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When to Plant Haskaps in Boone County, WV

Boone County, West Virginia Zone 7a May

Your May planting checklist for Boone County, West Virginia

Each item below is timed to Boone County, West Virginia's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 23
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Plant out haskaps

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

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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.

Boone County, West Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 184 days.

At an elevation of 1,287 feet, Boone County receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Haskaps during the growing season.

Boone County, WV (Zone 7a) Moderate season
184 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
184 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23
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Boone County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Jun 7

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 Boone County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–7.0) is within Haskaps's preferred range (5.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). 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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 131 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 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Boone 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 ~15,284 GDD — county provides 3,082 GDD May not mature

Haskaps Planting Timeline — Boone County, WV

Haskaps Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27

· 48" apart · Rows 72" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1095 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

184 days in Boone County

Growing Tips for Haskaps in Boone County

Direct sow Haskaps outdoors after April 22 in Boone County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 184.0-day growing season in Boone County is tight for Haskaps (730.0-1095.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 Boone County, WV?

Boone County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Haskaps planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Boone County, WV?

Boone County, West Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 23.

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Your Boone County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Boone County (Zone 7a). 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 Boone County, WV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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