interesting fruit (etc.)

[BroadRipple]

OK, so I'm about to indulge in a bit of unwise internet shopping...and I can't resist going down the probably unwise route of exotic fruit/vegetables/herbs.
Grapes and grapelets, any recommendations/warnings for...
CHilean Guava
Edible Honeysuckle
Cathay quince (is this the same as a Japanese quince, and if so are the fruits as delicious as normal quinces, and can they grow in pots?)
and is there any easy equivalent of whortle/whin/bilberries which could grow in my titchy garden yet be reasonably productive? am having a Scandy/northern Britain berry moment.
um...oh yes, I know this is now the wrong thread but not sure what to do about it so let's be relaxed and also talk about...
Chinese Artichoke
Everlasting Onion
Babington's Leek
annnnndddd...any interesting other suggestions anyone's succeeded with this year?
come on chaps, help me bury my tomato-blight woes with some unwise variants (and no comments please about my having too many varieties again)

[SarrissUK]

I love whinberries (or blueberries as they're called in Sweden), but I wouldn't bother growing them as you don't get THAT many on each plant... unless you have a huge expanse of a garden that you want to cover? If so, I'm coming to visit lol

[BroadRipple]

no i have a teeny weeny poxy little patchlet, so it sounds like whinberries are out. thank you sariss. curses.
what else?

[VirginVegGrower]

I think Japanese Quince is Chaenomeles - that spiky burglar proof hedging plant - has salmon or white flowers. Supposed to be hardy but the frost killed my white one earlier this year. I am pretty sure that's what it is but don't quote me...

[VirginVegGrower]

OK, so I'm about to indulge in a bit of unwise internet shopping...and I can't resist going down the probably unwise route of exotic fruit/vegetables/herbs.
Grapes and grapelets, any recommendations/warnings for...
CHilean Guava
Edible Honeysuckle
Cathay quince (is this the same as a Japanese quince, and if so are the fruits as delicious as normal quinces, and can they grow in pots?)
and is there any easy equivalent of whortle/whin/bilberries which could grow in my titchy garden yet be reasonably productive? am having a Scandy/northern Britain berry moment.
um...oh yes, I know this is now the wrong thread but not sure what to do about it so let's be relaxed and also talk about...
Chinese Artichoke
Everlasting Onion
Babington's Leek
annnnndddd...any interesting other suggestions anyone's succeeded with this year?
come on chaps, help me bury my tomato-blight woes with some unwise variants (and no comments please about my having too many varieties again)

Cathayensis Quince is chaenomoles variety but these are not the true quince. Wouldn't like to say on fruit taste - dead easy to stick in the ground. Why pot - space an issue?

[endymion]

Isn't Chaenomeles the 'japonica' we've got growing against the side of our house? It flowers very early, and has hard round fruit that are as sour as anything, even after they've turned yellow and fallen off.

I've started off a sweet potato in a jam jar, ready to put 'slips' into a container next year. It's 'organic', and it sprouted within a week - unlike the supermarket one I tried this year which took ages and ages to sprout, and then died.

Did you know you can eat Day Lilies (and here)? Both the flowers and the roots are edible, but we've never had the courage to try them, but we had neighbours who used to eat the flowers, same as courgette flowers.

Oh, I bought an Eddoe from a Chinese Supermarket, shoved it in a pot and it's started sprouting. Haven't a clue what sort of plant it will turn into thoug.

If you've got a really sheltered spot in your garden you might manage to grow some ginger.

[VirginVegGrower]

Isn't Chaenomeles the 'japonica' we've got growing against the side of our house? It flowers very early, and has hard round fruit that are as sour as anything, even after they've turned yellow ...

Yes that's the one. Japonica, Chaenomeles, Quince Cathayensis...the list goes on. Suspect a lot of people have it and don't know what it is, ie. Edible. I didn't know Mahonia berries are edible - the US make jam with them. You live and learn!

[northepaul]

I imagine the japanese quinces are quite fiddly to peel and prepare?

[VirginVegGrower]

I would say so. They are smaller and can be quite hard. But in truth I never harvested them as fruit. I would say if you are investing buy the proper quince.

[hamamelis]

Anyone have any advice on Chilean Guava? I bought one on impulse- was my free plant on a buy one get one free- and I want to plant it out. Can't find much good info, and it's still in the little pot it came in.

[SarrissUK]

Here you go!
How to grow and cook Chilean guava | Life and style | guardian.co.uk

[hamamelis]

Great thanks!

[BroadRipple]

CHilean Guava - am slightly dubious of the bubblegum flavour Mark Diacono mentions...wd love to know if anyone's tried it.
Cathay Quince - interesting; how big do the fruits get? I suspect buyijng a dwarf real quince would be wiser, don't you?
Ginger - have tried it, ditto lemongrass, sprouted, died. Whatevs.
ANything else, anyone else?

[alldigging]

Yes that's the one. Japonica, Chaenomeles, Quince Cathayensis...the list goes on. Suspect a lot of people have it and don't know what it is, ie. Edible. I didn't know Mahonia berries are edible - the US make jam with them. You live and learn!

Mahonia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Says they're all edible - am looking at Mahonia for the winter flowers!

[Pineberry]

I got Chilean guava, just first time trying. Bought persimmon of ebay has not arrived yet. And going to try feijoa this year. Tempted by pomegranete in the pot but still undecided. Or and also Saskatoon berries are on my list to buy together with strawberry guava. Happy shopping!