Thursday, April 28, 2011

Zone 6b - New Jersey - April 26, 2011



Berries and Blossoms on Year Old Tundra



This Tundra's pollenizer was a honeyberry labeled "Blue Velvet" that blossomed earlier than the Blue Moon or Tundra. Blue Velvet is supposed to be a late bloomer, so this is a bit of a mystery. Blue Velvet is not supposed to be a great pollenizer for Tundra as they are related, but some pollenization will occur even from related plants. (Bernis, from Matt's report)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Zone 6b - New Jersey - April 16, 2011



1 year old Tundra, blossoms forming
 


Blue Velvet, blossoming
 


Blue Moon, leafing out
  Matt Catania sent in some great pics of his honeyberry plants on April 15 & 16, 2011. Tundra was forming blossoms. Blue Velvet was blossoming. It had spent the winter outside at a local greenhouse. The Blue Moon is the suggested companion pollenizer to Blue Velvet, but no blossoms were forming yet. It spent the winter outside at Matt's place. Blue Velvet and Blue Moon are supposed to be late blossoming honeyberries, so will be interesting to see what happens next year when the two plants are wintered over in identical environments. Photo tip: the white background is simply a piece of white cardboard held up behind the plants!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Zone 3 - April 8, 2011 - Northern Minnesota Haskap Leafing out in Snow

April 8, 2011 Borealis breaks through the snow
I had heard about haskap leafing out in the snow but I had to see it to believe it! The 60F weather today helped, I'm sure! But still looks odd to see little leafs on the spindly sticks! Bernis, MN

Year old Borealis leaf

Friday, April 1, 2011

April 1, 2011 - Zone 3 Northern Minnesota

Haskap Orchard
April 1, 2011 Northern Minnesota - No fooling!
Just had to post these pics today!

Last year was another story - snow was gone, ground thawed, and I even put in a few potatoes and beets! But we trust spring is around the corner somewhere, and will be on the watch for the first budding of our haskap. It could be worse, I hear northern Vermont still has 3-4 feet of snow! And Alaska doesn't even think of getting into their dirt before May 1st! Bernis, MN