Wonderberry

KarenO · February 16, 2017

I am interested in information on this fruit from anyone who has grown it. I received some seeds and have never heard of it.
Sounds easy to grow, is it worth a try?
KarenO

NarnianGarden · February 16, 2017

Yes, I have grown it a couple of times, and there should be a couple of threads about it here somewhere .. trying to find one.

NarnianGarden · February 16, 2017

The only thread I could find was my own, an old question from three years ago - and I am sure I have since written about my experience.

The taste was OK, and the bush gave me plenty to eat. It was indeed 'wonderful' to see it grow from a tiny seed into a largeish bush during one season!
In fact, I had two plants one year - and did observe some variation. One plant gave me very tasty berries, the other.. meh.
So there might be some genetic segregation going on still. I don't know what else could explain the differences.

KarenO · February 16, 2017

Thank you for the info, start wirh tomatoes as far as timing?
KO

NarnianGarden · February 16, 2017

Yes, timing is about the same as with tomatoes!
I grow all my large stuff in containers, so make sure you have a big bucket for it... It does get large.

KarenO · February 16, 2017

Thank you so Much! I will definitely give it a try. I bet it's pretty blooming too. I'll grow it on the patio for interest
KarenO

NewWestGardener · February 16, 2017

I only had experience with wild ones, self-sown and grown in a climate similar to that of Edmonton. So they can be very hardy. They were edible but not great. They'll self-seed readily once you have them in your yard.

PhilaGardener · February 16, 2017

Try carefully at first. Some folks have reported sensitivities to the fruit, and there seems to be a lot of variability out there.

NarnianGarden · February 17, 2017

I wonder how well they survive a northern winter if they're planted in the ground. Do they come back to life next spring?
Mine all grow like tomatoes, in buckets, so I have no idea.
It's such a novelty experience to be able to sow and grow a plant that gets large enough to have berries in one summer, our usual berry bushes (currants, gooseberries, raspberries..) take so much time and grooming.

NewWestGardener · February 17, 2017

I've seen them grow in a climate with 6 months of winter a year, but as annuals, not perennials. New plants come from seeds, not old stocks.
I also remember when you collect the berries, you'll tear a hole on the skin where the little stems once were, so they have to be eaten right away, they won't keep. Otherwise, you have to cut or tear the whole clusters off with the stems on, not as easy to collect.
Somehow it reminds me of the taste of certain potato berries (yes, from normal potato plants). Not much flavor just edible. I don't think their taste even comes close to currents or gooseberries which I do grow in my garden. That said, I'm only talking about the wild ones I've seen a long time ago, there might be newer better tasting varieties.

NarnianGarden · February 17, 2017

Well, they are relayed to potatoes, so no wonder

Somewhere I have seen recipes for it, especially for jam, and I'm sure that would be delicious (mixed with some lemon juice etc for acidity)... But, mine never stayed so long, they were eaten straight away. I would rate them as good as blackcurrants, but, I have been eating currants all my life, and they're nothing special here, so, new varieties are welcome.

KarenO · February 17, 2017

Sounds like they are definitely worth a trial.
I will post some pics here once they get going
Thanks!
KarenO

NarnianGarden · February 18, 2017

This probably is all familiar, but posting it anyway:
(my seeds are also from this company)
http://lauresgardens.blogspot.fi/201...nderberry.html

KarenO · February 18, 2017

The history is very interesting, thank for posting!
KarenO

February 16, 2017	#1
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Wonderberry I am interested in information on this fruit from anyone who has grown it. I received some seeds and have never heard of it. Sounds easy to grow, is it worth a try? KarenO

February 17, 2017	#10
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	I've seen them grow in a climate with 6 months of winter a year, but as annuals, not perennials. New plants come from seeds, not old stocks. I also remember when you collect the berries, you'll tear a hole on the skin where the little stems once were, so they have to be eaten right away, they won't keep. Otherwise, you have to cut or tear the whole clusters off with the stems on, not as easy to collect. Somehow it reminds me of the taste of certain potato berries (yes, from normal potato plants). Not much flavor just edible. I don't think their taste even comes close to currents or gooseberries which I do grow in my garden. That said, I'm only talking about the wild ones I've seen a long time ago, there might be newer better tasting varieties. Last edited by NewWestGardener; February 17, 2017 at 02:35 PM.

February 16, 2017	#2
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Yes, I have grown it a couple of times, and there should be a couple of threads about it here somewhere .. trying to find one.

February 16, 2017	#8
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Try carefully at first. Some folks have reported sensitivities to the fruit, and there seems to be a lot of variability out there.

February 18, 2017	#13
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	This probably is all familiar, but posting it anyway: (my seeds are also from this company) http://lauresgardens.blogspot.fi/201...nderberry.html