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A handful of elongated blue honeyberries
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When to plant honeyberries in Leavenworth, WA

Plant honeyberry bushes in Leavenworth Apr 1 – May 27.

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

Leavenworth's typical last spring frost is May 10. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Inland Northwest, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Inland Northwest. Higher, colder interior valleys. Cold springs and an earlier fall mean a shorter season; quick-maturing varieties pay off.

How to grow honeyberries in Leavenworth

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant honeyberry bushes Apr 1 – May 27, 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 Leavenworth, WA?

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

Is it too late to plant honeyberries in Leavenworth?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. 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 Leavenworth around the same time

Planting dates for honeyberries in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Leavenworth · Honeyberries in every city