Lonicera caerulea 'Indigo Treat' - 'Indigo Treat' Haskap (Honeyberry)

Opt for the 'Indigo Treat' Haskap, an exceptional mid-season variety known for its remarkably firm fruit and incomparable sweet flavour! This ultra-productive haskap bush offers an abundance of large berries, perfect for easy picking and optimal storage. Incomparably robust and very easy to grow, 'Indigo Treat' is an ideal choice to enrich your garden with delicious and reliable fruit.

Harvest: Production & Flavours

The 'Indigo Treat' Haskap stands out for its mid-season fruiting, producing berries in generous quantities. Its fruits are prized for their great firmness and excellent flavour, making them ideal for various culinary uses.

• Harvest Period: Late June - Early July
• Visual Description: Large, elongated berries, an intense blue-purple, very firm to the touch and juicy.
• Flavour Profile: Predominantly sweet, with a slight tart nuance that adds complexity. Very aromatic, they offer a soft and pleasant taste experience.
• Culinary Uses: Excellent fresh, in jams, pastries, juices, smoothies, or simply for a healthy snack. Their firmness makes them ideal for transport and freezing.

Planting Guide

To ensure the success of your 'Indigo Treat' haskap bush, follow these key steps:

1. Ideal Location: Plant your 'Indigo Treat' in full sun for optimal production. It can tolerate light partial shade, but fruits will be sweeter in full sun. Good air circulation is always beneficial.
2. Soil Preparation: This haskap bush prefers well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, and with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0 to 7.0). Generously amend with compost or organic matter before planting.
3. Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Position the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Fill with your amended soil mix and gently tamp down. Space plants approximately 1.2 to 1.5 metres (4 to 5 feet) apart for good development.
4. Pollination:
   • Type: Requires cross-pollination. 'Indigo Treat' needs another haskap cultivar to fruit abundantly.
   • Suggested Partners: To maximize your harvest, plant varieties like 'Borealis', 'Indigo Gem', or 'Aurora' nearby. 'Borealis' is an excellent pollinator for 'Indigo Treat'.

Care Guide

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the establishment period (first year) and fruit formation. Once established, the plant tolerates short dry spells better.
• Fertilization: In early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer or one specific to small fruits. An annual application of compost around the base of the plants is also very beneficial.
• Pruning: The 'Indigo Treat' haskap does not require complex pruning. In the first few years, light pruning to form the structure is sufficient. Afterward, prune out dead, diseased, or older (over 5 years) branches in late winter to promote productivity.
• Protection:
  • Against Birds: Haskaps are highly appealing to birds; installing bird netting is strongly recommended as harvest approaches to protect your fruit.
  • Winter Protection: Thanks to its extreme hardiness (Zone 2), 'Indigo Treat' requires no additional winter protection.