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Post by michedealseriana on Aug 24, 2011 15:32:55 GMT -5
I grow Strawberry sticks (Chenopodium capitatum) since 2006.
I love this plant. It is beautiful and fruits are tasty and they can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Leafs can be eaten like a summer spinach. Its life cycle is also very short.
For this reason I will select a cultivated variety of this north american plant.
Ideally, features of the new plant could be:
- larger fruits with fewer seeds;
- larger leafs;
- fruits more easy to detach from the plant;
- more productive plants.
I would to know if someone has tried to breed or select any varieties of this wild plant.
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Post by raymondo on Aug 25, 2011 2:54:34 GMT -5
I've only grown it once and enjoyed the leaves. I haven't seen any named varieties nor have I heard of anyone who is working on this plant.
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Post by ottawagardener on Aug 25, 2011 9:15:45 GMT -5
There is a named variety called Faster by Wild Garden Seeds. It was produced for more even germination.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2011 15:04:50 GMT -5
Other plants from the Chenopodium family thrive here, in southern California, but my 3 different seed orders from Ebay never germinated.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Aug 28, 2011 13:57:05 GMT -5
This looks a lot like "American Beauty Bush". Are they related?
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Post by iva on Aug 29, 2011 6:46:43 GMT -5
No, they are not related.
The other, more common name for the plant is Strawberry spinach. I've been growing it for quite a few years as it self seeds in the same spot.
I only let one plant go to seed the first year, it was the plant with the largest, tastiest berries as I don't really eat the leaves. Not that I don't like them, I just never tried them.
So it has been 'selected' growing in my garden, the berries are always big and tasty and fall of quite nicely when they are ripe enough. You just have to tickle them a bit harder and they fall into your palm...
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Post by extremegardener on Aug 31, 2011 13:47:44 GMT -5
Tim Peters (Peters Seed Research ) did some great work with this plant. I have it naturalized in my gardens, and eat both the leaves and the fruits. When they're happy and well fed the fruits can be thumb sized and larger. He had one line that he called Sweeter that was selected for biennial tendencies, drought tolerance, and berry flavor & size. Don't know if it's available any more - Tim sometimes frequents this board, so maybe we can conjure him up...
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Post by 12540dumont on Aug 31, 2011 19:02:14 GMT -5
Michele,
I'm ordering something from Wild Garden Seed for Cesar, so I'll get you Faster....but I would really love the one from Peter. Everything I grow that he touched is wonderful.
Extreme, please, stir the cauldron, I'd love to have Peter to drop in.
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Post by stevil on Jul 13, 2013 11:12:58 GMT -5
I was shown a picture taken in the wild of what looks like Chenopodium capitatum from Colorado. It is 40cm high - do they get that big over there? The times I've grown it it's not been anything like as big...
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Post by ottawagardener on Jul 13, 2013 12:25:32 GMT -5
Maybe it's the habitat where they are grown not sure. I haven't seen them in Colorado. Others? I'm also interested in this project and am hoping to hear back from Tim Peters.
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Post by richardw on Jul 13, 2013 14:54:52 GMT -5
Michele, I'm ordering something from Wild Garden Seed for Cesar, so I'll get you Faster....but I would really love the one from Peter. Everything I grow that he touched is wonderful. Extreme, please, stir the cauldron, I'd love to have Peter to drop in. Oh thats good,ive have to ask Cesar if he's give me some seed. |
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Post by ottawagardener on Jul 14, 2013 15:31:11 GMT -5
I find that stratification (I've wintersown them and they reportedly self sow) improves germination for those that were asking.
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Post by starry on Jul 17, 2013 14:37:20 GMT -5
I am growing some this year beside my Good King Henry. Hopefully it will self seed as I would like to attempt a cross with the Good King Henry in the future.
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