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nafex - [NAFEX] Temperate Berry Crops

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  • From: "William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Temperate Berry Crops
  • Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:14:18 -0600


Also see the section on Aronia, Chokeberry in the Purdue document at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/pdf/v4-324.pdf .


I looked at a lot of different fruit (on the Internet), because I wanted to plant a variety. But I'm only interested in fresh eating (and, perhaps, some juice if I get too much to eat). Without having a lot of room, I guess that nothing makes as much sense as grapes in sunny areas and gooseberries (and perhaps currants) in partial shade. (I already have a nice patch of black raspberries, but not really enough room for another of the brambles.)

Aronia looked interesting, but they didn't appear to taste very good. Edible honeysuckle (blue honeysuckle or honeyberry?) fruit very early, but this document says they're "extremely susceptible to leaf disease in the Midwest" and "it flowers very quickly given warm temperatures and can be severely damaged by frost."

I looked at the "hardy" kiwi, but I read that they must acclimate slowly to cold weather - they don't like sudden temperature changes. So it doesn't appear that the kiwi or the edible honeysuckle would be suited to our climate in the Great Plains! The weather can change very rapidly here, and we don't normal see anything BUT extremes.

Our local extension service did tell me that "bush cherries" (unspecified which kind, exactly) were "hard to grow" around here, and I've seen comments that they're not productive enough to make them worthwhile. Comments about Jostaberries also indicated that they produced relatively few berries - and were mediocre in taste, as well. About the only thing still on my "maybe" list is small Amelanchier species (Juneberry, Serviceberry, Saskatoon),... but I don't know.

When you get right down to it, grapes and various Ribes (especially gooseberries) are probably going to out-produce anything else, are delicious fresh, and have a huge selection of different varieties. And gooseberries have the added advantage of producing in partial shade. I like to try different things, but I'm not sure much else makes sense, considering my limitations on space.

Oh, yeah, I should mention that I've planted some 'Crandall' clove or buffalo currants. From what I read, they seemed to be a pretty decent choice for an "unusual" fruit, though I don't know if they'll be much different from other Ribes. Most of them may not get enough light to produce well, but I needed to fill a particularly poor spot, so I thought I'd give them a try.

Anyway, this is too long, I know, and I apologize. But thanks for the links!

Bill
Lincoln, NE (Zone 5)

--
I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. - Dave Barry




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