Isn’t there a way to chemically induce tetraploidy in seedlings and then cross for a seedless/less seedy triploid? Could that work for any of the tasty, but huge seeded fruit above?
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Thanks for the welcome! Yes the gojis have suckered a bit and grown into a nice patch along the fence. I just looked at the plants the other day after I posted and rabbits have chewed them down like every year when theyre dormant. This past season the longest branches were 6ft tall and lean against the fence. Not my favorite tasting fruit, but one of my favorite plants on my acreage.
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I’m looking forward to getting mine in the ground!
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I think that in order to keep them in check size-wise, it’s a good idea to prune them back because the fruit grows on new wood, so the bunnies are doing you a favor! I’ve heard that the fruit tastes like rotting tomatoes, so I was never eager to plant one, but while in a local co-op, they had some dried gojis which I tasted–absolutely fell in love…I have two plants that will be arriving soon! The dehydrator is ready!
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We have Beautyberry Callicarpa Americana, Vaccinium stamineum, my father called them goose berries, never heard it called deer berry. Also Sparkleberry Tree {Vaccinium arboreum}, which has the cinnamon bark on a small twisted tree/bush. Buless or Muscadine, wild black cherry, crabapple, persimmons & prickly pear. About three different types of blackberries, elderberries & a few wild nut trees also. I had a Buffalo berry tree but it died in the hot summer.
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Two suggestions
Elaeagnus x ebbingei
Related to Autumn Olive but said not to be invasive. Evergreen. Berries taste great.
Hackberry
The berries are about 1/4” diameter and almost all seed. What little flesh there is tastes great and is said to be a superfood. Very high in minerals. It is a medium sized tree. I’m trying to keep one as a shrub.
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Sounds very interesting! I’ve only run into disgusting ones and would be very interested in scions from some decent ones! Well at least after I get my seeds grown enough to graft.
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Hackberry doesn’t seem like they ever could reasonably produce enough fruit to make it worthwhile to grow. Or are there ones that are productive?
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There are two that come to mind for me. While not rare, I would consider a Dewberry unusual for most people.
The other, though, is the Hairy Blueberry, Vaccinium hirsutum. I grew up picking these every July 4th. Every year, we would load up in the station wagon and head to the blueberry patch, pick what we could and head back home for the cookout and fireworks. I thought lots of people did the same thing, but I was in college before I realized that hardly anyone knew what I was talking about. Wild blueberries are uncommon in the south, and hairy blueberries are almost unheard of.
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I forrage autumn olive becayse its all over the woods. Wineberry too. Black nightshade is another foragabls
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I found a wild blackberry 2 years ago that had huge fruit. The plant itself grows very thin and fruited at every node. It looked like a string with blackberries attached every 1.5 inch.
The fruit tasted better than any blackberry I’ve ever had. I think it’s still alive, but haven’t checked it for a while.
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I also found an amazing mostly rubra hybrid mulberry in Newport, Ky last year. I have grafted multiple onto white mulberry seedlings this year and will try rooting them as well. The fruit are huge at 1-2 inches long, but most will be around 1.5 inch. It’s very juicy, sweet, and flavorful. My favorite mulberry I’ve tried (only tried wild ones lol).
I will probably send it out to the public in 2-3 years. The name? “Ethan’s mulberry”
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Where? You have to show me your spots.
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My mom planted some years ago… them along with tomatoes and tomatillo takeover any disturbed area nearby where they grew previously…
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i doubt you want to come out to long island LOL. but i can ask my friend about her autumn olive spots in nj, i know she finds a ton
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Interesting… I’ve eaten many wild/native huckleberry and blueberry in the northeast area of Tennessee.. As well as southwest Virginia and western North Carolina.. I do remember some being a bit “hairy”.. I was not aware of these specifics though! Quite interesting…
Oh and Dewberries are great! Have loved those since I was a kid..
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I do absolutely hate driving to Long Island, but I will be making the trip at least once this year. Might as well learn my way around while I’m there.
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If you ever come across any superior-tasting or large-fruited autumn olive, spread the wealth. Share the coordinates anywhere in the tri-state area—I’m there.
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its illegal to propagate here 
but perhaps. i have not been very impressed with any of the ones ive seen, though, i’ll keep an eye out to mark for their uh. removal
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