New use for Blue Honeysuckle jelly!

So our son is getting married May first and they are having cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. They decided they wanted the cupcake folks to try an injection of Blue Honeysuckle jelly into the cupcake. She would like something with baklava as she is Greek. Who kows what they will figure out! So here are the cupcakes.

They also had a chocolate sample but they felt the chocolate cut into the flavour too much. Another place for Blue Honeysuckles.

Take my little survey

I have set up a little survey about fruit growing and will post the details once I get 20 surveys completed. This is strictly for interest sake. Maybe there will be a more serious one later in summer which would lean toward helping all of us know what is happening with Edible Blue Honeysuckle and Haskap.


Click here to take survey

What's in a name?

I have been finding out that people are already "educated"  about the name Haskap and most know nothing or very little about the Edible Blue Honeysuckle which is the source of the University releases under the Haskap "brand" if you will. The present varieties Tundra and Borealis which are protected under Canadian Plant Breeders Rights (look under Blue Honeysuckle by the way) are not from the Japanese source of plant material  Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx but rather a cross between a selection of Lonicera caerulea var. caerulea and Lonicera caerulea var kamschatica and so are basic Edible Blue Honeysuckle. My understanding is that they certainly have material coming through their breeding program which will have the Japanese species in the gene pool. This is good since it will bring more certain authenticity to the Haskap designation. But as I pointed out in the opening sentence, the die is cast!

Later this week I will post a table with some of the germination data from my present plantings along with pictures. I see too that the snow is melting off of the pots out side as we are having these wonderful spring temperatures. Re-potting is in my future.

Good seedling growth

I just wanted to put up a few pictures of seedlings getting started. Note the fine hairs on some of the closeup pictures. Every day there are more so I am pleased to see them come. The white coated pellet is coir which is shredded coconut shells. I had a couple left so stuck them in the tray. They are not a favorite as it seems to take a long time for them to get wet to the core. More pictures soon.

Seeds germinating

Well seeds are germinating under lights and so far they are doing well for the most part. Some such as my Japanese seedling sources are quite slow while others like seed from Fialka and Amfora are nearly all done.
So far it looks like this number wise:
Fialka ---- 23/24
Amfora ---- 22/24
Dimza ---- 14/24
Morena ---- 7/24
Nimfa ---- 5/24
Leningraski Velikan ---- 3/24
Some seed leaves showing on Russian seed acquired from the Kitoy River area of Siberia as well. Time will be the judge in all cases but it is good to see new life taking place.
Here is a link to a very interesting paper from a study done in Lithuania. And here an informational page from
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area
Germplasm Resources Information Network 

Use of photos from the net!

I spend quite a bit of time searching the internet for information on the Edible blue honeysuckle and have come to know many of the sites and photos quite well. I have even been in contact with the person who has them up on a website or blog. Sadly I am beginning to see some of those photos showing up on other blogs and in reports in various Newsletters on the web. Even from a Government Department report. This is too bad as the  Photographer does not get recognition, credit, or thanks, for the use of their property but even worse is the misrepresentation of the subject matter. It is unlikely for instance that a picture from the Kitoy River area of Siberia would be "Haskap." I have as a matter of fact been in contact with this particular photographer in the past in regards to the kind of fruit he saw while on this expedition. So 2 strikes against the person who used his photo.
Others are out there and this is just not good advertising for those of us who are trying to promote the berry with integrity.

So if you like the picture and want to use it: try to contact the photographer, give credit in your use of the photo, and if you can't find the one you need there are many folks whose links or contact potential are on this blog. I do  not have pictures of Haskap but hope to have berries this year and will then.

As an aside, I  will refer you to a previous post regarding the source of many of the US registered varieties. Some of the product now being sold in Canada is from these sources but you may also find something with the Russian/European name being offered by its' original name. Just a heads up. I am sorry to say that marketing sometimes takes precedence over truth.

Winter changes

Well the winter weather has brought changes as the snow melted to some extent and the Blue Honeysuckles in pots were beginning to get uncovered. So I shoveled loose snow onto the pots to try and keep the roots covered. Now there has been new snow and they are well covered. This is a very good thing since these plants could desiccate quickly or freeze out as well.

But the good news is that it is seed planting time for me as I plan this years new crop of Blue Honeysuckle Babies. The initial planting will be about 288 seeds from about 12 different groups of seed. I was very fortunate to get seeds from of the Russian and European varieties. Also collected seed from what are seeming to be the better plants in my seedling  collection. I am trying out these new domed trays from Lee Valley Tools. One of the issues with peat pellets is moss growth on the peat exposed to light so I am trying to start with low/no light other than the light from another shelf above the trays. One thing these trays have is adjustable openings on the top to vent