in the land of strange berries

[BroadRipple]

like some of you (hello Frostyfreckle) I can't resist trying every berry out there, and now my heart's a-set on a sasketoon/juneberry...found some old threads here but wondered if any of you are successfully growing one? and if so details please...also any other interesting fruit bush recommendations for v limited space? maybe I should stop faffing about and just get some strawberries but they're strangely daunting...

[veggiechicken]

Juneberry seems to be a tree? Thought you had a small space?
Which report Nov 2011 on Unusual berries.
Cranberry or Lingonberry + choose Cranberry
Tayberry, Tummelberryt or Loganberry "thornless". Choose Tayberry .2nd Tummelberry but watch the thorns¬
Japanese Wineberry - it died but members like it
Boysenberry - pick wild blackberries instead
Dewberry - don't buy
Gojiberry = waste of space
Blueberry, Bilberry and honeyberry - choose blueberry
Jostaberry - big & not very productive

You could grow strawberries around the foot of another fruit bush!

[BroadRipple]

vv helpful thanks so much. you're right, i do have a small space! but apparently you can prune juneberry/saskawhatsit to make it smaller - is that not right? eek...

[BroadRipple]

also Veggie, how did you find that Which? review of berries? I can't seem to find it even when logged into the site...thank you!

[veggiechicken]

I know nothing about Juneberry except by Goggling it. Just found this saskatoon berry superfood saskatoons beechgrove garden which seems quite informative and they don't look too big
As for the Which review - that was easy! I have the magazine! Its Gardening Which Nov 2011 page 24. I'm not a subscriber as I have these 2nd hand from a friend

[realfood]

I have Saskatoons but I am still waiting for them to flower, hopefully this year. They can grow into a small tree, so plenty of pruning will be required.

[BroadRipple]

anyone else have a view on whether saskatoons get huge or are realistic for a tiny garden?could just about manage a large shrub but no room for a tree...

[BroadRipple]

Juneberry seems to be a tree? Thought you had a small space?
Which report Nov 2011 on Unusual berries.
Cranberry or Lingonberry + choose Cranberry
Tayberry, Tummelberryt or Loganberry "thornless". Choose Tayberry .2nd Tummelberry but watch the thorns¬
Japanese Wineberry - it died but members like it
Boysenberry - pick wild blackberries instead
Dewberry - don't buy
Gojiberry = waste of space
Blueberry, Bilberry and honeyberry - choose blueberry
Jostaberry - big & not very productive

You could grow strawberries around the foot of another fruit bush!

curses maybe that's diff to normal which? well thanks for typing it out, lovely of you!

[veggiechicken]

Have a look at this supplier of unusual fruiting plants index.htm - and they have Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) available for sale!-
Wish I hadn't found this company - its all too tempting! And they're in South Wales!!!

[rosiepumpkin]

That nursery is a real find, VC

(I was looking up cranberries)

[Invicta]

Strange berries

There are a number of species of american Amelanchier grown in this country as ornamental spring lowering trees, all of which bear edible berries, but some are much better than others. As they grow them commerdially in America I suggest you check their web sites for the best species for fruit.

[vixylix]

Have you tried cloudberries? They are a cross between a raspberry and a strawberry and look amazing! I believe the plants are quite small but I could be wrong

[Mark Lottie]

anyone here tried the ground cover-y berries that permaculture types love?


Rubus nepalensis (Nepalese Raspberries)
Rubus pentalobus/rolfei/calycinoides (Creeping Bramble)
Rubus tricolor (Chinese Bramble/Groundcover Raspberry)

Temperate Climate Permaculture: Permaculture Plants: Groundcover Raspberry

wondered if they actually taste nice.

[chrisdb]

I have an 'Obelisk' Saskatoon, and I don't think the fruits are anything to write home about. They have an odd mealy pea taste, not exactly sweet like a dessert fruit. I was disappointed to be honest.

I posted a thread asking about some improved varieties, but no one could tell me if they're nicer than the fruit of the ornamental varieties.

Other "strange" berries I have:

Japanese Wineberries - very nice, quite small, a lot like raspberries
Honeyberries - like sharp raspberries as well, OK
Aronia berries - very dry/astringent, a bit like blackcurrants, birds love them and steal most of them before I get them

[rosiepumpkin]

I looked up cloudberries and they're impossible to cultivate out of the wild, never mind in tropical southern England where I live. I know where you can get seeds though if anyone is reading this and has very cold, wild like conditions.