I gave up. Even with all the packing and stuff to get this house ready to sell, I took a break. I dug up all of those strawberry plants, put them in a planter, and sent them with Hubby to mom-in-law on Sunday. They have planted them in her backyard and have already eaten on that survived last week's massacre.
IF we were to stay here, I would have moved them to the back yard and made the fence (perimeter) more secure from intruders and thieves. Just a quick lock on the gate would have worked.
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Showing posts with label Berries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berries. Show all posts
Strawberry Thief
Our local vandal has struck again. Here's what happened.In 2008 we planted several strawberry plants in our front yard, north side of our front porch. As it was the first year, we harvested only about 60-70 berries for the entire summer. When Fall came, Hubby buried them in peat moss, to keep them from freezing and to provide a more acidic atmosphere.
They survived, and began to flourish, pushing up through the peat before even the end of March. We were surprised and thrilled to find strawberries growing and getting ripe last week. The above pic was taken on May 19 2009... see the beautiful white strawberry flowers?! We waited anxiously for Hubby to return home on Friday so we could pick the 20 or so, and split them among the three of us. I even checked them Thursday afternoon and found them well ripened and a beautiful red.
Hubby got home Friday afternoon. After unloading the car and unpacking him, we trumped out to pick the berries, bowl in hand. Not a one! Every one had been taken. No, birds didn't get them. It was obviously a human from the way they were harvested.
Here it is Sunday night and I'm still really ticked about it. I've been waiting since last Fall for homegrown fresh strawberries. Ticked really doesn't describe it.
Raspberries and Strawberries
In our front yard, we have three tiers by the front porch. To the side of that porch, two of those tiers wrap around. Not a lot of sun gets there, but about 3-5 hours worth. There were tulips there originally, but we planted around them.Sometime in mid-summer last year (2008), we planted several ever-bearing strawberries ion the bottome part, and two red raspberry plants on the top part. We actually got about 30 strawberries and 20 raspberries before they ended their bearing season.
Now... well, just look at the picture! The raspberries are making new cane with beautiful leaves, and the strawberries have some beautiful white flowers. That means strawberries will be here soon!
At our new homestead, we're planting about 100+ strawberries and at least 20 red raspberry and 20 yellow raspberry plants. Yum!
Blueberries Survived the Winter
We started out with 4 blueberry seedlings from a mail order place last summer (2008). We carefully prepared the bed, making the soil acidic with peat moss and other additives. We planted the 4 blueberry, 2 cranberry and 2 lingonberry in the raised bed, and hoped for the best. We watered them and carefully tended them, but by the end of a very scorching summer, only one had survived.By mid-summer we realized we weren't having any luck with the mail order plants, so we bought 2 blueberry plants from Lowe's. We potted them, tended them, and between the 2 plants, we harvested about 2 cups of blueberries. The most delicious, juicy... stop me!
We brought the 2 blueberries in containers indoors to the family room for the Winter, and hoped they and the one in the raised bed outside would survive. And survive they did... you can see from the pictures that the raised bed plant has decided it wants to live. And the two potted blueberries are already showing wonderful growth.
Aren't they beautiful?
I couldn't resist ... I bought two more blueberry plants the other day and will put them in containers, probably later this week. They already have flowers on them!
The Resurrection of the Blackberries
Last year I planted 6 blackberry starter plants in our backyard, properly spaced out in preparation for large vines. They did well, but as they were first year plants, didn't bear any fruit. The vines "died" but the thorns stayed.
Tween likes to run back and forth in the backyard. He got really aggrevated with the thorns tearing at him in the Fall, so he broke them all off. When I discovered this, I was furious. He got it with both barrels. I really love blackberries, especially homegrown and pesticide/herbicide free. Sweet. Juicy. Black fingers and stained faces. Pure heaven.
I accepted that we wouldn't have blackberries. And since we need to move as soon as we sell this house, I didn't replant this year. I also didn't pull up the roots to compost; too lazy, I guess.
This past weekend, Hubby and I were weeding the backyard when he exclaimed, "Look at the blackberries!" I walked over, leaned in, and started to pull weeds (one track mind). Prick. Thorn into my finger. As I more carefully pulled the bindweed, I saw what my more-observant husband saw: the blackberry plant there had come back. We examined all 6, and 5 of them were leafing! I pulled away weeds from all 5, and we placed tires around each to make sure the dogs (and yes, the Tween) leaves them alone.
Pic to the above right: one of our resurrected blackberry plants in its protective tire home.
Each of the 5 blackberry plants have at least 10 leaves on them. Perhaps we'll have blackberries before we leave! If not, they might have to be dug up and transported to our new home.
Hmmm... blackberries.
Tween likes to run back and forth in the backyard. He got really aggrevated with the thorns tearing at him in the Fall, so he broke them all off. When I discovered this, I was furious. He got it with both barrels. I really love blackberries, especially homegrown and pesticide/herbicide free. Sweet. Juicy. Black fingers and stained faces. Pure heaven.
I accepted that we wouldn't have blackberries. And since we need to move as soon as we sell this house, I didn't replant this year. I also didn't pull up the roots to compost; too lazy, I guess.
This past weekend, Hubby and I were weeding the backyard when he exclaimed, "Look at the blackberries!" I walked over, leaned in, and started to pull weeds (one track mind). Prick. Thorn into my finger. As I more carefully pulled the bindweed, I saw what my more-observant husband saw: the blackberry plant there had come back. We examined all 6, and 5 of them were leafing! I pulled away weeds from all 5, and we placed tires around each to make sure the dogs (and yes, the Tween) leaves them alone.
Pic to the above right: one of our resurrected blackberry plants in its protective tire home.
Each of the 5 blackberry plants have at least 10 leaves on them. Perhaps we'll have blackberries before we leave! If not, they might have to be dug up and transported to our new home.
Hmmm... blackberries.
Wonderberries
Picture from: http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/wonderberry.htm
I noticed seeds for these wonderberries at http://www.rareseeds.com/ (Baker Heirloom) and bought some when I ordered lots of different kinds of seeds in 2007. In 2008 Spring, I thought I'd see what would happen so I put a couple of wonderberry seeds into peat pellets, and they both sprouted. I lost one two weeks later but the second transplanted ok.
It grew VERY slowly, even when I placed that planter outside near the strawberries. I almost forgot about them until late October 2008. I was double-checking the plants to see if any survived, and noticed the wonderberry plant leaves were NOT black from the frost like other ones.
As we relocated the planter to the family room, which was our grow room for the Winter, we noticed it was covered in dark blue, almost black, tiny berries. Of course, I popped one into my mouth, and one into Hubby's. Soooo sweet, and taste almost like a blueberry.
My on-line research was conflicting. Some said the berries are poisonous when eaten raw. Uh, I'm still alive, so it should have read "poisonous when eaten green". Some said the berries were tart when raw. Nuh uh. They were sweet to us. Read on....
= = = = = = =
Here's info from: http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/encyclopaedia!openframeset&frame=Right&Src=/edible.nsf/pages/wonderberries!opendocument
Wonderberries
A Wonderberry bush grows up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall, with leaves about 6 inches (15 cm) long. It has berries just a bit larger than peas, that ripen from green to very dark blue. Wonderberries are somewhat sweet, and certainly far better tasting than Garden Huckleberries, with which the berries are often confused. That being said, and the name notwithstanding, the berries still don't taste of much of anything when eaten fresh out of hand, and are consequently best used in preserves and pies.
Nutrition
Wonderberries are poisonous when green.
= = = = = = =
From: http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/wonderberry.htm
Small, dark purple fruit closely resembling the highly poisonous nightshade. The ripe fruits don't taste like much, but when cooked with sugar, have a pleasant berry flavor that is usually used as a flavoring for pies and desserts.
Description: Very small shrub, usually growing to only 12-24". The wonderberry can fruit at just 3-4" high. Hardiness: XxxSunset Zones: All zones USDA: All zones
Growing Environment: The plants are exceedingly easy to grow and care is similar to the tomato, except that wonderberries tend to be less picky about temperature and water, and generally fruit much faster. Can be grown in full or part sun outdoors, or in a sunny window. Sow seeds directly in the ground during summer, or start inside. Germination is best when soil temperatures are above 70F. Keep the soil damp and repot as needed; wonderberry plants need little attention to flower and fruit. See also: garden huckleberry.
Propagation: By seed. May fruit in just 2-3 months.
Uses: Cooked and used as a flavoring for various desserts. The unripe (green) berries are poisonous.
Native Range: The wonderberry is a man-made cross between Solanum villosum and S. guineense, produced in the early 20th century by renowned plant breeder Luther Burbank. It closely resembles the wild garden huckleberry, and adding to the confusion, this common name is often used to describe the wonderberry as well. However, the flavor of the wonderberry is far superior to that of the garden huckleberry.
= = = = = = =
From: http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Garden-Berries/WonderberryWonderberry (Solanum burbankii). 75 days.
Developed by Luther Burbank, tasty small blue-purple fruit, good fresh or cooked. Small plants produce good yields in about 75 days. A historic heirloom that is easy to grow and fun for kids.
= = = = = = =
What our little family has discovered is these wonderberries are tiny, sweet, do well indoors with a grow-light, can do well outdoors with only 4 hours of sun (at least, in the Summer, for sure), and are probably perennial.
Our one little bush didn't produce enough to concern us with preserving (although we hear they make good jam), but it is good enough to produce fresh fruit during the Winter. We tried to keep it alive during the Winter but Tween overwatered it (as he did ALL of our indoor plants in the family room) so we're starting more in pots to move with us. Only needs a small pot - like a small bathroom trash can.
Wondering: does anyone know what nutrition these berries provide? Does anyone else have experience with Wonderberries?
I noticed seeds for these wonderberries at http://www.rareseeds.com/ (Baker Heirloom) and bought some when I ordered lots of different kinds of seeds in 2007. In 2008 Spring, I thought I'd see what would happen so I put a couple of wonderberry seeds into peat pellets, and they both sprouted. I lost one two weeks later but the second transplanted ok.
It grew VERY slowly, even when I placed that planter outside near the strawberries. I almost forgot about them until late October 2008. I was double-checking the plants to see if any survived, and noticed the wonderberry plant leaves were NOT black from the frost like other ones.
As we relocated the planter to the family room, which was our grow room for the Winter, we noticed it was covered in dark blue, almost black, tiny berries. Of course, I popped one into my mouth, and one into Hubby's. Soooo sweet, and taste almost like a blueberry.
My on-line research was conflicting. Some said the berries are poisonous when eaten raw. Uh, I'm still alive, so it should have read "poisonous when eaten green". Some said the berries were tart when raw. Nuh uh. They were sweet to us. Read on....
= = = = = = =
Here's info from: http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/encyclopaedia!openframeset&frame=Right&Src=/edible.nsf/pages/wonderberries!opendocument
Wonderberries
A Wonderberry bush grows up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall, with leaves about 6 inches (15 cm) long. It has berries just a bit larger than peas, that ripen from green to very dark blue. Wonderberries are somewhat sweet, and certainly far better tasting than Garden Huckleberries, with which the berries are often confused. That being said, and the name notwithstanding, the berries still don't taste of much of anything when eaten fresh out of hand, and are consequently best used in preserves and pies.
Nutrition
Wonderberries are poisonous when green.
= = = = = = =
From: http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/wonderberry.htm
Small, dark purple fruit closely resembling the highly poisonous nightshade. The ripe fruits don't taste like much, but when cooked with sugar, have a pleasant berry flavor that is usually used as a flavoring for pies and desserts.
Description: Very small shrub, usually growing to only 12-24". The wonderberry can fruit at just 3-4" high. Hardiness: XxxSunset Zones: All zones USDA: All zones
Growing Environment: The plants are exceedingly easy to grow and care is similar to the tomato, except that wonderberries tend to be less picky about temperature and water, and generally fruit much faster. Can be grown in full or part sun outdoors, or in a sunny window. Sow seeds directly in the ground during summer, or start inside. Germination is best when soil temperatures are above 70F. Keep the soil damp and repot as needed; wonderberry plants need little attention to flower and fruit. See also: garden huckleberry.
Propagation: By seed. May fruit in just 2-3 months.
Uses: Cooked and used as a flavoring for various desserts. The unripe (green) berries are poisonous.
Native Range: The wonderberry is a man-made cross between Solanum villosum and S. guineense, produced in the early 20th century by renowned plant breeder Luther Burbank. It closely resembles the wild garden huckleberry, and adding to the confusion, this common name is often used to describe the wonderberry as well. However, the flavor of the wonderberry is far superior to that of the garden huckleberry.
= = = = = = =
From: http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Garden-Berries/WonderberryWonderberry (Solanum burbankii). 75 days.
Developed by Luther Burbank, tasty small blue-purple fruit, good fresh or cooked. Small plants produce good yields in about 75 days. A historic heirloom that is easy to grow and fun for kids.
= = = = = = =
What our little family has discovered is these wonderberries are tiny, sweet, do well indoors with a grow-light, can do well outdoors with only 4 hours of sun (at least, in the Summer, for sure), and are probably perennial.
Our one little bush didn't produce enough to concern us with preserving (although we hear they make good jam), but it is good enough to produce fresh fruit during the Winter. We tried to keep it alive during the Winter but Tween overwatered it (as he did ALL of our indoor plants in the family room) so we're starting more in pots to move with us. Only needs a small pot - like a small bathroom trash can.
Wondering: does anyone know what nutrition these berries provide? Does anyone else have experience with Wonderberries?
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