Indigo Gem

Overview: Launched in 2011.Sweet/flavoursome berries, with a chewy texture. Can be susceptible to mildew on leaves in some areas.
Origin: Japanese, Russian and Kuril parentage
Plant Size and Shape: Width 4 feet x Height 4 feet. Upright with good growth habit. Medium branching structure and develops dome shape crown
Productivity: 6 to 8 pounds in fourth or fifth grow year
Needed Pollinator: Any other unrelated Honeyberry cultivar blooming at a similar time. UoS recommends – Tundra, Aurora, Honey Bee and Berry Blue
Harvest Window: Mid season within general mid June to mid July window
Other harvest notes: Harvest at Brix of 15 plus. Machine harvestable and most durable in the Indigo seriesBerry Size: 2.0 cm (about 3/4 inch)
Shape: Medium oval and boxy – berry shape 4
Stem Scar: Dry when ripen
Hardiness: Zones 2-4, 3-7 in the East coast, 5-9 in the West coast, 2-7 in central part of North America
Chilling Hours required: 1,000 to 1,200 plus hoursFlowers bloom: April
Soil pH: Tolerates 5 to 7, but ideal 6.4 and Soil type: Natural rich balanced and fungal soil
Planting time: Fall preferred
Plant spacing: 4 to 5 feet. Avoid aggressive tilling under maturing bushes, as damages the carpet type roots and Row spacing: 10 to 12 feet
Pruning: Annual pruning not required. After 10 years of fruiting consider cutting back the central woody stems to about one and a half feet