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Post by garnetmoth on Sept 21, 2010 9:14:25 GMT -5
Ok, I was enlightened at the swap about a few things- Goji berries have pretty flowers, but dont set well, and are pretty much not worth it in our climate...
I have several seedling Cornus Mas (Cornelian cherry dogwoods) that I am excited about- there is one up the street from me that seems to produce decently in part shade.
Karen also had some serviceberries that arent doing famously either....
so how about Aronia? Raintree has some neat stuff but i know they are a completely different climate. . . . was going to order a few hardy bamboo and some fruits- rugosa rose, raspberry, and...?
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Post by denninmi on Sept 21, 2010 23:34:25 GMT -5
Well, I'm in Michigan, not Ohio, so its a bit cooler here than in Cincinnati.
Aronia is easy to grow, productive, hardy. But, I've found extreme variability in the astringency level of the fruit, depending upon growing conditions. In wet years, the fruit is very juicy and the astringency is a tolerable level, sort of like a "brisk" cup of tea. But, in dry years, it is much more astringent, so much so its virtually inedible. Mine are planted where watering isn't all that practical, could be done, but I don't really need a crop of it every year, since the only thing I've ever done with it is jelly. If it were watered deeply on a regular basis, I think it would ensure an edible crop every year.
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Post by plantsnobin on Sept 22, 2010 9:12:36 GMT -5
Whoops, Kelli, forgot to show you the aronia that was on the other side of the crabapple tree where the gojis are! The aronia does very well here, nice white blooms in spring, sets fruit just fine, though they are indeed astringent. Birds don't even bother with them unless they are starving. Nice fall foliage too, if they have enough water. Last year they were gorgeous, this year they have pretty much already dropped leaves due to the drought.
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Post by garnetmoth on Sept 23, 2010 19:03:27 GMT -5
Thanks so much for your input denninmi and Karen!
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Post by paulien on Nov 14, 2010 17:03:01 GMT -5
Aronia is very hardy, and how about growing Sea buckthorn or Honeyberry or Silverberry. They are all very hardy and the last two are very sweet and delicious to eat. Shisandra is also hardy, so it seems but mine isn't doing well.
My Goji berry isn't very productive either and gets eaten by almost everything that eats plants!
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Post by garnetmoth on Nov 14, 2010 18:40:33 GMT -5
Hi Paulien,
We did find an Aronia on sale, and its planted happily. the fruits are just fine blended with others in a smoothie. Alone, they are quite tart!
I have been interested in Sea buckthorn for sure, but dont think I know anyone is this region growing it. Ive read that the goumi/ eleganus plants are pretty invasive and that has kept me from them. Just looking up Schisandra right now, they are gorgeous! and look like they fruit very well.
Like so many things, I dont know if they will do well in my area, and if they are worth eating!
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Post by plantsnobin on Nov 14, 2010 20:19:49 GMT -5
Kelli, the Scarlet Gem goumi is pretty nice. I like the fruit of it enough to plant it. It isn't supposed to be as invasive as the russian or autumn olive. The sea buckthorn I am considering, don't know if they will be worth fighting the thorns for. I have a schisandra that I planted quite some time ago, maybe 3 or 4 years or so, bloomed for the first time this year, but was hit by a late frost. I need to move my plant to a better spot, I am lucky that it has even survived where I put it. I have honeyberry growing from seed, planted it out but should probably have waited, the drought may have done it in. I am going to order more seeds from Gardens North, for it and a lot of other things as well. She is looking to sell the business, so I am going to go ahead and order everything I think I may ever want now. I should also note about the goji berry-even though it sets fruit what may be too late for this area, I would still grow it just for the late season food source for the bees.
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Post by mjc on Dec 20, 2010 11:24:00 GMT -5
Garnetmoth, if you are interested in rugosa roses, I have a very nice, very hardy one that I can send you a start from (still have one potted up from last spring). It does very well here in the mountains of WV and one of the starts from it ended up near Dayton and is doing very well there, so it should be fine for you. It came from a gentleman who ran a winery (his main product was Melomel, which is actually a mead)...near here. He was from Hungary and it was one of the things he brought with him when he emigrated...around WWII, probably right after.
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coppice
gardener
gardening curmudgeon
Posts: 149
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Post by coppice on Dec 20, 2010 14:07:26 GMT -5
was going to order a few hardy bamboo and some fruits- rugosa rose, raspberry, and...? I just moved. So I have no bamboo anymore. Got mine from bamboo.com. I do have some rugosa seed, From a white I collected out at P-town on cape cod. It was quite wind pruned to a low stature that it quickly outgrew in central NH. Both black and native cane should take here. The rugosa I have (and all running bamboo) needs a stout soil barrier to limit runners. If you want bonsai sized bamboo check back with me in the fall. I have a varegated and a true yasabusa (most dwarf cultivar) I'm in SE-OH |
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Post by mjc on Dec 20, 2010 14:58:22 GMT -5
coppice...same offer for you...if you want a deep pink rugosa, let me know.
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coppice
gardener
gardening curmudgeon
Posts: 149
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Post by coppice on Dec 20, 2010 17:34:52 GMT -5
coppice...same offer for you...if you want a deep pink rugosa, let me know. No, thank you. I've got some white's slumbering for an eventual front yard planting. Two paw paw for the back fence line.Thats about all that'll fit here for landscape plantings. |
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