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A handful of elongated blue honeyberries
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When to plant honeyberries in John Day, OR

Plant honeyberry bushes in John Day Apr 20 – Jun 15.

Easy Plant potted bushes

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun; part shade east of the Cascades
Spacing
4 to 5 feet apart
Planting depth
Same depth as in the pot
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
A few berries in year two or three; good crops by year four or five

Why these dates

John Day's typical last spring frost is May 28. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the high desert and mountains, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 20.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

How to grow honeyberries in John Day

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant honeyberry bushes Apr 20 – Jun 15, 4 to 5 feet apart. Same depth as in the pot.
  3. Plant two compatible varieties that bloom together. Mulch well and water through the first two summers; after that they need very little.
  4. Harvest: Wait until the berries are purple-blue inside as well as outside, about a week after they turn blue. Taste first: underripe ones are sour.

Key numbers

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

The earliest berry of the year

Honeyberries (also called haskap) are a blue-fruited honeysuckle from cold northern regions. The bushes bloom in late winter, and the flowers shrug off frosts that would ruin other fruit. Berries ripen in late spring, a couple of weeks before the first strawberries. They taste like a mix of blueberry and raspberry with a tart edge.

Pollination partners

A single honeyberry bush sets little or no fruit. Plant at least two different varieties that bloom at the same time; nurseries list which ones pair up. Early bees and bumblebees do the pollinating, so a site that gets winter sun helps.

Easy care

Unlike blueberries, honeyberries aren't fussy about soil pH and grow in most garden soils that drain well. Mulch, water through the first two summers and prune lightly in late winter once bushes are a few years old, removing old, weak or crossing stems. Net them before the berries color; birds love them.

Common questions

When is the last frost in John Day, OR?

Typically May 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for John Day.

Is it too late to plant honeyberries in John Day?

The spring planting window runs through June 15. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick honeyberries?

A few berries in year two or three; good crops by year four or five. Wait until the berries are purple-blue inside as well as outside, about a week after they turn blue. Taste first: underripe ones are sour.

What do honeyberries taste like?

Most people describe a mix of blueberry and raspberry, sometimes with a slightly tart finish. Flavor varies by variety and ripeness.

Why don't my honeyberries have fruit?

Usually they're too young or have no compatible partner nearby. Plant two varieties that bloom together, and give them three to five years.

Are honeyberries the same as other honeysuckles?

No. Only blue honeysuckle varieties sold for fruit are edible. Many ornamental honeysuckles have berries that should not be eaten.

Also plant in John Day around the same time

Planting dates for honeyberries in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for John Day · Honeyberries in every city