Especially flavorful sweet blue fruits for fresh eating or drying. Indigo gem pollinates best with Aurora and other early to mid-season blooming honeyberries. June ripening in the Pacific Northwest.
ZONE: 4-8
POLLINATION/BLOOM TIME: Early blooming. Pollinates best with Indigo Treat, Indigo Yum, Blue Sky and Berry Blue. Not self-fertile.
RECOMMENDED GROWING AND CARE:
Full sun in cool summer areas, to full shade in warmer regions. Balanced moisture. Eliminate grass competition in root zone, especially in early years. Top dress with compost yearly. Tolerates a wider range of ph than blueberry, but requires 5-10% organic matter to thrive. Prune in late winter or spring, leaving as much 1-year wood as possible for fruit production. Thin out dead branches, or to shape for harvest or airflow. Late summer pruning not recommended due to formation of tender growth right before winter.
CHILL HOURS: Medium: 750 -1000 hours below 45F, perhaps less
DISEASE RESISTANCE: Good. Somewhat mildew and sunburn resistant bushes.
SIZE AT MATURITY: 5.5' x 4.5' with open habit for easy picking
