So why buy a chokeberry? It was really simple. There was another plant that I bought (probably the next blog post) and the plants were cheap but the shipping was $6.99 (plants have to go priority) but the seller had a deal for a second plant shipped for only $ .50. This was my second plant. I just hate to waste a good deal.
So what are chokeberries good for? Well, they produce tart black berries that are good in jams and jellies but I don't need any jams and jellies, however, what they are also supposed to be good for is ....wine! Yeah, I bought it to see if I could get enough berries to make wine with it.
For some great information on chokeberry please see this site. I could tell you the information but have no first hand experience since this will be my first time growing a chokeberry bush.
I want to give the eBay seller credit here. I have bought from them before and have always received great plants. It is pretty hard to send a plant through the USPS and Wellsprings Garden does it really well. I don't know them, I have just bought plants from them.
I am thinking I will plant this in a pot at first. Not sure if I will leave it in the greenhouse (which seems to have a slug or snail problem, plus a few chick (ens) that keep getting loose--you would think they would take care of the slug or snails but I am not sure if they have or not) or if I will leave it in the yard. I am thinking it might need some cold in the winter so it may be best to leave it outside.
Anyway, I will, of course, keep you all posted on its progress.
Hi Becky! I've heard of chokeberries, but don't know if I've ever seen one! Do you have elderberries? They are medicinal, from what I've read. I would love to find some growing on our property. Blessings from Bama!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have elderberries that I know of and I thought I might grow some but I think when I looked them up they needed colder temperatures in the winter than what we get.
DeleteOh, OK. Thanks, Becky, for looking it up! That would go for this area as well.
DeleteMore wine! Not familiar with chokeberries... will have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well, I have been a drinker for a long time. It gets expensive, lol, making my own will be cheaper by a long shot though I haven't learned how to make beer yet.
DeleteI've never seen a chokeberry. Where I grew up choke cherries grew wild. My mom made wine out of them one year. I'm guessing it isn't the same plant though as that isn't the Latin name.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the Latin name for your choke cherries? Maybe I could grow some of those too, lol. I am open to suggestions!
DeletePerhaps yours was this one. This one looks good too. This article says you can eat the fruit of this one.
Deletehttp://www.onlyfoods.net/chokecherry.html
Prunus virginiana
After looking these two up, I see they are in the same family Rosaceae and are almost exactly alike. Probably mistaken for each other as I cannot see much of a difference between them.
DeleteChokeberries produce their fruit in larger clusters, the berries are bigger, and in my experience much denser on the plant. I can spend an hour picking choke cherries (prunus virginiana) and get a small (3 pint?) pail. In half an hour I can pluck 6 quarts of chokeberries (aronia melanocarpa). You will not be disappointed. i have made syrup, jam and jelly, all of which my family liked better than the chokeCHERRY syrup recipes from previous years. I'll never go back. I'm going to try wine this year. We'll see.
ReplyDelete