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Post by richardw on Mar 4, 2014 19:06:12 GMT -5
Ive got berries that are turning a purple colour ATM,how much longer would i need to leave them??
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 4, 2014 19:09:02 GMT -5
I pick potato berries, when they fall from the plant, or when I harvest the tubers. Then I typically let them sit for weeks or months until some of them start rotting.
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Post by richardw on Mar 4, 2014 21:22:46 GMT -5
Ok so i should leave them 4-6 weeks yet
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Post by trixtrax on Mar 5, 2014 3:34:44 GMT -5
It varies widely from clone to clone. Some only 1st-stage ripen after first falling off the plant and then 2nd-stage ripen on the soil (or in your house!). Others readily ripen on the vine and stay attached. Some ripen and yet appear unripe (ie the berries stay green and yet the seeds are viable). I have found it is generally best to collect up berries over time as they fall. I tend to do this about once a week or so. Mice and other rodents will sometimes carry them off. For plants that have berries attached, I just harvest at plant pull date or will come back later to harvest berries off vines that have sat out in the field until they are a crisp.
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Post by richardw on Mar 5, 2014 12:53:33 GMT -5
This particular clone (Moie moie) the berries normally remain attached,this is only the second time in 25+ years that it has produced any berries and this summer its only two plants that have done so,one with three the other with two.I had tied both stems to a bamboo stake so the wind didn't dislodge the developing berries as it seems the early stages of development the berries are prone to coming off.
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Post by raymondo on Mar 5, 2014 15:55:58 GMT -5
Richard, did the plants you grew from the Moie Moie seeds you a while back produce berries?
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Post by richardw on Mar 5, 2014 18:02:15 GMT -5
Richard, did the plants you grew from the Moie Moie seeds you a while back produce berries? One of the plants is from the same original clone,the other is a slightly different strain of moie moie from Cesar,the TPS plants are from the same batch of seed i sent you and are producing truck loads of large berries,i'm not growing to use these but want to keep selecting back to the original clones each year.
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Post by wmontanez on Mar 6, 2014 18:02:33 GMT -5
Richard, if you touch them and they are too hard maybe not ready yet. I think they need to be attached around 4 weeks or so...can't remember. Once the seeds inside are developed the pod soften a bit, similar to a ripe tomato so you know they are ready...they turn really soft and ferments inside... Do not let them shrink and dry once you pick them.
I have done sacks of organza/tulle like fabric (see through) that I tie around the cluster with a name because I had one year too many to be sure I would not lost them once they drop. It proved helpful as 3 fell and since they had the sack I did not confuse their name.
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Post by steev on Mar 6, 2014 21:13:34 GMT -5
Clever.
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Post by trixtrax on Mar 6, 2014 22:05:44 GMT -5
If berries do dry up completely, they can be soaked in water for several weeks to loosen up the flesh from the seed and either processed with waterproof gloves (the smell sticks on your hands forever otherwise) or sent through the blender
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Post by richardw on Mar 7, 2014 3:59:27 GMT -5
Thats a good idea Wendy.
Had one of the berries fall off in my hand today when i was giving it a squeeze,only had 7 seeds inside in an other wise small fruit
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Post by wmontanez on Mar 7, 2014 16:38:07 GMT -5
I have dried up fruit and you can do as trixtrax say.. a bit harder to clean the seeds but anyway doable. if the berry fell you can still leave it in the counter few weeks and if it is developed they will ripen etc the viable seed sinks so once you ferment them and clean them.... the undeveloped seeds float with the debris
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Post by jondear on Mar 7, 2014 21:39:54 GMT -5
Ya mean you not supposed to pick them all up off the ground?
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