Blue Banana
Worth knowing
The orchard has confirmed the name Blue Banana. In our usual order, it is the first variety to ripen.
Grown at our orchard
11 haskap varieties at the orchard
Each variety has its place in the season. Explore the ripening order observed at our orchard, then get to know the berries.
From the first berries to the last
This usual ripening order comes from observations at Camerise St-Gabriel. Varieties can overlap, and weather can change their timing and order from year to year. This is not a schedule of varieties available for picking today.
Early season
The first four reference points in our usual local sequence.
Mid-season
The central transition from Aurora through Boreal Blizzard.
Late season
The final four reference points, ending with Giant’s Heart.
Before visiting, check the current pick-your-own status; our team will point you to the rows ready to pick.
Check the picking statusGet to know the 11 varieties
Fruit descriptions from breeders, nurseries and research are general references, not measurements from our orchard. Details labelled as orchard observations come from our own experience. Flavour and size also change with ripeness and growing conditions.
Indigo Gem
Worth knowing
That finding comes from a North Dakota trial, not a ranking of fruit from our orchard.
Berry Blue
Worth knowing
In the same trial, the shrub was the largest of the cultivars compared. Those measurements do not describe our harvest.
Happy Giant
Worth knowing
One supplier calls it sweet with a little tartness; a 2021 catalogue lists it as tart. We do not assign a definitive flavour profile without local tasting.
Aurora
Worth knowing
According to the breeder’s description, the berries are easy to see on the branches.
Larissa / Wojtek
Worth knowing
The orchard confirms the Larissa / Wojtek naming. In our usual order, it follows Aurora and precedes Boreal Blizzard.
Boreal Blizzard
Worth knowing
Breeding work highlights their size and firmness. Actual berry size varies with the season and ripeness.
Boreal Beast
Worth knowing
In Saskatoon observations, it ripened after Aurora and Boreal Blizzard but before Boreal Beauty; our local order agrees on those three positions.
Boreal Beauty
Worth knowing
The breeder describes it as late in Saskatchewan. At our orchard, it follows Boreal Beast and precedes Keiko in the observed order.
Keiko
Worth knowing
Published characteristics come from Oregon. At our orchard, Keiko appears near the end of the usual order, before Giant’s Heart.
Giant’s Heart
Worth knowing
In Camerise St-Gabriel’s observed order, this variety follows Keiko. Its name and appearance do not predict its weight or flavour here.
Compare two or three varieties
Choose the varieties that interest you. The comparison brings together their usual period, flavour, texture, use and a practical picking note.
| Compare | Aurora | Boreal Beast |
|---|---|---|
| Usual period | Mid-season | Late season |
| Flavour | Pleasant sweetness with relatively low acidity | Rather sweet, with a distinctive aroma |
| Texture | Holds well on the shrub after ripening | Good-sized berry |
| Best use | Fresh eating and U-pick | Fresh eating; also useful frozen |
| Picking note | Visible fruit; comfortable to pick while standing | Compare the aroma when berries are fully ripe |
Which varieties can you pick?
The varieties ready for picking change during the season. Not all 11 are ready at the same time. Before visiting, check the seasonal information; at the orchard, follow our team’s guidance to find the rows ready to pick.
Varieties and pollination
Fruit descriptions do not indicate pollination compatibility. A garden needs genetically compatible cultivars with overlapping bloom periods. Verify the current compatibility chart before buying plants.