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Small Fruit Garden |
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Edible Berries - Common and
Unusual |
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Barberry
Bearberry
Bilberry
Blackberry
Blueberry
Cranberry Currant -
Red, White and Black
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Currant - Buffalo and Golden Dewberry
Elderberry
Gooseberry
Honeyberry
Huckleberry
Jostaberry
Lingonberry
Mulberry
Oregon
Grape
Raspberry
Saskatoon |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Barberry |
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Common names : Barberry, Berberris |
 
Barberry belongs to the genus Berberis in the family
Berberidaceae.
In Canada the most popular are the European Barberry (Berberis
vulgaris) and the Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii).
Japanese Barberries are smaller, about 0.6 - 1.8 m high at
maturity. The European varieties grow 1.8 - 3.0 m tall.
The thorny shrubs are grown mostly for ornamental purposes and
in hedges. When grown as a hedge they require one annual
trimming that should be done right after flowering.
Many varieties of Barberry are hardy in the Kootenays. |
Barberries grow well in any kind of loamy soil
and prefer sunny position.
The flowers are yellow or orange, fragrant in some varieties.
The plants are self-fertile, what means that the flowers have
both male and female organs. They are pollinated by insects.
The berries are edible. They vary in size from 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.
The colour can be blue-black, dark purple, scarlet, red or yellow,
depending on the variety.
Many people find the fruit too acid to be eaten fresh but it can
be used in pies, jellies, jams and beverages.
The berries are an important food for birds.
All parts of the plant are used in herbal medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Bearberry |
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Common names: Bearberry, Bear's Grape, Crowberry,
Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Sandberry |
 Bearberries belong to the
genus Arctostaphylos in the family Ericaceae.
The most popular in Canada is the trailing variety of Bearberry,
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or Kinnikinnick.
The plants are evergreen prostrate shrubs. They are common in
the Rocky Mountains region. They are very hardy.
They can be grown in rock gardens and are valuable as a ground
cover.
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Bearberries prefer peaty soils and light sandy or
gravely loams, free from lime.
They are moderately drought tolerant.
They grow well on sandy slopes.
The pink flowers appear early in the spring.
The berries are edible, but somewhat tasteless, bright red, the
size of a currant. They ripen in July/August.
Propagation is by layering or cuttings.
The berries are loved by bears and other wildlife.
Traditionally the berries were used in herbal medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Bilberry |
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Common names: Bilberry, Blaeberry, Dyeberry,
Hurtleberry, Whinberry, Winberry, Whortleberry, Myrtle Blueberry, European
Blueberry |
 Bilberries (Vaccinium
myrtillus) belong to the genus Vaccinium in the family
Ericaceae (Heath).
They are native to Europe and northern Asia. They also grow in
the western North America in the Rocky Mountains area.
Bilberry is a close relative of Blueberry, Cranberry, and
Huckleberry.
The plants are short and shrubby. They grow 0.2 - 0.4 m
high and are very similar in appearance to Blueberries.
They are hardy in the Kootenays.
They prefer soils that are moist and acid. They like soils of
sandy-peaty character, but will tolerate any acid, loamy soil.
Like most plants in the Heath family they will not tolerate
lime.
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Bilberries produce pale pink flowers in May, the
fruits ripen in July and August.
The berries are small, round, about 1 cm in diameter,
bluish-black.
They are fine flavored, sweet with a hint of acidity, very
similar in taste and appearance to blueberries. They can be
eaten raw, or used for making jams, pies, and jellies.
The easy way to distinguish Bilberry from Blueberry is that
Bilberries produce single or pairs of berries on the stems, while
Blueberries form clusters of berries. Bilberry stems are angled in
cross-section. The fruit pulp is red or purple, while that of
Blueberry is light green.
Bilberry fruit is commonly used for medicinal purposes. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Blackberry |
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Blackberries and Raspberries belong to the same genus
Rubus in the family Rosaceae.
There are two types of Blackberries: erect or bush type
varieties, and trailing varieties.
Most Blackberries produce shoots with thorns, but there are
thornless varieties as well.
Blackberries are less hardy than Raspberries, but there are
several varieties that will do very well in the climatic conditions
of the Kootenays. |
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Cultivation |
Blackberries need a well
drained, loamy soil, well supplied with organic matter. Deep, sandy
loams are preferable, but silt or clay loams are acceptable, too.
Good drainage is important since Blackberries, like Raspberries,
can't tolerate "wet feet" for more than a few hours after a heavy
rain or an excessive watering.
Blackberries perform best in slightly acid soils with pH between
5.5 and 6.5. |
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Flowering and Fruiting |
The white to pinkish fragrant
flowers, about 2 cm across, develop in May and June. The
flowers produce nectar used by bees to make a dark, fruity honey.
Most erect or bush cultivars are self-pollinating.
Trailing cultivars often require cross-pollination. To ensure
cross-pollination two or more different Blackberry cultivars should
be planted.
The fruit ripens from the mid-summer to the early fall. The
berries can be 1 - 4 cm long, depending on the variety and growing
conditions.
The harvesting period lasts about 4 weeks.
The best time to harvest fruit is in the early morning.
Harvesting should be done twice a week. |
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Propagation and planting -
bush types |
| Erect, bush type Blackberries are
propagated from suckers and from root cuttings. |
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| The roots for cuttings should be at least 0.5 cm in
diameter. They should be dug up in the fall, cut in 10 - 15 cm long
pieces and replanted in the desired location 0.6 - 1.0 m apart
and covered with 5 - 10 cm of soil. |
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Propagation and planting -
trailing varieties |
| Trailing varieties can be
propagated by root cuttings or by tip layering. The tips of the new
canes should be inserted vertically in the soil, 5 - 7 cm deep, in
the late summer or early fall. In the spring the rooted tips should
be cut off the mother-cane, dug up and replanted in the desired
location. |
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Pruning |
The Blackberry canes are
biennial. They grow one season and die the next, after fruiting. All
the floricanes should be cut at the ground level and removed after
fruiting.
The roots live on indefinitely, developing new canes each year.
Redundant canes should be removed on regular basis and rows kept
narrow, not more than 30 cm wide, for easy picking and maintenance.
There should be 5 to 6 canes per foot in a row.
The new shoots should be topped at a height of about 1 m as soon
as that height is attained. |
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Supports |
| The trailing varieties need
strong stakes or trellises for support, otherwise the canes will lie
on the ground making harvesting very difficult. |
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Diseases |
| Most diseases of Blackberries
are caused by a fungus. Cultural controls include planting
Blackberries in areas with a good air circulation and removing and
destroying all the infected canes.
The Blackberry fruit can be eaten fresh or
used in juices, jams, jellies, pies, cakes, fruit salads and wines.
The leaves, roots and fruit are used in herbal
medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Blueberry |
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 Blueberries belong to
the genus Vaccinium in the family Ericaceae (Heath).
They are native to North America and eastern Asia.
There are four types of Blueberries: High-bush, Low-bush,
Half-high and Rabbiteye. Half-highs are hybrids of High-bush and
Low-bush species.
The High-bush varieties grow 1.2 - 2.4 m tall, Low-bush
varieties grow up to 0.6 m tall. Rabbiteye is the tallest, the
bushes can grow up to 3.6 m tall.
Blueberries are grown for their fruit but they also have
ornamental value. In the fall they look very pretty when the colour
of their leaves changes from green to yellow to crimson to dark red.
Many species of Blueberries are hardy in gardening zones 5 and
4. The Rabbiteye type is the least hardy, and can't be grown in the
climatic conditions of the Kootenays. Many Half-high species are
hardy in the gardening zone 3. |
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Cultivation |
Like most plants in the Heath
family Blueberries like soils that are well drained but moist, acid,
and rich in organic matter. Sandy soils are preferable, as well as
sandy loams. Clay soils are not suitable.
Blueberries perform best when soil acidity ranges between 4.0
and 5.2 pH.
The acidity of the soil may be increased (pH decreased) by the
addition of sulfur. The acidity should be checked before and after
the application.
Addition of peat to the soil is beneficial.
To protect Blueberries from fungus diseases they should be
planted in full sun in areas with a good air circulation.
Blueberries have a shallow root system. Apply thick layer of
organic mulch to keep roots cool and soil moist at the roots level.
Acid mulching materials, like sawdust, Pine needles, or Oak leaves
are the best.
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| Blueberries will benefit from a moderate
application of the nitrogen rich fertilizers like manure, compost or
blood meal, once a year late in the fall or very early in spring. |
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Flowering and Fruiting |
The flowers are small,
bell-shaped, white, pale pink or red.
They produce pollen that is sticky and heavy, not easily
transported by wind. Bumblebees and other solitary bees are the best
pollinators of Blueberries.
The berries are 0.5 - 1. 5 cm diameter. They should be allowed
to fully ripen on the bush before harvesting. Peak flavour is
reached a few days after the berries turn blue. |
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Propagation |
Blueberries can be propagated by
hardwood cuttings taken early at spring and inserted into the
rooting mixture of half peat moss and half sand. The cuttings should
be 10 - 15 cm long. They root with difficulty.
Low-bush varieties spread by underground rhizomes.
The Blueberry plant can live up to 50 years. |
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Pruning |
Annual pruning of High-bush and
Half-high varieties should start in the fourth season. Twiggy
growth, canes that are over 5 years old and low-growing branches
should be removed. Pruning may be done any time during the dormant
season, preferably early in the spring.
With Low-bush varieties cutting older shoots each year will
stimulate new growth. For maximum fruit production all the stems can
be cut back every third year.
The berries have high nutritional value and
are used in natural medicine.
British Columbia has a favourable conditions
for growing Blueberries and is the world's third largest producer of
the Blueberry fruit. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Cranberry |
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Common names: Cranberry, Mossberry, Moorberry |
 Cranberries belong to the
genus Vaccinium in the family Ericaceae (Heath).
They are small, evergreen, creeping shrubs. They form dense
mats. The runners are 1.5 - 2 m long. The vertical branches are 15 - 30
cm high.
In general, Vacciniums prefer soils that are moist but not
waterlogged. The American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) must
be grown in acid bogs with acidity 3 - 5 pH.
Cranberries demand high organic matter in the soil and full sun.
In order to grow Cranberries in your own garden you must have an
ample water supply for irrigation and flooding. You will have to
construct an artificial
bog garden which can be periodically flooded and drained.
To survive cold temperatures of our region Cranberries
need protection of snow or should be flooded for the winter with water.
The small clusters of pink flowers develop on the one year old
shoots in May-July. |
Cranberries are fertilized by their own pollen
(self-pollinated or self-fruitful). That means there is no
need to plant more than one variety to ensure pollination.
Cranberries are pollinated by honeybees and bumblebees.
The ripe globular berries, about 1 cm in diameter, are deep red
and acid.
The berries are usually harvested in September and October. They
can be stored at 2° - 4° C for 60 - 120 days.
The plants are propagated by means of vine cuttings which should
be taken early in the spring. The cuttings should be 10 -25 cm long
and should be planted 25 cm apart each way.
It takes 2 to 3 years before new plants will bear fruit.
The Cranberry bogs can be productive for more than 75 years.
Cranberries are used for juices, jellies, sauces and for baking
in muffins and breads.
They are highly prized for their medicinal qualities.
BC is the world's third largest producer of cranberries. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Currant - Red, White and Black |
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 Currants belong to
the genus Ribes in the family Grossulariaceae.
The Red and White Currants descend from species Ribes sativum,
the Black Currants from Ribes nigrum. Both species are native
of Europe. Ribes rubrum is the North American species.
The White Currants are very similar to the Red Currants. The
only difference is in the colour and flavour of the fruit. The
flavour of the white varieties is less acid.
Currants are deciduous shrubs that grow to 1.5 - 1.8 m high.
They are perfectly hardy in the Kootenays. |
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Cultivation |
Currants perform best in cool,
moist growing conditions with good air circulation, in a fertile,
well drained medium. Clayey loamy soils are preferable, but sandy
loams are suitable, too, providing they are well supplied with
organic matter.
The plants grow well in partial shade among fruit trees, on
north or east side of buildings, and on east or north facing slopes.
During the summer Currants benefit from mulching with a thick
layer of organic matter to ensure cool, moist conditions at the
roots.
To maintain fertility the application of well-decayed manure in
the fall is beneficial. |
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Flowering and fruiting |
The small, yellowish-green
flowers develop in pendulous racemes early in May. The plants are
self-fertile.
The berries ripen in July. They are about 0.8 - 1 cm in
diameter. The fruit of the Red and White varieties is tart, glassy,
red or pale-yellow and translucent. The fruit of the Black varieties
is black.
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Propagation |
Currants are best propagated by
hardwood cuttings taken late in the fall. The cuttings should be 20
- 25 cm long, made from the one year old growth.
They may be planted immediately into thoroughly prepared soil,
enriched with old manure or compost. The cuttings should be set so
that only the top pair of buds are above the soil surface. They
should be spaced 1.5 - 2 m apart in the row.
The plants from a nursery should be set a little deeper than
they were in the pot. That will ensure that the plant will grow as a
bush, with new shoots arising from below the soil.
After planting the soil should be packed firmly and the tops cut
back to a height 20 - 25 cm. |
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Pruning |
| The best fruit is produced on 2
and 3 year old wood. Canes over 3 years old, as well as weak and
diseased canes should be removed. Pruning can be done either in the
fall or very early in the spring. Remaining canes should not be
headed back. |
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Diseases |
Currant is an alternate host for
White Pine blister rust, which can cause serious damage to
5-needle Pines. For this reason the Currant cultivation is
prohibited in some areas.
In the Kootenays the main pest of Currant, Gooseberry and
Jostaberry is the Gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii).
The caterpillars, if not destroyed, often strip the branches of
leaves in the spring and early summer.
The berries can be eaten raw or cooked in
jams, jellies, compotes, pies, etc.
The fruit has medicinal properties. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Currant - Buffalo and Golden |
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 The Golden
Currant (Ribes aureum) and the Buffalo Currant (Ribes odoratum)
belong to the genus Ribes in the family Grossulariaceae.
Both species are closely related.
They grow into very decorative bushes 1.2 - 2 m high.
Although very similar, Golden Currants are somewhat less
ornamental and less fragrant than Buffalo Currants.
In the spring the plants cover themselves with a profusion of
golden, clove scented flowers, in short racemes of 5 - 10.
In the fall their light-green foliage changes color to many
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shades of yellow, crimson and red.
The fruits are about 0.8 - 1 cm in diameter, very dark purple.
They are edible, sweet and flavorful.
Everything what has been said here about the cultivation of
Red, White and Black Currants applies to Golden and Buffalo Currants
as well.
Both species transplant well and form suckers that can be used
for propagation.
The berries can be eaten raw or used in juices, jams and
jellies. They are loved by birds. |
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| Kootenay Gardening |
Dewberry |
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 Dewberry belongs to the
genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae.
The species is closely related to Blackberries and Raspberries.
Some varieties of trailing Blackberries, like Youngberry, are
hybrids between Blackberry and Dewberry.
The most popular Northern Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) is
hardy to zone 3.
It has a trailing growth habit. The stems are thorny, up-to 5 m long
and trail along the ground. Like with Blackberries, the stems are
biennial. They fruit in their second year and then die.
The plant produces new stems each year from the rootstock that is
perennial.
Dewberries require well-drained, moist, loamy soil. They prefer
partial shade, but will grow in full sun. |
The blooming period starts in mid-spring and lasts for
about two months until early summer.
The plants are self-pollinating, self-fruitful.
The berries are edible, sweet, about 15 mm in diameter, blue-black
and black, similar in taste and appearance to blackberries.
Propagation is by seeds, tip layering in July, cuttings of half-ripe
wood in July or August, by root cuttings, and by division in early
spring or in the fall.
The berries can be eaten raw or used in jams, jellies, sauces and
teas.
They are eaten by many species of birds and mammals. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Elderberry |
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 The American Elderberry (Sambucus
canadensis) belongs to the genus Sambucus in the family
Adoxaceae.
It is native to eastern North America.
Elderberries are large shrubs growing to 2 - 4 m in height.
They look best in the naturalized or wildlife gardens.
They are hardy in the Kootenays.
The American Elder grows well in full sun or partial shade, on loamy
soils rich in humus and nitrogen. It prefers moist growing conditions, but
the soil drainage should be good.
The large clusters of umbrella type, white, fragrant flowers develop
in late June.
Elderberry cultivars are self-fruitful, however cross-pollination
increases fruit production.
The berries are bluish-black, small, about 0.6 cm in diameter. They
ripen late in the summer. |
Propagation is by hardwood cuttings, root cuttings and
suckers.
The hardwood cuttings should be 20 - 25 cm long. They should be set
so that only one or two buds are above the soil surface.
Pruning should be restricted to removing diseased, dead, broken and
weak canes, as well as less productive, more than 3 years old canes.
It should be noted that the Elderberry berries, as well as all the
green parts of the plant, are poisonous. The berries are mildly
poisonous, causing vomiting if eaten raw, particularly if eaten unripe.
The toxicity is destroyed by cooking. The berries can be used in jams,
pies, sauces and teas.
All parts of the plant, the flowers, leaves, berries, bark and roots
have been used in traditional folk medicine.
The berries are eaten by squirrels and many species of birds. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Gooseberry
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Common names: Fea-berry (the old English name) |
 Gooseberries are
closely related to Currants. Both species belong to to the genus Ribes
in the family Grossulariaceae.
Modern varieties of Gooseberries descend from two parent
varieties: the American Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum) and the English
Gooseberry (Ribes grossularia).
Gooseberry grows as a shrub 1 - 3 m high, depending on the
variety and growing conditions.
The branches are thickly set with sharp thorns.
Gooseberries grow best in areas with cool summer temperatures
and a good winter chilling. Plants suffer and may collapse when the soil or
air temperature exceeds 29° C. |
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Cultivation |
Gooseberries, like Currants,
grow well in partial shade among fruit trees, on north or east side
of buildings, or on northern or eastern slopes. The morning sun is
beneficial, but in hot summer conditions they should be protected or
partially protected from the afternoon sun.
They perform best in cool, moist growing conditions with good
air circulation, in a fertile, well drained, well supplied with
potassium and magnesium, medium or clayey loamy soil.
Sandy, fast drying soils are not suitable for Gooseberries.
The roots are shallow and easily damaged by draught and hot
temperatures. Mulching with a thick layer of organic material is
recommended to keep roots cool and moist.
Gooseberries should be watered frequently enough to ensure a
constant supply of moisture to the plant. Drought-stressed plants
are more susceptible to pest and diseases. |
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Flowering and fruiting |
Gooseberries bear fruit on
one-year old wood and on short spurs of older wood.
The pendulous racemes of inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers
develop early in the spring. |
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The flowers are self-fertile,
pollinated by wind and insects.
The berries are oval to round in shape, borne singly or in pairs
at the axils. They come in green, yellow, pink, red, purple to
almost black colours, depending on the variety. The skins may be
smooth, downy or rough. The flavour is unique and, with the best
dessert cultivars, very pleasurable.
In general, fruits of the
European varieties are bigger, up to 2.5 cm long, the size and shape
of a small plum. American gooseberries are smaller and round, pink
to wine-red.
The American Gooseberry is more productive, but the fruit is
generally inferior in taste and quality to the European. |
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Propagation |
| Propagation is by hardwood
cuttings, layering and tip layering. Cuttings should be 25 - 30 cm
long, taken in the fall. They may be planted directly in ordinary
garden soil. The new plants should be protected from full sun in the
first year of growth. |
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Pruning |
| Pruning should aim at opening up
the thorny bush to make picking easier. Branches older than 4 or 5
years should be removed. |
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Pests and diseases |
In the Kootenays the main pest
of Gooseberry, Currant and Jostaberry is Gooseberry sawfly (Nematus
ribesii). The caterpillars, if not destroyed, often strip the
branches of leaves in the spring and early summer.
Gooseberry is an alternate host for White Pine blister rust,
which can cause serious damage to 5-needle Pines. For this
reason the Gooseberry cultivation is prohibited in some areas.
There are Gooseberry cultivars resistant to the White Pine
blister rust. The berries can be eaten raw or
used in juices, jams and jellies. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Honeyberry |
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Common names: Honeyberry, Blue Honeysuckle |
 Honeyberry (Lonicera
kamchatika) belongs to the genus
Lonicera in the family Caprifoliaceae.
It is native to Eastern Siberia and Japan.
Honeyberry is a relative of the Honeysuckle.
It is a vigorous, shrubby plant about 1.2 - 1.5 m tall, very
attractive, with velvety grayish-green foliage.
It can be grown in gardening zones 3 - 9.
The plants prefer well drained, moist soil in shade or partial
shade.
Mulching with organic material is beneficial to maintain moisture in
the soil.
The slightly fragrant, small, white flowers appear early in spring.
Honeyberry is not self-fertile. Two varieties that bloom at the same
time are needed for pollination.
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The berries are cylindrical, about 3 cm long, blue with
a white waxy coating, sweet-tart and juicy. They mature in mid to late
June.
You can ecpect 1.5 - 2.5 kg of delicious berries every year.
The berries appear in the first or second year after planting.
The plants are very long-lived, you can expect up to 50 - 75 years
of active fruiting.
Little fertilizing is required, but if you decide to fertilize, use
compost with balanced ratio of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Honeyberry has very little pest and disease problems.
The berries can be eaten fresh, frozen for later use or used in
jams, jellies and yogurts.
They have medicinal properties. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Huckleberry |
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 Huckleberry belongs to
the genus Gaylussacia in the family Ericaceae (Heath).
It is native to North and South America.
There are three varieties of Huckleberry that are the most popular:
the common Black Huckleberry (G. baccata), the Box Huckleberry (G.
brachycera), and the Dwarf Huckleberry (G. dumosa).
The common Black Huckleberry is considered one of
the best Huckleberries regarding the value of fruits.
Black Huckleberries are deciduous branching shrubs growing to a
height of 1 - 1.5 m. They are hardy to zone 5.
In the wild they grow in woods, thickets and clearings, on acidic,
peaty, sandy soils. Lime soil is ruinous to their well-being. They thrive in
sun or part shade.
Black Huckleberries flower from May to June. The plants are
self-fruitful.
The berries ripen in mid-to-late summer. They are black, round,
about 6 - 8 mm in diameter.
Propagation is by seeds, cuttings, layering or by division in
spring. The seeds should be sown in autumn in a peaty medium, in a cold
frame.
The cuttings of half-ripe wood, taken in July or August should be
planted in a closed frame in a mixture of peat and sand.
The new plants should be transplanted into their permanent
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positions next fall when they are at least 15 cm tall.
The box huckleberry grows 25 - 50 cm high. The
plants spread by underground runners. They form a mass of short
evergreen shoots resembling dark-green carpet. Leaves are small,
dark-green, flowers are pinkish, fruit light-blue.
The dwarf huckleberry is a low plant, usually 30 -
50 cm tall. The plants spread wildly by underground runners. They bear
bell-shaped white flowers in May and June and yield large quantities of
round black berries.
Huckleberry berries range in taste from tart to
sweet, with a flavor and appearance similar to that of a blueberry. They
can be distinguished from the Blueberry fruit by the number of seeds.
The huckleberry has 10 relatively large seeds while the blueberry may
have up to 65 small seeds.
The berries can be eaten raw or used in jams, pies and preserves.
They can also be dried or frozen.
Huckleberries are a favorite of bears and
other animals.
The flowers are attractive to bees for both the pollen and the
nectar. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Jostaberry |
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 Jostaberry (Ribes
x culverwellii) belongs to the genus Ribes in the family
Grossulariaceae.
It is a cross between a Gooseberry and a Black Currant. It was first
introduced by dr. Rudolph Bauer in West Germany, in 1977.
Jostaberry is a deciduous, upright, thorn-free shrub,
very vigorously growing to over 2 m tall and 2 m wide. It is hardy in
gardening zones 4 - 8.
Jostaberry prefers deep sandy loams, but will
grow easily on any well drained, loamy soil if plenty of organic matter
is incorporated to make it moisture retentive. It dislikes thin dry
soils and very heavy clay soils.
It can be grown in full sun or in partial shade.
It is slightly more heat tolerant than the Black Currant.
Jostaberry blooms on two or three year old wood
early in spring, from April to May. The flowers are very small and
susceptible to frost damage.
The plant is self fertile. The flowers have both male and female
organs (hermaphrodite) and are pollinated by insects.
In the Kootenays the fruit ripens in late July or early August.
The berries are of good quality, crimson-black, globular or
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ellipsoid, very similar in shape to gooseberries, about
1 cm in diameter and about 1.2 cm long. Rich flavour combine the
qualities of fruits of both parents.
Jostaberry will not breed true from seed.
It is best propagated form cuttings of half-ripe or mature wood.
The half-ripe, 15 - 20 cm with a heel long cuttings, taken in July
or August, should be set in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably
with a heel of the previous year's growth, should be taken late in the
fall and set in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors.
Pruning should be restricted to the removal of
old, damaged or diseased wood.
Jostaberry has a built-in resistance against
major diseases afflicting other Ribes, like gooseberry mildew, rust,
gall mite, blackcurrant leaf spot and White Pine blister ant.
In the Kootenays Jostaberry is often attacked by Gooseberry
sawfly (Nematus ribesii).
The caterpillars, if not destroyed, will strip the branches of
leaves in the spring and early summer.
The berries are edible both raw and processed.
They are very rich in Vitamin C and excellent for juicing, pies,
jellies, jams, wine, for drying and freezing. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Lingonberry |
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Common names: Lingonberry, Alpine Cranberry,
Cowberry, Moss Cranberry, Partridgeberry, Red Whortleberry |
Lingonberry belongs to the genus Vaccinium in the Heath family,
Ericaceae. The plants are distributed in the wild in the northern
regions of the world.
They are rarely cultivated, but the fruits are commonly gathered in
the wild.
The North American variety, Vaccinium vitis-idaea var. minus,
forms dense mats 10-20 cm high. It is native from Labrador to British
Columbia and Alaska.
Lingonberries are very attractive and delicate-looking ornamentals,
producing exceptionally nutritious fruit.
The plants are hardy in gardening zones 2 - 8. They will tolerate
−40 °C or less, but grow poorly where summers are hot.
They grow best in acid, sandy soils containing moderate amount of
organic matter.
Lingonberries will produce more fruit in full sun, but in hot |
summer areas they should be rather planted in the shade.
The plants do not like or require much fertilizer.
Mulching with sawdust or wood chips protects the roots from severe
cold and helps keep the soil acidic.
The leaves are round and very small; in North American varieties 1.0
cm in length and 0.5 cm in width.
Lingonberry blooms in mid-June to mid-July. It is self-fruitful.
The berries are small, carmine red, up to 1 cm in diameter with a
tart flavour. They ripen in late September to early October.
The plants reproduce by seeds and rhizome cuttings.
They are slow to establish.
The berries can be eaten raw or used in sauces, juices, jams,
jellies, wines or baked desserts products.
They are used in herbal medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Mulberry |
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Mulberry belongs to the genus Morus in the family Moraceae.
Mulberries are attractive deciduous trees of varying height,
depending on the variety.
There are three main varieties: the White Mulberry (Morus alba),
Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) and Black Mulberry (Morus nigra).
The Black Mulberry is the least cold-hardy of the three.
Mulberries grow best in deep, loamy, well-drained soils.
They generally thrive with minimal fertilization.
They tolerate drought to some extend, but need to be watered during
prolonged dry periods.
They need full sun.
Some Mulberry varieties are hardy in the Kootenays.
Mulberries are self-fruitful.
The berries ripen over an extended period of time.
The ripe fruit is 2-3 cm long, mild and sweet.
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The colour can be white, pink, purple, dark purple or
almost black, depending on the variety. The flavour of the fruit of Red
and Black varieties is much more intense than that of the White
Mulberry.
Mulberries produce abundantly. You can expect to harvest up to 4 - 5
kg of fruit from 6 - 8 year old tree every other day for about 6 weeks.
Propagation is by seeds and by grafting.
Pruning should be done while the tree is dormant and should be
restricted to the removal of dead or overcrowded branches. The
cuts heal with difficulty. Cuts of more than 5 cm in diameter should be
avoided at all cost.
Mulberries are generally free of pests and diseases.
The berries can be eaten raw or used in pies, tarts and puddings.
They can also be dried and frozen.
The unripe berries are toxic.
The berries, root and the tree's inner bark are being used in
traditional herbal medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Oregon Grape |
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Common names for Mahonia aquifolium: Tall
Oregon Grape, Blue Barberry, Cree, Holly-Leaved Barberry, Holly Mahonia,
Oregon Grape-Holly, Oregon Holly-Grape, Mountain Grape, Sowberry,
Woodsour
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Common names for Mahonia repens: Creeping
Mahonia, Ash Barberry, Creeping Barberry, Creeping Hollygrape, Holly
Grape, Oregon Grape
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 Oregon Grape
belongs to the genus Mahonia in the family Berberidaceae.
The Tall Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is an evergreen
shrub 1.8 - 2.4 m tall.
The Creeping Oregon-grape (Mahonia repens) grows to 20 - 30
cm high.
The Creeping varieties hybridize readily with the Tall varieties.
The plants are hardy to gardening zone 5.
Oregon Grape is grown most often as an ornamental. It has holly-like
foliage and clusters of bright yellow flowers early in the spring.
Oregon Grape will grow well in almost any kind of well-drained,
loamy, acidic soil, including heavy clay soils, in sun as well as in
shade. For the best results, dry soils and exposure to hot drying winds
should be avoided.
On dry soils Oregon Grape benefits from heavy mulching with
materials that increase soil acidity, like Pine needles or Oak leaves.
It is drought resistant but, like most plants, likes moisture.
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The Creeping Oregon-grape tolerates drought and heat
even better that the Tall varieties.
The plants flower in April to May. They are self-fertile. The
flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by insects.
The small, about 0.8 cm in diameter, dark purple or blue-black, acid
berries ripen from August to September.
Oregon Grape is very tolerant of pruning. The plants can be cut back
into old wood if necessary. Early spring is the best time for pruning.
Although the established plants produce suckers freely to form dense
thickets, the plant is not invasive.
Oregon Grape is quite resistant to insects and diseases.
Propagation is mostly by seeds. Some kinds can be propagated by
suckers, by division or by layering.
The fruits may be used in jams, jellies, pies, wines and other
drinks.
The plant is used in herbal medicine.
Oregon Grape is valuable for wildlife. Its berries attract bees,
butterflies, birds and small mammals. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Raspberry |
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Raspberry belongs to the genus Rubus in the family
Rosaceae.
There are Red, Black, Purple and Yellow varieties of
Raspberries, the Purple Raspberries being hybrids between the Red
and Black Raspberry species.
The plants can be cultivated in gardening zones 3 - 9. |
Cultivation |
Raspberries need a well drained,
loamy soil. Deep, sandy loams are preferable, but silt or clay loams
are acceptable, too.
They can not tolerate "wet feet" for more than a few hours after
a heavy rain or an excessive watering and will die out readily,
hence the importance of a good drainage.
The optimum pH for Raspberries is slightly acidic around 6.0 -
6.5.
They should be planted in a spot where air circulation is good
since fungus diseases are more serious where air circulation is
poor.
Raspberries will tolerate full sun, but prefer cooler spots
sheltered from the late afternoon sun.
Mulching with straw, grass clippings, hay, leaves or any other
kind of organic mulch is recommended, especially for light soils.
The mulch may be put on in early summer and allowed to remain until
it decays.
To keep plants healthy the application of manure or compost
every second year, late in the fall, is recommended. |
Flowering
and fruiting |
The flowers appear from late May
to early July.
They must be pollinated by honey bees, bumble bees or other wild
bees.
The plants produce sweet, red berries in summer or early autumn.
The harvesting period lasts about 4 weeks.
The best time to harvest fruit is in the early morning.
Harvesting should be done every 2 - 3 days. |
Propagation |
The Red varieties can be
propagated from runners. The runners should be dug when dormant and
replanted in a new bed.
The new shoots which develop in the spring can be used, too.
They should be dug up before they are over 15 cm high, preferably
during cool, cloudy weather and replanted immediately.
The Black and Purple varieties are propagated by tip layering.
The tips of the canes should be inserted vertically 10 cm deep into
the soil in late August or early September. The rooted tips can be
dug up in the spring and replanted in a new bed. |
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Preparing Raspberry bed and
planting |
To prepare Raspberry bed, dig in
the fall a trench 30 cm deep, 60 cm wide, as long as needed,
preferably facing south-east.
Cover the bottom of the trench with a layer of well rotted
manure, or compost and turn it in. Then replace the top soil and
cover it with 15 cm of manure or compost. Fork this into the
topsoil. Let it sit over the winter.
When preparing the bed in spring do it as early as possible to
allow all the ingredients to mellow.
Soil for Raspberry crops should have an organic matter content
of at least 3%.
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While planting do not allow the roots to dry out.
Space your red Raspberry canes about half a meter apart.
Space black and purple varieties about 1 meter apart.
If you plant more than one row space the rows about 2 meters
apart.
Plant the canes 7 - 8 cm deep.
After planting water the bed thoroughly and pack the soil well
to eliminate any air pockets.
Trim the tops to about 20 cm above the ground.
The Red Raspberries develop underground runners or suckers that
can be invasive. Consider building a wooden frame buried in the soil
around the bed to keep them in check.
The Black and Purple varieties do not produce suckers and remain
in hills.
Raspberries yield a full crop in two to three years after
planting. After seven years the yields will start declining. |
Pruning |
The standard Raspberry (not
ever-bearing) canes are biennial. They grow one season, fruit the
next and die. They should be removed and burned after the crop is
harvested.
The roots live on indefinitely developing new canes each year.
New, weaker canes should be thinned out when they are not more
than 30 cm tall.
To ensure easy harvesting and good air circulation, remaining
canes should be spaced 15 cm apart in rows that are about 30 cm
wide. Early next spring the canes should be pruned back by
removing about one fourth of their length.
Each hill of the Black or Purple varieties should consist of
about 8 canes. To make the canes branch, the tops of the new canes
should be pinched off when the new shoots are about 50 to 60 cm
high. Raspberries need strong stakes or trellises for support. |
Diseases |
Raspberries are susceptible to
viral diseases such as leaf curl, mosaic and streak, and to fungus
diseases in areas where air circulation is poor.
Raspberries (especially the Black and Purple varieties) are
susceptible to Verticillium wilt. Do not plant them on land that has
grown Strawberries, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peppers or Eggplants during
previous three years because these crops may infect the soil with
the disease. Weeds like Lamb's Quarters and Pigweed are known to
harbour Verticillium so keep Raspberry beds weeds free.
Verticillium on Raspberries causes broad blue stripes to develop on
the sides of the new canes. The leaves will start yellowing and
drooping from the lower part of the plant gradually upwards.
To keep your plants disease and pest free prune out and destroy,
preferably burn, any canes that show evidence of disease.
Always choose varieties suitable for your growing area. When
planting, choose the right location and prepare Raspberry beds
carefully.
Mulch and fertilize moderately to ensure good growing conditions
and keep the plants strong and disease resistant.
Remember, the answer to most problems lies in the location and
in the soil.
The Raspberry leaves are used fresh or dried
in herbal medicine. |
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Kootenay
Gardening |
Saskatoon |
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Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia), belongs to the genus
Amelanchier in the family Rosaceae.
Saskatoons are native in western North America, ranging from Alaska
to New Mexico, and in the Canadian prairies.
They are perennial shrubs that can be grown for their fruit, as well
as ornamentals.
They cover themselves with masses of white flowers early in spring.
In fall the foliage changes to red and yellow.
Saskatoons range in height from 1.8 m to over 4 m.
They prefer soils with plenty of organic matter but will tolerate
dry, rocky and sandy soils. They need good drainage.
They tolerate wide range of soil pH, but prefer soils that are
slightly acidic.
Locations with good air circulation, like north or east facing
gentle slopes, are ideal for cultivation.
Saskatoons are hardy to gardening zone 1.
They are drought resistant but, as with most of other plants,
regular watering, especially during fruit development, is beneficial for
the production of good quality, juicy berries.
Saskatoons are self-fertile. It means you do not need two
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plants in order to produce fruit.
The fruit ripens in July. Berries are the size of blueberries,
purplish-blue and very sweet. They grow in clusters.
Saskatoons produce fruit on the previous year's and older wood.
The plants can be propagated from seeds and from suckers.
The seeds should be sown in the fall.
The young suckers with good roots should be dug up either in October
or early in spring and replanted immediately.
After planting the tops should be cut back to a height of about 5
cm. Regular watering is needed to establish the young plants.
The first crop may be expected in three to four years from planting.
Saskatoons require little fertilization.
They should be pruned early in the spring. Remove diseased and
damaged growth, as well as branches that are older than 5 years. The
best quality fruit is borne on younger, vigorous branches.
The fruit can be eaten fresh and dried, used in baking, jams,
jellies and wines.
Several parts of the shrub are being used in herbal medicine. |
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and photos © kootenaygardening.com 2006 - 2008 |
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