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When to Plant Haskaps in Dickey County, ND

Dickey County, North Dakota Zone 4a April

April in the garden — Dickey County, North Dakota

Welcome to April in Zone 4a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 40°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs

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Haskaps (honeyberries) are extremely cold-hardy shrubs producing elongated blue berries with a complex blueberry-raspberry flavor. They fruit very early in the season.

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 550 feet, Dickey County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Haskaps to ensure they mature before fall.

Dickey County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
142 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29
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Dickey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Jun 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Jun 16

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Dickey County

How your county's soil matches Haskaps's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.7) overlaps with Haskaps's range (5.5–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Dickey County is excellent for Haskaps — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Haskaps.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Haskaps.

How to Plant Haskaps

48"
Between Plants
72"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,034 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Haskaps

Haskaps needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Haskaps Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Dickey County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Haskaps Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Haskaps needs ~9,809 GDD — county provides 1,526 GDD May not mature

Haskaps Planting Timeline — Dickey County, ND

Haskaps Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 7 Jun 7 – Jun 21

· 48" apart · Rows 72" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1095 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Dickey County

Growing Tips for Haskaps in Dickey County

Direct sow Haskaps outdoors after May 10 in Dickey County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 142.0-day growing season in Dickey County is tight for Haskaps (730.0-1095.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Dickey County receives only 21" of rain annually. Haskaps needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Plant at least two different varieties for cross-pollination. Fruits ripen 2-3 weeks before strawberries. Protect from birds. Very low maintenance once established. Tolerates extreme cold.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Haskaps in Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Haskaps planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 29.

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Your Dickey County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dickey County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Dickey County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.