Happy Holidays!

Freshly juiced organic apples!  A fine mix at 4:1 with juiced haskap.

Try juicing your haskap!  Yielding roughly 40% juice by weight, mix this with freshly juiced apples at a rate of 1 part haskap to 4 parts apple, for a unique blend.  At this rate the apples and haskap can be individually discerned, but neither overpowers the other, and additionally result in a mix that is all of its own…a fresh taste to add to your new year!

Happy New Year and may your haskap grow and bear profusely in 2014...from Haskap Canada!

New Article On Haskap Climate Zone Requirements

There's a new article posted on the University of Saskatchewan website about climate zone requirements for haskap:  How Far South Can Haskap/ Lonicera caerulea Be Grown?

Many gardeners and farmers are interested in trying Haskap in warmer parts of Canada, USA and around the world.   Experienced gardeners in the north are all too familiar with the idea that they might not be able to grow all the fruits they see in the nursery catalogs or at the big box stores.  But growers in warmer regions are usually not familiar with the concept that they might be south of an optimum growing region.

Topics covered include: Symptoms, Natural Range, Breeding For The South, and Imports

…It Certainly Looks Like Haskap! (...And Well Worth The Trouble) :)

Caminandes: Gran Dillama - Short Movie from Xyo on Vimeo.

(hint: watch to the very end)

Orchard-Based Research?

Are you raising haskap and curious about a certain aspect that has not yet been developed?  This is a reminder that it may be worth your time to investigate whether your provincial government might partner with you through one of their existing agricultural support programs to find out the answer to your question.  Saskatchewan, for example, already has several programs in place which include:

Farm and Ranch Water  Infrastructure Program (FRWIP)

Supports the development of agricultural water infrastructure.

www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-FRWIP.

toll free line at 1-877-874-5365

email  fpbinfo@gov.sk.ca.

Farm Stewardship Program

Assistance to implement beneficial management practices (BMP) that help maintain or improve the quality of soil, water, air or biodiversity resources.

www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-Farmstewardship.

toll free line at 1-877-874-5365

email  fpbinfo@gov.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Lean Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM)

Support to agri-businesses that process bio-product, food and feed for projects that stimulate improvements in productivity and efficiency through the adoption of best practices, new technologies and state-of-the-art processes.

 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-SLIM

call Gary Coghill 1-306-787-8537.

email gary.coghill@gov.sk.ca

On-Farm Food Safety Implementation Program

Producers receive training and funding directly from the associated commodity organization. They do not have to be members of these organizations to access

programming.  As programming differs by organization, producers should contact the respective commodity organization for details (see website for associated commodity group contact information)

www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-OnFarmFoodSafety

What does your province provide?

Haskap and Blue Mason Bees

A Blue Mason Bee study is currently under way by provincial entomologists in Saskatchewan.  Currently they are checking the pollen collected from this past year in order to see how effective these are as haskap pollinators.

Wanted: Haskap For Export To Europe And Japan

If you have Haskap that is exportable to Europe and/or Japan, then please contact Hamish Graham immediately at:  maddog@me.com or maddog@icloud.com.

Thanks!

Plant Breeders' Rights In Canada

Did you know that...

Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) are a form of intellectual property rights by which plant breeders can protect their new varieties in the same way an inventor protects a new invention with a patent.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency administers the Plant Breeders' Rights Act (1990) and Regulations which provide legal protection to plant breeders for new plant varieties for up to 18 years.

…this protection extends internationally.  Without being granted the right to propagate their selections of haskap by the University of Saskatchewan it is absolutely illegal to do so.

Plant registration in the USA is handled through the Patent Office: www.uspto.gov.

Diversified Pollinator Strategy

Here's a link to an article on diversified pollinator lodging entitled 'Building A Bug Mansion':

http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/thingstodo/inaweekend/bug-mansion.aspx 

Haskap Canada Member's Site

Be watching for a new Haskap Canada member's-only site which is in the process of taking shape...

White Clover As A Cover Crop?

Have you been thinking of overseeding a cover crop in your haskap orchard?  Want to build your soil before planting haskap or co-nourish it as it grows?  You might want to do some background on using clovers...perhaps white clover (Trifolium repens) and how it does in your region, or clovers in general.   It is a timely thing to consider here in the early fall.  Perfect for choking out weeds along with its strong root system, pickups and small tractors are easily supported in even wet soils.  A food for pollinators throughout the season it does not compete with haskap flowering.  Possible to over seed into grass it requires only 3#/ac.  At $3.50/ lb it can be a simple, effective addition to your practice.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/clover

http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idpmcpg8308.pdf

(...I love the edit on this video!)

Interested In Increasing The Pollinators In Your Haskap Orchard?

The Orchard Bee Association is holding its 4th Annual General Meeting in concert with it 1st International Pollinator Symposium and Expo from October 10 - 12, 2013, at Utah State University in Kaysville, Utah.

Parisian Bee Hotels

...s'interroger sur la nécessité et le charme de nourrir les pollinisateurs indigènes

...bon ... très très bon

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (6)

Afternoon Presentations

Bob Bors - U of SK breeding program update
James Dawson - Neutriceutical/Phytochemical discussion
Loretta Bors - Development of cookbook
Curtis Braaten - Raised bed planting
Cory Sheffield (unable to attend) - Pollination Study
Hamish Graham - Hydroplanting
Haskap Canada - Update
Open Forum

*Anyone with recipes for haskap and would like them included in the cookbook is encouraged to contact Loretta Bors (lorettaborsathotmaildotcom)or Lil Sawatzky (lilymaeatsaskteldotcom).

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (5)

Hardiness

Not an official stop on the tour, I recalled this plot as having a nice selection of mature haskap in previous years.  Inquiring, the plants had served their purpose, been selected, and removed.

  Now, thoroughly cultivated, young plants are still growing there from remnants of roots...

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (4)

Field Evaluation of Plants and Fruit

This is a mature edible blue honeysuckle berry from an edible blue honeysuckle plant that is native to Canada.

These plants (below) were collected from all across Canada...some even emerge with red leaves in the spring...does this indicate different anthocyanin composition?

If neutriceutical value is found in the skin of fruit, does that mean that odd-shaped varieties, such as this one of Japanese parentage, have a greater health value?

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (3)

Pruning

Pruning trials are currently under way.  Three methods are being tested: bottom trimming, centre trimming, and bonsai styles, respectively...

  

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (2)

Orchard Tour

In the field participants were able to see and taste the results of the U of SK's selection program, and to listen to the grounds for selection while standing in the midst of the huge number of individual genotypes that have been carefully watched and considered throughout the growing season as possible parent-stock for future vigourous, winter-hardy, and tasty varieties.

Haskap Day - U of SK 2013 (1)

If you did not attend, we missed you!  What would you have experienced if you had been there?

Morning Field Tour

Field Tour
Field Fruit Tasting
Special Observation: Hybrids, Native Canadian, Japanese, Russian Varieties
Mechanical Harvesting Demonstration
Pruning Methods

Lunch - Pizza

Afternoon Presentations

Current Research
Raised Bed Planting
Recipes/Cookbook
Pollination Study
Hydroplanting
Haskap Canada Update

Over the next several posts the highlights of these will be briefly touched upon...

Haskap Day 2013 - July 19, 2023

One week from tomorrow the University of Saskatchewan will host this year's Haskap Day at their Horticulture Field Lab.

Updated information will be presented concerning harvest, yields, and ages of haskap involving various varieties for machine and hand picking .  There will be an explanation of the various pollinator projects that are currently under way.  Marketing initiatives will be discussed.  Dr. Bob Bors will update participants on new varieties and James Dawson will discuss phytonutrients.   There will be tours of the haskap orchard.  Lunch will be $5 per person for pizza.  We hope to see you there!

Haskap Harvest 2013 - Heavenly Blue Honeysuckle Orchards, Ltd.