Was trying some wild Autumn Olives today. Plenty of variety. One was sweet and not astringent but fruit was sparse. Maybe birds liked it. I’ll go back and try it again and maybe take cuttings if I’m sure I like it.
This red one looks great but the fruit was too astringent.
This orange one was sweet and only slightly astringent.
love that orange one…
I hope you saved seed
I may be a little late to the party, but here’s another observation regarding adstringency appart from the differences btween seedlings/cultivars. I have a huge 5m tall & 6m wide AO that I bought as a seedling. I like the taste enough to eat it raw by handfulls (should I mention I also like apple pettals and spruce shoots? 
- I feel the bitters and enjoy them). I also make jam out of these AOs and will try making thick ketchup this year. I keep about a 3rd on the bush and graze on them. What I’ve noticed is that the adstringency disappears as the temperatures drop closer to 0°C (just like in blackthorn or persimon). While I don’t miss it in persimons, I do in AO.
I have a yellow sweet cultivar bred by Lubera, but I like the seedling a but better. I’ve got some seeds from the yellow one germinating just now, so we’ll see…
Uhm, Can I get the GPS coordinates. I will trade you some AO wine when I make it. Im only about an hour away.
@tana, I wonder if freezing them after picking accomplishes the same.
Likely. But it also kills the texture. I’ve never tried, as I like them as they are.
This bounty would be going into wine maybe jam. Texture wouldnt matter.
Has anyone ever tried to optimize fruit production from AO? Are there any known factors that affect fruit set?
Has anyone grafted multiple varieties together making a Frankenbush?
I forage them on long island. Theyre everywhere along with wine berries. Not my favorite but eh, im an ardent invasice battler
Production is high on both wild and cultivated that I have seen. Doesn’t matter for mine since birds eat them all before fully ripe.
I was hoping to forage some and try to make fruit leather. Unfortunately the several bushes i was watching failed to set fruit this year. I would would imagine its cultivated for a crop somewhere and there would be techniques to boost/ensure the crop.
I dont know where or what to search for to find this information.
Here are some domesticated types
https://www.burntridgenursery.com/mobile/Autumn-Olive-Bushes/products/39/
You might like this thread
Yeah i agree with this sentiment. They are an ok foragable but they are reall so invasive. And their taste is not so good that they are really like justifyable imo.
And “i never saw it spread on my property” doesnt really clear it. Birds take the seeds miles.
Unless you are in a supremely arid environment i wouldnt do it
I’m just going to say it…
this Amber cultivar is way tastier than Goumi and less astringent.
