Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries are beginning to colour (Fig 1).  This year, cold damage has been suspected on some fruit exhibiting uneven colour development (Fig 2). Bird netting should be in place as soon as possible to prevent feeding damage, especially in areas close to orchards or woodlots.  Although some haskap berries may appear ripe, it is well known that berry colour is not a good indicator of berry ripeness.  For more information on optimal harvest timing, please refer to a previous article “Are Your Haskaps Ready For Harvest?” .

Figure 1: Haskap berries turning a uniform blue colour.

Figure 2: Suspected cold damage on haskap fruit.