patandchickens
Deeply Rooted
I know there have been a coupla threads on this site where people were asking for more information on these, and at least at the time and from what I remember, some of us had planted them but few if any had actually EATEN any yet.
So I am posting this as an update sort of thing.
I planted two females and a male pollinator, all extremely small, two springs ago. This past weekend I noticed they had berries for the first time! The bushes have been severely neglected and are still quite small, maybe 18" tall and not very bushy either; I got 16 berries total off the two of 'em.
I *loved loved loved* them. They look exactly precisely like the catalog pics, and are quite juicy with a dark red juice that surely must stain like crazy
They were juicy and tart and I would describe the flavor as somewhere halfway between good (wild) blueberries and maybe raspberries. My husband thought they were too tart but then he just generally doesn't like new foods or any berries aside from strawberries and wild blueberries. The kids thought they were super and were very disappointed when I said that was it til next year I suspect they will make very good jelly or jam, also for fresh eating.
The bushes are in an area of wet, heavy clay and almost completely consumed by weeds for two years, so it is not like these are bushes that need coddling
My life is a little "up in the air" right now, but if next winter it looks like I will continue to be living here for at least a few more years, I am SOOOOO ordering more of these things. And if not, then the next house I live at will definitely see me finding some room for some of them. I am a total convert, and have resolved to keep the bushes weeded and be much nicer to them over the next year, in hopes of a 'real' harvest next year!
Pat
So I am posting this as an update sort of thing.
I planted two females and a male pollinator, all extremely small, two springs ago. This past weekend I noticed they had berries for the first time! The bushes have been severely neglected and are still quite small, maybe 18" tall and not very bushy either; I got 16 berries total off the two of 'em.
I *loved loved loved* them. They look exactly precisely like the catalog pics, and are quite juicy with a dark red juice that surely must stain like crazy
They were juicy and tart and I would describe the flavor as somewhere halfway between good (wild) blueberries and maybe raspberries. My husband thought they were too tart but then he just generally doesn't like new foods or any berries aside from strawberries and wild blueberries. The kids thought they were super and were very disappointed when I said that was it til next year I suspect they will make very good jelly or jam, also for fresh eating.The bushes are in an area of wet, heavy clay and almost completely consumed by weeds for two years, so it is not like these are bushes that need coddling
My life is a little "up in the air" right now, but if next winter it looks like I will continue to be living here for at least a few more years, I am SOOOOO ordering more of these things. And if not, then the next house I live at will definitely see me finding some room for some of them. I am a total convert, and have resolved to keep the bushes weeded and be much nicer to them over the next year, in hopes of a 'real' harvest next year!
Pat
Not laughing at you Ridgerunner! 
