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  • #1

    Blueberry / Gooseberry suggestions

    Hey all
    I've been offered a larger plot at my allotment so am having the chance now to grow some fruit. Wanted your opinions on the best tasting blueberries and possibly gooseberry bush to order (i think id prefer a red gooseberry).
    And what are your thoughts on Tayberries and Loganberrys - worth getting?
    I already have raspberries and strawbs - any other fruit you'd suggest?
    Thanks!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Loganberries and tayberries are to die for! You can't find the fruit in shops normally so definitely grow your own. Honeyberry are good to but you have to be careful on the variety as some are too sharp to eat raw

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    • #3
      Blueberries are acid loving plants so you need to see what the pH of the plot is. If it's between 4 and 5 they'll be ok but it's likely to be higher than that.

      You can grow them in pots or you can build a bed with high acidity using sulphur/iron sulphate/ammonium sulphate to drop the pH and then annually applying sulphur to keep the pH low - use Ericaceous compost either in pots or in a large planting hole to give them a good start. Whether in pots or the ground they should be watered with rain water and not tap water (which is too alkaline)

      Cranberries, Bilberries and lingonberries are all also acid loving berries and can be as ground cover around a blueberry bed.

      I'm just building my blueberry beds - two one meter beds for Bluecrop and Pink Lemonade (darn it i read here) which I plan on underplanting with cranberries.

      For Gooseberries I have Hinnonmaki Red which are lovely and tart when green and lovely and sweet when red.

      I also have Thornless Evergreen blackberries, black currants, red currants, a golden currant waiting to go in, honeyberries (supposedly tastes like blueberries - haven't had a crop yet as they were little twigs when I put them in last year and they flower early. Don't need acidic soil)

      Ask me about the Fushiaberries and Himalayan Honeysuckle next year.

      New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

      �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
      ― Thomas A. Edison

      �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
      ― Thomas A. Edison

      - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

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      • #4
        Another vote for Hinnonmaki red - have the yellow one as well which is also delicious. I leave mine to get really ripe and sweet.

        Tried fusciaberry last year - found the fruit to be watery and insipid. Pretty flowers though.
        Another happy Nutter...

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        • #5
          I've just put 2 honeyberry bushes in my plot, they're supposed to be like blueberry but without the soil issue.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Owamya View Post
            I've just put 2 honeyberry bushes in my plot, they're supposed to be like blueberry but without the soil issue.
            I am in the same position, just waiting to see what they taste like..

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            • #7
              Yet another vote for Hinnomaki Red. I have 2 large bushes and am taking cuttings for more. They are fabulous.

              Personally I would go for tayberries over loganberries. I think tayberries are tastier - at least on our site and in our soil, having had both to compare. Your soil/growing conditions might change your results though. (*hedges bets*)
              http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbia

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              • #8
                Jostaberries - if you like blackcurrants & gooseberries - as they're a cross.
                Fruit is larger than blackcurrants but smaller than goosegogs and the BIG bonus - they're thornless

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                • #9
                  I never knew there were so many different berries.....*amazed face*

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by emarisa28 View Post
                    I never knew there were so many different berries.....*amazed face*
                    Not to mention Chuck Berry, Hallie Berry and Mary Berry - darn it I shouldn't have mentioned them

                    Has anyone mentioned White Currants or Pink Currants yet? There's also grapes and kiwi fruit (winds VC up and lets her go)

                    Have I mentioned the Himalayan Honeysuckle - Flowers are white with red bracts cascading down like chandeliers followed by green then purple/black berries which taste of treacle and chocolate?

                    Problem is you only get a handful of berries ripe at one time and you have to beat the birds to them. They don't store and none of mine kept long enough to get off the plot

                    It's not a climber but grown into a big bush plant.

                    New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                    �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

                    �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

                    - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

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                    • #11
                      How about Worcesterberries? The spiniest bushes created but good to keep intruders out of your plot!
                      As for kiwi fruit - I haven't seen the thug so far this year but its probably pushing its way out from under the concrete as we speak

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                      • #12
                        has anyone tried the red Xenia gooseberry?

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by emarisa28 View Post
                          has anyone tried the red Xenia gooseberry?
                          Is that a cross between Brigitte Nielsen and Lucy Lawless?

                          New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                          �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                          Comment

                          • #14

                            i played safe and went with Hannonmaki Red (not Xenia) gooseberry, and pink lemonade / bluecrop blueberries
                            Thanks y'all!

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by emarisa28 View Post

                              i played safe and went with Hannonmaki Red (not Xenia) gooseberry, and pink lemonade / bluecrop blueberries
                              Thanks y'all!
                              Copycat

                              W1lk0s were selling cranberries to underplant the Blueberries with, £2.50 a plant.
                              Of course you can underplant the Goosegogs with strawberries

                              New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                              �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                              ― Thomas A. Edison

                              �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                              ― Thomas A. Edison

                              - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                              Comment

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