helps the plant resist both disease and insect attack.
How can we regenerate our soils that have been depleted? We can start re-balancing
our soils through winter and summer cover crops and increase the soil's microbe population
through inexpensive compost teas. This can address the one that is most missing in our soils
around the world, Mycorrhizal fungi. It is actually the most critical microbe in the re-building
of natural soil. These three important basics can quickly improve profitability and plant
resilience of a orchard.
Mycorrhizal fungi burrow into the plant roots creating an addition network that
effectively provides it with ten times the additional root surface area. These symbiotic fungi

allow the plant greater access to vital minerals like Phosphorus, Potassium and Calcium.
They also produce a sticky substance called Glomalin that is now known to be the triggering
mechanism for 30% of the humus in the soil.
Current methods of agriculture have done more than increase the likelihood of growing
substandard and chemically contaminated food. It has also knocked out 90% of the all-
important mycorrhizal fungi in our soils. These creatures can be reintroduced for as little as
five dollars per acre and you need to initiate this repopulation exercise in your orchard as
quickly as possible.
Six secrets to soil test success
We encourage new Honeyberry growers to view soil testing as the starting point for all
your orchard activities. It is the foundation stone in creating a story for a great terroir on
which your orchard should be built on. Its production and profitability will be determined by
its nutritional constraints and there is no place for guesswork or driving blind.
Graeme Sait and his Nutri-Tech team together with their local regional partners have
worked together to produce a Honeyberry focused 'Soil Therapy' report. Its simple goal is to
enable you to quickly establish an organic or natural profitable orchard by eliminating many
of the costly start-up and ongoing amendment errors associated with a new fruit. What is
needed to create this report? Well, you need to carry out a standard soil test, with additional
tests for Silicon (Si), Molybdenum (Mo), Cobalt (C0) and Selenium (Se). We recommend you
have your soil analyzed by Logan Labs or similar laboratories and the cost for these
combined tests is around $50 to $60.

What makes a good soil test?
A good soil test should measure the 14 essential minerals and it should also include
your soil's base saturation percentages. “Base saturation” refers to the proportion of the major
cations or bases that are attached to the clay component of your soil.
Clay is negatively charged, so it has Velcro-like bases that attract positively charged
minerals to help store them in the soil. These “bases” include Calcium, Magnesium,
Potassium, Sodium and the non-nutrient, acid-forming mineral, Hydrogen. It has been
discovered that if you can achieve an ideal balance of these minerals in your orchard's soil
and relative to your specific crop, then you can maximise production and minimise problems.
A good soil test for your orchard should provide the ideal percentages of these bases
attached to the clay in your soil. In the majority of soils, that might involve 68% calcium, 12%
magnesium, 7% potassium and less than 1.5% sodium. An ideal cation balance would also
require 10% hydrogen to provide an ideal soil pH of 6.4. This is the pH at which most
minerals are most available and, therefore, is worth working towards.
Working in over 50 countries with Graeme’s agronomy team have found that it is very
productive to work toward achieving certain mineral ratios, rather than immediate levels. He
considers there are six key ratios to be used as a guideline of soil health. The overall goal is to
work toward improving each of these ratios annually. If you can see improvements in all the
six ratios each year, you are on the right track of achieving a healthy and productive orchard.

1) The Calcium to Magnesium ratio is the single, most important of these ratios.
This ratio determines the breathing capacity of your soil. The better a soil
can take in oxygen and then release CO2 for photosynthesis the better your
production. Soil without breath is like an animal nearing death and this ratio
governs this process. Growers sometimes forget that oxygen below the surface
is the most essential element for plant growth.
Here is how the Ca:Mg ratio determines oxygen availability in the soil. It
is all about something called ionic radius. This only refers to the size of the
mineral ion. Calcium is a large ion with two positive charges. Think of
Calcium as a beach ball with a positive charge on either side. The positive
charges are attracted to the negatively charged particles of clay in the soil (clay
colloids). The beach ball attached to clay particles on each side and holds them
together as stable soil aggregates with air-space (pores) in between. This is
called flocculation, which enables essential oxygen to diffuse from the
atmosphere into the soil.
By contrast, magnesium is a golf ball, which also attaches to clay colloids

on either side with the two positive charges. However, instead of holding the
particles together as stable aggregates with pore spaces in between, the much
smaller magnesium ions pull them closer together. In fact, the higher the
magnesium in your soil, the tighter it becomes, and the less it can breathe. A
high magnesium soil does not favour a microbial workforce that is dependent
on oxygen.
At this point you might be thinking, let's forget about the magnesium,
let’s open her up and reap the benefits of a breathing soil! Unfortunately, this
is not how it works. Magnesium is the lifeblood of chlorophyll, which houses
the sugar factories that produce glucose, the key energy source for plants and
most soil organisms.
A healthy open soil is all about achieving its optimum ratio between
Calcium and Magnesium and this, in turn, depends on the CEC (Catin

Exchange Capacity) of your soil. CEC is a measure of the clay component of
the soil. A sandy soil might have a CEC of 4 while a heavy clay soil might have
a CEC of 40. In the thick clay soil you need more Calcium to help push apart
the high clay component. Here, the ideal Ca:Mg ratio might be 7:1. Conversely,
in the sandy soil you might need a Ca:Mg ratio of just 3:1, because you need
more magnesium to help create structure in soil where there is none. In
general, the closer you can move your particular Ca:Mg ratio towards
“Honeyberry ideal” for your soil type, the better you will do in your growing
berry enterprise.
2) The second most important ratio is the Potassium to Magnesium ratio.
This ratio that was discovered by Graeme at Nutri-Tech Solutions. When

comparing thousands of soil tests to leaf tests together, over many years, he
discovered that whenever equal parts per million (ppm) of Magnesium and
Potassium were achieved. There was an increase in the uptake of both
minerals into the leaf. Not only was the uptake of these minerals maximised,
but there was also an associated positive impact on the uptake of Phosphorus.
This is very important because Phosphorus is one of the essential minerals for
photosynthesis and the most critical mineral for plant immunity. Hence, this
ratio directly influences plant resilience, creating a reduced need for chemical
intervention and less stress and more fun in farming.
The reasoning behind this ratio derives from the idea that “no mineral is
an island” Every mineral affects the uptake of other minerals positively or
negatively. In this case, too much Magnesium inhibits the absorption of
Potassium and vice versa. If we get the ratio right, there is no inhibition and
both minerals flow into the plant unimpeded. Interestingly, both of these
minerals also impact Phosphorus. Potassium is a Phosphate antagonist if it is
oversupplied, while Magnesium is a Phosphate synergist, supporting the
uptake of Potassium. If we balance these two minerals, Phosphate flows into
the plant (as evidenced by a leaf test) and plant production and resilience is
enhanced. The goal here, again, is to work toward achieving equal parts per
million (ppm) of potassium and magnesium on your soil test or a ratio of 1:1
and you will see the benefits.

3) The third key ratio is the Phosphorus to Sulfur ratio.
We are once again concerned with maximising the uptake of

Phosphorus. However, this ratio is also about the availability of an often-
neglected mineral called Sulfur. Many soils are now Sulfur deficient because
two things have changed. Thirty years ago, Sulfur used to arrive freely in the
rain. Then it was realised that Sulfur emissions from industry were creating
acid rain, which was linked to dying waterways and forests across the globe.
The subsequent banning of Sulfur emissions meant that farmers no longer
received this vital mineral for free, and many farmers have yet to recognise
this fact. The second change impacting Sulfur relates to the loss of humus in
our soils. Humus is the Sulfur storehouse and we have lost two-thirds of our
humus through the ravages of extractive agriculture. Once again, this is a case
where excesses of either mineral will antagonise the other. If we achieve a 1:1
balanced ratio, the uptake of both minerals is optimised.
4) Getting the energy minerals right with the Phosphorus to Zinc ratio.
Phosphorus is called “the energy mineral” because it is the building

block for ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate), which drives every enzymatic
reaction. ATP is, in effect, the battery of life, because enzymes drive all
biological reactions and life stops without ATP. Phosphorus is also the primary
mineral required for plant immunity and the production of glucose from
photosynthesis is primarily based on phosphate-based enzymes.
Zinc is called “the energy micronutrient” because this mineral is

required, in the right balance with Phosphorus, to ensure that Phosphate
energises correctly. Zinc is also linked to moisture uptake and the performance
of nitrogen-fixing organisms in the root zone. However, most importantly, this
critically important trace mineral is required for plant and soil organisms to
produce auxins.
Auxins are a group of hormones produced by the plant and beneficial

microorganisms, which provide some essential benefits. The most important of

these relate to leaf size. The leaf is the solar panel that determines
photosynthetic performance and Zinc governs leaf size. A Zinc deficiency
spells a substandard leaf, less glucose production and an inevitable yield
reduction. This is why Zinc is often considered to offer the best cost to benefit
ratio of any trace mineral. A deficiency will always be costly and yet it is
relatively inexpensive to address.
The key is to supply both phosphorus and zinc in the ratio that ensures
maximum performance of both minerals. In this instance, that ratio is actually
more valuable than ppm or pounds per acre. Ten parts phosphorus to one part
Zinc is the proven effective ratio between these two minerals. So if you had 30
ppm of Phosphorus on your soil test, for example, and 3 ppm of Zinc, both
minerals are technically deficient. However, the ratio between them is correct
(10:1). Maintaining this correct ratio while amending the soil is the very
significant to its health.
It would be very counterproductive if you were to lift Zinc levels to the

minimum required level of 5 ppm (because it is less costly to address Zinc
than Phosphorus) but ignore the Phosphate correction. Your perfect ratio is
now compromised and it would be reduced to 6:1, which is worse than no
action at all. If you have a limited farm budget, then limit your correction
accordingly. However, always ensure that you maintain the all-important 10:1
Phosphorus to Zinc ratio. When we are discussing any of the mineral ratios
relative to Phosphorus, we should clarify the Phosphorus extraction involved
and are referring specifically to Mehlich 3 extraction.
5) Balancing the 'Lookalike Cations' with the Potassium to Sodium ratio.
Potassium and Sodium are two of the major cations that are stored in
greatest abundance in the clay colloid in our soils. “Base saturation” on your
soil test refers to the relative percentages of the base cations, including

Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, and Hydrogen, that are attached to
the clay component of your soil. Ideally, in a Honeyberry orchard, we should
aim for about 5% saturation of Potassium (Note - 3% for pasture and broad
acre crops, 5% for other and 7% for woody vineyards or fruit orchards).
Sodium should never exceed 1.5% on the base saturation portion of your
soil test, but more importantly, you should never have a higher percentage of
Sodium than Potassium. Should this occur, the plant may have problems
differentiating between these lookalike minerals. The plant seems to assume
that Potassium will naturally be present in higher amounts, so it only extracts
the mineral that is present in the higher percentage at the time. If that is
Sodium, there is hell to pay. Sodium expands in the heat, bursts cell walls, and
you have burnt edges on your leaves. Unfortunately, this is not just a cosmetic
issue. The plant no longer has the required amount of Potassium to transfer
sugars, open stomates, sweeten fruit, size up fruit and grains, and strengthen
stems. You will suffer yield and quality limitations as a result of this
imbalance. The key is to always maintain a higher percentage of Potassium
than Sodium in terms of base saturation. The ideal ratio may be around 4:1,
but the critical thing is to ensure that sodium levels are never higher than
Potassium.
6) Ensuring adequate supply of the immune enhancers through the Iron and
Manganese ratio.
Iron and Manganese are essential trace minerals for plant resilience. The
plant uses these minerals for many of the compounds it creates to defend itself
against marauding microbes and insects. The Iron to Manganese ratio is the
last of Graeme's six soil secrets. The goal here is to always ensure that your soil
contains more parts per million (ppm) of Iron than Manganese.
However, this ratio should never exceed 2 parts of Iron to one part of
Manganese, or you may induce a Manganese deficiency. Iron and Manganese
are antagonistic to each other when oversupplied, so a Manganese excess can
also induce an Iron deficiency. The key is to achieve the desirable balance,
where there is more Iron than Manganese, but never more than a ratio of 2:1.

The most important thing here is to just make sure that iron is higher than
manganese at all times.
It is not always certain that a poor balance of these minerals in the soil will negatively
impact the uptake of either mineral. This is because various factors including soil type,
environmental conditions, and organic matter levels can also be involved. This note of
caution applies to all of the six ratios and that is why we will always suggest the use of leaf
analyses to confirm a potential problem. If you can work toward improving these 'Super-Six'
and monitor your success with regular soil and leaf testing, the benefits will flow quickly.
Your soil will breathe better, biology will work for you, plants be more resilient, nutrient
uptake, production and profitability will increase. Also, the taste of your Honeyberries will
be full of flavour and will quickly achieve a price premium.
Start amending with an annual cocktail cover crop
Planting a cocktail of cover crops is the best and most cost-effective way to improve
your soil before you plant as an annual and after you plant as a perennial. The balance and
makeup of these mixes differ depending on your orchard location, soil type, and your regions
rainfall. A cocktail is broken down into five groupings or families -
• Legumes: Examples - Berseem Clover, Crimson Cover, annual yellow clover,

white clover, Lynx Peas and Hairy Vetch
• Grasses: Examples - Annual Rye Grass and Sorghum
• Brassicas/Herbs: Examples - Groundbreaker Radish, Rape, Kale, flax, and

mustard and Chicory
• Cereals: Examples - Oats, Wheat, Barley, Cereal Rye, Buckwheat, Millet and
Forage Oats
• Chenopods: Examples - Sugar Beets, Spinach and Chard

Cover crops are becoming an essential early orchard tool and like everything in life the
variety of the cocktail is the spice to life. The cocktail approach of combining the five families
is the best, most cost-effective and efficient ways of building humus, stimulating biology
(including mycorrhiza), making minerals in soils available to plants and keeping weeds at
bay or in balance. One of the important decisions whether to grow on your young plants in 2
or 4-gallon pots is that they will be big enough if you decide to plant directly into this living
mulch in the fall.
One of the greatest misunderstandings about cover crops is that they will rob precious
reserve moisture from the orchard crop. This is not the case. When these cover crops are
returned to the soil, they increase organic matter, which holds its own weight in water. More
importantly, these crops feed and stimulate bacterial populations. These organisms
continuously release a sticky substance that works just like water crystals in your soil. You
have very often improved moisture management with an annual or perennial cover crop
instead of stealing it from the orchard plants.
The advantages of this cost effective strategy (approx. $80 an acre) are to awaken the
soil’s biology, increase the organic matter and make the minerals more available to the plants.
So the soil is in better shape to hold on to any future needed soil amendments after the
establishment of annual cocktail cover crop.
Top 8 Reasons Growers use a cocktail cover crop
• Reduces erosion
• Increases soil organic matter and reduces compaction
• Increases yields for the following crop
• Controls weeds
• Scavenges nitrogen
• Provides nitrogen for the upcoming cash crop
• Very cost effective - $80 to $100 an acre

9. Honeyberry ‘Soil Therapy Report’ example
Introduction - Don’t drive blind
Soil amendments represent a major orchard investment and anything that improves
nutrition efficiency should reduce costs. The simple strategy here is to apply only what is
needed, when it is needed and nothing more. Monitoring is necessary to achieve its efficiency.
So fertilising without soil and leaf test is like electioneering without opinion polls. The
nature of mineral interrelationships is such that the application of a mineral that is not
actually required can cause more problems than undersupply of this nutrient. Our message
here is “don’t drive blind”. Use a good soil test and supply what is needed.
NTS Soil Therapy Example Report -

Honeyberry Fruit Farm
NTS Soil Therapy report is an in-depth soil analysis and nutrition programming service
that has been the mainstay of NTS agronomy for the past 18 years. The easy-to-understand
reports ensuring that growers are able to understand their orchard’s or plant’s mineral
requirements and there are priority guidelines that can help in budget-related decision
making.
In many cases it can be wise to plant a winter or summer cocktail cover crop first to
unlock potential mineral reserves in the soil and kick start its biology. Soil amendment or
fertiliser requirements can be seriously reduced when you put the minerals behind the
microbes. For example, you can apply just 10% of soil test recommendations and still achieve
a good result when those minerals are combined with compost or compost tea.

Soil Test and Nutrient Status of Honeyberry Fruit Farm
• Soil Therapy Report for Honeyberry Fruit Farm
Organic matter is excellent and maintaining these levels will be one of the keys to
improving fertility and long term production. There are some significant imbalances in the
soil. Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) are excessive and have taken up a lot of the sites
Base Saturation percentages. The advised application of Gypsum (Calcium Sulphate) should
help boost the deficient Calcium (Ca) level while contributing to leach the smaller
Magnesium molecule (through the formation of Magnesium sulphate) out of the soil for a
more favourable Calcium (Ca) to Magnesium (Mg) ratio.
Phosphorus levels should be a priority, especially before planting, as this element is

critical for successful crop establishment. All trace elements are also extremely minimal and
should be boosted to. Nitrogen levels are excellent, however Silicon, Molybenum, Coblat and
Selenium were not tested for and should be included in the next soil test.
The Lamotte/Reams category, which is measure of plants available nutrients, shows

that Calcium (Ca) is extremely low, while interestingly Magnesium (Mg) is low along with
Phosphorus (P). Discrepancies between the Albrecht and Lamotte/Reams test can be
indicative of poor soil biological activity. Therefore, it is recommended you apply microbial
inoculants and stimulants to help speed up mineral recycling. Improving the Calcium (Ca) to
Magnesium (Mg) ratio will also contribute to opening up the soil and provide more oxygen
in the rhizosphere.

Honeyberry Fruit Farm

• General Guidelines and Operating Principals
Fertiliser should increase soil fertility, otherwise, it does not deserve the name. Any
product which damages the soil is a not a fertiliser. There are some products which have the
capacity to fall into either category, and that capacity is defined by the way these products are
used. Application rates and times, suitability for different soil types and crops, and
consideration of overall balance are some of the factors involved in determining the relative
value of any input in a program. The analysis should provide valuable guidelines to any
grower concerned with improving soil and plant nutrition, raising the quality of produce and
increasing production in a sustainable fashion.
Normally the Potassium base saturation should not exceed 5%, except table grapes and
woody berry or fruit plants which require 7%. Weed problems can be directly related to
potassium levels exceeding 7.5%. Many soil test recommendations continue to suggest
Potassium regardless of base saturation balance, and many problems are associated with this
misunderstanding of the importance of cation balance.
• Six Secret Ratios to Soil Test Success
The six key ratios highlight many of the problem areas that need to be addressed. An
application of Gypsum will open up the soil, allowing the high sodium to be flushed out.
The sulphate content of Gypsum can also bond with Sodium and increase the desired
leaching effect.The primary trace mineral that needs to be improved is Manganese. This is an
important mineral, as it accelerates germination and hastens fruiting and ripening of crops. It
is important in the assimilation of nitrates, and it is essential for the absorption of carbon
dioxide in photosynthesis.
Manganese is also a critical part of plant enzyme systems, and it is directly involved in
uptake of iron and ascorbic acid. Manganese availability is significantly reduced by high soil
pH or cold soil conditions. Excessive base saturation of Potassium and Sodium (combination
of 10% and greater) will shut out Manganese. It doesn’t matter what the soil test states in this
case, Manganese uptake will be blocked. This problem often occurs in lighter soils and can be
an unrecognised, yield limiting factor for cotton, wheat, soybeans, peas, oats, tomatoes, citrus
and grapes.

• Calcium (Ca) to Magnesium (Mg) ratio = 2.8 to 1 (Ideal 6 to 1) - Improve
• Potassium (K) to Magnesium (Mg) ratio = 2.5 to 1 (Ideal 1 to 1) - Improve
• Phosphorus (P) to Sulfur (S) ratio = 1.0 to 1 (Ideal 1 to 1) - Good
• Phosphorus (P) to Zinc (Zn) ratio = 9.7 to 1 (Ideal 10 to 1) - Good
• Potassium (K) to Sodium (Na) ratio = 13 to 1 (Ideal 4 to 1) - Improve
• Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) ratio = 14.3 to 1 (Ideal 2 to 1) - Improve
Von Liebig’s Law of the Minimum is important when considering trace element needs.
This law states that plant growth and yield is governed by nutrients in the least supply, not
by those in abundant supply. As a plant goes into its time of stress – the time when it
produces the fruit the grower sells – it is not the abundant supply of Nitrogen or Potassium
which will determine yield, but the nutrient which is most deficient.
Honeyberry Fruit Farm Amendment Program

Honeyberry Fruit Farm Foliar Program
Invariably, this involves one or more of the trace elements, as they are the most ignored.
It is often not feasible within this critical time-frame to isolate the offending problems via leaf
analysis. Often the most productive technique is to adopt the “scattergun” approach and
cover all bases. This broad spectrum approach must involve a foliar fertiliser as this is the
only way to provide the trace elements exactly when they are needed.
• Cocktail Cover Crop Mix
The summer annual Honeyberry cocktail cover mix below has been specially selected to
create a fungal dominated soil (e.g. peas, vetch, crimson clover, oats) and an ideal
environment for Mycorrhiza fungi.
• 33.1% Forage Oats

• 55.2% Lynx Peas
• 3.3% Berseem Clover
• 5.5% Crimson Clover
• 1.1% Sugar Beets
• 1.1% Groundbreaker Radish
• 0.6% Antler Chicory

Two often forgotten important trace minerals
The Marvel of Molybdenum – Understanding the Mighty Midget
How could a mineral required in such minuscule amounts deliver such a significant
outcome? Your soil should contain just 0.5 ppm of Molybdenum but, in its absence, there is
quite a price to pay.
For a start, you will require more excessive Nitrogen from a bag because you have
limited your access to free Nitrogen from the atmosphere. Molybdenum is an essential
ingredient in the enzyme, nitrogenase, which is manufactured by Nitrogen-fixing organisms
to convert gaseous Nitrogen in the atmosphere into ammonium Nitrogen in the soil. If you
maximise your access to free Nitrogen, you not only reduce production costs and enhance
profitability, but you also improve plant health and lessen the need for chemical intervention.
It gets better as there is a second way that Molybdenum can reduce chemical use, which
is even more exciting. In intensive horticulture, Nitrogen is very often over-supplied and
usually in the nitrate form. Nitrates always enter the plant with water and this can have a
nutrient diluting effect. In fact, it is a rule of thumb that high nitrate levels mean low Brix
levels which, in turn, increases the likelihood of insect attack. Insects are the garbage
collectors on the planet and if you grow nitrate-packed garbage the rubbish removers arrive
on cue!
Nitrate Nitrogen is stored in the leaf until it is converted to protein. This conversion
requires another enzyme called the nitrate reductase enzyme. If the plant lacks the building

blocks to manufacture this enzyme, then nitrates do not convert to proteins and the pest
pressure builds in line with the nitrate accumulation. The central building block of the
nitrate reductase enzyme is Molybdenum.
Many soil tests do not even measure Molybdenum but, when it is tested, it is very often
deficient. A famous New Zealand study looked at the benefit of adding small amounts of
Molybdenum into the fertiliser program when growing Canola and Lucerne in both light and
heavy soils. The researchers recorded yield increases ranging from 38% to over 600% when
this missing link was present.
The Bounty Of Boron – Much More Than a Calcium Co-Factor
Many growers are now aware of the declaration by American consultant, Gary Zimmer,
that “Calcium is the trucker of all minerals but boron is the steering wheel”. There is no
doubt about the validity of the claim. We have seen large areas limed to increase Calcium
levels, but to no avail, for the want of a few kilos of boron. In fact, you have often wasted
your hard-earned money if you apply Calcium to Boron-deficient soils without addressing
the Boron shortage.
However, Boron is a major mineral player in its own right and a shortage can also have
a severe impact on soil life. Boron is critical when a plant is entering the reproductive stage
and, as this is the business end of the crop cycle, it can prove costly to ignore the Boron
connection. Most Avocado growers, for example, have learned their lessons about applying
Boron before flowering. The Avocado tree has a notoriously low fruit to flower ratio. The tree
is covered in flowers but only a small percentage become fruit. Boron determines the length
of the male pollen tube and thereby offers a substantial increase in fruit set.
There are very few crops that do not benefit from an inexpensive foliar spray of Boron
before flowering. This typically involves a kilo of Solubor with a kilo of Soluble Humate
Granules per hectare. The humic acid increases the uptake of Boron by over 30% and it is also
something of a fertiliser in itself. Boron is a mineral that we like to see in luxury levels on a
leaf test, but this is a rarity. There are several reasons for such widespread boron deficiency
ranging from neglect and mineral mismanagement to low levels of humus in the soil.

Boron is a negatively charged mineral, called an anion, and the only storage system for
this mineral in the soil is the positively charged humus colloid. Humus levels globally are
only one-third of what they were a few decades ago and consequently the capacity to store
and retain humus has been severely compromised.
Boron can also impact soil life. Sugars accumulate in the chloroplasts (the sugar
factories) before half of them are translocated down to the roots each day. 60% of this half is
exuded from the roots to feed and promote beneficial microorganisms (30% of total glucose
production). Both the plant and the microbes understand this “give and you will receive”
deal and there are multiple benefits on both sides.
The translocation of the sugars from the leaves to the roots is controlled by a trap door
that opens in the late afternoon to facilitate the transfer. The optimum functioning of this
trapdoor is determined by Boron. An advanced Boron deficiency can lock the gates and, as a
result, the soil life goes hungry. In this instance, a couple of dollars worth of foliar-sprayed
Boron can be the difference between a fully functioning soil foodweb and a hungry,
unproductive microbe workforce. Micronutrients can be a costly oversight when neglected by
Honeyberry or fruit growers!
10. Ordering Plants
Only the best varieties will do
Every grower or person have their favourites or their 'Best of the Best' list of the things
they love or do. So it is not surprising that we do too! We have created this list from our four
favourite Honeyberry plant breeders in North America and Europe, over the last six years. It
is broken down into the current four harvesting categories - Early, Mid, Late and Very Late.
We have added a further column for 2017 cooler and warmer zones, reflecting the more
temperate and lower Latitude regions where the berries are being trialled and grown.
We are not saying that other names that do not make this list should be ripped out. Not
at all! The table has been created by combining today's best and up and coming varieties and
those set to appear in 2017. So if asked “What would we plant in our orchards today and

tomorrow?” You have your answer below! They have been selected for the following
variables: fresh, frozen, taste, berry shape, alcohol production of spirits or wine, and
blending. All the varieties can be harvested by hand or mechanically.
Honeyberry Blooming and Harvest Groups
Honeyberry pollination groupings
Honeyberry flowers are hermaphrodite and are most self-incompatible. To obtain a

healthy harvest, it is generally accepted two or more cultivars or companions must be
planted together for cross-pollination. Ideal Honeyberry pollinators include Bumblebees,
Hive or Honeybees (one hive per acre) and other native or local bees. We recommend four to
six cultivars (planted in equal number) per acre depending on the size of the orchard. This
creates a well balanced and diverse natural orchard, with luxury pollination, above average
fruit set and excellent yields. We have also found that Brix levels tend to be higher with
greater balanced varietal plantings.

We have broken down the four varieties from our four growers into to blooming or
harvesting categories - Early, Mid, Late and very late. Each one lags the other by a week or
two and timings may differ in warmer or colder regions. Also, larger berries in some areas
take longer to ripen than smaller ones. The accepted theory is the Russian varieties are first to
bloom, a mix of Russian and Japanese are next to bloom and the Japanese are the last to
bloom or harvest. This keeps things simple rather than breaking the list down further into
Kamstchatika is later than Turchaninowii, Kuril is later than Japanese ones, etc.
If we use Quebec as an example benchmark, we have assigned the following dates and
varieties for the four groups. We have listed a complete list for the four groups in the
Honeyberry plant appendix at the end of the guide (page 281).
• Early: June week 4 - Happy Giant, Blue Moose, Indigo Gem and Berry Blue
• Mid: July week 1 and 2 - Tundra, Aurora, Wojtek and Zojka
• Late: July 3 and 4 - Boreal Blizzard, Blue Giant Heart and Blue Cloud
• Very Late: July week 3 and August 1 - Boreal Beauty, Strawberry Sensation, Blue
Treasure and Blue Typhoon
In commercial orchards, we would advise planting alternate rows rather than mixing
the rows and would group the rows per Honeyberry harvest groupings – Early, Mid, Late,
and Very Late. For example Wojtek row and Honey Gin row, Aurora row, and Happy Giant
row, and Strawberry Sensation and Boreal Beauty row. We believe by categorising the
cultivars in this manner. It allows growers to specialise in a particular group or cultivate
varieties in all four. We suggest that the Late and Very Late Honeyberry cultivars are better
suited for warmer or more Southern climates.
The most successful Honeyberry growing regions will be those that can grow all four
groups. These allow growers a longer harvesting window and to blend the full ‘Rainbow’ of
Honeyberry flavours available. In our opinion, there is no perfect Honeyberry because taste
is so subjective and your perfect Honeyberry will need to be cross pollinated by one or
several other companion varieties. So it's truly a team effort like an award winning wine or
whisky. Today many of the Honeyberry products are produced with berries of a Brix of 12 or
lower and much of its unique taste is lost in general old style processing or pasteurising.
These products are still exciting as they capture its colour and give us a hint of what is still to

come. So as the Honeyberry industry develops with deeper tasting varieties, specialised
blends will become sought after for niche products they make. Remember we want to create a
delicious Honeyberry jam, not just a Honeyberry jam.
Honeyberry plant variety guide
There are over 30 Honeyberry and Haskap varieties in our reviewed plant portfolio
from our four sources in North America and Europe - Berries Unlimited, Polish
Łukaszewska, University of Saskatchewan and Maxine Thompson. Rather than list all the
available varieties, we have listed our favoured ones and remember our ‘Best of the Best’ is
found back on page 135.
To understand the hard work and fabulous progress, our four plant breeders have
made over the last 20 years it's worth noting where they started from back in the day. We
have listed four traditional Russian varieties which were considered Honeyberry standards
for any grower to have in the orchard. Once you have compared their plant spec sheet it is
not hard to grasp why these 'Old Guard' are not longer favoured. Although Berry Blue or
Czech 17 will always have a soft spot in our hearts, given its importance as acting as a
‘Pollinator’ to early UoS varieties.
Amfora. (translation = amphora). Midseason, large fruited, blue honeysuckle

released for northern and northwestern Russia. Origin: N.I. Vavilov Insitute of Plant
Industry, Pavlov Experiment Station, in St. Petersburg, Russia by Maria N,
Plekhanova, Rossana open pollinated; introduced in 1997. Fruit: midseason ripening,
about 22 June in St. Petersburg; 1.0 - 1.2 grams berry; ascorbic acid 59 mg/100 grams;
7.2% SS. Plant: medium yielding, 1.0 to 2.1 kg/bush.
Berry Blue (cv. Czech No. 17). Tall blue honeysuckle. Origin: Czech Republic by
a private nurseryman. Selection of L Cerulean var. kamtschatica. Fruit: large fruit. Plant:
medium yield; not self fertile; vigorous, productive plant with upright growth habit to
2.4 meters tall; winter hardy to -40C.
Blue Belle (cv. Tomichka). (translation = one from Tomsk). Early blooming blue
honeysuckle. Origin: Bakcharskii Agriculture Station of the M.A. Lisavenko Siberian

Horticulture Research Insitute, Tomsk, Russia, by I.K. Gidzuk and Z.I. Luchnik. Elfin
(=Dolfin) open pollinated; introduced in 1987. Fruit: early-midseason ripening, good
tasting; medium size, 0.9 grams; ascorbic acid content 46 mg/100 grams; 7.5% SS;
taste is sour-sweet. Plant: medium yielding, 1.8 to 2.5 kg/bush; grows to 1.5 meters
tall; cross pollination needed; harder to propagate than other cultivars.
Blue Bird (cv. Sinyaya Piqtitsin). (translation = blue bird). One of the three
earliest Russian blue honeysuckle releases. Origin: Bakcharskii Agricultural Station of
the M.A. Lisavenko Siberian Horticultural Research Institute, Tomsk, Russia, by Z.P.
Jolobova, I.P. Kalinin, and Z.I. Luchnik. Start open pollination; selected in 1973;
introduced in 1980. Fruit: early-season ripening. Medium size 0.79 to 0.87 grams;
ascorbic acid content 72 mg/100 grams; 6.4%SS. Plant: Medium yielding, 1.0 to 2.0
kg/bush.
Further variety information can be found in the Honeyberry plant appendix at the end
of the guide (page 281).
Berries Unlimited’s Honeyberries - Future of Honeyberry

varieties in North America
Lidia Stuart grew up in the Far Eastern part of Russia, where it is considered by many
to be the origin of Zhimolost or Honeyberry. Many of the wild varieties are found in this
region – Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast. Pojark (commonly known as Honeyberry), Lonicera
edulis Turcz. Ex Freyn, Lonicera Turczaninowii Pojark, Lonicera regeliana Boczkar, Lonicera
pallasii Ledeb, Lonicera emphyllocalyx (commonly known as Japanese Haskap).
Together with her husband Hare Delafield, they have created a wonderful ‘ Home of
the Honeyberry’ at their Berries Unlimited nursery in North Western Arkansas. She has
selected wild Honeyberry cuttings and seedlings from all over Far East Russia and Japan to
serve as excellent source material for breeding varieties. In her opinion, the most preferable
for the selection of new varieties come from Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast, Lonicera
Turczaninowii Pojark and Lonicera emphyllocalyx (commonly known as Japanese Haskap).

These offer different tastes and flavours from bitter to very sweet. These together with
berry shape, firmness and productivity are all necessary when selecting a new cultivar. In her
opinion by blending tart berries with sweeter ones give the Honeyberry its unique wild, rich
flavour. She is currently selecting new varieties for wine and other alcohol products. We
firmly agree with her view that Honeyberries could evolve along the lines of grapes. Where
table grapes (Vitis labrusca) are fat and sassy with a Brix level of 17 to 19 and wine grapes
(Vitis verifa) are lean and mean with a Brix closer to 24 to 26. This gives growers an incredible
cultivar palette to work from.
In the following tables, we have attempted to help the grower compare the varieties
plant mass with an average Honeyberry plant of 4 x 4 x feet (64 cubic feet). The basic rule is
the larger the plant mass, the greater number of berries. However, please remember the
highest producers do not always produce the tastiest berries. The smaller yielders allow you
to improve the taste of your ‘Honeyberry Blend’ for its intended use.
The other factor to remember is if you plant a larger Happy Giant or Aurora on two or
three feet row spacing it is very unlikely you will end up with a healthy plant or the stated
yield. For example, the natural plant mass of Happy Giant is 150 cubic feet. If you planted it
on a two-foot spacing, you would reduce its plant mass to 60 cubic feet and reduce its yield to
about four pounds per plant or less. ‘JP’ indicates plants are from Japanese stock.
Please remember as previously stated - Honeyberries are ripe to harvest on a Brix of 15.
The newer variety’s Brix continues to rise, and the highest ones are indicated with a notation
of Brix of 17+. In many cases, these, when grown under the suitable and luxury conditions,
can achieve Brix in the mid-twenties.

Berries Unlimited Honeyberry Varieties



Berries Unlimited Honeyberry Varietal Family Tree
1. BU – Happy Giant Selection – Russian origin
Blue Diamond, Blue Horn, Blue Ural, Happy Giant, LibertyBlue, Blue Sveta,
Tiger of Hearts, PinWheel, and Blue Jewel have the same group of parents. L.
Turczaninowii. They are all sisters and have significant clusters of berries along the
stems. Taste is tangy sweet with a strong flavour.
They are F5 plants from wild berries from Primorskii Kraii of Russia. These were
open pollinated and the best selected as parents. The aim in this selection was berry
size and excellent taste. Perfect to eat fresh, with maple syrup, for preserves jam, jelly,
and wine.
2. BU – Blue Palm - Five subgroups – Russian origin
Belly Button (2), Blue Babe (3), Blue Desert (4), Blue Drops (3), Blue Joy (3),
Blue Lashes(1 – are the fastest growing varieties within the Berries Unlimited stable).
Blue Palm (1), Blue Pearl (5), Blue Perfection (4), Julia (2), and Natly (1) all have
Siberian origins. The berries have a refreshing sweetness and a similar flavour to
Smart Berry Blue or Tomichka. Their branches are covered with berries from top to
bottom – 43 nodes on four-year-old plants.
Their parents are F3 L. Turczaninowii and L. Kamtschatica. So they all have Far
Eastern origins too. The plants are sisters inside of their five subgroups (the numbers
of these given in brackets). These varieties were bred from the five seed lines of this
group and were open pollinated inside the five groups. They fruit early to mid season.
3. BU – Blue Moose Selection – Russian origin
Blue Banana (one of the best tasting berries in the BU stable), Blue Goose, Blue
Moose, MidNight Blue are F3 L. Turczaninowii. They were open pollinated and were
sisters. They fruit early to mid in the season.

4. BU- Happy Dream Selection – Russian origin
Blue Barrel, Blue Blue, Blue Breeze, Blue Corn, Blue Dragon, Blue Earrings, Blue
Jam, Blue Jungle, Blue Mist, Blue Rain, Blue Smoke, Blue Storm, Blue Tooth, Blue
Torpedo, Blue Zeppelin, Happy Dreams. They are from L. Turczaninowii and open
pollinated. The plants are a good size and branches are covered with berries from top
to bottom.
5. BU – Blue Charms Selection – Russian origin
Blue Charms, Blue Surprise – These are F3 L. Turczaninowii. The berries are
sweet and smaller than other varieties. Perfect for eating fresh and baking.
Selections Three, Four, and Five were bred from F2 plants pollinated inside one
of these three groups.
6. BU – Happy Tears Selection – Russian origin
Blue Boomerang, Blue Miracle (fun shape and pleasant taste), Happy Tears
(gorgeous shape and excellent taste) and Val.They are F3 L. Turczaninowii and open
pollinated. They fruit mid-season.
7. BU – Blue Pear Selection – Russian origin
Blue Deli, and Blue Pear. They are from F3 L. Turczaninowii and open pollinated.
8. BU – Blue Whale Selection – Russian origin
Blue Beak ( 1 – funny shape, a cascade of berries all over branches)), Blue
Marques (2), Blue Whale (3), True Blue (4). This group of four are F4 L. Turzcaninowii.
Open pollinated inside from four F3 seed varieties. They fruit mid-season.
9. BU – Blue Fortune Selection – Russian origin
Blue Fortune is F2 from L. Kamtschatica. They fruit mid-season.
10. BU – Night Mist Selection – Russian origin

Blue Trumpet, Classic, Larisa, Night Mist and Sweety Blue are F4 L.
Turzcaninowii. Free pollination inside of this grouping. They fruit early season.
11. BU – Honey Gin Selection – Russian origin
Blue Toy, Honey Gin (smoked Plum flavor), Victoria. They are F4 L.
Turzcaninowii. Free pollination inside of this grouping. They fruit early season.
12. BU – Blue Treasure Selection and six subgroups – Japanese Origin
They are F3 L. Emphyllocalyx. Open pollinated inside of group F2. They fruit late
season. Subgroups:
1. Blue Bear, Blue Treasure, Giant’s Heart, Honey Gold, Mango Blue,
Navy Blue
2. Blue Cloud
3. Strawberry Sensation ( a unique Alpine Strawberry taste and very late
fruit season)
4. Blue Bunny
5. Blue Delight
6. Blue Typhoon
13. BU – Blue Mountain Selection – Russian origin
Blue Mountain – F3 from L. Kamtschica and daughter of Blue Fortune with open
pollination.
14. BU – Blue Q – Russian origin
Blue Q – F3 from L. Kamtschica (very bitter taste)

Polish Łukaszewska Honeyberries - Creator of Europe’s
best Honeyberry varieties
Sophia Łukaszewska together with her husband Jerome started their fantastic
adventure with Polish Honeyberries or “Jagada Kamczacką” in 1991. In their garden in
Osielsko near Bydgoszcz, they planted the seedlings imported from Russia varieties of
Honeyberries. Even after the first year, they managed to select two promising varieties with
tasty fruit, one of the main features taken into account during the selection process. Over
90% of the plants from the Russian seeds produced bitter fruits.
They continued their work with other varieties derived from Lonicera kamtschatica
Sevast. Pojark, Lonicera edulis Turcz and Lonicera caerulea. Two of which were named ‘Wojtek’
and ‘Jolanta’ were submitted to the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia United,
where they were described as a model for other new Polish varieties of honeyberries.
Further, selections from this research were tested at Marek Burmistrz inspiring ‘Jagada
Kamczacką’ orchard near Sroda Wielkopolska in Western Poland. These include Ruben, Iga,
Tola, Zojka, and Rebeca. For further information, we recommend you visit his formative
website at www.jagoda-kamczacka.pl.
to improve your ‘Honeyberry Blend’ for its intended use.The other factor to remember what
happens when you plant Happy Giant or Aurora on two or three feet row spacing.
It is very unlikely you will end up with a healthy plant or the stated yield. For example,
the natural plant mass of Happy Giant is 150 cubic feet. If you planted it on a two-foot
spacing, you would reduce its plant mass to 60 cubic feet and reduce its yield to about four
pounds per plant.

The newer varieties Brix continues to rise, and the highest ones are indicated with a notation
can achieve Brix in the mid-twenties. The favoured varieties are considered to be Wojtek,
Zojka and Ruben.
3 Year old Polish Orchard

Polish Łukaszewska Honeyberry Varieties
Source: LoveHoneyberry/Jagoda Kamczacka



University of Saskatchewan’s Honeyberries - Plant leader
in the Canadian Honeyberry industry
Since receiving funding from Saskatchewan Agriculture in 2006, The University of

Saskatchewan, under Dr. Bob Bors direction have made controlled crosses, between Japanese,
Russian and Kuril parentage, resulting in thousands of Haskap seedlings. This research
program has seen impressive results in faster-growing plants and larger and more sweeter
and flavoursome berries. Their goal is to combine the best traits from different regions to
adapt this crop for mechanical harvesting under the varietal name – Haskap and suited to
warmer areas.
Their new 2016 varieties (Boreal Beauty and Boreal Blizzard) continue to improve since
the introduction of Borealis (2007) with the introduction of higher parental breeding quality.
Most of their advanced breeding material are based on hybridizing germplasm from Maxine
Thompson (Formally Oregon State University) from material sourced in Japan, Russia and
Europe, Jim Gilbert (Northwood’s Nursery) and Maria Plekhanova (Vavilov Institute,
Russia).
Dr. Bob Bors is the Head of the Domestic Fruit Program and an Assistant Professor in
the Department of the Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, and lead’s Canada’s
development of Haskap berries. He began in 1999 to head the Fruit Program at the
University. Bob obtained a BSC from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. from the
University of Guelph. Bob’s research focuses on breeding, tissue culture, propagation, disease
screening, and interspecific hybridization of horticultural crops with emphasis on fruit and
ornamentals. Dr. Bors will share his research experience growing and breeding cold-tolerant
fruit, as well as techniques for selecting which fruits to grow in the North.

to improve your ‘Honeyberry Blend’ for its intended use.
The other factor to remember is if you plant Happy Giant or Aurora on two or three feet
row spacing. It is very unlikely you will end up with a healthy plant or the stated yield. For
example, the natural plant mass of Happy Giant is 150 cubic feet. If you planted it o a two-
foot spacing, you would reduce its plant mass to 60 cubic feet and reduce its yield to about
four pounds per plant.
The newer variety’s Brix continues to rise, and the highest ones are indicated with a notation
can achieve Brix in the mid-twenties.

Univ. of Saskatchewan’s Honeyberry Varieties

Source: University of Saskatchewan

Berry Blue - UoS recommended ‘pollinator’ for their early varieties

Source: University of Saskatchewan

Cinderella - UoS recommended ‘pollinator’ for their early varieties

Maxine Thompson’s Haskaps - Creator of the North
American Haskap industry
Dr. Maxine Thompson, professor emeritus of the department of horticulture at Oregon

State University, is one of the foremost expert on Haskap in the United States. She operates an
active breeding program in the United States to develop varieties suitable for the western
American climate. She received a BSC and Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.
Her research focuses on the development of cultivars suited for home garden and commercial
farm use. Her peers recognized her with the Frank M. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic
Resources – 1997 and the Wilder Medal – American Pomological Society – 2002.
Her varieties originate from northern Japan and tend to ripen in some cases 3 to 4
weeks later than the Russian varieties. However, this depends on the climatic region where
the plants are grown. She has worked extensively with and developed numerous cultivars
from this species focusing her efforts on improving the best Japanese traits including later
blooming, larger rounder or more oval fruits with uniform ripening, and better more upright
growth habits. Because of their strong Japanese heritage we refer to her varieties as Haskap
rather than Honeyberries.
The University of Saskatchewan owes its entire collection of Japanese Haskap to Dr.
Maxine Thompson at Oregon State University.
plant mass with a Honeyberry average plant of 4 x 4 x feet (64 cubic feet). The basic rule is the
larger the plant mass, the greater number of berries. However, please remember the highest
producers do not always produce the tastiest berries. The smaller yielders allow you to
improve your ‘Honeyberry Blend’ for its intended use.
The other factor to remember is if you plant Happy Giant or Aurora on two or three feet
row spacing, it is very unlikely you will end up with a healthy plant or the stated yield. For
example, the natural plant mass of Happy Giant is 150 cubic feet. If you planted it on a two-
foot spacing, you would reduce its plant mass to 60 cubic feet and reduce its yield to about
four pounds per plant.

Source: Maxine Thompson

Maxine Thompson Haskap Varieties
Source: Maxine Thompson

Russian Registered varieties - What Honeyberries are
available in Russia?
We have been told on many occasions there is a treasure trove of Honeyberry varieties
to be found in the plants native land. So we thought it would be fun to look at what is
available to the Russian gardener or commercial grower. Below we have listed the most
common Honeyberry varieties listed in 2010 State Register of Breeding Achievements of the
Russian Federation. These are derived from different regions within Russia and retain the
characteristics of the area’s native varieties.
One of our favourite Honeyberry quotes was created about 20 years ago at the Russian
Institute of Horticulture Honeysuckle during a trip of Dutch potential growers and scientists.
After tasting the berries, they were amazed with its delicious flavour and had not heard of
this remarkable berry before. After tasting one of the Dutch scientists was heard to have
said:"I do not know why Russian are engaging in breeding any other crops for which they
It is also interesting to compare yields and taste characteristics with those varieties
available in Europe and North America where plant breeders such as Berries Unlimited,
Maxine Thompson and University of Saskatchewan varieties have been able to achieve
higher yields. Perhaps the reason for this is that the Russian industry focus has remained on
the home gardener and is less geared towards the demands of fresh commercial orchards or
growers. We firmly believe that without this research and hard work, the honeyberry would
not have caught the attentions of new and existing fruit growers in the West. We expect great
things from this berry over the next 30 years!
Some of the most common found Russian Honeyberry varieties
• Early-ripening in mid-June. Varieties – Blue Spindle, Princess Diana, Roxana, Early

Gzhel
• Mid-ripening in the third week of June. Varieties – Omega, Cinderella, Souvenir,
Shah

• Late-ripening in the last week of June. Varieties – Kingfisher, Gourmet, Nymph,
Ramenskoye
Source: A.G.Kuklina “Honeysuckle Ornamental and Edible” – Kladez-Books
-2006
How many plants an acre?
The number of plants per acre depends on some factors that range from historic soft
fruit plantings and plant size. In Poland, you will find that they follow Blackcurrant plantings
of 2,000 plants per acre. In North America, they have paid more attention to the larger plant
size and the planting number per acre is lower at 1,000.
Today we recommend planting the larger varieties (For Example Happy Giant or
Aurora) on four to five feet centres in the rows. This would translate to 1,000 (mechanical
harvesting) to 840 plants (handpicking) per acre. We believe it's critical that you avoid
planting the larger varieties on two or three foot spacings. If you decide to cram them into the
rows, it is very unlike you will end up with a healthy plant or the stated yield. For example,
the natural plant mass of Happy Giant is 150 cubic feet. If you planted it on a two-foot
spacing, you would reduce its plant mass to an unhealthy 60 cubic feet and reduce its yield to
about four pounds or less per plant.

So in summary - 1,000 Honeyberries per acre. Plant in well prepared tilled and weed-
free rows 4 feet apart. These orchard rows are normally on 12 feet centres. Yields of eight to
eleven pounds per plant are obtained from four to five-year-old plants, depending on variety.
AgriForest Bio-Tech - Tissue Culture Technology
Introduction
Whoever said that variety is the spice of life must have been referring to the
horticulture industry. Finding and commercialising new and exciting plant varieties that will
surprise and delight customers is essential in this business. That is where AgriForest Bio-
Technologies have helped nurseries, growers, and garden centres stay one step ahead of the
game. AgriForest specialises in bringing unique or difficult to propagate varieties into
production on a commercial scallion the quickest possible time frame.
What is Tissue Culture?
How do they go about turning one plant with the desired characteristics into tens of
thousands of identical plants in as fast as one year? Through its patented tissue culture
protocols that it has developed over its twenty years in business.
Tissue culture is a process that involves exposing plant tissue to a particular regimen of
nutrients, hormones, and light under sterile, in vitro conditions to produce many new plants,
Young Honeyberry Plantlets

each a clone of the original mother plant, over a very short period of time. Their tissue culture
plants are characterised by disease free growth, a more fibrous, healthier root system, a
bushier branching habit, and a higher survival rate.
There are three main steps to the tissue culture process. Following these three stages,
the plants are then moved from the laboratory to the greenhouses for acclimatisation and
further development.
• Stage 1 - Is the initiation phase. It concerns the establishment of plant tissue in vitro
by sterilising the material and initiating it into a culture.
• Stage 2 - Is the multiplication phase. At this point, the in vitro plant material is re-
divided and placed in a medium with plant growth regulators that induce the
proliferation of multiple shoots. This process is repeated many times until the number
of plants desired is reached.
• Stage 3 - Is the root formation phase. It involves the introduction of hormones to

induce rooting and the creation of complete plantlets.
When Can Tissue Culture Help With Your Growing Needs?
Plant tissue culture technology has proven itself to be an efficient and viable option for
growers to seriously consider in a variety of different situations.

When large-scale propagation of new or superior plant varieties is required for early
introduction to the market. Following a decision to release a new variety into the market, the
key to success for growers is rapid scale-up and production on a commercial level. Tissue
culture is often the fastest and most economical means to achieve this goal. We suggest that
growers continually compare the cost of conventional propagation methods to
micropropagation, especially when conducted by an established tissue culture company with
a proven track record of mass propagation. When mass multiplication is needed for varieties
which are difficult to regenerate by conventional methods of propagation it is often the case
that new or highly valued plant varieties are also the most difficult to propagate using
traditional means. Here again, tissue culture technology can be very helpful to growers. The
speed of plant multiplication and the quality and uniformity achieved by the
micropropagation process can be considerably superior to conventional methods.
When disease-free plant propagation is necessary.
One of the inherent requirements of the tissue culture process is that it be conducted in
sterile, aseptic conditions. This results in plants that are generally free of bacterial and fungal
diseases. This aspect of tissue culture is particularly useful for growers that are propagating
plant varieties that have major systemic disease problems.
AgriForest's Honeyberry Tissue Cultured Plants.
The tissue culture process takes place in sterile conditions and uses hormones that have
been shown to have a carryover effect once plants are moved to external conditions.
Furthermore, tissue culture leads to the regeneration of whole plants, with their own full root
systems and vigorous top growth like young seedlings. As a result, tissue culture plants have
many visible benefits
• Plants are guaranteed to be disease free

• They have a more fibrous, healthier root system free of any root rot problems
• They exhibit a denser, bushier branching habit
• Plants are characterised by more vigorous growth after transplanting
• They have a higher survival rate and mature and berry over shorter time.

Honeyberry Plant options
IV plantlets
Liner plant trays 4 inch potted plants
These many advantages can result in significant cost savings for growers due to
increased health of the plant, and a decrease in the labour required to yield a marketable
product. AgriForest is very passionate about the opportunities that Honeyberries offers
growers and encourage you to see initial Honeyberry plant costs as only a fraction of the
lifetime revenue potential from fresh or frozen berry sales or Honeyberry value added
products.
Size of plant to purchase and logistics

Depending on your orchard plan, plant growers can supply many sizes of a plant that
meets your needs and to make shipping economical. We strongly recommend you work
together with your propagator than against him or her. Most varieties are available all year
round, however to ensure that you receive your order on time or to receive the needed ‘In
demand varieties.’ You should place your order, at least, six months before your preferred
shipment date, with a paid deposit of 30 to 50%.
The most cost-effective method of shipping plants is by the pallet. Since most shipments
are delivered by truck, it’s important to have the right equipment and proper facilities ready

to receive and unload the order. Between 1800 to 2800 liner tray plants can be easily shipped
per pallet depending on the tray type or when in the season. Larger four inch potted plants
can be sent by the pallet, but in smaller numbers of 500 to 700. The cost per plant is on
average three times higher to send a potted plant than by trays.
• Tissue Culture Plantlets: For overseas customer's the best medium are tissue
culture derived plantlets straight from the laboratory in sterile conditions to meet
the plant quarantine requirements of your country. There is usually a minimum
order of 1,000 for Honeyberry In vitro tissue culture plantlets destined for overseas
customers. It is best that you work with your supplier in advance to meet your
requirements and needed timetable.These need to be potted up in a greenhouse
facility with misting capabilities.
• Liner Tray: They usually come in trays of 32 tray cells or 40 or 50 plug trays and
depends on the region's standard sizes. However, the norm root size of these plants
is about 3 inches and are purchased to be grown on in larger containers before
being planting in the orchard. We favour 3-gallon or 11 litre size pots or grow bags.
These liner plants can be planted into well-prepared rows in smaller orchards of
about one acre in the fall. However, weed management will be more onerous than
growing on a larger plant and planting this in the orchard. These sized plants are
the most popular size products and provides the Honeyberry orchard grower best
value for their money! This size is usually available all year-round and in most
cases can ship them within several days notice in season.
• The size of the young plants is on average between six inches to twelve inches tall
when shipped. This depends on the time of the season, variety or when the order is
placed. The minimum order size for this is usually two trays per variety. It is very
economical to ship and easy to handle when it arrives, without the need of a
greenhouse misting facility.
• Four-inch pots: These are typically produced for growers who do not want to grow
a young plant in a nursery and prefer to plant directly into the orchard in the fall.
There is generally a minimum order size of 18 plants per variety tray and require a
minimum of six months notice before your preferred shipment date.

11. Orchard Soil and Plant Health
Compost tea and microbe production
If there’s one thing we have learned and witnessed over the years, it is this - On most
occasions, poor yield, poor quality and disease pressure are related to a failure or breakdown
of biology in the soil and hence the plant. We are strong believers of 'Soil-life governs its
production.' It’s a simple statement and an apparent true fact, but it remains the most difficult
concept for many growers to wrap their heads around.
If ‘soil-life governs its production’, then how do we repair and replenish this ‘life-force’
to maximise productivity and profit? The simple answer is Compost Tea or Microbe Brewing.
Compost or Microbe Tea is brewed by aerating beneficial soil microbes (bacteria and
fungi) from high-quality compost in a solution containing premium foodstuffs or minerals. In
the presence of food and oxygen, the beneficial soil microbes grow to extraordinary
concentrations.
The benefits it provides cannot be purchased from a shelf, they must be cultivated
intentionally and used sensibly so life can remain alive until it's delivered to the plant.
Compost tea is a means of improving or re-starting a thriving ecosystem for Honeyberry
plants. So that they can thrive and meet your harvest or Brix requirements.
Think of microbes like construction workers. Your job as the contractor is to consistently
bring them to the job site so that they may build the neighbourhood. Once the community or
soil food web is made the soil will begin to work with the plant and for you, reducing the
need to irrigate and fertilize.
The soil food web consists of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and many others
Think of bacteria as the plankton, and the nematodes as the sharks. Top predators like sharks
only appear in mature ecosystems, and today's average orchard does not have mature soil. It
therefore does not have the needed balance of organisms present to protect your plant. There
is simply nothing there to eat what is eating your plant.

Much of the reason we take microbes for granted or ignore them is we cannot see them.
Here are some interesting statistics for you.
• Microbes are small. Up to 500,000 bacteria can fit in the period of the exclamation
point at the end of this sentence. There’s another universe down there.
• Microbes are magical. Humans cannot accomplish the vital processes required to
accomplish healthy soil. A well balanced soil food web not only creates perfect
plant food, but they help plants eat it and protect them from stress and disease.
Plus they work as Nature’s recycler to mitigate contaminants and environmental
toxins.
• Microbes are abundant. A teaspoon of native grassland soil contains 600-800

million bacteria comprising - 10,000 species, plus approximately 5,000 species of
fungi, the mycelia of which could be stretched out for several miles. In the same
teaspoon, there may be 10,000 individual protozoa of over 1,000 species, plus
20-30 different nematodes from as many as 100 different species.
• Microbes are extraordinarily prolific. According to the book ‘Secrets of the Soil’, a
single microbe reaching maturity and dividing within less than half an hour, can,
in the course of a single day, grow into 300 million or more, and the following day
to more that the number of human beings than have ever lived.
Here is a listing of some of the benefits found from growing with microbes and compost
tea:
• Increased Fertility: Microbes make plant food, that’s how soil works. You can
think of microbes as miniature fertilizer factories making perfect meals for your
growing plants and the best part is, it only gets better with time.
• Use Less Water: Growing with microbes increases the soils ability to retain water
through correcting soil structure, increasing organic matter and exchange capacity,
and through the presence of the living organisms themselves. Compost tea can

reduce water usage 20-40% and in many cases eliminates the need for irrigation in
landscapes entirely.
• Higher Yields: Improving the fertility and maturity of the soil automatically
enhances the garden or farms ability to grow larger and more abundant crops.
• Treat Disease: Disease organisms are merely nasty microbes that are eating your
plant who has nothing to eat them. Many commercial biological biocides are
derived from microbes found in compost tea and in healthy soil. Rather than
trying to kill the disease, you can eliminate it with microbial balance.
• Mitigate Pests: Many soil microbes seek protein, and the exoskeleton of pests is
protein, so consistent applications have shown compost tea to have pesticidal
properties. However the most efficient pest control is healthy biologically diverse
soil and a healthy plant.
• Reduce Weeds: Weeds are indicators of mineral and biological imbalance in the
soil.
Which compost tea system is best?
Internationally renowned microbiologist, Professor Elaine Ingham, claims that all

known soil and leaf diseases can be controlled or prevented by using a well-formulated and
successfully brewed compost tea.
The concept essentially involves taking a good quality compost food source and
multiplying this incredible biodiversity in a brewing tank. Maximum microbe counts are
achieved through providing optimum brewing conditions and supplying a good food source
to satisfy hungry microbes. The end product is applied at the rate of about 25 gallons of
brewed tea per acre in varying dilutions from one to five or one to ten. The cost can be as
little as $3 per acre, and the ‘tea’ can be applied via soil spray (for management of healthy
soil) or foliar spray (to restore leaf and plant health).
One of the main reasons compost tea is so important is that microbes are not mobile
and it's critical to apply it to the entire soil area or 'paint the ground.' Microbes move as little

as a micrometer in their lifetime! It is forgiving by design, intended not to burn your plants
regardless of the concentration used. However ultraviolet light and dehydration kill
microbes. Therefore, do not apply compost tea in direct sun or during the heat of the day.
A craftsman is only as good as his tools, and the importance of these in the art of
growing cannot be overemphasized. Whether it involves a spray nozzles, an irrigation set-up
or spraying equipment there can be tremendous gains in possessing the right tool for the
right job. So which are the best Compost tea systems to use?
We favour the companies that can provide complete systems that include the brewer,
microbes, and food stuff. It is a simpler one stop solution.
• The first system is made by Microbe Makers - get brewing. Grow life. They
manufacture 5, 30 and 85-gallon brewers and biodynamic based brew bundles. All
kits include all the necessary brewing ingredients and instructions for successful
brewing. The advantage of this system is it energizes or activates the water through
its vortex pump systems.
• The second system is made by Nutri-Tech - MEND Brewster kit. It delivers a perfect
brew with a system that is versatile, inexpensive and very portable. They also have
brought to market many microbial products to make the task of brewing easier and
very cost effective. Their Nutri-Life 4/20 product is a great example of this.
Hidden dangers of ‘Roundup’ or Glyphosate
We have Graeme Sait to thank why we should be aware of the hidden dangers of
Glyphosate. It was invented and patented in the mid-seventies by the Monsanto Corporation
and marketed as Roundup. It quickly became their flagship product until the patent expired
in 2000. The lower priced generic glyphosate products should theoretically have decimated
sales. However, they cleverly introduced their genetically modified “Roundup Ready” crops
to maintain their market share. This technology involves the purchase of the treated seed and
the required amount of Roundup. Its sales have actually increased in line with the
widespread adoption of Roundup Ready crops in the US and elsewhere. 45,000 tonnes of

glyphosate was applied to US farms and gardens last year. Recent research suggests that the
world’s favourite herbicide may not be as 'safe' as was previously claimed.
Soil life is one of the unintended casualties of this weed killer. Algae are a plant-like
creature that can be killed by plant killers. Algae produce carbohydrates through
photosynthesis that are an important food source for beneficial fungi and bacteria in the soil.
There is literally less food for the good guys when this sugar production is compromised.
Glyphosate was originally marketed as a safe, and biodegradable option that would
exit the soil shortly after killing the weed. It inhibits the production of essential amino acids
within the plant and your weed dies within days. Recent research has revealed that both soil
type and soil life impact the longevity of the chemical in the ground and it has been found to
still be present up to 6 months after application in some soils. Even when it eventually breaks
down, it can leave a metabolite that can remain present for years.
Dr Huber, of Purdue University, is a microbiologist who decided to look a little deeper

at how glyphosate affects soil-life. He was the first researcher to discover that this popular
herbicide has a significant impact upon two specific groups of organisms. He found that
glyphosate kills the sub groups within the soil responsible for the delivery of iron and
Manganese into the plant. In fact, in one study he found that if a mere 2.5% of the spray
solution made direct contact with the soil, it served to reduce manganese uptake by 80% and
iron uptake by 60%. The loss of Manganese-reducing organisms naturally lowers the levels of
manganese in our food.
Iron is already the most serious mineral deficiency in the developing world. Dr Huber
also found that glyphosate could tie up other soil minerals including Copper, Magnesium,
and Zinc. He found that the herbicide could lock up Nickel in the soil. Nickel is required to
activate the urease enzyme that allows utilisation of urea. Dr Huber’s research revealed that
residues of this “safe” herbicide could remain inactive in the soil indefinitely and that the
addition of soluble Phosphate can reactivate the inert form.
Research has shown that this ‘safe’ chemical also kills Nitrogen-fixing organisms and
earthworms so you do not receive the multiple benefits conferred by these creatures and you

are more tightly bound to the chemical treadmill. Consider a cleanup of your soil. Trial a
small area and you may be pleasantly surprised with the results.
Top Honeyberry blunders to avoid
Honeyberry production is fraught with pitfalls and if we understand these problems in

advance we are more likely to avoid them. The successful management of an orchard
involves regular monitoring, timing and the nurturing of soil life. It also requires a thorough
understanding of the role of plant nutrition and its associated disease resistance. If your
Honeyberry management plan avoids the following plant blunders you will enjoy greater
profitability in your journey towards growing high Brix and tasty Honeyberries.
Not carrying out seasonal foliar sprays
Foliar fertilisers are twelve times more efficient than soil-based or irrigation nutrient
delivery and this promotes more efficient chlorophyll management. Chlorophyll is the green
Young Honeyberries Ready for Shipping

pigment where all the production happens within the plant. This productive capacity
diminishes as stripes, blotches and pale colours reduce chlorophyl density, so the more rapid
the correction, the bigger the gain. Foliar fertilising is increasing in popularity each year as
growers discover that you are getting more than just a nutrient correction. When chlorophyll
density is increased with foliars, there is more sugar production and an associated increase in
the sugars the plant donates to the army of microorganisms surrounding its roots. These
creatures return the favour by fixing more Nitrogen, solubilising more Phosphate and
releasing more beneficial exudates to stimulate their host. The end result commonly exceeds
expectations.
It is common to see growers choose the easier option of pushing fertilizers, soil
amendments, and other water-soluble products into an irrigation system to deliver nutrition.
However, this can be a mistake. If you have mineral excesses, which is more often than not,
their antagonistic effect can nullify the benefits of mineral correction in the soil. For example,
if you have an orchard soil containing 250 ppm of Phosphorus, due to the extended over
application of inexpensive chicken manure, then you will often see crop shortages of Zinc,
Copper or Iron induced by this excess. Addressing these deficiencies via irrigation will often
not do the job because the excess Phosphorus continues to impact the uptake of these
minerals. The correct answer is to bypass the soil and deliver the minerals directly into the
leaf. Timely foliars will always offer more adequate crop nutrition, even if they require a little
more effort.
Closing down the nature's freebies
The two essential minerals of Phosphorus and Nitrogen are supplied free of charge
when minerals and microbes are in balance. This is vital as they are amongst any growers
most expensive inputs. So it is a tad unproductive to shut down these natural freebies.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen together account for the majority of the average fertiliser budget
but their cost can be minimised if natural delivery is optimised.
In both cases, microorganisms can generate and deliver these minerals but the plant
plays a significant role in the equation. The plant varies its root exudates depending upon its
requirements. If Phosphate is required to initiate reproduction, then the plant will add some
extras to the 30% of its glucose production that is allocated to soil life in the root zone. In a

process not unlike a fisherman changing bait, the plant attracts Phosphate solubilising
organisms to supply Phosphorus when it is needed. Nitrogen-fixing organisms are similarly
stimulated when extra Nitrogen is required. If we over supply it and Phosphorus in fertiliser
programmes, the saturated plant has no motivation to encourage the natural supply. As a
result, the grower misses his share of 74,000 tonnes of Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere and
access to ten billion dollars of locked up Phosphate in the soil.
There is a fine line between a shutdown based on over supply and balance that
maximises production with the best of both worlds, but it is a green line worth walking.
Starter fertilisers, for example, are often over supplied. Growers are better advised to reduce
the amount of this early nutrition and to include slow release fertilisers with their soluble
inputs. Granular guano has a great role to play here as Phosphorus and Calcium are released
throughout the crop cycle rather than all in one rush. Manures can offer a similar benefit, but
a good Nitrogen stabilising strategy using soluble humates or Zeolite can be equally
productive.
Understanding nutrient requirements about the crop cycle can also be helpful. The
major drawdown time for Phosphate, for example, occurs during the reproductive stage and
applied Phosphorus has often locked up by then. Stabilising soluble Phosphate with soluble
humate granules reduces the lock up potential and minimises the flood of Phosphorus which
can otherwise cripple the biological supply of this mineral.
Monitoring management is critical
Precision nutrition is the key to maximum productivity and profitability. There is little
room for guess work. A combination of regular leaf analysis and the use of in-field
monitoring tools ensures insight into nutrient requirements at any given time. If you have
reached the point where you can accurately read your crop without these tools, then you
have achieved master grower status, but even then there will always be a need for your
footsteps in the field.
We need to be part of the growing process to pick up changes rapidly. Check the roots
for Mychorrizal colonisation. Check legumes for nodulation and pinch the nodules to test for
the inner pink that signals good Nitrogen fixation. Check Honeyberry leaf size and thickness

and stem strength and learn to recognise the missing minerals linked to stripes, blotches and
pale colour. When your leaf test reveals a Zinc deficiency, go to the crop and photograph that
deficiency with your mobile phone. You now have a record of this particular chlorosis and
the next time it appears you won’t need to wait till the leaf test data comes back.
The key in-field monitoring tools include a refractometer and a pH meter that allows
sap analysis. The refractometer is a guide to your skills as a chlorophyll manager (the central
role of all growers). High Brix levels mean less pest pressure, higher nutrient density, greater
shelf life, more frost resistance and less weed pressure. Brix levels also offer a guide to
nutrient balance within the plant (there should be minimum variation from top to bottom),
Calcium and Boron nutrition and specific gravity.
Sap pH is also a guideline to yield, quality and potential pest pressure, but it offers
more insight into the likely culprits when things are not right. If sap pH of your Honeyberry
plants are lower than 6.4, then the likely deficiency will be either Calcium, Magnesium or
Potassium or a combination of these. Low sap pH spells an increased likelihood of fungal
disease. Conversely, if the sap pH is higher than 6.4, then it is often related to an excess of
nitrate nitrogen within the plant or it could be a shortage of the acid-forming minerals,
Phosphorus or Sulfur.
Timing is everything in the Honeyberry orchard
Timing is everything when it comes to comedy and the same thing applies to crop
production. There is a right time to test, plant, fertilise, protect and harvest, and messing up
the timing can be costly.
Honeyberry leaf tests should be conducted in conjunction with soil tests. It is important
to consider them together as it gives a far better idea of how mineral balance (or lack of it) is
impacting the crop. Often the leaf test will highlight lockups where you may need to bypass
the soil and use foliar nutrition. The other significant time to leaf test is immediately before
flowering to ensure everything is right.
There are several ideal times to apply foliar fertiliser. Young tissue is particularly
responsive so it is a good plan to apply the first foliar as early as possible. There are also

issues of the time of day that is best suited. Early morning or late afternoon is considered
best. The early morning slot ties in with increased stomatal opening when the plant is
accessing dew. The middle of the day is unsuitable because the stomates close in the heat of
the day.
There are also critical crop stages where nutrition is most needed. In the corn crop, two
phases will be most productive. They are linked to a decision-making process where the plant
audits its chlorophyll content to determine the sugar making potential during seed formation
(the time of greatest sugar requirement). At five weeks after spiking the corn plant
determines the number of rows of kernels on the cob.
Chlorophyll density in this crop is often determined by Nitrogen so there can be the
considerable gain in foliar spraying urea at four and a half weeks after spiking (when the first
leaf spike emerges). At nine weeks after spiking another decision is made. This time, it
involves the number of cobs per plant. An astute grower, aware of this timing, can literally
double yield with another foliar application of urea and humic acid, at the same rate, at eight
and a half weeks after spiking.
There is also a strong argument to plough, plant, prune and fertilise in accord with
moon cycles. Farmers have worked by the moon for centuries and there really was no
evidence to abandon this practice other than a belief that science could solve all of our
problems. Biodynamic growers grow by the moon but there is no reason why anyone can’t
gain by utilising lunar cycles. We have seen a tremendous difference in on-farm trials where
growers have foliar sprayed one patch on any of the 6 days leading up to a new moon and
compared response in a second patch that was sprayed on any of the six days leading up to a
full moon. There was a huge difference over time, where the full moon timing proved vastly
superior. If you are only conducting one foliar spray each month, you would be well advised
to mark your calendar to coincide your timing with any of the six days leading up to a full
moon. These are simple, free strategies that can be profoundly useful.

Ignoring how Brix is built
Brix is a measure of dissolved solids within the plant and it is a direct measure of
photosynthetic potential. Photosynthesis is the most important aspect of crop production as it
is responsible for 95% of plant growth. The key minerals involved in photosynthesis are
Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Boron. We often refer to this quartet as “the big four”
due to their critical importance. It is a major blunder to ignore these nutrients and yet over
30% of the thousands of leaf tests we analyse each year, are deficient in all four minerals.
Ideally, these minerals should be maintained at luxury levels in the leaf but over one in three
tests reveal that all are lacking.
Calcium is directly responsible for the uptake of seven other minerals and Boron
determines whether Calcium does this job. Phosphorus is the primary mineral involved in
sugar production and Magnesium is a Phosphorus synergistic. Magnesium is also the
centrepiece of the chlorophyll molecule and is to this green pigment what Iron is to blood.
The best way to build plant levels of Calcium and Magnesium is to use high-analysis
Micronised Mineral Suspensions (MMS), which deliver the target minerals without the tag-
on associated with Calcium nitrate or Magnesium sulfate. Even Phosphorus can be addressed
with this technology, using micronised guano. This ancient bird manure is also an exceptional
source of Calcium (25 – 30%) and a rich source of plant available Silica. Boron is best
addressed with soluble sodium borate (Solubor or Dissolvable) combined with a little humic
acid to form a much more stable and efficient Boron humate.
Jumping to the wrong conclusions
There are several faulty conclusions linked to misinterpretation of leaf tests and
monitoring tools and they need to be understood to be avoided. It is common to assume, for
example, that low levels of Magnesium in the leaf spells a similar situation in the soil, but this
is not always the case. High soil Magnesium can generate low levels of this mineral in the leaf
and, in this case, there is no point in applying more magnesium to the soil to exacerbate the
lockup. This situation calls for a foliar application of Magnesium, usually as Magnesium
sulfate combined with a little fulvic acid.

The battle to build luxury leaf levels of Calcium can actually be linked to a lack of
beneficial fungi in the soil. These are the creatures that have been most hammered by
conventional agriculture and they are sadly lacking in most soils tested for soil life. You can
watch your levels of Calcium in the plant increase in line with the fungal counts in your soil.
Fungal dominated compost is invaluable in this context as are the two most powerful fungi
foods, humic acid and kelp. It is a great idea to include humates or compost with lime for this
reason.
A lack of Phosphorus and Zinc in the plant can sometimes reflect a lack of Mycorrhizal
fungi rather than missing minerals. The chief role of these creatures is to deliver these
otherwise immobile minerals to the plant and if you have killed them off with herbicides,
fungicides and nematicides, you will struggle with a delivery of Phosphate and Zinc,
regardless of your soil levels of these minerals.
If you test your Brix levels following a prolonged dry period, you can jump to the
conclusion that you are an amazing grower because you have achieved such good levels.
Unfortunately, the moisture stressed plant concentrates solids within the sap and this is
called a “false Brix”, reflecting stress rather than health.
If your leaf analysis reflects a lack of Zinc and an excess of Manganese and these
imbalances are not reflected in soil tests, then you may have detected a Potassium deficiency
and no amount of Zinc or Manganese antagonists will correct the situation. When you apply
some Potassium, you will see the Zinc come up and the Manganese will fall.
There is one further faulty conclusion that is also linked to Potassium. If your Nitrogen
levels are high on your leaf test and Potassium levels look OK, this may not necessarily be the
case. Potassium is such a mobile mineral that it may have moved up to the area tested (the
first fully developed leaf) and the leaf test is not a reliable guide. An undetected Potassium
deficiency will always be costly as this mineral governs size so it is a huge player in
determining yield. The best way to monitor Potassium involves a Horiba Potassium Meter.
When you test and compare the Potassium levels in the lower leaves with those in the upper
leaves, there should never be more than 10% variance. If the lower leaves exhibit significantly
less Potassium, then you have detected a deficiency that can be immediately addressed to
avoid yield loss.

12. Orchard Establishment
The basic guidelines
Premier orchards result only where exacting standards are met and maintained. By
having a thorough understanding of the Honeyberry basics and what is involved in creating
a profitable orchard. A grower can avoid making many of the basic and costly mistakes
during its establishment process.
Ideal Orchard Establishment timetable
• Fall before planting year (this step is not required if site is orchard ready)
• Deep chisel the soil, then plow and disc
• Conduct first soil and biological test
• Plant Winter cover crop and any needed soil or microbe amendments
• Order required plant material (1,000 plants of four to six varieties per acre)
• Spring before planting

• Conduct second soil test
• Plant Summer cover crop and apply any needed soil amendments
• Create external or polytunnel plant nursery to grow young plants in 3-gallon or 11
litre pots or grow bags
• Fall of planting
• Till, mow and prepare orchard rows summer cover crop
• Conduct third soil and leaf test
• Apply any needed soil and microbe amendments
• Plant potted plants into the tilled or mowed cover crop rows of the orchard.
Optional - plant young Honeyberries in blue grapevine grow tubes to encourage
upward growth
• Plant perennial cover crop needed between orchard rows

How many plants per acre?
1,000 Honeyberry plants per acre. Plant in well prepared tilled and weed-free
rows 4 feet apart. These orchard rows are usually at 12 feet centres - depending on
size of farm machinery. Expected yields of eight to eleven pounds per plant are
obtained from four to five-year-old healthy plants.
Site preparation
In the fall, deep chiseling down the row will remove roots and break plow pans
or clay layers. All soil types may not benefit from deep plowing. Soils high in clay
may only reseal and eliminate or significantly reduce the benefits of deep plowing.
Follow chiseling with plowing and discing. An ideal orchard site has little vegetation
prior to being planted with a winter or summer mixed cocktail cover crop. This is
followed in the spring by a further mixed cocktail cover crop before planting in the
fall. Compost tea, compost and soil amendment applications should also be applied at
this time per the soil nutrition plan.
Take soil samples in the fall, when soil temperatures have cooled down to 50ºF
or less. Have a certified soil testing lab prepare a full soil chemistry report. This will
help with planning future nutrient adjustments and allow major adjustments to be
made before the orchard is established. Examining the soil profile can also help with
understanding the soil’s physical characteristics in the rooting zone (rhizosphere). A
further detailed set of soil samples should be taken prior to planting to make

additional pH and fertility adjustments.Therefore, taking the time to prepare the soil
properly is not necessarily going to take longer to establish an orchard and will save
money and effort in the long run.
Row orientation
Typical row lengths are between 200 and 300 feet, but it depends greatly on the
site. Breaks in orchards rows can contribute to more efficient orchard operations,
particularly those that are mechanized, such as spraying, or harvesting. The value of
these features should be weighed against the maximization of plant numbers and
total orchard productive space.
Row orientation is less critical than row spacing. On level sites, orient rows to
maximize length and minimize the number of end posts, if bird netting is required.
Most sites are not level, though. Do not contour rows around hills, as the bird netting,
supports will be structurally weak. Note low areas should be used as alleyways or
turning areas for the mechanical harvesters rather than for planting.
Sunlight interception by the plant rows should be maximized. Research studies

have shown that rows oriented in a north-south direction receive more sunlight, have
better air movement among plants, and produce slightly higher yields than those
oriented east to west. Thus, if other factors are equal, align rows as closely as possible
to a north-south axis; however, row orientation should be paired with site constraints
like topography and erosion potential. In some regions, strong south and southwest
winds dictate row orientation more than the light interception. In many orchard
locations, it is most important to orient rows across a slope to minimize soil erosion.
Row spacing
Many decisions go into row spacing. A grower needs either to decide the row
width and purchase the appropriate equipment to work within that width, or, if the
grower has existing equipment, make decisions based on the dimensions of that
equipment. In deciding row width, consider the height of the plants.
Row spacing needs to match plant variety and the factors that influence plant
vigour, such as soil type and cultural management. The size of conventional orchard

equipment often limits the minimal row spacing to 10 or 12 feet. Consider equipment
availability and operation carefully before deciding on row spacing. Use wider
spacing (12 feet) on steeper terrain.
Plant row spacing
Row plant spacing ranges from 4 to 5 feet, with 4 feet being most common.
Spacing within the row will be determined by plant size. From an economic
standpoint, close plant spacing (less than three feet) may increase the yield per acre in
the initial years of production. However, that accelerated return will be reduced
dramatically when the plant matures to its full size. A mature five by six feet plant
will not reach its full potential yield on two to three foot row centres.
Headlands and alleys
Enough space should be left at the end of orchard rows to provide room to turn
equipment. Tractors with attached trailer-type air-blast sprayers require a minimum
of 30 feet turning clearance. Rows longer than 500 feet should be divided with a cross
alley to facilitate movement of machinery and personnel.
Other general ‘Russian’ plant information
No pruning is performed on young plants. After 8 to 10 years of fruiting, light

pruning may be required.
To obtain annually long shoots and, consequently, good yields, application of

Nitrogen mineral fertilizers is recommended in spring, and of Phosphorus and
Potassium after fruiting. In regions where summer temperatures are 30c plus. This
second flushing may not occur.
If during fruit formation and maturation, weather is dry and hot. Berries can
lose 10 to 30% of their mass. In rainy and colder weather, the berries are larger, but
less sweet.
Berries can be kept at room temperatures for 2 to 3 days 7 to 9 days in cold

storage.

Honeyberry is a cross-pollinated plant, like Apple, Plum, or sour Cherry. A good
yield of berries is obtainable only by planting three to six different varieties together
in separate rows. Bumblebees and hive bees (one to two hive per acre) act as
pollinators.
On average a Honeyberry reaches about 1.5 to 2 grams in weight and a length of

about one inch. Ripe berries (Brix of 15 and above) are easy to detach from the pedicel
and can easily be harvested both manually and with a berry harvester in June or
early July.
When and what size to plant?

We favour two options. Young Honeyberries are potted up in 3-gallon or 11 litre pots in
the early Spring for six to 18 months in an outside nursery area or open poly tunnels near to
the orchard and then planted out in the Fall. As an alternative, smaller plants can be directly
planted in the orchard, in blue grapevine grow tubes (6 inches in height). This can help with
Young Honeyberries Begin their Journey

weed and rabbit control. However will need a well planned weeding management plan for
the following year.
Direct planting in the fall is preferred because the plant's vegetative growth starts so
early in the spring at air temperatures at around 2c, when the orchard soil is not normally
ready for field work. We have found fall planting allows the plant to settle in over winter and
start growth undisturbed the following spring. The difference between spring and fall
planting is very marked indeed and can delay growth by a full season.
Our favoured option is potting up the young plants in larger pots or grow-bags. We
have found the most cost efficient size is a 3-gallon or 11 litre one and it's advisable to locate
the nursery as close to the intended orchard as possible. This allows you to prepare the
orchard’s soil to the plants needs and to luxury levels more cost effectively regarding its
structure, organic content, minerals and biological makeup. This will have further advantage
of eliminating the cost of weeding in the first year as the plants are growing weed free in
pots. Allowing you time to make the orchard's ground less suitable for weeds and remember
Young Honeyberry plugs to Orchard

the definition of weed is a plant in the wrong place. The grower’s aim is to create an
environment where the Honeyberry plants have a higher Brix and are healthier than the
weeds in the orchard.
Planting a larger rootball in the fall takes more time, but allows the plant to become
better established when spring growth arrives and this 3-gallon root mass is unlikely to be
instantly dominated and crowed out by smaller weeds. A weed management plan is still
required until the plant canopy closes in the third year and this is best carried out by an
appropriate cover crop or weeding machinery (For example Weed Badger).
Organic certification process
We have become firm believers in Organic and Locally Organic certification and it is
becoming the ‘Health Food Standard’ for today’s health conscious consumer. Organic
farming has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of agriculture for more than two decades
growing by 20 to 24 percent annually since 1990. It allows farmers to reap up to three times
the profit margins of non-organically fresh or frozen produce.
According to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
farmer interviews, the main obstacles to organic adoption by farmers include
• High managerial costs and risks of shifting to a new way of farming
• Limited awareness of organic farming systems
• Lack of marketing and infrastructure
• Inability to capture marketing economies
• The fear of additional paperwork.
The key to a successful transition is to break the process into manageable steps. Then
the transition from non-organic to organic management can be both profitable, fun and
rewarding.

Organic agriculture considers the farm as a complete, fully integrated and dynamic
ecosystem with the ultimate goal being to minimize costly outside inputs. While some
fertilizers (and even some naturally occurring pesticides and herbicides) may be allowable.
It’s much cheaper to build fertility as well as pest and disease resistance into the system.
• Build fertility by adding organic matter to your soil and by augmenting your
crops with cover crops that improve the biological, chemical and physical
makeup of your soil.
• Manage pests and diseases by increasing the diversity of species on your farm.
• Focus on renewable resources, soil and water conservation, and management
practices that maintain and enhance ecological balance and improve soil
quality.
• Increase biodiversity both on the orchard itself and in the surrounding
environment.
• Use cover crops and green manures that recycles nutrients, builds soil quality
and disrupts pest cycles.
• Minimal use of external, off-farm inputs coupled with the exclusion of
synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Organic farming is not simply the substitution of approved input materials. It is the
replacement of a reactive approach with a more natural one to create a balanced system of
plant and soil health. Conversion to an organic production from a conventional system
requires a three-year transition period before crops are considered fully organically certified.
Certification
A period of three years is required for the transition from conventional to organic
production, during which time products may be marketed as transitional or conventional but
not as certified organic. This time is calculated from the date of application of the last
prohibited material or practice to the date of harvest of the first organic crop. Land where no

prohibited materials have been used for three or more years can be put directly into certified
organic production.
Record keeping
The centrepiece of your application for certification is your Organic System Plan. This
should include details about your Honeyberry orchard plan you intend to follow (including
cover crops). It should also include a conservation plan detailing how you plan to improve
your soil and manage runoff and erosion, and it must address how you will control pests,
diseases and weeds organically.
The audit trail involves detailed record keeping and documentation to show that you
are following your plan, monitoring your results and not using any prohibited substances.
Once these systems are in place, an inspector employed by your certifier will schedule an
orchard visit. This usually lasts about three to five hours. Following the visit, the inspector
submits a report to the certifying agency, where a committee will review your application.
Once you are certified, you are still required to maintain a system plan, keep good
records and have your soil tested regularly. Water used for irrigation and washing is also
subject to testing for contaminants. You can expect a visit from an inspector at least once a
year.
To Certify or Not To Certify
Growers who sell most of their crops directly to the end consumer via a farm stand,
farmers market or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) may consider organic
certification unnecessary because their customers know them and trust their farming
practices. Keep in mind, however, that if you intend to label your product as organic or sell
any of your product through a third party such as a grocery retailer certification is imperative
to ensure customer confidence and a grocer can’t label your product as “organic” unless it is
certified.

Importance of inter-row plant spacing
The importance of inter-row plant spacing has become more and more important as
Honeyberry variety plant size has increased over the last five years and as it has grown in
popularity.
The original varieties from the University of Saskatchewan tended to be smaller, than
the original Russian ones, at around 3 feet wide by 4 feet high. The original accepted inter-
row spacing was on two to three feet centres. This gave a range number of plants per acre of
1,000 to 1,500. However, as North American growers have become more familiar with their
growth habits and rootball size, the inter-row spacing has widened to three to four feet.
We firmly believe that incorrect row spacing is one of the primary causes of
disappointing yields, after soil health and weed control. Planting too close reduces the overall
plant mass and causes the Honeyberry roots to compete with its neighbour causing stress
and in some cases death of the weaker plant.
In Poland, some of the newer orchards are planting at 2,300 plants to an acre or spacing
within the rows of 20 inches. They have simply copied the Blackcurrant plants per acre
A Sea of Polish Honeyberries

format and have admitted that Blackcurrant overcrowding can make mechanical harvesting
more difficult and leads to more plant damage. We believe this overly aggressive planting
strategy will result in dramatically reduced yields and poor plant health because the roots
will be competing for nutrients and air space.
We favour 4 feet spacing for all of the newer varieties, that tend to be around 5 feet
wide and 5 feet tall. This translates to around 1,000 plants per acre, depending on your
equipment needs.
Planting example: Dense versus correct planting strategy
• 2,300 plants over 2.3 acres (1,000 plants per acre) should generate about 23,000
pounds or 11.5 tons and translates to a revenue of $57,500 (raw and unsorted price of
$2.50 per pound).
• The higher cost strategy of planting at 2,300 plants per acre would generate about
6,000 pounds or 3 tons and give a revenue of $6,000 (raw and unsorted price of $1.00 per
Newly Planted Scottish Honeyberries

pound) at best. The price of these berries could be lower because of the lower expected
Brix and poor quality. Also, your plant cost would be more than double and the life of the
plant severely reduced. You may have to replant the orchard every 5 to 7 years, similar to
other soft fruit crops.
• This dense and unhealthy planting plan, we admit, would yield more than planting
2,300 Blackcurrants and its mature revenue of $4,200 (6000 pounds at a price of $0.70 a
pound). However, it's another example of growers having an opportunity to grow a high-
value fruit, doing everything in their wake to commoditize it and to build it on a far
higher cost base.
Weed suppression with cover crop mixes
One of the main ways that cover crops suppresses weeds is by shading the soil, which
reduces weed germination and growth. We have observed that cover crops that emerge
quickly after planting and grow rapidly in the early fall will have low weed biomass in the
spring. In our experience, rye, oats, radish, and canola can effectively out-compete weeds
when planted in mid-August.
Red clover and Austrian winter pea are slower growing and are often invaded by
weeds, even though the winter pea stands can eventually produce a significant amount of fall
biomass. It is also worth noting that nitrogen-deficient brassicas and gaps between drill
passes can sometimes allow weeds to establish. To create an effective weed-suppressive cover

crop mixture, start with combining five or more family species that will work together
to cover the soil rapidly, then add more annual or perennial species according to your other
goals.
Orchard pest control
The major pests that need to be managed are birds and is fully covered in the 'Orchard
Harvesting Practices' section. The most other common pests we have encountered in North
America are deer and in Europe are rabbits.
Both pests are readily controlled by standard or electric fencing. However, this is an
added orchard cost that the grower must use his or her local knowledge to solve. We find that
the primary grazing damage on plants occurs when snow coverage is high and there is little
around for the deer to eat (in February and March). The top buds or branches provide ideal
emergency deer food. At other times , we found the deer are more interested in grazing your
grass or clover between the rows rather than the plants.
Rabbit or hare damage, mainly in the UK, is more severe as they tend to gnaw at the
bottom of the plant stem, stripping the bark and weakening the plant. This is another reason
that supports planting out larger plants in the orchard.
Overall, securing Honeyberries from unwanted pests is no different than with grapes or
soft fruit. We find that berries are ripening at a time when grazing food is more plentiful. The
pest pressure appears far less than if it berried in the fall.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Source:LoveHoneyberry /Gospodarstwo Orgrodnicze Tadeusz Kusibab
Irrigate or not to irrigate?
In regions where there is not sufficient rainfall compared to our Poznan, Polish
Honeyberry benchmark we recommend growers irrigate to ensure the plants receive the
required moisture during the critical growing months before and after harvest in general
from May through to September.
In other regions where irrigation is used as a means for fertilizing the plants we would
encourage these growers to increase the orchards organic matter, as this is a vastly superior
water storage and delivery medium for the plant. It can hold its own weight in water and the
Honeyberry plant can access this moisture by the roots at will. An increase of one percent
organic matter enables the soil to hold an extra 15,000 gallons per acre. It is worth
remembering that just about 3 percent of the earth's water is fresh and 90% is used to irrigate
crops. Climate change is today impacting this priceless resource by delivering unprecedented
droughts and in many cases unanticipated rainfall. This causes unexpected problems as the

rain often falls where it has rarely dropped before, and where there is little infrastructure to
capture and store this precious cargo.
So in areas that do not need irrigation, we would encourage Honeyberry growers to use
more cost effective ways of building up organic matter and feeding the plants through foliar
sprays. A good test to see if you are on the right path is to Brix test your plants and the weeds
around them. If the Brix of the weeds or plants in the wrong places is higher, then your plant
feeding programme or irrigation system needs some serious fine tuning.
We have seen some growers in regions that are on the borderline of having to irrigate or
not, bury their irrigation lines 6 to 12 inches below the soil. We would also add they do not
receive ground frost on the field during winter months. The logic of doing this is to provide
the needed soil biology and mineral amendments to the young plants roots over four or five
years until it reaches full maturity. The added advantage is that you are able to tie in the
needed amendments during the growing season, feed the plant roots when the soil is too wet
early in the season and you are less likely to feed the weeds during the growing season. It is
uncertain at this stage whether this system would work better and be more cost effective that
a more natural combination of cover crops and seasonal foliar sprays.
2 Year Old Nova Scotia Honeyberry Orchard

13. Honeyberry Orchard Establishment Examples
In this section, we have included five establishing examples of Honeyberry orchards

from Europe and North America.
• Example One - Two Small orchards planted in Nova Scotia
• Example Two - 10 acres of Honeyberry heaven planted in Scotland
• Example Three - Young plant plugs with blue vine grow tubes
• Example Four - Established orchard near Poznan, Poland
• Example Five - Newly created orchard near Krakow, Poland
A Right Way and a Wrong Way?

The aim of these examples is to show that there are many ways to create a Honeyberry
orchard. We do favour some more than others. However, the important point is that it fits
with your 'Honeyberry story' of success and supports the price point or product you intend
to sell. For example, if you plan to sell Grade one organic frozen and fresh Honeyberries to
Whole Foods then it would be unwise to grow the plants under plastic or use Roundup as a
weed control. You will be lucky to get a $1.00 a pound as opposed to your intended $5.
Orchard establishment summaries
The growers in the first examples wanted to plant their young three and a half inch
plant plugs directly into very well-prepared orchards rows. These plants were planted in the
spring and were very well fertilized and hand weeded throughout the season.
The aim in the second example was to maximise the growth of the young plug plants in
three gallon pots, under the cover of poly-tunnels during the summer months. While the
orchard was being prepared during the summer months to improve the soil health. The
plants were planted in the fall, and a cocktail mixed cover crop was planted to help with
weed control. We love his home-made compost tea sprayer nicknamed - The Madonna. A one
off don’t you think?
The third example shows how some growers are blending the two methods together
with the use of blue vine grow tubes. This helps encourage early growth by creating a more
favourable microclimate for the small plant plugs and offers some protection from rabbits. It
also helps force the smaller and wider varieties to become more upright for mechanical
harvesting and prevents weed seeds to establish themselves around the plants crown.
The fourth and fifth orchards are from Poznan and Krakow in Poland. These show two
examples of an established organic orchard and planting larger two-year plants under geo-
textile weed fabric. We prefer to spend the fabric investment on cover crops and soil
improvement. However, it is an excellent example to show that there is no right or wrong
way to establish an orchard. Just create an orchard plan that works for you and execute it.

Example One - Small orchards planted in Nova Scotia.
The growers of these one to three acre orchards, located in the ‘Valley’ and near Truro ,
Nova Scotia, wanted to plant young three and a half inch plant plugs directly into his very
well-prepared orchards rows. These plants were planted in the spring and were very well
fertilized and hand weeded throughout the season. The orchard pictures show the excellent
Nova Scotian Valley Example: Planted 2014

Honeyberries in the Fall
growth that has been achieved in little under two to three years. The plants have prospered in
healthy soil unhindered by unwanted weed growth.
Nova Scotian Truro Example: Planted 2013

Newly Planted and Maturing Honeyberry Orchard

Example Two - 10 acres of Honeyberry heaven planted in Scotland.
This orchard is over 10 acres and has been established in the traditional soft fruit
growing area outside Dundee in Scotland. The aim of the grower was to maximise the early
growth of the plants in 3-gallon grow bags under the cover of his existing poly-tunnels in the
summer growing months. While improving the soil conditions of the orchard site with
cocktail cover crop plantings, soil and microbe amendments through a programme of
compost tea and other sprays. The large root ball plants would be planted in the fall to allow
the plants to be well settled in by the following spring.
A 7 month Honeyberry Journey
Extra care was taken with the soil because root rot has reduced the Scottish soft fruit
industry to a shade of its former self. In the 1970's there were over 5,000 acres of Raspberries
grown in open fields. This is now down to 300, with the majority grown in pots.

We believe that root rot found in the UK and Argentina can be treated with biocontrol
techniques. Root rot or Phytophthora is also linked to soil health issues, as are most other
species of this pathogen. This often relates to a loss of soil structure and associated gas
exchange, as this disease thrives in poorly oxygenated soils.
Soils can by brought back to health by inoculating them with compost teas brewed with
resistance-inducing microbes such as Trichoderma harzianum and Silica (as can most other
species of Phytophthora). Trichoderma species are hyperparasites and produce enzymes that
collapse, shrink and digest host hyphae – the threadlike cells of fungi. Trichoderma also
produces water-soluble, diffusible antibiotics as another measure to counter fungal parasites
and pathogens. Recent research has shown Trichoderma can help to control the egg and
larval stages of root-knot nematodes. Farmers in South Africa use Trichoderma very
efficiently for nematode control in potato crops.
Young Plantlets Arrive in Scotland

This establishment strategy proved far more effective than the previous year's half acre
Honeyberry plot trial of planting smaller plants from cuttings, directly into the soil. The most
noticeable benefits from the tissue culture plants are the plants better branching structure and
more balanced and faster growth rate of the young Honeyberry plants.
In early 2015 the young in-vitro plants were initially potted up and grown on for about
a month before being transferred into 3-gallon or 11 litre grow bags. They thrived under the
poly-tunnels. The combination of compost tea foliar and drip fed applications and large root
area provided by the bags, allowed the roots and the plant to develop rapidly. The resulting
growth was more balanced because the potting soil and foliar applications contained the
correct balance of nutrients rather than just the traditional NPK. The larger size pots were
used to capitalised on the rapid root growth development of Honeyberries and to prevent the
plants from becoming pot bound. Its important to ensure the growth is balanced because tall
weak stems that have not been hardened off may likely brake in high winds once planted out
in the orchard.
3 Gallon Potted Honeyberries

Tissue Culture versus Cuttings

The grower worked with Honeyberry consultants LoveHoneyberry and soil agronomist
Graeme Sait to ensure there was a soil health management programme in place to ensure the
plants needs were met and its organic content, minerals and microbes were at luxury levels
going forward. The first step in this process was to carry out soil tests and convert this
information into a Soil Therapy Report, conducted by Graeme's company Nutri-Tech
Solutions.
The fields were prepared in September with an additional amendment of biochar in the
intended planting rows, which was tilled in. The grower also chose to bury an irrigation line
in the Honeyberry rows about 8 inches under the soil to allow compost tea and other soil
amendments to encourage root growth. This will encourage deeper roots and not stimulate
weed growth near the plants with traditional dripper irrigation lines.The sizeable plants were
transferred out of the poly-tunnels into the orchard in October and planted up, in the
beautiful setting of the Tayside countryside. Once the Honeyberries were in their new home,
a winter cover crop was planted and a further summer cover crop will be planted the
following spring. This will encourage fungal microbes and introduce the microbe most
missing in most soils around the world - Mycorrhizal fungi.
Honeyberry plants Ready for Planting

Honeyberries in Their New Home, October 2015

Compost Tea in the Orchard
These vigorous and healthy plants will settle in over the winter months and be in great
shape to increase new growth the following spring and more importantly produce a tasty
crop of early summer berries. It is hard to believe the plants shown on page 208 and 2009 are
just over a year old!

Honey berry Winter and Spring Weeding

Honeyberries Basking in Scottish Spring Sunshine

Easy as ABC - In-vitro to Orchard in 14 Months
Example Three - Young plant plugs established with blue wine grow tubes
The third example shows how some growers prefer to plant smaller plants directly into
the orchard with the help of blue vine grow tubes to increase growth. This helps encourage
early growth by creating a more favourable microclimate for the plant plugs. It also helps
forces the smaller and wider Honeyberry varieties to become more upright for mechanically
harvesting and prevents weed seeds to establish themselves around the plants crown.
The tubes are shown at a height of about 12 inches and we agree with the grower that
the better height for the next trial should be is about 6 to 8 inches. The tube is held in place
with one or two bamboo canes. We have heard of growers using spent milk cartons to save
money. This in theory could work, as it will create a warmer micro-climate inside the carton.
However it will not provide the same light conditions as the more transparent blue grow
tubes and could harm its growth.

Young Honeyberry plants in Blue Vine Grow Tubes

Example Four - Established orchard, Poznan, Poland.
This example is one of the oldest commercial Honeyberry orchards in Europe at over 10
years old and is grown organically (not certified). It is operated by Mark Burmistrz and his
wife and is situated near Poznan, in Western Poland. He has experimented by planting young
plants with and without plastic or fabric weed control.
His original orchard was planted on 8 foot row spacings, intended for hand harvesting.
However this proved too narrow and during the summer months the rows disappear into a
sea of Honeyberries. He would advise for commercial orchards 10 to 12 foot spacing,
depending on farm equipment size. His orchard is unique in Poland and Europe not only
because of the number of mature Honeyberry plants, but for the number of differing varieties
he grows in his orchard. These include all the Polish ones listed in this guide. Historically
most Polish orchards plant only two varieties per acre.
Poznan Example: Orchard planted 2004

Mature Polish Honeyberry Orchard

Mature Polish Honeyberry Orchard

Example Five - Newly created orchard near Krakow, Poland.
This new orchard is about 10 acres in size and was created in 2015, by Gospodarstwo
Ogrodnicze Tadeusz Kusibab. It is situated in Sosnówka, a mile or so out of Krakow. They
drew on experience from commercial orchard growers in Russia and Canada. They agree
there are no rigid guidelines to follow and adapted their findings to suit their plan.
They began the orchard establishment in the spring of 2015 by planting a cover crop of
soya, field beans, and cereals to improve its health. This was ploughed under before planting
and deep chiselled to a depth of about 15 to 20 inches to break up any hardened plough pan.
The orchard fields were then prepared with standard farm equipment to create a flat surface
for soil amendments and planting.
The next step was to mark out the rows at a distance of 13 feet. This was the spacing
that was ideal for their orchard plan and machinery. They believe the optimum row spacing
for Poland is 13 to 15 feet. To improve the organic content of the clay soil peat (pH of 3.8) was
added. 40 pounds of peat was added per three feet in the intended orchard rows. After the
peat was added, it was tilled into the soil to a depth of one foot. Several days later allowing
the soil to settle, raised beds (6 inches high and 28 inches wide) were created and covered
with black geotextile fabric for weed control. The fabric was marked for the creation of
planting holes by using a wheel behind it. This made a small depression in the raised bed for
the fertilization and irrigation systems. Then holes in the fabric were made with a PTO digger
or auger.
The plant spacing within the rows is 20 inches and gives a planting of 2,300 plants per
acre. The grower noted that the spacing was made deliberately dense hoping that the plants
would develop in an upright shape and not be too overcrowded. we believe this
overcrowding makes mechanical harvesting more difficult and leads to more plant damage.
They took this dense planting strategy from Blackcurrant breeders and if it proves incorrect
they will increase the plant spacing to 40 inches or reduce the number of plants by half.
We believe this overly aggressive planting strategy will result in dramatically reduced
yields and poor plant health because the roots will be competing for nutrients and space. For
example, 2,300 plants should over 2.3 acres yield (1,000 plants per acre) should generate

about 23,000 pounds or 11.5 tons and translates to a revenue of $57,500 (raw and unsorted
price of $2.50 per pound). The higher cost strategy of planting 2,300 plants per acre, would
generate about 6,000 pounds or 3 tons and give a revenue $6,000 (raw and unsorted price of
$1.00 per pound) at best. The price of these berries could be lower because of the lower
expected Brix and poor quality.
This dense planting strategy does achieve the fundamental goal of the former
blackcurrant grower by giving a higher revenue per acre than blackcurrants at $0.75 to a
$1.00 a pound. However, it does not maximize the Honeyberry opportunity for the Polish
grower and is following a familiar commoditized approach, which the consumer is not
interested in. The Honeyberry plants were grown in square one-gallon pots and planted
manually in the orchard. The heavy soil prevented the use of specialized planting equipment.
They found that planting was made more difficult, but sped up the timing of the first harvest.
New Polish Honeyberry Orchard created 2015
Source: Gospodarstwo Orgrodnicze Tadeusz Kusibab

Orchard Establishment and Fall Planting
Source: Gospodarstwo Orgrodnicze Tadeusz Kusibab

Our favourite patch of Honeyberry heaven?
We are of course completely biased, being of Scottish heritage. However, our favoured
orchard is Arbuckle's 10 acre Honeyberry orchard near Dundee, Scotland. It is the best
example of what can be achieved over 12 months based on our essential guide's principals,
Nutri-Tech products and the passion of its owner.
Honeyberry Anam an Fhearainn
14. Orchard Management Practices

Importance of having a management plan
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your
complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks and then starting at the first one.
Mark Twain.

Many growers believe that once their new Honeyberry orchard has been established
and plants are sitting comfortably in their new straight rows awaiting winter. It's all done and
dusted. Nothing could be further from the truth, as now you have to start creating your
orchard management practices programme to ensure your orchard continues to thrive
towards your first harvest.
During your first years, the majority of your management time will be devoted towards
monitoring, feeding, weeding and determining which bird solution is best for you. The time
allocated to each of these tasks will change as your orchard matures. These aims of these
functions are to deliver greater plant yield and quality. The following pointers can provide a
box ticking list as you progress through your many Honeyberry seasons.
Mineral Management
Soil testing is your first task of the season and please remember to send it a lab that can
test for trace minerals such as Silicon, Molybdenum, Cobalt, and Selenium and it gives a
'Base Saturation' breakdown of your soil. Remember your early attention should be very
Calcium focused as it affects soil structure and impacts of all other minerals. So it is always
the first priority. You should also pay close attention to Graeme Sait's six key ratios to ensure
your soil is properly balanced through the growing season. Any gaps or unbalanced ratios
can be made up in the short run by the use of foliar sprays.
Nitrogen Management
Nitrogen is essential to all crops and particularly to Honeyberries before they come into
leaf and to ensure the second wave of plant growth after harvest. This mineral is the most

abundant mineral within the plant because it is integral to photosynthesis and protein. If you
can balance it correctly to the plants needs we invariably find that your job will be less
stressful, more profitable and much more fun.
If Calcium and Sulfur are low in the soil, they should be included with your Nitrogen
input. Sulfur is an integral component of two of the amino acids that combine to create
protein. Calcium determines the cell division and cell strength required for crop quality,
disease resistance, and shelf-life. Nitrogen fires growth, but without Calcium there is no
quality, and that growth becomes prime fodder for opportunistic pests.
Nitrogen is the most abundant mineral in the plant and can have a significant impact on
its yield. This factor can encourage the Honeyberry grower to believe that more is better.
However this is called the 'Nitrogen Trap.' When the mineral is over applied, it negatively
affects the uptake of other minerals. The most notable of these is Potassium, the most
expensive of all fertiliser inputs. The second major mineral affected by too much Nitrogen is
Calcium. Therefore, it's not a very good idea to over apply Nitrogen in early April or after the
harvest in July. By doing this, you will be creating a greater need for an even more expensive
chemical intervention when the Calcium-deficient plant becomes less resilient to disease.
Microbe management
Soil tests should also be accompanied by soil biology tests. There can be a tremendous
gain in introducing and maintaining specific microbes, in very high numbers, to your soil.
You may be seeking access to the 2,500 truckloads of Nitrogen that hovers as a gas above
every acre or you may be wishing to reclaim some of your locked up reserves of Phosphate.
You can reclaim these untapped reserves with these microbes and fix substantial amounts of
Nitrogen from the atmosphere. It is now recognised that these 'Free' microbes are the bridge
between soil and plant health, and you will always profit from this simple bridge building
exercises.
A fungal disease does not represent a deficiency of a fungicide and root knot nematodes
did not appear because you neglected to gas your soil. These pathogens are symptoms of a
biological imbalance, and the secret is to reclaim that balance. Building humus and using
compost tea to increase levels of beneficial microbes This offers the fastest road back to

health. We recommend compost tea spray programs every month during the growing season.
However, take a leaf test at pre-flowering and early fruit set to adjust spray inputs.
Weed management
A weed management plan is much more than cutting the grassy clover rows between
your Honeyberry plants. The three important reminders are first to remember a weed is
another word for a plant in the wrong place. Secondly, you weed when you don't see these
plants in the wrong place. If you are weeding when they are in full sight. It's too late. Thirdly
the bulk of the weed problem is in the early years from Establishment to Year 3, when the
dense Honeyberry canopy has not closed and is unable to shade out the undesired plant.
Honey berry Peek-A-Boo is Not Recommended
Through our Establishment plan programme, we have reduced the problematic early
year (Establishment Year to Year 2) weed pressure through the planting of a cocktail cover
crop to smother weeds. The further advantage of this cover mix is with oats, rye, and
sorghum can produce biochemical fluid that discourages the germination of weed seeds. By
growing a young plug plant into a three-gallon or 11 litre root ball, there are not many weeds
that will compete with this. The two to three-foot high plant will not be shaded out by any
aggressive neighbours.
Despite the advantages of any cover crop and its abilities to crowd or shade out its
pesky unwanted friends. We would still recommend using mechanical weeders every two or
four weeks - a Weed Badger or Rinieri Offset Weed Harrow (page 239) - in the orchard.
Timing between each use will depend on how well your site was prepared before planting.

In-Field and leaf monitoring
There is no place for guesswork in Honeyberry farming. Growers should learn to feed
the plant what it needs, when it needs it and then you and your plants will reap the rewards.
Leaf tissue testing throughout the growing season provides a valuable insight into these
needed requirements. The easiest way to correct any imbalances during the growing season is
through foliar sprays. Growers can have a selection of in-field monitoring tools at hand to
fine tune the plant's needed nutritional requirements. These include a refractometer, which
measures dissolved solids or nutrient density and your associated skills as a chlorophyll
manager. The ideal Honeyberry plant sap Brix level is around 20 to 25.
Plant Sap pH
Source: Bruce Tainio
The second essential tool is a sap pH meter. A healthy, disease-resistant plant should
have a sap pH of 6.4. A low sap pH signals a lack of alkalizing minerals (Calcium,
Magnesium or Potassium) and increased fungal problems, as these pathogens flourish in acid
conditions. Conversely, if nitrates are high or the key acidity minerals are lacking
(Phosphorus and Sulfur) the sap pH will be high and this tends to attract insect pressure. The
principal difference between these tools, is that the refractometer is monitoring the presence
of minerals, amino acids and sugars. While the sap pH meter is really just about minerals,
Field Sprays
Foliar feeding of plant nutrients is a relatively new agricultural technique compared to

the long history of agriculture, and consequently is often poorly understood. Foliar
fertilising is perfect for bypassing soil-based lockups to address trace element deficiencies

very effectively. However, it can also be used to deliver major minerals with lower mobility,
like Calcium, directly into the fruit where they are required. Foliar feeding of Honeyberries
during flower set can dramatically increase fruit production. Also foliar sprays of Boron
immediately before flowering can have a significant impact on the flower to fruit ratio and
subsequent yield.
A frequent question we are asked is 'Do only the leaves absorb the nutrients?' No.
Experiments have shown that buds, twigs, trunk, flowers and fruit all absorbed nutrients. For
example, there is an advantage in spraying Boron on Honeyberries, during dormancy, to
ensure that this essential mineral is present at proper levels for flowering, when it is most
required. We recommend pre-flowering foliar sprays just before flowering and other foliar
spray programs monthly during the growing season. However take a leaf test at pre-
flowering and early fruit set along with other in-field monitoring tools to adjust spray inputs.
Annual Orchard Summary
At the end of the year, it's worth noting down all the things you learnt in the orchard
and your successes to take into the new growing year. This will help you refine your
Honeyberry plan to your local area or micro climate. It also builds up a record of what you
have achieved and strengthens your story.
Do not forget about your organic matter
It's easy sometimes in the excitement of what is happening above the soil, to forget
about managing your organic matter toward 6 to 10%. If your management plan is working
correctly, you should see its level rise every year in the annual or bi-annual soil tests. If this, is
not the case, its perhaps an early warning sign that all is not well in the orchard and you
should take serious attention. Pest pressure is based upon a combination of mineral and
microbial imbalances. From a mineral perspective, this might, for example, involve an excess
of nitrate nitrogen, which enters the plant with water and dilutes nutrient density as a result.
The nitrate-packed Honeyberry plant then becomes a calling card for both insects and
disease.

Alternatively, a healthy, active soil food web deactivates pathogens through a variety of
mechanisms ranging from predatory control and biochemical stimulation of plant immunity.
In both cases, humus has a significant role to play. Humus buffers imbalances allowing the
soil to breath. In fact, the higher the humus levels or organic matter, the less important the
mineral imbalance. Insect resistance is a function of Honeyberry plant’s immunity, fuelled by
micro-nutrients that are more available in a high humus soil, along with a strengthened cell
wall determined by Calcium and Silica.
Key plant and soil health monitoring tools
All farmers like toys to play with and you will be glad to know that Honeyberry
growers have many important ones to chosen from. The good news is they do not cost any
where near what a brand new 200 hp tractor will set you back.
We have stated before that, if you want to achieve optimum Honeyberry yields,
improved plant health, and profitability. Carrying out regular soil and leaf tests at set times
throughout the season should be part of your standard Honeyberry orchard practice. More
and more soft fruit growers are taking up this practice every year, not only for the crops’
health and yield but to cut costs by only applying the needed nutrient requirements at the
correct times. Remember as a Honeyberry grower you want healthy Honeyberry plants and
not weeds.
The soil health of your Honeyberry orchard is the life-blood of your business. It is
essential to gain an understanding of the mechanics of soil fertility and nutrition. Nine out of
ten growers who perform soil and leaf tests repeat the process year after year because it
helps them achieve better quality yields. A soil analysis will highlight any deficiencies and
excesses so that these can be addressed before it goes unnoticed.
How to Perform a Soil and Leaf Test
By now you should be aware that Soil and leaf analysis provides data on your
Honeyberry's nutritional levels through out the growing season. This enables the grower to
adjust foliar applications more quickly to meet the plants' exact requirements. Based on a

range of ideal mineral levels for the Honeyberry the, the exact nutrition can be delivered at
each critical stage within the growing season.
How to take a leaf sample? In general we advise collecting 60-100 leaves to get a
representative sample. The leaves should be taken at about the midpoint of the new growth
and from all actively growing parts of the Honeyberry plant. Choose between 8 and 10
separate plants that are representative of the row or orchard block. You should not mix leaves
from different varieties, ages, soil types, blocks, or orchard. It is sometimes advisable to
sample poorly growing Honeyberry plants separately from healthy ones so that a
comparison can be made between them.
Plant Tissue Analytical Results
Source: NRM laboratories

How to take a soil sample? Orchard site samples must be collected within the area
intended for Honeyberry use. You should avoid recently fertilized areas, manure and urine
patches, old fence lines, old animal pens, old building sites, and other areas that are not
typical of the area being sampled. Take at least 15 samples to a depth of 6 inches, from all
over the area that you wish to test, and mix them all up together in the same clean plastic
bucket. Ensure the sampling tool is clean and rust free, and clean gloves are worn to reduce
contamination of the soil sample. Remove the top mulch or grass layer. Package the sample
(one cup of soil) in a plastic bag with your Name, Sample ID (where the sample was taken).
Attach an external label and use a permanent marker.

Taking soil and leaf samples is a simple process and for a small fee between $50 to $75 a
laboratory specialises in soil and leaf testing can provide an analysis. These costs are minimal
when you compare the benefits this analysis has on your crop and profitability. It is
recommended that growers seek the advice of an Agronomist to interpret these results, or
attend one of Graeme Sait's many Sustainable Agriculture Course to help you learn more
about soil and plant nutrition. We recommend that while waiting for your first soil test you
carry out your own Mason Jar Soil Test. This will start getting your hands dirty and provide a
good basis to compare your soil results with.
Mason Jar Soil Test
Source: GardenersEdge.com
When to Perform a Soil and Leaf Test
It is recommended that a soil test is performed once or twice a year. Honeyberry

growers generally do this at the end of the season in September or October to address any
soil requirements in time for the next season. The first soil test may reveal many deficiencies,
but as these are corrected, the soil will require fewer and fewer inputs.
Leaf tests need to be performed more regularly, as the Honeyberry changes

substantially throughout its growing and crop cycle. It is recommended that these tests are
ideally performed monthly or, at the least, at critical crop stages such as pre-flowering, at

fruit set and after harvest. It is also sensible to carry out a leaf analysis at the same time as
your annual soil test. This will help to give a comprehensive picture of your orchards
progress. Identifying any nutrients with an availability issue is vital. These may appear to be
at adequate levels in the soil, but due to a microbe deficiency, these may not be available to
the plant. A leaf test allows for any needed corrective foliar application that will help to build
reserves for the following season. Tests following harvest are vital to ensuring optimum
nutrition levels for future crops. It also provides consumers with more nutritious
Honeyberries that have a longer shelf-life and are more flavoursome. All Honeyberry
growers should not overlook that consumers are becoming more particular about the quality
of their food and how it is grown.
So crop and soil monitoring is an integral part of any healthy Honeyberry orchard. We
strongly believe that if this is fully integrated into your orchard management plan. This
proactive monitoring approach is infinitely superior to the simplistic “record and react”
response of the chemical system. The following essential tools are critical to carry out a
proactive approach:
• A CEC-based soil test that includes base saturation and measures the more obscure
trace minerals like Molybdenum, Cobalt, Selenium and Silica.
• A conventional leaf test in conjunction with the soil test and repeated during the
Honeyberry growing cycle. Include testing for Molybdenum, Cobalt, Selenium and
Silica.

• Annual monitoring of soil life activity, using either simple fungi and bacteria
counts or more comprehensive Soil Foodweb Test.
• A Refractometer, which primarily monitors nutrient density within the plant and
berry. It also offers a solid guideline of photosynthesis efficiency and its pest
resistance.
• A Sap pH Meter also measures plant health and pest resistance. It can also indicate
critical mineral imbalances and be used to ensure “ideal” pH of spray solutions.
• A Horiba Sap Meter for Potassium. This instrument is vital as it allows further
intensive monitoring of a mineral that is notoriously difficult to observe with
conventional leaf analysis.
• A Horiba Sap Meter for nitrate nitrogen. Nitrate excesses compromise crop quality
and increase pest pressure and is very common in intensive horticulture.
Horiba Orchard Pocket Meters
Source: horiba.com

The important strategy when interpreting leaf analysis data is it aims to achieve luxury
levels of the four essential minerals that are termed “the big four” - Calcium, Magnesium,
Phosphorus, and Boron. There are two significant synergistic pairs in this group. The first one
is Boron, which enables Calcium to perform its myriad functions and secondly Magnesium,
which is a Phosphorus synergist. All four minerals are involved in photosynthesis and hence
their importance. If you can successfully achieve luxury levels of all four on your leaf test,
then you are set for a bumper, disease-free crop of tasty and high Brix Honeyberries.
The growers most important field tool?
Many growers may think it is his or her Weed Badger or Joanna Premium Straddle
Harvester or perhaps spray unit. These, of course, are all important and have their place.
However, if we had to choose one tool to ensure the profitability of your orchard, help with
weed pressure and tell us when to get ready for harvest. The choice is simple a refractometer,
as shown below.
This is an invaluable pocket tool that measures dissolved solids in plant sap and
Honeyberry juice. The measured reading is called Brix and is measured in degrees. A good
and desired plant sap reading is above 12 degrees for most crops. You are effectively
The Invaluable Refractometer

measuring nutrient density in the plant and this includes sugars, amino acids and minerals.
We believe a healthy Honeyberry orchard should aim for readings of 20 plus.
This is also a guide to your proficiency as a chlorophyll manager, your central role as a
grower. Photosynthesis determines 95% of crop production. When it comes to testing fruit at
harvest time, the required reading is 15 plus. This depends on the planted Honeyberry
variety or its intended use. We have found that Brix readings below 15 indicated the inner
berry is still not ripe, or your chosen growing plan has impacted on the berry quality.
Here are some helpful reminders why all growers should invest in this vital monitoring
tool.
• This tool offers an inexpensive insight into yield potential. crop quality and time to
harvest.
• It also determines the probability of pest and disease pressure. The lower the Brix
level below 12, the higher the risk of insect attack or fungal disease. Aim for 20 plus.
• Crops with a great Brix level are less likely to suffer frost damage as the larger the
plant sugars the lower the freezing point.
• Brix sap levels should be the same throughout the plant from top to bottom. If there
is significant variation then you have uncovered a nutrient imbalance that requires
further investigation.
• A refractometer can be used to monitor Calcium levels in your crop. Calcium is the
most important mineral in high production agriculture. A fuzzy line when looking
into the refractometer's viewfinder is indicative of healthy calcium levels while a
sharp, distinct line means a lack of this essential mineral. This is normal the first
sign of trouble in the season, along with a low sap pH.
• The plants' Boron levels can also be monitored with this invaluable tool. Boron
governs the trap door which opens to allow the movement of sugars from the
chloroplasts to the roots each evening. Brix levels must always be lower in the

morning (Brix 19) than in the late afternoon (Brix 24). If morning and afternoon
readings are similar, then you lack the boron required to facilitate sugar transfer.
The simple solution is a Boron foliar spray.
• Brix levels of fruits allow the correct timing of your Honeyberry harvest for your
planned use of the berries. If you are picking for fresh, you may pick around 14 to
15 to allow the Brix to continue to rise on the way to market to 20. If you are
producing Honeyberry wine, then your target Brix will be 20 to 25 plus.
• Weeds should always have a lower Brix level than your crop, or they will be
problematical in that crop. If weeds have a higher Brix than your Honeyberries,
there is a problem with mineral balance in your soil.
Is a single soil test sufficient?
A soil test supplies a picture of nutrient balance and a broad perspective of potential
nutrient delivery to the crop. However, different soils give up their nutrients at different
rates, based on their structure, clay component, biological activity, and levels of organic
matter. It is suggested that all soils require around 68% Calcium base saturation to ensure
adequate Calcium for the crop.
While this percentage is correct for many soils, there are some soils that give up their
Calcium more efficiently than others and these soils do not reward the grower's investment
of unnecessary liming. Furthermore, surpluses of one mineral can impact the availability or
not of another in the soil.
The easy solution to this nutrient delivery issue between different soils is to always
include a leaf test with your soil test. The leaf test shows the grower what minerals the
Honeyberry plant is accessing. You may only have 50% base saturation of Calcium in a heavy
soil where 68% is considered ideal. However, if there is an adequate level of Calcium in the
leaf, then all is well with your orchard's soil. Leaf analysis removes the guesswork and
increases the precision and cost-effectiveness of an orchard's fertiliser programme.

Soil and foliar sprays practices
Compost Tea Spraying equipment
This is an important consideration for use of compost tea in the orchard, as many
hydraulic sprayer may destroy its biology. Piston pumps, roller pumps and some centrifugal
pumps produce too much pressure and burst cell walls of the microbes. Mechanical parts can
also cause physical damage to them.
Our experience has taught us that diaphragm pumps are best, as they do the least harm
to the microbes in compost tea. Kappa series diaphragm pumps made by a company called
Udor are best suited for this job. The working pressure should not exceed 100 pounds per
square inch. Almost any nozzle will do for using compost tea, as long as the nozzle opening
size is larger than 400 micrometers in diameter. Your chosen spraying equipment can be used
for all other foliar applications and soluble amendments.
Use of Compost Tea and other Soluble amendments
There are two different methods of applying these liquid forms of nutrients as a soil
drench, or as a foliar spray.
Foliar applications:
• Apply beneficial organisms to plant above ground surfaces.
• Provide nutrients as a foliar feed.
Soil applications:
• Help develop Mycorrhizal life in the ground and around the plant roots.
• Provide nutrients for microbes to improve plant growth and nutrient retention
Soil applied amendments and fertilisers are cost effective, but slow acting, via
irrigation or fertigation is more expensive but has a much quicker effect on the plant. Foliar
feeding is the fastest, and often the most cost effective approach.
Foliar feeding can increase the Brix readings in 24-48 hours, irrigation or fertigation in
3-7 days and soil applied fertilisers react in 2-4 weeks. A correctly timed foliar application can
bump up the Brix 1-3 degrees in 24 hours, and the plant will often “perk up” and insect
resistance will improve.

Soil application notes
The soil needs to be inoculated with the correct set of organisms, and the needed foods
in order to keep beneficial microbes functioning through the year. If the soil of the orchard
does not contain an adequate set of organisms, then multiple applications may be needed.
The heavier or higher the clay content, the more the tea stays stuck at the surface. Higher the
organic matter, the more this soil type can be opened up allowing the tea, and the organisms,
to move deeper into the soils substructure. Organic matter usually allows the organisms
added in the tea to continue growing. So the higher the soil's organic matter, the greater effect
the compost tea will have in the orchard. Compaction, of course, reduces its effectiveness
dramatically.
Frequently asked questions regarding soil and foliar sprays
Are foliar-applied nutrients directly absorbed through the leaves or are they washed
off and later absorbed from the soil?
Urea has been applied in trials to banana, coffee, cacao and apple plant leaves. Up to
65% of the urea was absorbed within 25 minutes, with the majority of this being absorbed by
the younger leaves and by the underneath side of the leaves. Total absorption of the urea
occurred in bananas within 30 hrs and in coffee and cacao within 24 hrs. The underneath side
of young apple leaves absorbed the Urea far better than the underneath side of older leaves.
These trials clearly demonstrated that nutrients are directly absorbed through the leaves. In
fact, it is becoming a widespread practice to foliar apply Urea as a cost-effective alternative.
How are foliar-applied nutrients absorbed?

The uptake efficiency is 10 to 12 times better through the leaves than through the roots.
Leaves have pores between cell structures and stomata through which nutrient sprays can
enter the plant. These pores are on both the upper and lower surfaces of leaves and are open
all the time. Foliar-applied nutrients are believed to primarily enter through these pores.
Stomata are present in far greater numbers on the underneath side of leaves, and if they are
open and the spray is directed to the underneath side, this can be a good entry point for the
nutrients.

Do only the leaves that absorb nutrients?
No. Research shows that buds, twigs, the trunk, flowers and fruit all absorbed
nutrients. For example, there is an advantage in spraying boron on Honeyberry plants,
during dormancy, to ensure that this essential mineral is present at luxury levels for
flowering, when it is most needed.
Do sticking agents improve the efficacy of foliar feeding?

Yes, it is always a good idea to add a 'sticker' to the spray to help spread the product so
that it is absorbed more efficiently.
Is foliar fertilizing just used to address short-term problems in Honeyberry

nutrition?
Foliar fertilizing is perfect for bypassing soil-based lockups to address trace element
deficiencies. However, it can also be used to deliver major, mineral elements with poor
mobility, like Calcium, directly into the fruit where they are required. Foliar feeding of
Honeyberries during flower set can dramatically increase fruit production and foliar sprays
of Boron immediately before flowering can have a significant impact on the flower to fruit
ratio and subsequent yield.
Does foliar application of nutrients have shortcomings?

Foliar application involves time and machinery that is not required for fertilizing
systems through irrigation. However, in many cases, there are excesses present in the soil that
are reducing the uptake of other minerals through antagonism. In this instance, there is little
point in ground fertilising or irrigating as you are only throwing good money after bad. This
is where foliars are the tool to choose. Sometimes the value of enhanced nutrient uptake must
be offset by the time and cost factor in each individual situation. There is also a problem with
trying to apply large amounts of NPK via the foliar route as there is always a potential to
burn the foliage with excess salts and acid. Therefore, fertilizing through irrigation may be
preferable if a large, rapid NPK boost is required.
Can foliar application of nutrients replace soil application?

The jury is still out on this one as there is some citrus research from California, which
suggests this is possible. However, from a soil biology perspective, mineral balance in the soil
is critical, particularly the Calcium to Magnesium ratio, which determines the entry of all-

important oxygen into the ground and root zone area. There are also timing issues involved
as some nutrients can be counterproductive when applied at certain stages of the crop cycle.
For example, Iron should not be used in foliar sprays during the flowering of Honeyberries.
Does foliar application have secondary effects?

Foliar applications can have significant secondary benefits. When nutrients are
provided to foliage, it causes the plants to exude more sugars and other compounds into the
root zone. This increases microbial activity around the root zone, which in turn enhances the
uptake of nutrients by the plant from the soil. This significant activity has been barely
recognised in any type of agriculture, but research carried out by Graeme Sait has
demonstrated that this is a major benefit of foliar spraying. When you boost chlorophyll
density with foliar nutrition, the enhanced photosynthesis feeds more beneficial microbes
that in turn can deliver more nutrients to the plant.
Pollination and Bee practices
Today's honeybee crisis demonstrates the enormous risk we have unconsciously built
into our farm system by relying on a single insect to pollinate so much of our food supply, be
it Honeyberries or otherwise.
Your Most Important Workforce

As author Hannah Nordhaus put it in her book The Beekeeper's Lament, “Farmers
expect bees to function like yet another farm machine—like shakers, sweepers, tillers, and combines.”
However, honeybees are living creatures, subject to the realities of nature. Despite over 400
years of domestication, there are still many things about hive bee biology we cannot control
that range from the insects' susceptibility to parasites, viruses, and climatic conditions. They
may be domesticated, but they do not exactly stay in a pen as sheep do.
There are other things we can seek to control or improve and these are environmental
factors that govern the hive bees' life cycle. To date, we have created an environment that, in
some ways, could not be worse for the hive or native bees. Our farming monoculture system
is creating a huge demand for an army of pollinators, and there's virtually no way to ensure
their presence except for bringing or renting honeybees. If they are under fed, sick and
overworked from their previous site. How can we tell and what can we do?
Research shows that balance is usually the best solution in nature, and your orchard's
army of pollinators should be a healthy balance between permanent hive bees and native
bees. This workforce can be bumped up by renting external hive bees and in all probability,
they will be the worse of the three groupings of pollinators. However, we admit they are
better than nothing.
Your native bees should be encouraged, loved, and local five star accommodation
should be promoted at all time. Most of the native bees are solitary creatures, in that they
make their own nests in the soil or fruit canes rather than living in social hives, and the bulk
of the bee species are generalists, collecting pollen from a wide range of plants.
Bumble Bees Hard at Work

A few years ago researchers, decided to find out how much wild bees contribute to
blueberry pollination. Researchers have estimated the value of native bee crop pollination in
the U.S. at $3.1 billion a year versus honeybee pollination at $15 billion. It was discovered
that in small fields of less than an acre, wild bees took care of 82 percent of pollination. In
larger crop fields from 1.5 to 16 acres, it was found that native bees accomplished only 11
percent of pollination. This is because the bulk of Michigan's blueberries are grown on large
monoculture farms. It is estimated that wild bees provide just 12 percent of the state's
blueberry pollination, and this is nowhere near enough to serve as insurance against poor
honeybee or hive bee pollination in any given year.
Further research shows that if growers can set aside fallow fields or hedgerows with
native flowers that are otherwise unfit for Honeyberry production. Dramatic improvement
can quickly be seen in the orchards or nearby native bee populations. It suggests that, every
10 acres of soft fruit you should set aside two acres of planted wildflowers in a mix that
blooms from spring until early fall. Consider dividing your orchard into blocks with fallow
fields that bloom at different times, so there is always food for pollinators to eat.
We believe that a Honeyberry orchard that is set up to welcome native bees could,
ultimately, be better off than one reliant on hive bees. There are more than 20,000 species of
native bees that abuzz around the world. They are exceedingly more likely to recover from
disease or extreme weather than any one species of pollinator.
Our entire modern-day agricultural system and soft fruit in particular has grown up
relying on overworked rented honeybees. We have never actually considered the fact that
relying on a single pollinator is probably not sustainable or very smart.
How productive is my hive bee workforce?
Permanent Orchard Hives - Foragers bees make up about 25 percent of a colony so

there would be 4,800 foraging bees in a colony with 19,200 hive bees. So two hives per acre
put out 9,600 foragers an acre. Your average honeybee forages for four hours and visits 1,200

flowers on average each day. Therefore, 9,600 foragers have the capacity to visit 11,520,000
flowers in one day. The bees in two colonies could make four visits to each of the 4,000,000
flowers in one acre in one day. A single colony would perform half as well, which is still
efficient enough to make two visits to each of the four million flowers in an acre in one day.
Over five days, one colony could visit each flower in an acre about 10 times.
External Rented Hives - If each bee visits only 500 flowers a day, then the bees in two
colonies can make only one visit to each Honeyberry flower in an acre in a day. Therefore, a
single colony would not be able to visit all the flowers in an acre in one day. Over five days
one colony could make nearly four visits to each of the four million flowers in an acre.
How much time bees spend collecting pollen and nectar and how efficiently they
pollinate Honeyberries in an orchard. Depends, on many variables, not to mention quirks of
bee behaviour. If flowers are full of pollen and nectar, as they usually are in the morning near
the start of the bloom, bees will spend more time on each individual flower, which means less
time flying between flowers. Researchers are also uncertain how often honey bees fly
between different cultivars of Honeyberries, which is necessary for pollination, as opposed to
sticking to the flowers of one cultivar. It’s also unclear how much bees mingle compatible
pollen while rubbing against one another inside the hive, a behaviour that makes cross-
pollination more likely. Bees are less inclined to emerge from their hives when the
temperature drops below 10c, when winds blow faster than 25 miles per hour, or when it is
raining or too cloudy. During the Honeyberry bloom, a few days of bad weather could reduce
their pollination efficiency. That’s why we prefer two or more hives per acre together with a

healthy and active native bee population. If the weather works against them, the sheer
number of bees pollinating on the good days might be enough to make up for the lost time.
How do a bee's pollinate?
When bees land on flowers, the hairs on their legs attract pollen cells through a force
like static electricity. The bees store some of this pollen (protein) to take back to their nests.
Other bits of pollen get transferred to other flowers, completing the process of pollination.
Bees are often rewarded by flowers that produce sweet nectar (carbohydrates). The nectar of
flowers gives bees essential energy and nutrients they need to live their busy lives. Foraging
bumblebees tend to avoid flowers recently visited by other bumblebees, although they will
visit the same patch of flowers. Bumblebees will scent mark the flowers - leaving behind a
message to others that the nectar is gone. The scent is secreted from a gland in the
bumblebee's tarsus and this scent marking reduces the time spent probing flowers without
nectar.
Pruning practices
We have found that Honeyberry tissue culture plants require little to no pruning, until
year about year ten. Then you would normally take out the old centre branches, similar to
pruning a rose bush. This allows sun back into the plant and spurs on new growth. The
natural upright shape of the plant requires no expensive pruning programs similar to grapes,
Blueberries or other soft fruits. It is not recommended to cut the tops of the new season’s
Natural Honeyberry Branching Structure

Honeyberry shoots, as they contain the majority of next years flowers and will damage next
year’s harvest.
In Russia, it is common after the plant reaches 25 years old. They cut back the plant to
30 to 40 cm from the ground to rejuvenate the plant. The Honeyberry plant will start to grow
young coppice shoots and the bush will recover in two to three 3 years. A mechanical harvest
pruner, similar to a Blackcurrant one could be used to shape your rows to your particular
harvester in the fall. However, this is not needed if you grow upright varieties that naturally
lend themselves to such machinery.
Weed and disease control program
Weed Control
Weed control is an important part of your orchard management practices. We have

stressed that it's very important to break the back of your weed or unwanted plant problem
before the plants enter the orchard. The best method we have found to do this is by cover
crops before the planting and in the first one or two years after planting in combination with
mechanical weeders.
Weed Before You See Them

There are many weeds solutions, and each must be assessed regarding your overall
orchard plan and what works for you. We favour the cheaper and more natural forms of
weed control because unlike other soft fruit crops or grapes. Weeds are only a problem in the
early years before the dense Honeyberry canopy crowds or shades out any unwanted ground
cover. Consequently, we would rather invest the cost of ground fabric or weed mats into
longer term soil health solutions regarding weed control.
We favour mechanical harrow based weeding solutions in the early years, which does
disturb the soil's biology. So we try and fluff weeds or the cover crop in early spring to a
depth of about one or two inches before the next cover crop with Mycorrhiza is seeded. If
your chosen weed solution through a rotary harrow. It is advisable to keep it’s setting high at
the two-inch level rather than low at four to six inches. Honeyberry roots are shallow, and
your preferred solution should not overly damage these roots. It's important to start the
mechanical program straight after planting to encourage the roots downwards into the soil,
and it would be advisable to foliar spray after weeding to elevate any plant stress, especially
in the hotter months.
The carefully chosen cover crop shades out any unwanted weeds and does not compete
with the plants three-gallon or 11 litre rootball. The microbe content can be improved through
the summer with further sprays of compost tea or other needed nutrients. Our favour
weeding 'toys' are the Weed Badger or other branded single or double rotary harrows. The
best solutions tend to be Italian made and are proven in vineyards. Th one that has recently
caught our eye is a specialised mulcher made by Nobili for cutting and mulching grass of

cover crops. It discharges the mulched mass into the windrows under the plants and is like
growing pre-ordered compost in the rows. Mechanical methods are improving every year
and perhaps one day they will be all be GPS drone controlled!
An alternative to 3 gallon pots is to plant smaller plants out in the orchard protected by
six-inch blue grow tubes. This creates an attractive microclimate for the plant and offers some
protection from rabbits or hares. It also keeps the crown of the plant weed free as the rootball
develops. We would advise this method of planting to be combined with the appropriate
summer or winter cover crop.
Honeyberry Diseases and Pests
Russian research and growing experience shows that there are no significant or one
particular disease that is known to attack healthy Honeyberries. Experienced plant grower
and researcher Maxine Thompson has noted that a few fungal diseases have been reported
on wild or native plants in the Far East - mainly powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Several pests have been seen to attack leaves and fruit of Honeyberries grown in Russia,
which can reduce both fruit and yields. The most common are -
• Red leaf roller and currant leaf roller. Their larvae feed on new growth, destroying
the apical growing point and young leaves as they roll leaves together with the web.
• Honeysuckle plume moth larvae feed on the soft flesh and seeds of the mature fruit.
Damaged fruit turns blue prematurely, becomes wrinkled and falls from the plant.

• Honeysuckle aphid is a widespread problem in Eurasia, they suck sap from young
shoots and leaves, which weakens plants or leads to distortion and death of plant tissues.
• Yellow elongated chafer, in Japan, attacks the roots of Honeyberry. Both larvae and
adult are found in the soil, and it 's hard to determine their existence.
Mildew on a low pH plant
Without out a doubt, birds can be the grower's most pressing Honeyberry pest problem
and even healthy soil will not deter this greedy annoyance. However, these pests are a
common problem with all grape or soft fruit orchards. We have found solutions and type of
bird pressure changes per local growing region. In Russia appreciable damage is caused in
winter by Bullfinches feeding on buds of shoots exposed above the snow, and in early
summer thrushes feed on ripening fruit. In North America, birds especially Robins, Cedar
Waxwings and House Finches, not only consume abundant fruit, but when perching on
plants they can break young shoots which carry next year's flowers and fruit.
We believe the most consistent way to ensure there is no disease or pest pressure in
your Honeyberry orchard is to ensure your soil's and plant health is maintained at good to
luxury levels. The most cost efficient way of monitoring this is through the plant's sap pH,
and this should be 6.4. A low sap pH signals a lack of alkalizing minerals (Calcium,
Magnesium or Potassium) and increased fungal problems while a high pH increases the
likelihood of insect pressure (often linked to excess nitrates). Nitrate meters and Potassium

meters are also invaluable plant monitoring tools as well as planned visual checks or
monitoring traps. In terms of birds, buy a bird book and get to know your new friends and
their habits. It is very difficult to keep birds out of the orchard if you can’t identify them.
15. Orchard Harvesting Practices
Expected Honeyberry yield timeline
Honeyberry yields have continued to improve thanks to plant growers research and
their ability to produce new and improved varieties regarding plant size, berry taste and
yield. In the early 2000’s yields from imported older Russian varieties offered an average of
three to four pounds a plant and their taste was deemed too bitter. Ten years later the second
wave of Honeyberry varieties were introduced, with improvements to yields and flavours
thanks to the introduction of the Indigo variety series by the University of Saskatchewan and
brought yields to 6 to 8 pounds per plant.

The third wave of Honeyberry varieties from the University of Saskatchewan (Aurora),
Berries Unlimited (Happy Giant family) and certain Polish varieties have made further steps
to improve productivity to 10 pounds plus a plant, combined with a richer and sweeter
Honeyberry flavour and taste. These higher yields have also resulted in larger plants (6×6
versus 4×4 feet) and, therefore, growers need to allow greater plant spacing within the rows.
We have seen some orchard examples where growers have spring or summer planted
second and third wave varieties on two feet row spacing or 2,000 plants per acre, expecting a
further improvement in yields. However, this is not the case, as you can not hope to plant a 5
or 6-foot wide plant on a two-foot spacing and expect a full yield of over 10 pounds a plant.
Why? Firstly you have reduced the plant mass by over 50%. In simple terms, a six high
by five-foot wide Honeyberry plant has a mass of 150 cubic feet. If it yields 10 pounds of
berries, by reducing the plant mass by planting it on two-foot centres, you will have reduced
the plant mass to 60 cubic feet and reduced your yield 60% to 4 pounds. If you improved
your spacing to three-foot centres, you would have improved the reduced plant mass to 90
cubic feet and your potential yield to 6 pounds.
The second problem with tight plant spacing is the plant roots will begin to compete
with its neighbours for nutrients. The Honeyberry plant will become over stressed, which it
opens the plant up to disease and further lowers the quality of yields, the life of the plant and
increases the maintenance cost of the orchard. The third problem of spring or summer
planting is that it disturbs the natural growth of the plant with in many cases a loss of
seasonal growth resulting in a poor yield the following year.

We have created a 'Honeyberry Yield Road Map’ (page 243) and it gives annual ranges
of expected yield from the plant's first 'Grow Year' until it reaches maturity in 'Grow Year 5.'
The best achieved yields on the right-hand side of the Yield lbs column are based upon the
best principals laid down in this guide and that has been adopted with the Scottish 10 acre
Honeyberry orchard planted in the fall of 2015. Itsfirst meaningful harvestable yield of one
pound per plant is expected in 'Grow Year 2' or 2017 rising to ten pounds a plant by 'Grow
Year 5' or 2020. This expected production timeline is very similar to that of blueberries or
grapes.
Many Honeyberry growers forget that the harvesting strategies or techniques used in
'Grow Year 2 or 3' could be very different at maturity. It is far more costly to pick a small
plant than when it reaches maturity. It is only economical to pick younger Honeyberry plants
in year 2 or 3 if the berries are destined for alcohol, U-Pick or products that you produce
yourselves. Production levels at the left-hand side of this 'Yield lbs' column are based on
spring or summer plantings of that year, average soil health and incorrect plant spacings.
When to harvest and ripening ?
The timing of your harvest depends on your location, varieties chosen and the weather.
However it’s not rocket science; wait until all the berries turn blue, check the Brix and taste,
then pick. We have created a general guide table to help growers determine when to expect
blooms, first green berry and when to harvest. These times are based on Polish and North
American averages. In colder location you would expect this time line to shorten and in
warmer locations you would expect it to be longer.
Please remember local and seasonal weather patterns can play havoc with our best
estimates! It would appear that a general fresh Honeyberry harvest period using varieties
from 'Early to Very Late' could stretch from early to mid-June to mid to late July. Quebec and
Poland have been used as a general harvesting benchmark. The problem of stretching the
harvest into Late July or August in warmer regions would be the soaring summer
temperatures. The earliest Honeyberries we have tasted are those produce in the gardens of
Berries Unlimited – around mid-May. Regarding Brix, we begin to advise looking to harvest
on a Brix of 15 or higher. However, this depends on the variety and their end use. If you are
looking to produce wine, you will want to hit Brix's of 20 plus.

Why differing regional ripening periods
In more temperate climates (Oregon), we find that the berries take longer to ripen - 80
to 90 days versus colder climates 50 to 60 days. It has to do with the fruit plant’s ethylene
production and how it controls fruit ripening. Recent studies show that specialized receptors
in plant cells bind to the ethylene. The first known plant genes involved in this process, ETR1
and CTR1, were identified in 1993. They keep the fruit ripening genes from activating until
ethylene is produced.
The reason for differing ripening periods, we suspect, relates to the CO2 levels in the
fruit. CO2 can be used to reduce ethylene to increase shelf life and improve food storage. So
the colder countries like Poland would have less biological activity (and hence less CO2 –
their byproduct)

Time to Harvest Your Berries
Warmer regions like Oregon would have higher biological activity in warmer soils and
hence more CO2, which reduces ethylene production and slows ripening.
The beauty of Brix - Ten things you need to know
Can you remember what we call our hardy, inexpensive, user-friendly tool that will
predict your crop's pest pressure, yield potential, quality, shelf-life, Calcium status and weed
problems? It will even detect boron deficiency, foliar spray suitability and the likelihood of
frost damage. You guessed it? Well done a $80 refractometer. The ability to monitor the
progress of your Honeyberries through the growing season is integral to our approach. When
new or old growers can clearly track these benefits, you are inspired to continue on the same
path. Here are top Brix tips you need to know about the refractometer and Honeyberries.
You are measuring the light refracting through the dissolved solids on the screen of this
little sawn-off telescope. In simple terms, you measure your skills as a nutrient density or
chlorophyll manager or growing skills. There have been many dejected faces when the deep

green Honeyberry leaf sap delivers a Brix reading of 8, instead of the required 12 degrees brix
or perfection at 20 plus.
Through the refractometer looking glass, it looks like you are looking at a fuel gauge. A
low Brix reading is related to a plant fresh out of fuel. The line that divides the two visible
hemispheres can also offer an indication of Calcium levels in the plant. If the dividing line is
clean and sharp, this indicates a Calcium deficiency. It can actually be a sign of generalised
mineral deficiency, but as Calcium is "the trucker of all minerals", this mineral is the principal
suspect. The goal of all good Honeyberry growers is to fuzz up that sharp line.
Low Brix levels are often linked to high nitrate levels in the plant. It is impossible to
achieve nutrient density in the presence of excessive nitrate Nitrogen. This form of Nitrogen
is only ever taken up with water, so the higher the nitrate levels, the greater the dilution
factor. A watery, mineral deficient Honeyberry plant is a calling card for insects and disease.
Some growers call their refractometer their stress or sleep at night meter. So remember your
likelihood of anxiety is all secured within this ten-second measurement. The higher your Brix
levels, the greater your farming fun and profitability.
Higher Brix fruit will have a higher specific gravity and will weigh more. If you are
paid by weight, this is a good story. The only time it is not positive is if you sold hay by the
bale. You would be getting the same money for much heavier bales. On the plus side, your
customers will come back for more of your nutrient-dense and superior fodder.
Shelf-life and Brix are directly related. It amazes us that the large supermarkets do not
understand this simple fact. The higher the Brix levels of fresh produce, the longer it will last
on the shelves, and the associated fruit waste factor can be significantly reduced. If
supermarkets demanded higher Brix produce and even paid a premium for this quality, they
would flood their floors with shoppers seeking forgotten flavours and enhanced medicinal
qualities in their food.
How important is this magical substance called humus? Not only does it positively
impact soil structure, gas exchange, water retention, mineral delivery and plant resilience, it
also determines how quickly a lack of sunshine will crash a good season. If your soil
contained 2% organic matter and your neighbour's orchard soil featured 4% organic matter,
and you were both impacted by a prolonged period of cloudy weather. Here is what will

happen. After about two days of cloud, the Brix levels of your Honeyberries will begin to fall,
and pest pressure will begin to increase (and your stress levels). By contrast, your neighbour's
Honeyberry crop will not decline. It may be as long as a full week before his crop begins to
suffer from a lack of photosynthesis. This phenomenon is partially linked to the fact that
humus contains fulvic acid, a natural substance that seems to substitute for a lack of sunlight.
In fact, fulvic acid is often called, "The second sun.”
Good Brix levels can give enhanced protection against frost. Kelp is often used for this
purpose, as it is a primary brix-building tool. Studies in Tasmania, several years ago, revealed
that kelp applications before frost events could provide up to 3°C of frost protection. Of
course, the most dramatic frost protection strategy involves removing the root cause of the
problem. Frost crystals are created by a group of organisms called ice-nucleating bacteria. If
you can remove these creatures from the leaf surface, you can minimise frost damage.
Thankfully, as always there is a Graeme Sait solution - Nutri-Life Sudo-Shield. It features
massive numbers of a leaf-dwelling organism called Pseudomonas fluorescens (please
Google it). When applied to the leaf, this organism will improve the leaf population of non-
ice-nucleating bacteria and subsequently decrease the likelihood of frost damage; these
organisms can continue that invaluable service for around 4 weeks.
An appropriate foliar formulation will rapidly lift Brix levels in your crop. This
understanding can serve to help determine the most suitable foliar spray at any given time
on your Honeyberries. You might, for example, field test four foliar dilution possibilities.
Leave the treated areas for 60 minutes and then re-test the respective Brix levels of the crops
within these areas. The formulation that delivers the best Brix level increase within the
allotted 60 minutes is the formula that will deliver the best response on your Honeyberry
crop. There may even be formulations in your field trials that will actually drop Brix levels
within that time frame. You will be thankful that you did not select these inputs to improve
crop nutrition! This technique offers immediate feedback to determine the most productive
input at any given time and it can be a productive yield-building strategy.
Finally, the refractometer can also provide an indication of Boron levels in your crop. If
the Brix levels of your Honeyberries does not drop overnight, then you may have uncovered
a serious Boron deficiency. Early each evening, a trapdoor opens, which allows the transfer of
glucose in the chloroplasts down to the plant's roots. 60% of this sugar is then exuded from
the roots to feed the army of organisms in the root zone. The opening of that important

doorway is governed by Boron. The absence of the "door opener" means that sugar is trapped
in the leaves and the workforce beneath the roots is effectively starved of energy. The wheels
of your Honeyberries begin to fall off shortly after that. Regular monitoring with your
refractometer can prevent this Boron-based problem, and the resilience of your crop and soils
will improve. Brix levels can offer an indication of likely weed pressure. The Brix of the weed
should always be substantially lower than the brix of the Honeyberry crop. Otherwise, you
have created conditions for weeds or unwanted plants rather than Honeyberries. High Brix
Honeyberry plants are often produced in soils with less weed pressure. This is because
Calcium and Phosphate are the chief Brix-building minerals and many weeds (particularly
broadleaf weeds) grow in soils that are lacking Calcium and Phosphorus.
Bird netting or Birdgard system?

In our minds, the only real Honeyberry pest that even healthy soil will not solve is
birds. In North America, the principal bird pest is Cedar Waxwings and Robins, and in
Russia, it is Snowbirds or Sparrows and in the UK they are about to find out! However we
suspect it will finches or sparrows.
So for growers to sleep at night and for your customers to enjoy your flavoursome fresh
or frozen Honeyberries. You will need a proactive plan that provides protection from birds
before and at harvest time. The simplest method of protection is shaking your fist at the birds
and politely tell them to ‘B*#$$@! Off’. We have tried this, and we can confirm the results are
patchy at best. We are often amazed that many Blackcurrant and other soft fruit growers do
not have to net. Perhaps this has to do with local bird populations preferring blue over red or
at what Brix the fruit is picked at. In Poland, they are successful at harvesting Honeyberries
at a Brix of around 11 to 12 without netting. However, the berries taste is rather bitter because
the fruit is not fully ripe. Sadly birds have excellent taste in berries, and to harvest
Honeyberries from a Brix of 15 to 25, a bird deterrent is strongly advisable if you want to
sleep at night during harvest.
What are the Honeyberry harvesting options? Well, first of all, there is no perfect
solution because of regional differences and which one fits best for your orchard plan and
budget. If you are setting out to establish a ten-acre plus orchard, it will pay to get the advice
and opinion of a local bird netting consultant.

The traditional method is netting with post supports and is found in many soft fruit
orchards or vineyards. The problem with this type of netting is it prevents some of the
Row Bird Netting
smaller straddle harvesting machinery from being used because of netting posts in the rows.
If you chose this option, it is best to put up the netting as soon as the berries begin to turn
blue. This is about 20 to 30 days before harvesting, this will help deter the scout birds
beforehand. Netting can be laid directly on mature plants, without the use of inner row posts.
However, growers should avoid draping the nets directly on young plants, as the early new
growth (next year's berries) or shoots will grow through the nets and become tangled or
damaged. We would ideally recommend this option for smaller immature orchards of below
5 acres or larger fully mature ones. A three-person specialised netting team, with tractor can
lay about 5 to 6 acres in a day. The real work is not putting on the nets. It’s taking them off,
cleaning them and storing them away correctly. The other netting option is by an overhead
Structural Bird Netting
Source: swcrop.com.au

canopy, similar to you find in the cherry industry or vineyards. This is a very expensive
option regarding upfront capital cost, although it can double up as a protective deer and
small mammal fence. The first problem with this system and similar to basic netting is it
presents problems for the large and small harvesting machinery. The smaller harvesters can
not harvest every third row because of support posts and larger ones can not be used due to
height restrictions. Secondly for orchards greater than five acres it becomes an engineering
problem rather than a farming problem with weight loads, wire tension calculations, and
freezing rain. Estimates range from $4,000 to $10,000 an acre. So 50 acres would cost approx.
$500,000.
What we have to accept and it’s hard to do. It is just impossible to harvest every berry
in the orchard and every berry may not be perfect for your intended use. So it’s the old 80 to
20 rule. The final 20% may cost twice as much as the first 80%. So when it comes to
harvesting, take a page from the vineyard book; quality, quality rather than simply more and
more. If your business plans depends on obtaining $5.00 a pound. Then the fruit will
probably need to be organic and a perfect Brix.
Honey berry Bird Gard System at Work

The chosen bird guard solution we advise you to strongly consider is actually called
Birdgard. We have clients who swear by it and have tested it ourselves and agree it works
very well. The trick with this system we have found is to put it on about a month or two
before the crop begins to ripen. This keeps the early ‘Bird Scouts’ out of the orchard and
moving on towards your neighbours. So how does it work? Unlike harassment and noise
devices, such as cannons and pyrotechnics that attempt to startle or annoy birds into leaving.
The Bird Gard agriculture control system uses the bird’s natural instincts to make them panic
and flee. Bird Gard products use digital recordings of bird species specific distress and alarm
calls, along with the sounds of their natural predators, broadcast through high fidelity
weatherproof speakers to convince the birds they are under attack. The system also uses
sophisticated random technology keeps birds from getting conditioned to the sounds. The
key to its success in your orchard is knowing your local bird population, including their
natural predators. You have to match your distress calls to your local bird population. If you
do not, the system may not work and you are fault not the system.
Bird Gard products developed in collaboration with ornithologists at leading

universities and agriculture extension agencies. Numerous studies from Cornell University,
the University of California, Davis and others have proven Bird Gard’s effectiveness in
eliminating bird damage. Through continuous research, Bird Gard has become the world
leader in electronic agricultural bird control, protecting millions of acres of crops each year.
The cost of the system is very reasonable and to cover a ten-acre orchard, you would need
three or four systems depending on the slope or your orchard at a cost of about $3,000. This
translates to $300 an acre. Is this system interests you, try it out while your plants are
maturing. If you are not satisfied, Birdgard will refund the cost of their electronic system.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, but that is a pretty good offer.
Mechanical harvesting solutions and logistics

Up until the 1970’s or in some cases the 1980’s the majority of soft fruit berries were
picked by hand into buckets which were then transferred into trays in the field, loaded onto
pallets and then onto open sided lorries. Handpicking between 50 and 100 acres was
challenging. At around 100 buckets per ton and 3 tons per acre equating to 15,000 to 20,000
buckets, it made a logistical nightmare for 1,200 disorganized casual seasonal workers. So as
berry plantations expanded and the picking communities declined mechanical harvesters
were developed and became increasingly important.

The chosen method of harvesting or harvester depends on the intended use of the
berries. If you are looking to make Honeyberry wine or liqueur, the low processing and
cleaning cost and high value added price for the product makes hand picking or semi-
manual picking attractive. Straddle and Over the Row harvesters are expensive because they
do more than just harvest your berries. They clean and in some cases process the berries in
your orchard. The more you do on site or within 30 minutes from your site the better your
bottom line.
Semi-mechanical
These harvesters based on the Easy Harvester (right) concept developed for High Bush
Blueberries and tweaked for picking Honeyberries.The ‘Mark One’ model (left) below was
designed by Manuel Gosselin from the Quebec. Operated by two pickers can collect around
500 to 750 pounds of berries per day. He is currently working on the ‘Mark Two’ version
which should be ready for the 2016 season. The estimated harvesting cost is about $0.50 per
pound and is ideal for smaller orchards of around one to three acres.
Harvests 500 pounds in a Day

Straddle harvesters
The Russian’s have always advised us to look to the Blackcurrant industry for
harvesting solutions and that is exacting what the Poles did. Given their experience of
growing Blackcurrants and Straddle harvester technology, they have adapted very well to
harvesting this new fruit. They started out with the old Joanna Three but found it broke more
branches than it picked berries. The newer Straddle harvesters, including the Joanna, picking
‘V’ is less steep and less harsh, which helps ensure that more berries are picked and no
broken branches. The harvester's low pick up arms are ideal for the some varieties low lying
branches and most include a cleaning and tray collecting area. These pull behind machines
can not be use these machines with bird netting posts in the rows.
A grower can harvest about four to five acres over 10 hours or approx. 20 to 25 tons.
You can attach a cleaning station on the back of this harvester, and you would need a crew of
four people, including the driver. The added advantage of these half harvesters is they can
easily harvest younger plants of three years of age. Their drawback is that to have to harvest
the mature plants in two passes each side, rather than one pass with an Over the Row
harvester. There are many Straddle brands including Joanna, Karmasz, and Weremczuk. The
estimated harvesting cost is about $0.25 per pound and is ideal for smaller orchards of up to
50 acres.
Harvests 5 Acres in a Day

We have included pictures below of a Joanna Premium Straddle harvester in a
Honeyberry orchard, courteous of Weremczuk agromachines and encourage you watch it
working on YouTube.
Honeyberry Harvester Hard at Work in Poland

Honey berry Reward for a Hard Day’s Work
Source: Weremczuk agromachines

Over the Row harvesters
If we continue with the Russian’s Blackcurrant advice, the Poles, and other larger
growers will soon be using Over the Row Blackcurrant or Raspberry harvesters tweaked for
Honeyberry orchards. The pictures below are shows the Victor Premium Blackcurrant
harvester made by Weremczuk agromachines, Poland. From a distance, the rows of
Blackcurrants look very similar to rows of mature Honeyberry plants.
These machines are considerably more expensive than a Straddle harvester and are
more a harvesting cleaning platform than straight harvester. However, it is more efficient, as
it is both a premium harvesting and cleaning platform in the orchard. These harvesters can
pick about 10 to 15 acres in a day. This is more than twice the speed of a Straddle because it
can harvest one row in one pass rather than two with the Straddle. The estimated harvesting
cost is about $0.12 per pound and is ideal for medium to larger size orchards of the 50 acres
plus.

A Harvester and Cleaning Machine in One
GPS drone guided harvesters
Sadly these have not been invented yet, but we dream of that day often.

Orchard logistics
Once the decision is made to harvest, time becomes the enemy of the grower. When a
Honeyberry leaves the bush, it's like a mini countdown clock starts for that berry. This
countdown varies greatly depending on a vast number of things; variety, Brix or ripeness at
picking, the temperature of storage, the size of picking tray, the end use, how far they travel
for processing, etc.
Picture in your mind, each step that a Honeyberry goes through as a "link" in a chain.
Picking the Honeyberry is one link. Transportation from the field is another link.
Honeyberries stay firmer and last longer if they are kept cool. Most people in the industry
recommend a storage temperature of 33 - 35 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 or 4 Celsius. Controlling
the temperature at each step, each link, is, therefore, critical. Thus, the phrase “Cold-Chain"
and the chain is only s strong as its weakest link.
The “Cold-Chain” goal is to ensure that within 45 minutes after Honeyberries are
picked, that they are moved into some form of cooling process. If the fruit is being picked at a
remote field, reefer trailers should be used. This chain is for fresh or frozen processed berries
and Honeyberries intended for alcohol can be processed on site, as similar to grapes. This is
far more economical as there is no cleaning or processing and freezing cost.
Removing the field heat

For fresh or frozen Honeyberry market, the best management plan for ensuring
optimum post harvest quality, will have to include some type of temperature control. Freshly
harvested fruit is still respiring heavily when it is picked. In the process of respiration, as

oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide and heat are liberated, fruit sugars are depleted and
shrinkage occurs. The rate of respiration is governed by the temperature of the storage
facility. The rise in respiration rates for Honeyberries is comparable to other berries. In
general berry respiration rates are three times higher for fruit held at 50 F (10c) compared to
that held at less than 40 F (5c), and seven times higher when held at a room temperature of 70
F (25c). The lower respiration rates of berry varieties and high Brix account for the longer
shelf life. Blueberries tend to be among the lowest and Strawberries the highest.
The orchard field heat should be removed from freshly harvested fruit as soon as
possible. Research has shown that blueberries cooled to 35 F (2c) within 2 hours with forced
air cooling had significantly less decay (37 to 46 percent) after 10 days’ storage at 35 F (2c)
than fruit that had been cooled to 35 F (2c) within 48 hours. The rapid removal of field heat
with forced cold air is referred to in the industry as pre-cooling or pressure cooling.
Conversely, in a conventional refrigerated cool room, removal of field heat is exceedingly
slow and inefficient and tightly packed flats of berries may receive inadequate cooling.
Moisture released by warm interior berries can lead to “sweating,” or moisture condensation
on colder fruit on the outside.
Efficient operators combine a pre-cooling setup inside of a refrigerated cold or

freezerplant. A thermometer should be used to monitor fruit temperature. Experiment with
the width of stacks and the width of the plenum to find the most efficient arrangement
regarding temperature reduction and floor space. After flats have been cooled, they can be
left in the cold room until they are packed into market containers before cleaning for fresh or
IQF frozen. As with other small fruits, Honeyberries should be kept under conditions of high
humidity (95 percent at 32 F/0c). Even though the flats will show condensation after removal
from the cooler, this “sweating” has not been found to alter the white “bloom” of fresh
berries or contribute to post harvest disease development. With careful harvesting, prompt
pre-cooling, and cold storage, Honeyberries should have a minimum refrigerated fresh shelf
life of approximately seven to 10 days, depending on its Brix.
The most popular cleaning method currently for Honeyberries is to clean and process
the berries frozen, and this process is shown below.

Picking for the fresh or frozen market
Many things can go into the decision for when and what to pick for the fresh and frozen
market. Variety, customer needs, logistics, market demands and labour issues are just a few of
the things that need to be considered when making decisions regarding cleaning and
processing.
Once the decision to pick for the frozen market is made, several other decisions need to
be considered. First, are the Honeyberries going to stay on the plants a little longer, letting
them ripen fully? This allows the berries to reach a higher Brix and their fullest flavour and
sweetness. At this stage a few softer berries may not be a concern as in fresh-market fruit.
Once picked, the fruit need to be cleaned, packed and frozen before issues of soft fruit can
effect the rest of the berries. The berries picked for the frozen market are normally harvester
by mechanical harvesters. Although not as gentle as picking by hand can be, the difference

will not make any impact to the final packed product that goes to the consumer, although this
depends on the quality of the harvester.
Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs) are voluntary
programs that you may wish to consider for your Honeyberry orchard operation. The idea
behind these programs is to ensure a safer food system by reducing the chances for food-
borne illnesses resulting from contaminated products reaching consumers. Most major food
distribution chains or supermarkets are beginning to require GAP- and GHP certified
products from their agricultural suppliers. These programs set standards for worker hygiene,
use of manure, and water supply quality.
These practices require an inspection by a designated third party, and there are fees
associated with the inspection. Before it, you will need to develop and implement a food
safety plan and designate someone in your operation to oversee this project. You will need to
have any water supply used by your workers or for crop irrigation, and pesticide application
checked at least twice each year. A checklist of the questions needing answering during the
inspection can be found at your local Department of Agriculture.

16. Honeyberry pricing and Future Markets
Become a farmer, not a banker

We firmly agree with the wise words of renowned American investor Jim Rodgers and
to become a farmer. Young people should consider a career in farming rather than the
oversupplied global market of lawyers or bankers. He claims that the stock brokers are going
to ones driving taxis for Uber in the future, and the farmers are going to be the ones driving
the Lamborghinis. Rodgers believes farming or nutritional agriculture is going to become one
of the most exciting professions over the next twenty years or more. It is important to
combine your premium story with an attractive local and organic wrapper transparently to
the end consumer. When in doubt just look towards your favourite vineyard for inspiration
and leadership. Remember they are the ones who have provided the business model to
follow - it is far more profitable to grow bottles of wine rather than grapes.
The winds of change have arrived – Are you ready?
Agriculture technologies are increasingly capturing the imaginations of investors and

the consumer worldwide. The images of GPS drones buzzing over orchards, satellites images
highlighting plant stress and farmers working the fields iPad in hand is the stuff of back to
the future. A revolution is occurring right under our noses. And let us not forget to mention
the less glamorous, but arguably more critical move towards new soil technologies to
improve the health and nutrition of our soils. These new soil technologies are combining the
old with the new to the benefit of the farmer – higher nutritional yields at a lower cost.
However even with these incredible technological advancements. Somebody has to be

in the fields, even if it is a robot driving the tractor. Someone has to tell the tractor what to do.
Unless we inspire youth to return to agriculture, we have a large demographic problem with
the average age of U.S. farmers being 58 and in many of the G20 countries it is over 60. In the
U.S today, more people study public relations than study agriculture. However, it is always
the same at critical structural inflection points in the economic cycle. Remember no one
would have agreed with to going to work in Technology or on Wall Street in the late 1970’s or
early 1980’s. Now? It’s the place to be. So we encourage youth to be contrarian and look at
the trends of organic food production over the 10 to 20 years as a guide in choosing your
future career.

Future trends for local organic food?
We have and are still firm believers in the positive long-term trend towards healthy
food or the consumption of organic food. Back in 2009, when U.S. sales were only $21 billion,
we stated that this figure would rise to over $100 billion over the next ten years or so. It is
currently between $50 to $60 billion. Of all the food produced and sold in the United States,
12 percent of it is organic, up from 5% ten years ago. We still believe the $100 billion mark is
still attainable and with organically produced food becoming the ‘Norm’ in fresh or frozen.
We expect the fruit and vegetables to retain the largest share of overall organic sales.
Organic products have shifted from being a lifestyle choice for a small number of rich
Baby Boomers to purchased by a majority of consumers and Generation Y one in particular.
Nearly 81% of American families buy organic food at least occasionally, and American
organic food production has increased nearly 240% between 2002 and 2011 compared with
3% in the non-organic food market. Is the writing on the wall?

There have been numerous studies on these buying trends in America, in Europe and
Asia. The results consistently indicate consumers prefer organically produced food not only
due to its taste and health but to support their local farmers and environment. So if you are
looking to sell your Honeyberries at $5.00 a pound, it will have to be strongly backed by an
organic or local story that your customers share.
The price of Honeyberries today and tomorrow

The current and future price of Honeyberries is the question; everybody wants to know.
"A pound of Honeyberries sells for how much?" Well, how long is a piece of Honeyberry
string?
We believe the most transparent way to start to answer this is to describe the Russian
and Ukrainian 'Honeyberry Price Premium’ to Strawberries. In Ukraine, the price of a pound
of Honeyberries is 5 to 7 times higher than the prices for Ukrainian strawberries. In Moscow,
it is 3 to 5 times greater. Even in the Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions of Russia, where the
Honeyberries are commonly found in commercial orchards or the wild. The premium over
Strawberries is 1.5 to 2.0 times. This premium could be down to local taste, but we think this
premium will travel.

The Honeyberry-Strawberry price premium?
So let us have some fun and use our local Strawberries farmer’s wholesale price of $2.70
per pound rather than the local supermarket of $4.00. A pound of local Honeyberries would
be priced as follows:
Honey berry Price Premium

• Ukrainian premium 5 to 7 times = $13.50
• Moscow premium 3 to 5 times = $8.10

• Tomsk premium 1.5 to 2 times = $4.10
A wide-ranging list of Russian based prices from $4.10 to $13.50 and we are sure that
any one of the them above would make a new Honeyberry grower content. The important
point of this research, is to show that Honeyberries be it in Russia, Ukraine and even in Japan
are sold as a premium and not commodity fruit.
Global Honeyberry price trends
So how do these three brackets relate to current global prices? We have listed the
currently available prices of Honeyberries for fresh or frozen below. In order, for growers to
get a sense of the Honeyberry premium and general price trends. We view Quebec and
Poland as the market price leaders, as they have the largest number of maturing planted
acres of Honeyberries coming on stream over the next few years. In 2016, the market will be
grading berries into the three traditional berry brackets of Grade 1 to 3 and Raw unsorted.
In Poland, raw and unsorted berries currently sell for around $2.55 and clean and
frozen for $4.15 a pound. In North America, comparable fresh and unsorted sell for $2.75 and
commercial clean and frozen sell for an average of $5.00. The driving factor behind this
transatlantic price difference is the supply and demand of berries. In the coming years as the
1,000 acres of Quebec Honeyberries (75% of Canada’s planted crop) arrives on the market. We
expect prices will become more quality driven. However, expect demand to continue to rise
as consumer’s become more ‘Honeyberry Aware’ and more products appear on the market
We believe given its flavour and health benefits the Russian Honey berry to Strawberry
premium will become standard in new regions where it is sold. We would encourage any

grower to grow organically to take full advantage of its opportunity and your dream of
achieving the ‘Perfect $5.00 a pound price.’ What is today’s organic premium? If we use
frozen organic fruit as a guide, natural non-organic frozen fruit sells for an average of $3.00 a
super market pound and organic at average of $6.00 a pound. This attractive price advantage
supports a strategy to consider selling premium frozen organic Honeyberries through out the
year rather than just commodity driven fresh in season.
We are great believer’s in the future expansion of the frozen organic fruit market,
having seen the sales of frozen fruit rise by 67% since 2010 and reached the $1 billion sales
mark. The segments growing fastest are – Blueberries, Berry blends, and Tropical fruit. The
health trend of homemade smoothies and Generation Y’s craze for them is also helping to
drive this market ever higher. If you should not surprise you that we can strongly
recommend a Honeyberry and Kelp smoothie!
Demographic overview - who is eating my berries?

Our demographer friend Ken Gronbach has taught us that there are strong generational
differences among consumers. It should therefore not surprise you that there is now evidence
that what you like to eat may say a lot about what generation you belong to or want to

belong. Generation Y is currently the largest U.S. consumer generation and is having a
significant impact on current and future food trends. We believe to ignore then is not in your
interest if you are a farmer or fruit grower.
You are what you eat
• Baby Boomers – They prefer “classic” comfort foods such as braised meats,
casseroles, and ice cream, but many also enjoy gourmet choices such as high-quality
dark chocolate and fancy cheeses. They crave foods from their childhoods such as
peanut butter, popcorn, foods made with canned tuna fish, chicken noodle soup, and
hot oatmeal.
• Generation X – They are more accustomed to commercial fare, and crave fast food
(especially hamburgers) and burritos. They cite branded foods more often than the
other generations, including favourite packaged cookies, ice creams, candies, and
snacks.

• Generation Y – They are also partial to burritos and ramen noodles — but in contrast
to other cohorts, many also include healthier foods, including sushi and fruits, among
their favourite comfort foods. They are less inclined than Generation X to associate
specific brands with comfort foods.
Research is also identifying top trends in comfort foods. Generation Y desire to start the
day with a protein burst is driving a trend toward ‘breakfast for dessert’. Boxed cereals,
already found in snack bars and coffee shops. They are driving sales of frozen organic and
non-organic fruit for their morning smoothies.
This new research contributes to growing evidence that Generation Y is made up of a

high proportion of real food lovers who are willing to put in the effort to create healthier,
more flavourful dishes at home and demand better fare from restaurants. According to
Mintel, young parents are among the most enthusiastic shoppers at Farmer’s markets and
food co-ops. (Mintel, “Local Procurement” Feb 2009). Just six percent of those without kids
buy local goods at Farmers markets, compared to 9% of those with children. So if you attend
a family reunion or potluck this summer, please pay attention to who brings what. Chances
are, the Baby Boomer grandparents will be the one with the potato salad and chocolate chip
cookies, the Generation X singles will bring diet coke and Pizzahut pizza, and the Generation
Y family will be the one with the organic fruit and Asian curry.
Generation Y is driving growth in ‘Organic Food.’
We have become firm believers in Organic and Locally Organic certification. It is not
perfect, but what is in today’s rapidly changing world. We believe that despite its minor
faults, it is becoming the ‘Health Food Standard’ for today’s health conscious consumer. You
only have to walk into a Whole Foods supermarket chain and watch how consumers shop to
notice the power of the local of organic food brand, despite the price premium. The organic
premium, whether it be fresh or frozen, is becoming the norm rather than a short lived fad.
Today’s new consumer wave of ‘Generation Y’ is rapidly taking over from the aging
‘Baby Boomers’. It is larger in numbers and will continue to impact and reshape all food
market segments going forward.

Future consumer trends?
The reason for the younger consumer preference for fruit drinks or smoothies over fresh
or frozen fruits is simple.
“Fresh or frozen products are not in the formats that meet people’s lifestyle needs. As a result,
the value that the fresh and frozen fruit industry should be capturing is being stolen by consumer
goods companies.
What form do you think people under 35 will eat fruit and vegetables? More than half - maybe
much more - will be in nutritional processed formats.”
Fruit marketing expert Professor David Hughes, director

of KG Fruits, Europe’s largest berry fruit company.
Which consumer group within a generation?
Lifestyle consumers are the first to try out new trendy benefits and are a key target for
Honeyberry products. This group will support the concept of health beneficial ingredient or
product of all types, providing that the idea suits their lifestyles and supports their identity of
being forerunners and trendsetters.
Three Major Consumer Groups

Lifestyle consumers are a key target for Honeyberry products because they are:
• Willing to accept new and unknown brands

• Interested in “Natural” and “Organic” health benefits
• Motivated by new “Health” and “Nutritional” benefits, particularly relating to
wellness
• Interested in stories of new fruit
• Willing to pay premium prices
The six elements of any ‘Honeyberry success’ to consider
1. Sensory appeal - When marketing Honeyberries to consumers, their sensory

qualities (appearance, aroma, texture and taste) are critical. However, these
tangible qualities can apply to the finished product and are influenced by the
skills of a juice formulator. Poor sensory qualities of whole fresh fruit can be
changed and improved through processing.
2. Novelty - It has been a significant element in the success of many new fruits
since consumers are always looking for something new. However, its importance
as a success factor is often overemphasized, and if you rely too heavily on it in,
the strategy often invites failure. The idea of novelty or ‘newness to the
consumer’ can have multiple interpretations. The forms that innovation can take
include new fruit, new colours, tastes, aroma for existing fruit and new way of
consuming existing fruit. Novelty is one point of difference, but by itself, it will
create no sustainable value unless the strategy is designed to encompass the
requirements of all the six elements.
3. Convenience - is crucial to the success of a new fruit. Frozen and juices are
fruits at their most convenient and, unsurprisingly, they account for the lion’s
share of volume and value of sales of berries. Moreover, consumers are willing to
pay premiums for convenience. There are a wealth of benefits for everyone in the
supply chain by focusing on processed fruit rather than fresh: hence growth in
berries and the real value-added will always be concentrated in juices and frozen.

4. Control of supply - One important way to maintain a point of difference is to
have control over the supply of the berries. If anyone can access the same fruit,
then every competing company can launch a me-too product, and the point of
difference (the type of Honeyberry) is lost. Control of supply can include things
such as securing ownership of Plant Variety Rights, meaning that the company
alone has access to a particular cultivar of fruit. Or the beverage marketer
owning the fruit production or being the dominant supplier and choosing a fruit
that is in limited supply and for which there is a high-cost-of entry for new
suppliers.
5. Health benefit - The primary purpose of science about creating and marketing
a new berry or fruit is to generate health-benefit research so that the company
can make convincing claims. This is the key to developing a believable and
sustainable health position in the mind of the consumer. There is a positive
relationship between the number of scientific studies that have been published
about a fruit’s health benefits and its nutritional status. Cranberry, Blueberry, and
Pomegranate all have a large number of studies behind them, particularly in
proportion to the percentage of the world’s fresh fruit production they account
for. These three are probably the most widely recent recognized and successful
All Consumers Love Berries

nutritional berries or fruits and there is considerably more science to substantiate
health benefits for these fruit than for every day, mass-market fruits such as
apples, oranges, bananas, and pears.
6. Marketing - No matter how strong the basis for the benefit, the science will be
of no value whatsoever unless the marketing strategy can communicate the
benefit in a credible way to an appropriately targeted group of consumers. The
key to the success of effective market positioning and marketing communications
was seen again and again in the launch of the ‘Superfruit' market.
Frozen fruit sales soar and are set to continue
We along with many others believe that finally, after decades of sitting in a small corner
of the freezer case next to the whipping cream, frozen fruit has landed its breakthrough role:
smoothie ingredient. We add frozen berries to our morning porridge and our children’s
lunches, drawn to its local year-round availability, value and health credentials. We like that
it is already cleaned, cut and that it never rots like fresh fruit forgotten in the back of the
refrigerator.
However it is our or in particular, Generation Y’s, appetite for smoothies as a healthy

snack for drinking on the go that has thrust frozen fruit into the spotlight. Dole Packaged

Foods, the largest seller of frozen fruit in the U.S., estimates that in 2014 about 60% of frozen
fruit purchased went into smoothies, up from about 21% in 2006.
Frozen fruit sales have topped $1 billion annually, up 67% since 2010 and compares
very well to flat sales of frozen vegetables, and meals. Consumers are always looking for easy
ways to eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruit is sweet, making it easier for adults and children
to gulp down rather than kale or broccoli. Frozen fruit also stays firmer and tastes riper than
it did in past decades as food freezing technology has advanced. Our interest in making
smoothies at home is growing in leaps and bounds, U.S. blender sales have risen together
with frozen fruit sales, hitting more than $1.16 billion in 2014, more than double the $571.9
million sold in 2009.
Many fresh produce businesses are now looking beyond fresh produce to the
convenience of frozen fruit and repositioning it. Historically most frozen fruits were sold in
flimsy store-brand white bags, freezer burn was typical, fruit quality was low. It was not
surprising that shoppers quickly past bags hidden near frozen whipped toppings. Despite
the fact that it is hard to find, the frozen fruit market still had a sleepy potential because the
product itself is healthy.
Dole developed shiny bags that stand up. It covered them in colourful photos of fruit
and berries, making it easier to spot them in the grocery store. It printed healthy recipes for
smoothies and salad on the bags. Dole hopes to persuade more retailers to put frozen fruit
near vegetables, not whipped topping, to boost its healthy image. Sales of frozen organic fruit
are growing faster than nonorganic versions and now makeup about 12% of frozen fruit
sales. Costco is searching for more organic frozen fruit to keep up with demand, especially
Cherries, and Strawberries. Smoothies are eaten at home regularly by only about 1% of
people, but the number is growing, and the idea of what constitutes a smoothie is moving
beyond adding a banana to ice cream in a blender. Target Corp has started putting smoothie
additives (hemp seeds, chia seeds, and dried berries) nearly frozen fruit aisles. Dole is
packaging more fruit blends, often including tropical fruit like mango and pineapple, which
are time-consuming to chop when fresh. Sales of berries are booming while more traditional
fruits like Peaches are growing more slowly.
The next game changer comes when the likes of Dole persuades more retailers to put
frozen fruit near vegetables and not whipped topping, or better still into the fresh fruit

section of their stores to boost its healthy image. Then sales of frozen fruit (including
Honeyberries to colour and taste to that kelp smoothie), in particular, organic will gallop
ahead at an even faster pace.
Can You Spot the Frozen Honeyberries?
Food nutrition really matters
How is soil health linked to human health?
We are what we eat and what we eat comes from the soil. If our food producing soils
are minerally depleted, biologically inactive and chemically contaminated, then so is our food
chain! Unfortunately, the tale of extractive agriculture over the past few decades involves all
three of these limiting factors and our food has suffered as a result. There have been several
studies that have highlighted this decline. In fact, there are nutritionists now claiming that
the food we currently consume has just thirty percent of the nutrition found in the food

consumed by our Grandparents when they were children. This dramatic decline is not solely
related to a reduction in soil fertility; It is also linked to food processing, preparation and
transport.
How has our food been affected by conventional farming?
Conventional, acid, salt fertilisers seemed like a good idea at the time. There seemed no
longer a need for the high maintenance, soil restorative practices of the past when you could
just throw on some nutrition from a bag each season. However, “easy”, is not necessarily
best, and, in this case, the new approach proved unsustainable. The acid salt fertilisers
decimated some of the key creatures in the soil, responsible for soil rebuilding and nutrient
delivery.
The most visible of these creatures is the humble earthworm which has disappeared
from many conventionally farmed soils. However, the fungal organisms that build humus
were similarly affected. Humus is the storehouse for all minerals and the home base for the
soil organisms that deliver these minerals to the plant. Humus levels have declined by 70%
during the decades of extractive agriculture and we are all paying the price. Nutrient
deficient plants always require more chemical intervention.
How does soil health improvement affect our food?
When we remineralize our soils and invigorate the soil biology, we reclaim, forgotten
flavours, nutrient density and medicinal qualities in our food. Vegetables grown in these soils
contain much higher levels of antioxidants. We now know that compounds like lycopene and
sulphurafane are important to our health, but the levels of these compounds in vegetables
depends upon soil life activity and the mineralisation of the soil. Fruit quality is similarly
dependent upon soil fertility. Several years ago in the UK researchers found conventionally
grown Oranges that contained zero vitamin C. It appears that if you ignore the nutrient
delivery mechanisms in the soil for long enough, you produce poor food. This compromised
produce is invariably chemically contaminated because nutrient density and natural pest and
disease protection are directly linked.

18. The future is bright
There is no conclusion, only the next step
We hope you have enjoyed our introduction to Honeyberries and the steps you should
consider when establishing and maintaining a nutritious and healthy orchard. If you have
not yet tasted the berries, we believe you will be amazed at its delicious flavour and
surprised that you have never heard of this berry before. Remember the Dutch scientist's
insightful quote following his trip to the Russian Institute of Horticulture: "I do not know why
Russians are engaging in breeding any other crops for which they have lagged behind for decades when
they have such a miracle."
We believe there are no secrets when establishing a Honeyberry orchard or Russian

miracle. The combination of climate, people, and terroir combine to make a quality of fruit
that is perfectly unique and impossible to reproduce. Exceptional Honeyberries—whether
fresh, frozen, or simply jam—is about a place, but without your efforts and planning any
future orchard will remain a hillside or meadow covered with weeds, grass, and a few
wildflowers.
There is always some 'magic' in the way the finest orchards or vineyards are farmed
and loved. However, this magic is akin to removing the tarnish off a silver chalice rather than
building the chalice itself. So we wish you luck with your Honeyberry dreams and crafting
your 'story.' Have fun, and we encourage you to think and farm like a winemaker.

The Honeyberry Holy Grail?
Online and Telephone Support
Our Essential guide to Honeyberries provides simple answers and please remember we
are only a phone call or email away:
• Agriforest Biotechnologies
• Telephone - 1-250-764-224
• Email - [email protected]
• Website - www.agriforestbiotech.com
• LoveHoneyberry
• Telephone - 1-902-209-6829
• Email - [email protected]
• Website - www.lovehoneyberry.com

18. References and Honeyberry plant variety index
References and Sources

• Nutri-Tech Solutions, Queensland, Australia. www.nutri-tech.com.au
• Berries Unlimited, Fayetteville, Arkansas. www.berriesunlimited.com
• Arbuckle’s Fresh Food, Angus, Scotland. www.arbuckles.co.uk
• Small Fruit Growing in Hokkaido No 1. Hasukappu. F. Nakajima 1996. In Japanese
• Usefulness of honeysuckle fruits fro juice production. J. Oszmianski, A. Kucharska

and E. Gasiewcz 1999.
• Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Drinks Today and in the XXI Century. L. Michalczuk
and W. Plocharski 1999.
• Blue Honeysuckle: a new berry crop in Russia. M.N. Plekhanova 1994.
• Blue Honeysuckle in Garden and Nursery. M.N. Plekhanova 1998.
• Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) - a new commercial berry crop for temperate
climates: genetic, resources and breeding. 2000.
• The Flora of the USSR, Vol. 23. A.I. Pojarkova 1999
• Agriculture Development fund (ADF) of Saskatewan Agriculture, January 2012,

Haskap Breeding and Production Final Report, Grant 2008.0042
• La Camerise - Guide de production edition 2015, Andre Gagnon.
• Resultats de trois ans d’essais de camériste La Vallee-de-la-Gatineau 2008-2011, Carlos

Baez, M.Sc.
• The Encycopedia of Fruit and Nuts, Edited by Jules Janice and Robert E. Pualo, 2008
• Ken Gronbach, KGC Direct, Demography is Destiny. www.kgcdirect.com

Honeyberry Blooming and Harvesting Groups
We have used Quebec and Scotland as an example benchmark to assign the following
variety dates for the four groups.
Early June 4wk
• BU- Happy Giant June 4wk

• BU- Blue Moose June 4wk
• BU - Honey Gin June 4wk
• BU - Blue Jewel June 4wk
• BU - Blue Storm June 4wk
• BU - Blue Diamond June 4wk
• BU - Blue Q June 4wk
• BU - Blue Pinwheel June 4wk
• BU - Blue Horn June 4wk
• BU - Blue Mountain June 4wk
• BU - Blue Palm June 4wk
• BU - Blue Sveta June 4wk
• UoS - Indigo Gem June 4wk
• O - Berry Blue June 4wk
Mid July 1wk/2wk
• UoS - Tundra July 1wk

• UoS - Aurora July 1wk
• BU- Blue Banana June 1wk
• UoS - Borealis July 1wk
• UoS - Honeybee July 1wk
• BU - Blue Desert June 1wk
• BU - Blue Drops June 1wk
• Pol - Wojtek July 2wk - July 8? Benchmark harvest
• Pol - Zojka July 2wk
• Pol - Jolanta July 2wk
• Pol - Iga July 2wk+
• Pol - Tola July 2wk+
• Pol - Ruben July 2wk+

• Pol - Rebecca July 2wk+
• MT - Kawai July 2 wk+
Late July 3wk/4wk
• UoS - Boreal Blizzard July 3wk - July 15? Benchmark harvest

• BU - Giant's Heart July 3wk
• BU- Blue Cloud July 3wk
• BU- Blue Bear July 3wk
• BU - Fuji Blue July 3wk
• BU - Honey Gold July 3wk
• BU - Bunny Blue July 3wk
• MT - Keiko July 3wk
• MT - Chito July 3wk
• MT - Taka July 3wk
Very Late July 4wk/August 1wk
• UoS - Boreal Beauty July 4wk - July 22? Benchmark harvest

• BU- Strawberry Sensation July 4wk
• BU- Blue Treasure July 4wk
• BU - Blue Delight July 4wk
• BU - Beauty Blue July 4wk
• BU - Blue Typhoon July 4wk
• MT - Tana July 4wk 

Honeyberry plant variety index
University of Saskatchewan Varieties
Name: Aurora
Overview: Launched in 2012 and is the UoS first 10 pound plus yielder, thanks to its Russian lineage and
size. Large and sweet/flavoursome berries
Origin: Russian x Japanese - Solovey x MT46.55
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Medium
branching structure and develops oval shape crown
Productivity: 10 to 12 pounds by fourth or fifth grow year
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Example:
Happy Giant and Blue Banana
Harvest Window: Late within general mid-June to late-July window
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 to 20. Machine harvestable
Berry Size: 2.5 to 3.0 cm (about 1 inch) and Weight: 2.0 to 2.5 grams
Shape: Pointed pear- Berry shape 12.
Stem Scar: Dry when ripen

Hardiness: Zones 2-4, 3-7 in the East coast, 5-9 in the West coast, 2-7 in central part of North America
Chilling Hours required: 1,000 to 1,200 plus hours
Flowers bloom: April

Soil pH: Tolerates 5 to 7, but ideal 6.4 and Soil type: Natural rich balanced and fungal soil
Planting time: Fall preferred
Plant spacing: 4 to 5 feet. Avoid aggressive tilling under maturing bushes, as damages the carpet type
roots and Row spacing: 10 to 12 feet
Pruning: Annual pruning not required. After 10 years of fruiting consider cutting back the central woody
stems to about one and a half feet
Name: Boreal Beauty

Overview: Launch late 2016. Large and sweet/flavoursome berries
Origin: 38% Russian, 38% Japanese and 24% Kuril
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with very vigorous growth habit. Strong
branching structure and develops dome shape crown
Productivity: 10 pounds in fourth or fifth grow year
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Strawberry
Sensation
Harvest Window: Very late season within general mid June to mid July window
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 to 20 plus. Machine harvestable
Berry Size: 2.5 to 3.0 cm (about 1 inch)

Shape: Thick heart/oval. Berry shape 4

Name: Boreal Blizzard

Overview: Launch Spring 2016. Large and sweet/flavoursome berries
Origin: 50% Japanese and 50% Russian

Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Strong
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Example: Blue
Treasure and Blue Cloud
Harvest Window: Mid season within general mid June to mid July window
Berry Size: 3.0 cm plus (about 1 inch plus). 2.8 to 3.9 grams
Shape: Long oval - Berry shape 12

Name: Borealis
Overview: Launched in 2010. Very sweet/flavoursome berries. Considered not suitable for mechanical
harvesting, as berries not durable. Ideal for home gardeners
Origin: Japanese, Russian and Kuril parentage
Plant Size and Shape: Width 4 feet x Height 4 feet. Very dense and upright with good growth habit.
Medium branching structure and develops a dome shape crown
Productivity: 6 to 8 pounds in fourth or fifth grow year
Indigo Gem, Aurora, Berry Blue and Honey Bee
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 to 20. Not machine harvestable
Berry Size: 2.0 cm plus (about 3/4 inch plus)

Shape: Medium oval and boxy - Berry shape 4


Name: Honey Bee

Overview: Launched in 2012. Tart to Sweet/flavoursome berries. Selected to be pollinator for Borealis,
Tundra and Indigo series.
Origin: Russian parentage
branching structure and develops a dome shape crown
Indigo Gem, Aurora and Berry Blue
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 plus. Machine harvestable
Berry Size: 2.5 cm (about 1 inch plus)

Shape: Long oval and boxy - Berry shape 3

Name: Indigo Gem

Overview: Launched in 2011. Sweet/flavoursome berries, with a chewy texture. Can be susceptible to
mildew on leaves in some areas.

Plant Size and Shape: Width 4 feet x Height 4 feet. Upright with good growth habit. Medium branching
structure and develops dome shape crown
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. - Example:
Aurora,and Happy Giant
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 to 20. Machine harvestable.
Berry Size: 2.0 cm (about 3/4 inch)

Name: Indigo Treat

Overview: Launched in 2011. This variety is similar to Tundra, but the berries are 10% smaller on
average. Sweet/flavoursome berries
Tundra, Aurora, Honey Bee and Berry Blue


Name: Indigo Yum

Overview: Launched in 2011. The berries are more stretched or longer than the other Indigo series
varieties. Sweet/flavoursome berries


Name: Tundra
Overview: Launched in 2010. Tart to Sweet/flavoursome berries. Considered very durable for mechanical
harvesting

Plant Size and Shape: Width 4 feet x Height 4 feet. Very dense and upright with good growth habit.
Medium branching structure and develops a dome shape crown



Other Varieties
Name: Berry Blue

Overview: Original name Czech 17. Tart/sour to Sweet/flavoursome mid size berries. Selected to be
pollinator for the early UoS varieties.
Indigo Gem and Tundra

Shape: Small oval and boxy - Berry shape 4

Name: Cinderella
Overview: Traditional Siberian variety. Bred in the Institute of Horticulture of Siberia. Tart/sour to
Sweet/flavoursome smaller berries. Selected to be pollinator for the early UoS varieties.
Indigo Gem and Tundra

Shape: Small oval and boxy - Berry shape 4

Polish Varieties
Name: Iga
Overview: Launch mid 2000’s. One of Sophia Łukaszewska tastiest Polish varieties. Sweet/flavoursome
berries
Origin: Polish and Russian/Kamczacka - Lonicera kamtschatica Sevast. Pojark and Lonicera edulis Turcz

Plant Size and Shape: Width 6 feet x Height 4.5 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Medium
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated or Polish Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time.
Example: Rebecca and Ruben
Berry Size: 2.0 to 2.5 cm (about 3/4 inch)

Shape: Medium oval - Berry shape 2

Name: Jolanta
Overview: Launch mid 2000’s. One of Sophia Łukaszewska Polish varieties. Tart and flavoursome berries
Plant Size and Shape: Width 6 feet x Height 6 feet. Upright with very vigorous growth habit. Medium
Rebecca and Ruben
Berry Size: 2.5 to 3.0 cm (about 1inch)


Name: Rebecca
Overview: Launch mid 2000’s. One of Sophia Łukaszewska Polish varieties. Sweet/flavoursome berries
Plant Size and Shape: Width 6 feet x Height 4 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Good branching
Ruben and Jolanta
Harvest Window: Late season within general mid June to mid July window

Shape: Large oval - Berry shape 3

Name: Ruben
berries

Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Example: Iga
and Rebecca

Name: Tola
Overview: Launch mid 2000’s. One of Sophia Łukaszewska Polish varieties. Tart and Sweet/flavoursome
berries
Plant Size and Shape: Width 6 feet x Height 4.5 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Medium
Example: Iga and Ruben

Shape: Medium oval - Berry shape 2


Name: Wojtek
Overview: Launch mid 2000’s. One of Sophia Łukaszewska best Polish varieties. Tart to Sweet/
flavoursome berries
Example: Zojka


Name: Zojka
berries
Plant Size and Shape: Width 6 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with vigorous growth habit. Good branching
Example: Wojtek


Shape: Medium oval, with snub nose - Berry shape 2


Berries Unlimited Varieties
Name: Blue Banana

Overview: Launched 2016. The big berries are juicy and sweet with great smoked Strawberry flavour.
This variety is a member of the Blue Moose family. One of the sweetest varieties
Origin: Russian. F4 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojark. BU 3.
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with very vigorous growth habit. Dense
Productivity: 8 to10 pounds in fourth or fifth grow year
Wojtek and Aurora
Berry Size: 3.0 cm plus (about 1 inch)

Shape: Punchy with slightly pointed tip and base. Berry shape - 13

Name: Blue Cloud

Overview: Launched 2016/17. Very good flavour combination of sweetness and tartness. This variety is a
member of the Blue Treasure family. Very productive
Origin: Japanese. F3 from Lonicera Emphyllocalyx BU 12b
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Medium branching structure and develops dome
shape crown
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Example: Giant
Heart and Boreal Blizzard

Shape: Somewhat like fluffy cloud, with funny flat base and flat tip Berry shape - 2

Name: Blue Diamond

Overview: Launched 2013.The berries are juicy and sweet with great flavour. Good variety for baking.
This variety is a member of the Happy Giant family
Origin: Russian. F5 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojark. BU 1
Moose and Blue Palm

Shape: Crescent shape and slightly bumpy - Berry shape 13


Name: Blue Bear
Overview: Launched 2016/17. The big berries are sweet with good around flavour. This variety is a
member of the Blue Treasure family
Origin: Japanese. F3 from Lonicera Emphyllocalyx. BU 12a
Cloud and Boreal Blizzard

Shape: Oval with open tip Berry shape - 9

Name: Giant’s Heart

Overview: Launched 2016/17. The berries are j sweet with great flavour. This variety is a member of the
Blue Treasure family
Cloud and Boreal Blizzard

Shape: Oval heart shape with tapered tip. Berry shape - 12


Name: Happy Giant

Overview: Launched 2015. The large berries are sweet with a hint of tartness with great flavour. This
variety is considered BU largest producer. Member of Happy Giant family
Productivity: Over 10 to 12 pounds in fourth or fifth grow year
Moose and Honey Gin
Berry Size: 3.5 cm (1 inch plus)

Shape: A large prolonged zeppelin. Berry shape - 12

Name: Blue Horn

Overview: Launched 2013. The big berries are juicy and sweet with great flavour. This variety is a
member of the Happy Giant family

Moose and Blue Palm

Shape: Cylindrical with tapered tip and base. Berry shape - 12

Name: Blue Jewel

Overview: Launched 2013. The berries are chewy, slightly sweet with great flavour. This variety is a
Moose and Blue Sveta
Berry Size: 2.0 cm plus (about 3/4 inch)

Shape: Elliptical shape. Berry shape - Berry shape -11

Name: Blue Moose

Overview: Launched 2013. The big berries are chewy and sweet with great flavour. This variety is a
member of the Blue Moose family
Origin: Russian F3 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojark. BU 3
Happy Giant and Honey Gin

Shape: Flat top and base. Elongated with slight curve - Berry shape 11

Name: Blue Mountain

Overview: Launched 2013. The berries are sweet with great flavour. This variety is a member of the Blue
Mountain family

Origin: Russian. F2 from Lonicera cerulea Kamstchatika. BU 13
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Bushy round. Dense branching structure and
develops dome shape crown
Horn and Happy Giant

Shape: Full oval with slightly tapered tip and base. Berry shape - 12

Name: Blue Palm

Overview: Launched 2013. The big berries are tart and sweet with great flavour. The berries are found in
clusters on branches. Member of the Blue Palm family
Overview: Russian. Mix Lonicera cerulea Kamstchatika and Lonicera eduli Turz. BU 2
Origin: F3 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojark. BU 2
Happy Giant and Blue Moose

Shape: Elongated and elliptical and found in big clusters. Berry shape - 12


Name: Blue Pinwheel

Overview: Launched 2015. The berries are tart and sweet with great flavour. This variety is a member of
the Happy Giant family
Origin: Russian F3 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojark. BU 1
Moose and Blue Palm

Shape: Oval shaped with folded tip and flat base. Berry shape - 11

Name: Honey Gin

Overview: Launched 2016/17. The berries are sweet/tart with great smoked plum flavour. Good variety
for gin and vodka production. This variety is a member of the Honey Gin family

Origin: Russian. F4 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii Pojork. BU 11
Plant Size and Shape: Width 4 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright. Dense branching structure and develops
dome shape crown
Moose and Happy Giant

Shape: Elongated with flat thick tip Berry shape - 8

Name: Blue Sveta

Overview: Launched 2013. The berries are sweet with attractive tart flavour. Devious. This variety is a
Moose and Blue Palm

Shape: Elongated oblong. Berry Shape - 12


Name: Blue Treasure

Overview: Launched 2016/17. The berries are slightly sweet with refreshing flavour. This variety is a
member of the Blue Treasure family
Delight and Boreal Blizzard
Shape:Oval heart shape with tapered tip. Berry shape - 2

Name: Blue Q
Overview: Launched 2016/17. The berries are very bitter like quinine. Good variety for gin and vodka or
other spirits. This variety is a member of the Blue Q family
Origin: Russian. F1 from Lonicera cerulea Turzcaninowii BU 14

Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright. Dense branching structure and develops
dome shape crown
Moose and Happy Giant

Shape: Bumpy and Elongated. Berry shape - 8

Name: Strawberry Sensation

Overview: Launched 2015/16. The berries have a wonderful alpine strawberry after taste This variety is
a member of the Blue Treasure family. Very productive
Origin: Japanese. F3 from Lonicera Emphyllocalyx. BU 12c
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. Example: Boreal
Beauty and Blue Treasure
Harvest Window: Very Late season within general mid June to mid July window

Shape: Elliptical Berry and almost round in some cases. Berry shape - 2

Maxine Thompson Varieties
Name: Kawai
Overview: Launch 2016/17. The berries are sweet/tart with great flavour.
Origin: Japanese.
Happy Giant and Aurora
Harvest Window: Early season within general mid June to mid July window

Shape: Oval with blunt end. Berry shape - 2

Name: Keiko
Origin: Japanese.
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 7 feet. Upright with very vigorous growth habit.

Shape: Oval. Berry shape - 1

stems to about one and a half feet.
Name: Chito

Origin: Japanese.
Plant Size and Shape: Width 5 feet x Height 5 feet. Upright with moderately vigorous growth habit.
Dense branching structure and develops dome shape crown


Name: Taka
Overview: Launch 2016/17. The berries sweet/tart with great flavour.
Origin: Japanese.


Name: Tana
Origin: Japanese.



Climatic Data for Poznan, Poland

Climatic Data for Vladivostok, Russia

Climatic Data for Sapporo, Japan

Climatic Data for Granby, Quebec

Climatic Data for Halifax, Nova Scotia

Climatic Data for Orlando, Florida

Climatic Data for Corvallis, Oregon

Climatic Data for Abbotsford, British Columbia

Climatic Data for Minneapolis, Minnesota

Climatic Data for Fayetteville, Arkansas

Climatic Data for Asheville, North Carolina

Climatic Data for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Climatic Data for Hartford, Connecticut

 
Climatic Data for Dundee, Scotland

 
Climatic Data for Southampton, England

Climatic Data for Lille, France

Climatic Data for Cologne, Germany

Climatic Data for Budapest, Hungary

Climatic Data for Milan, Italy

Climatic Data for Bilbao, Spain

Climatic Data for Christchurch, New Zealand

Climatic Data for Hobart, Tasmania

Climatic Data for Santiago, Chile

Climatic Data for Stockholm, Sweden

Honeyberry Notes

Naturally Inspired to Work Together
LoveHoneyberry is your Essential Guide to growing great Honeyberries. We provide
simple answers to a modern and profitable berry. New to Honeyberries? Build a sturdy
foundation with our guide to this unique berry. We help you understand and purchase the
best varieties for you and make them thrive profitability.
A great Honeyberry orchard is about terroir, but without hard work and careful
planning, it is likely to remain a field covered with weeds, grasses, and a few flowers. What is
our Magic? Others just sell you plants. We help you grow and turn young plants quickly into
productive, beautiful orchards. Feel free to contact us for further information about how we
can help you grow.
"I do not know why Russians are engaging in breeding any other crops for which they

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What is a honeyberry and where did it originate from?

What is a honeyberry and where did it originate from?

What are some of the nutritional benefits of honeyberries?

What are some of the nutritional benefits of honeyberries?

Your Essential

BY LOGIE J CASSELLS PAGE ! 1 EDITION 2016

3. Where will Honeyberries grow?

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4.Other essential Honeyberry orchard or business guides?

5.Honeyberry Home gardeners

6. Honeyberry Seasonal Cycle

7. Starting to draft your story of Honeyberry success

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10. Ordering Plants

11. Orchard Soil and Plant Health

12. Honeyberry Orchard Establishment

13. Global Honeyberry Orchard Examples

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15. Orchard Harvesting Practices

16. Honeyberry pricing and Future Markets

17. The Future is Bright

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BY LOGIE J CASSELLS PAGE ! 6 EDITION 2016

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• Global products have commercially proven it as a premium fruit

• Harvest mechanically and no annual pruning or trellising needed

• Berries are suitable for fresh, frozen and process markets

• Very healthy and nutritious - high antioxidants and mineral content

• Unique taste, colour and kids love them!

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What does it taste like?

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The early Honeyberry varieties did not excite

It may surprise readers that Honeyberries or Sweetberry Honeysuckle was first

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• George Bugnet - Heritage Canadian ornamental blue honeysuckle, also called

• Julia Bugnet - Heritage Canadian ornamental blue honeysuckle, also called

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• Amfora. (translation = amphora). Midseason, large fruited, blue honeysuckle

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2. The Honeyberry Basics

Honeyberry - the plant of many names

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Honeyberry Google Trends

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Its footprint is larger than you think

Honeyberries Global Footprint

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It’s humble Siberian origins

Honey berry’s Native Lands

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