If you live in North Dakota, and love blueberries you may have attempted to grow blueberry bushes. Or maybe you have just done the research and have found that our region is not suited to blueberry bushes. Sadly, this is quite true. There are a number of challenges with growing blueberries in North Dakota. North Dakota has high alkalinity levels in much of our soil. We have near drought conditions almost every year. And if you have ever been through a winter here you know that it is just too darn cold.

But wait...

We have a solution for you! Introducing the Haskap or Honeyberry. These plants are a variety of Honeysuckle, with native species all over the far northern hemisphere.

Most varieties that can be found from nurseries are from varieties native to Siberia, Northeastern China, or Japan. The Borealis Haskap is a cultivar of both Russian and Japanese varieties. Researchers in Saskatchewan have grown this selection for its cold hardiness, and the fruit having a taste quite similar to blueberries. They are a bit sweeter. They are delicious eaten any way that you would enjoy blueberries. This is your chance to have "blueberries" in North Dakota, Straight off the branch into your favorite recipe or right into your mouth.

Another variety of Russian/Japanese hybrid is the Indigo Treat. These are even more cold hardy, stretching into zone 2. This variety has a sweet and tart taste that is delicious right off the branch, but even better in baked treats like muffins, scones or pies! If you live in North Dakota, enjoy making your own jams and jellies and love blueberries, this is a great variety of Haskap to grow. Your friends and neighbors will be begging you for your secrets!

The Polar Jewel Honeyberry is another variety with particularly good fruit for Wine, Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Pastries, and other baking. They are also a fine snack right off of the branch. The Polar Jewel prefers full sun, and has some deer resistance. This could be a particularly good variety to grow for an alternative to blueberries in rural North Dakota areas with open prairie when deer frequent your yard.

We have all of the varieties of Honeyberry featured above available for Spring planting. We can help you with your "North Dakota Blueberries".

If you would like to learn more about alternatives to Growing Blueberries in North Dakota, contact us at https://TreeRows4U.com/Contact-Us

Helping you Grow, Row by Row

If you would like to read more about Haskaps as an alternative to Blueberries in North Dakota, you can read here: A Better Blueberry — Yard & Garden Report (ndsu.edu)