The Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project was initiated in 2006.
The NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center developed a Northern Hardy Fruit Evaluation Project as a result of numerous inquiries from home gardeners, fruit enthusiasts and people wanting to create a new source of income from their land. On-going research and demonstrations include variety evaluations to determine hardiness, productivity, cultural techniques and fruit quality. A deer-proof fence protects this three-acre orchard, which contains 15 kinds of fruit and more than 750 plants.
Guess what is hiding under all these leaves!
It's a ripening haskap. The bird netting needs to go up soon 🐦
Tent caterpillars love plants in the Rosaceae family.
05/27/2026
The haskap berries are still very green, but they already have different shapes. Here are berries from a few different haskap bushes!
A very quick haskap update 😀
05/15/2026
Currants are blooming, but I would never know from a distance. These flowers are tiny! Dandelion for scale
A video from yesterday, a little about eastern filbert blight but mostly about windbreaks. You can really hear the difference trees make
05/12/2026
Thank you to everyone who responded or replied on the survey post. So many interesting questions to research!
Bumblebee royalty! I wonder if she will nest in the orchard?
05/06/2026
I want the research at our orchard to be useful to you. That's why I want to hear what you are interested in! Please take a few minutes to share what fruit you grow and what successes / challenges you have experienced with fruit.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYA7P0_JVzAl98QJ4-7h9IvUZ9VyauzMsDtJkhLNCeQIrtkw/viewform?usp=publish-editor
photo: just-watered haskap seedling with a bead of water stuck to it.
10/31/2024
Here's some fall photos from the orchard over the years. Enjoy!!
| Monday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Friday | 9am - 4:30pm |