How to Grow Honeyberry (Haskap)
Bush Berry
Honeyberry, also called haskap, is a very early-fruiting shrub with elongated blue berries and exceptional cold tolerance. The tidy bushes suit gardens and allotments, often cropping before other soft fruit. Plant two different compatible varieties for reliable pollination, then protect the promising early crop from birds.
Planting
Plant bare-root or container-grown honeyberries from autumn to early spring, whenever the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Space plants 1.2 to 1.5 m apart and include two different compatible varieties nearby for pollination. Plant at the former soil level, firm gently, water deeply and mulch with garden compost. Bushes normally need no support, although a low frame can hold netting clear of young shoots. Keep grass and weeds away from the root zone.
Care & pruning
Prune lightly for the first few years, removing only broken, weak or crossing shoots. Once mature, thin a few of the oldest branches at the base in late winter after the worst cold, preserving a well-lit framework. Mulch annually with garden compost and apply an organic fertiliser in spring only if growth is poor. Water newly planted bushes and established plants during sustained dry spells. Do not shear plants, as this reduces fruiting wood.
Harvest
Berries ripen from late May to June, often before strawberries. Wait until fruits are fully blue inside as well as outside and slip easily from the stem; prematurely picked berries can taste sharp. Pick every few days, preferably in dry weather, and net plants before fruit colours.
Common problems
Birds are especially quick to find the early blue berries, so net bushes securely as fruit begins to colour. Aphids may gather on tender growth; pinch off lightly affected tips and encourage predators. Poor fruit set usually reflects inadequate cross-pollination, so check variety compatibility. Avoid waterlogging, which weakens roots, and prune only enough to maintain an open, healthy bush.
Growing Honeyberry (Haskap): frequently asked questions
How do I grow honeyberry (haskap) in the UK?
Plant bare-root or container-grown honeyberries from autumn to early spring, whenever the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
How do I care for honeyberry (haskap)?
Prune lightly for the first few years, removing only broken, weak or crossing shoots.
When is honeyberry (haskap) ready to harvest?
Berries ripen from late May to June, often before strawberries.
General guidance for UK gardens and allotments. Timing varies by region and season; the RHS or a local garden centre can advise. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.