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Alternative fruits

Although we are only going to look at the uncommon fruits that can be grown here, we would also strongly recommend that you grow a range of the more traditional crops. In fact you would be well advised to make sure that have planted at least some of the well known fruits before you even begin to consider some of the unusuals in this leaflet.

So what are the fruits that we will not be looking at? Tree crops such as apples, pears, cherries and plums are discussed in all the many good books on fruit growing, as are the soft fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, red, white and blackcurrants, gooseberries, blueberries and strawberries. There are also several other fruits that are on the edge of their climatic tolerance here, but are none the less dealt with in most good books. These include grapes, figs, peaches and nectarines.

Having eliminated just about all the temperate zone fruits that most people are aware of, what is there left to talk about? A great deal, as I think you will agree after reading this leaflet. All of the fruits we will be looking at here are, in general, of easy cultivation. Unless it says otherwise, they will be hardy in virtually all of Britain, will succeed in most soils of reasonable fertility and will fruit best when grown in a sunny position, though will also do tolerably well in semi-shade. Almost all of them are trees or shrubs and so, with careful planning, it will be possible to grow various other crops with them in order to get better yields from the land and also to conserve and even improve fertility. See our leaflet called Why Perennials for more details on this.

Most of the plants mentioned in this leaflet will not have been selectively bred for heavier yields, or for flavour. None the less I think you will find that on the whole they will yield well, if not excellently, and, although individual tastes differ, I am sure that you will find at least some of the fruits mentioned here to be absolutely delicious. Another benefit of most of the plants mentioned here is that they are in general very hardy creatures and are less susceptible to pests and diseases. One of the problems in the past of selective breeding has been that, as we have selected for flavour and yield, so we have also unwittingly selected for plants that are less resistant to pests and diseases, and are also less tolerant of climatic extremes. Many of the plants mentioned below are much tougher creatures and will survive and fruit bountifully with very little attention from the grower.

The list of plants mentioned below is by no means exhaustive, but it does represent some of our more favourite fruits. I hope you enjoy growing and eating some of them.

Actinidia species.

All members of this genus of climbing plants produce edible fruits, though they do not all do well in Britain. The best known species is A. deliciosa, the Kiwi Fruit. This is widely sold in British greengrocers, though not many people realize it can be grown here successfully, at least in the warmer parts of the country. If you want fruit that you can pick then you will need to prune the plants to keep them small - if left unpruned they will romp away and can grow to the top of trees 20 metres or more tall! There are two main difficulties with this crop. The first is that, although the dormant plants are quite cold-hardy, the young shoots in spring are very susceptible to frost damage. It is therefore best to grow them on a westerly aspect so that they are protected from the morning sun but still get plenty of warm sunshine. The second problem is that plants are usually either male or female, so you need to grow at least one male plant for every 4 - 5 females in order to get fruit. There are some cultivars that do not need a male for fertilization, though these are said to have inferior fruits. When grown from seed, the vast majority of seedlings are male, so it is best to buy named varieties. Heywood is the female form that is most commonly offered, though others can sometimes be found. Tomuri is said to be a good pollinator.

Of the other species, probably the best to try in this country is A. arguta, the Tara Vine. This is even hardier than the Kiwi, its fruit is rather smaller but this is not covered with hairs and so can be eaten without peeling.

Amelanchier species.

This is one of my favourite mid-summer fruits. Although called Juneberries, the fruit actually ripens around the middle of July. This fruit is a bit smaller than blackcurrants, is sweet and juicy and has a definite flavour of apples. The main problem with this plant is that it is also a favourite fruit of the birds and so there is a bit of a race as to who gets there first. If you want to eat the fully ripe fruit then you will probably have to use some netting or other protective device. There are many species to choose from, my favourites include:-

• A. alnifolia. This is a shrub that rarely grows more than 2 - 3 metres tall in this country and so is relatively easy to protect from the birds. It produces the sweetest and juiciest Juneberries that I have eaten. Once established, this plant will often produce suckers and can in time form thickets.
• A. alnifolia semiintegrifolia is a very similar plant to the above, but with smaller fruits that ripen a week or two later.
• A. laevis is a somewhat taller species that can reach 9 metres in height.
• A. lamarckii grows up to 6 metres tall.
• A. stolonifera. This is a relatively low-growing shrub, often no more than 2 metres tall. It can sucker quite freely, though only forms a slowly expanding clump. A very tasty fruit, vying with A. alnifolia as my favourite in the genus.

Arbutus unedo

The Strawberry Tree is a delightful evergreen for the garden. The species can grow up to 9 metres tall, though there are cultivars that rarely go above 2 metres. The plant produces beautiful lily-of-the-valley type flowers in late autumn and is particularly eye-catching at this time since it is also ripening the fruit from the previous year's flowering. These fruits do look rather like a strawberry, especially from a distance, but unfortunately do not taste like strawberries. Indeed, many people find them quite bland and the latin name unedo means "I eat one [only]" suggesting that they are not a worthwhile food. However, I find them sweet and tasty, though they do have a rather gritty texture. But when you are getting a succulent fruit in November and December you can forgive it a little grittiness. This plant does not do well in the colder parts of the country. It is surprisingly wind-tolerant, however, and grows well near the coast. If you want a dwarf variety, then look out for Compacta, Elfin King or Rubra. (See our Plant Portrait about the plant for more details.)

Berberis species.

All members of this genus have edible fruits, though they tend to be rather acid in flavour and have rather too many seeds. Our native B. vulgaris used to be cultivated for its fruit, which ripens in late summer. There was a seedless cultivar, though I do not know if this is still in cultivation (if you know more, then please drop me a line). A deciduous shrub, it grows well in hedgerows, though it is considered a pest in cereal-growing areas because it is an alternate host for a disease of cereals.

My favourite member of the genus is B. darwinii. This evergreen shrub can grow to 3 or 4 metres tall and makes an excellent wind-resistant hedge, succeeding even in maritime areas. The fruit ripens in July-August and is adored by the birds. At first it is very acid, but if allowed to fully ripen it loses most of this acidity and has a lovely flavour.

Cornus species.

There are some wonderful fruits in this genus. C. masi, the Cornelian Cherry is a deciduous shrub that can reach 5 metres or more in height. It produces yellow flowers in midwinter and is particularly attractive at this time. The fruit ripens in late summer and needs to be fully ripe or it is very astringent. There is quite a degree of variability in size and quality of fruit, there used to be special cultivars that were cultivated, but I do not know if these still exist. The very best fruits I have eaten of this species were more than 2cm long and 1.5cm wide, they were lovely and juicy without a hint of astringency. This species can also be grown as a hedge and is quite wind tolerant.

C. kousa, the Japanese Dogwood, is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall. It ripens its fruit in late summer, these are the size of very large strawberries and have a succulent flesh with an exquisite flavour. The skin is fairly soft and can be eaten with the fruit, but it does have a decidedly bitter flavour. What I do is to bite a small hole in the skin and then suck out the flesh. It is really like a luscious tropical fruit. The form most often found in gardens is C. kousa chinensis, this is said to grow and fruit better than the species, though I have not really noticed much difference.

Crataegus species.

Hawthorns are one of the very best fruiting genera for temperate areas. I will not go into details here because the leaflet Crataegus species - the Hawthorns deals exclusively with these plants. There are many species with delicious fruits, in particular we recommend the following. In general the fruit is about the size of cherries and ripens in late summer:-

• C. arnoldiana. A tree to 7 metres tall, the fruit is juicy and sweet.
• C. baroussana. A shrub to about 2 metres, the fruit is not quite as nice as the species above. This plant is probably only hardy in southern England.
• C. douglasii. Growing up to 9 metres tall, the fruit is similar to C. arnoldiana.
• C. ellwangeriana. Up to 6 metres tall, with very similar fruit to C. arnoldiana.
• C. festiva. Growing 3 - 4 metres tall, the fruit is one of the best in the genus.
• C. pensylvanica. A tall shrub to 9 metres tall, it always seems to produce heavy crops of very tasty fruits.
• C. schraderiana. A tree to 6 metres tall, this is one of my favourite fruits. When fully ripe it almost literally melts in the mouth.
• C. tanacetifolia. Growing up to 10 metres tall, the fruit is yellow in colour and rather like a very rich apple in flavour.

Diospyros species.

A genus of deciduous trees, the true Persimmon, D. kaki, is not a reliable fruiter in this country, which is a shame since it is one of the most exquisite fruits it is possible to eat. However, the following species produce similar tasting, if much smaller, fruits:-

• D. lotus. The DATE PLUM grows up to 9 metres tall. The fruit does not often ripen on the tree, but if you either leave it on the ground when it falls in October, or harvest it and store it in a cool place such as a garage, it will continue to ripen. Don't eat it until it is squidgy-soft or it will be harsh and astringent.
• D. virginiana. The AMerican Persimmon can make a massive tree in its native range, though it seldom grows larger than 10 metres in this country. The fruit can be 2cm or more in diameter and is harvested and used in the same way as D. lotus.

Elaeagnus species.

These are dealt with in detail in our leaflet Elaeagnus x ebbingei - a plant for all reasons. If you want to harvest a fresh fruit from your garden in April, then this is the plant for you! The following species are especially recommended:-

• E. cordifolia. A shrub growing to about 4 metres tall and wide, it is probably not hardy in the colder areas of the country. This produces the largest and earliest fruits.
• E. macrophylla. Grows about 3 metres tall and wide. Not hardy in the colder areas of the country. Selected cultivars have very good-sized fruits.
• E. x ebbingei. A very common hedging plant, it can crop prolificly when given suitable conditions.

Fuchsia species.

A genus of deciduous shrubs, though most of them are not very hardy and act more as herbaceous perennials in all but the mildest areas of the country. Fuchsia are commonly grown ornamentals, all of them produce edible fruits, though these often have a less than desirable aftertaste. My favourite is F. splendens - but this is rather tender and will only succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. It grows best in a shady position and does well even on a north-facing wall. It will succeed in full sun but can look rather burnt in such a position. The fruit is about the size and shape of a baby's finger, it is soft and juicy with a very pleasant slightly acid flavour. If you cannot grow this plant in your area then there are many other hardier forms available. The best thing to do is to try some fruits from plants that you or your friends might already be growing. If you cannot find any you like, try getting hold of the cultivars Tresco or Globosa.

Gaultheria shallon.

An evergreen shrub to about 1.2 metres tall, it grows well in dappled woodland shade. The Shallon requires an acid soil, producing its fruit in the latter half of summer. This is about the size of a blackcurrant, it is pleasantly juicy though does not have a strong flavour. If a strong flavour is what you want, then its diminutive relate, G. procumbens might be the plant for you. Another plant for an acid soil and the dappled shade of woodland, it grows only 15cm tall and makes a good ground cover. The fruit ripens over a long period, I have eaten fruits from late summer round to late winter. These fruits are about the size of a large blackcurrant and have a very distinctive flavour that strongly resembles the germolene of hospital waiting rooms! Surprisingly there are a number of people who really like this fruit, I find it acceptable in small doses and it certainly leaves the mouth feeling clean and fresh.

Hippophae salicifolia.

The Willow-Leaved Sea Buckthorn is a vigorous large deciduous shrub that suckers freely and so is not suitable for places where space is at a premium. A light-demanding species, it will not fruit well in the shade. A bacteria that lives on the roots fixes atmospheric nitrogen, so this is a plant that helps to fertilize the soil and to feed neighbouring plants. The fruit is only about 5mm in diameter and has a sharp lemon flavour. It cannot be eaten raw in any quantity, but makes an excellent juice, syrup or jam. Recent research has shown that this plant produces the most nutritious fruit yet discovered in temperate zones, regular use can prevent cancer whilst large quantities have been shown to reverse the growth of cancer tumours. The fruit ripens in September and hangs well on the plant - we have picked it as late as early February. (See our Plant Portrait about the plant for more details.)

Morus nigra.

The Black Mulberry is fairly well known, but is all too rarely grown for its fruit. A deciduous tree, it can reach 10 metres in height but is usually smaller. The fruit ripens in late summer, it looks rather like a large raspberry, is very juicy and has a refreshing acid flavour.

Myrtus ugni.

You are going to have to live in a very mild area of the country to enjoy this fruit, but it is one of my very favourites. An evergreen shrub, it grows about 2 metres tall and wide and is reasonably wind-resistant. The fruit, which is a bit smaller than a blackcurrant, has a delicious aromatic flavour that has been described as a cross between a wild strawberry and a guava. In fact no words can do justice to this fruit - you have to eat it to believe it. To me it is just ambrosia.

Physalis peruviana.

The Goldenberry is another plant for the milder areas of the country. An evergreen shrub in its native tropical environment, the leaves and shoots will be killed by the first serious frosts of autumn. However, the plant can be grown as an annual in much the same way as tomatoes, and in the milder areas of the country the roots will often survive the winter and send out new shoots in late spring. Applying a good mulch in the autumn will help here. The fruit is produced in its own paper bag, just like the Chinese lanterns to which it is related. When the fruit is fully ripe, these bags tun brown and dry. The fruit is golden yellow in colour, it is about 25mm in diameter, though it can vary considerably. It is somewhat tomato-like in flavour and appearance, though the taste is much richer with a hint of tropical luxuriance. The fruit starts to ripen in mid to late summer, late-ripening fruits can be stored in their bags for up to three months.

Rosa rugosa.

The Ramanas Rose is a fairly common hedge plant in Britain. A fast-growing and vigorously suckering deciduous shrub, it grows up to 2 metres tall. It is very tolerant of maritime exposure and of poor sandy soils. The fruit ripens from mid to late summer, it is deliciously sweet and has a very rich flavour. A rather fiddly fruit to eat, however, because there is only a fairly thin layer of fruit over a centre comprised of many seeds. It is important not to eat these seeds since they have small hairs on them and these can act as gastric irritants.

Rubus species.

There are many members of this genus that are used for food. You probably already know blackberries, raspberries, loganberries and some of the many hybrid berries such as sunberries. There are a couple of less well-known species that I would like to mention here. R. nepalensis, the Nepalese Raspberry, is a very low- growing evergreen shrub that makes an excellent ground cover. The plants seldom get taller than 20cm, but instead send out fairly vigorous ground-hugging stems that root at intervals as they scramble across the ground. Although the books say that the plant is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, it is growing and fruiting at Cambridge Botanic gardens, which gets quite cold winters. The fruit is produced in mid to late summer. It is about two thirds the size of conventional raspberries and has a very nice acid flavour.

Another member of this genus that I particularly like is R. phoenicolasius, the Japanese Wineberry. A deciduous shrub, it can grow up to 3 metres tall. It has biennial stems in the same way as other raspberries, new stems being produced each year that flower in their second year and then die. The orange fruit is about 10mm in diameter and is produced in late summer. It is very juicy and has a very nice raspberry flavour. One very useful aspect of this fruit is that the plant very conveniently wraps up each developing fruit in the calyx of the flower, only unwrapping it as the fruit ripens. This does mean that the fruit is almost always maggot-free.

Taxus baccata.

The Yew is a very slow-growing evergreen tree, it can eventually reach 15 metres in height though there are many smaller cultivars available. A very tolerant plant, growing in acid or alkaline conditions, in sun or shade (fruiting well even in fairly dense shade) and in windy positions. All parts of the plant are very toxic, except the sweet and juicy fruit. This ripens from late summer through the autumn. Most people who are willing to try this fruit find it delicious, though some are put off by its texture which is rather mucilaginous (or snotty to put it more bluntly). Be careful not to bite into the seed when eating this fruit - it is best to spit this out though it will do no harm if you swallow it whole. If you should accidentally bite into the seed (and you will immediately know by the bitter flavour in your mouth), then you should straight away spit it out to avoid any possibility of poisoning. If this worries you, then I should say that my 2 year old son adores this fruit and eats it in quantity. I always make sure that he spits out the seed before I give him another fruit and he has never yet bitten into any seeds.

For more details on the nutritional properties of fruits see our leaflet Fruit - Food of the Gods

Database

The database has more details on these plants: Actinidia arguta, Actinidia arguta cordifolia, Actinidia arguta rufa, Amelanchier alnifolia, Amelanchier alnifolia cusickii, Amelanchier alnifolia semiintegrifolia, Amelanchier laevis, Amelanchier lamarckii, Amelanchier stolonifera, Arbutus unedo, Berberis darwinii, Berberis vulgaris, Cornus kousa, Cornus kousa chinensis, Cornus mas, Crataegus arnoldiana, Crataegus baroussana, Crataegus douglasii, Crataegus ellwangeriana, Crataegus festiva, Crataegus pensylvanica, Crataegus tanacetifolia, Diospyros kaki, Diospyros lotus, Diospyros virginiana, Elaeagnus cordifolia, Elaeagnus macrophylla, Elaeagnus x ebbingei, Fuchsia splendens, Gaultheria procumbens, Gaultheria shallon, Hippophae salicifolia, Morus nigra, Myrtus ugni, Physalis peruviana, Rosa rugosa, Rubus nepalensis, Rubus phoenicolasius, Taxus baccata.

Readers Comments

Alternative fruits

John Mon Jun 25 17:31:40 2001

I have long been an avid gardener, focusing on the use of native plants rather than ornamental varieties. I am also an experienced outdoorsman with a wide range of survival skills, including the use of edible plants and insects. You mentioned the fruit of Taxus baccata as being edible, but every written resource I have come across treats all parts of this plant as extremely poisonous. I currently collect 47 indigenous edible fungi and plants and would not mind adding yew berries to my repertoire. But first, of course, I need to do further research on the subject. Can you point me in the right direction? My e-mail address is NakedmanJG@yahoo.com. Thank-you, John.

Alternative fruits

Rich Thu Jun 28 17:34:43 2001

Apparently its only the seeds of the plants which are poisionious the fleshy parts of the fruit are fine. Our database entry says

All parts of the plant, except the flesh of the fruit, are highly poisonous, having a paralyzing affect on the heart.

When eating the fruit you should spit out the large seed found in the fruit's centre. Should you swallow the whole seed it will just pass straight through you without harm. If it is bitten into, however, you will notice a very bitter flavour and the seed should immediately be spat out or it could cause some problems.

Alternative fruits

Ivan Viehoff Fri Feb 15 14:03:33 2002

Some further unusual fruits, which may be a bit marginal here.

The feijoa (alias pineapple guava) (Acca Sellowiana) is a shrub increasingly available in UK nurseries. I think it is sold more for its exotic flowers. It is not fully hardy here, so needs a bit of care to survive the winter. I do not know if you can get the fruit to ripen, though I want to have a go. They are grown commercially in Wairarapa in New Zealand, which is a good wine-growing area, ie, rather warmer than here. The fruit is green and round, about the size of a plum. The texture is soft and gritty, with a hint of lemon grass toiletries which not everyone likes. Though originally from Argentina, I never found the fruit in markets there. The only other place I have seen the fruit on sale is in Israel.

North American pawpaw (Asimina Triloba)is a small tree, available from few suppliers here. You need to cross-pollinate two different cultivars, and that may reduce the number of UK suppliers to one. It won't fruit in New Zealand, because the local insects aren't up to it. US sources suggest that it takes about 8 years to get a crop. It has to be planted out in its first year, and the tree needs shade for the first year, a common trick is to put an open-top container around it. It is also inclined to have a strange dormancy for a few months in the spring when young. However once established, they are said to require little attention. It is a relation of the cherimoya (custard apple) and the fruit (up to 300g in perfect conditions) sounds delicious. It grows fine around Chicago, where the winters are very cold, but the summers are hot. Since it is a late ripener, I wonder if we would get ripe fruit here.

Asian pears (Pyrus Pyrifolia) are a treat for me from the shops. It is hard to buy a tree here, though I think they should grow. I ordered one from Keepers Nursery, but they had to give me my money back when the grafts failed. But I've found one now. I have planted it next to a common pear, which I am told will cross-pollinate it. It fruits over a long period, so hopefully any reasonable pollinator will be sufficient. I saw a splendidly vigorous tree growing in a garden in Motueka, in the north of NZ South Island. It was heavily laden in only its third year, and already looked like a mature tree. This tree had three varieties grafted on, a clever trick they seem I have heard about but never seen in this country. Of course, they are grown commercially for export around there, so the gardener had no difficulty finding the material.

And a mystery. One autumn I was in Valdivia, a coastal town near the Chilean Lake District. I was given some small fruits off a vine growing wild. They were had a lot of seeds, but the flesh was very sweet and soft, tasting of custard. I am pretty sure it was Lapageria Rosea, or copihue, the Chilean national flower. It makes me wonder if anyone has ever tried to select a variety for the fruit quality. I am interested in growing it for its flowers alone, though I haven't found one yet. Valdivia's climate is slightly warmer than anywhere here, though it can snow in the winter, and well to the south of Chile's southernmost vineyards. It is the same area where you find the chilean cranberry (Ugni Molinae alias Myrtus Ugni, locally known as murta), another fruit I am looking forward to growing.

Alternative fruits

Leda Meredith Tue Nov 5 15:48:15 2002

I can vouch for the fact that the fleshy part of Yew (Taxus) fruit is edible. As far as I know, all other parts of the plants, including the large single seeds are poisonous. Not a major food source, I'd say, but the large seeds are easy to spit out and the fleshy part is mildly sweet and juicy--a good trail nibble.

Alternative fruits

Tue Aug 5 13:47:31 2003

do you know of the northern crabbapple?

Alternative fruits

Mon Sep 27 17:11:07 2004

Wondering whether Cornus kousa and Cornus mas are graft compatible? namtoo@yahoo.com / zone 6

Alternative Fruit Crops

Dan Brinkman Thu Oct 6 2005

Pawpaws truly are a wonderful part of Creation. They can be found in a few wild spots near Windsor, Chatham, London, and Hamilton if you are willing to take a look around off the beaten path. The flavour is one of a kind, incorporating elements of bananas, pineapple, and even custard, hence its other names as the custard apple, michigan banana, and poor man's banana. It certainly could be found in areas south of the border in the United States, the whereabouts are likely found in a good field guide. It is also currently being investigated as a possible treatment for breast cancer. You can have it all with the pawpaw, good looks (its a gorgeous tree, especially in the fall!), taste, health (a major source of essential micronutrients and more) and even possible medicinal value. medicinal p

Alternative Fruit Crops

Visionaerie Sun Mar 5 2006

We've grown various berries and fruits over the years, and the currants have seemed to be the most productive. Last year we actually had black, red, and clove currants growing at the same time. But the birds ate the clove ones before we had a chance to sample them! I'm also growing a kiwi vine, and a schizandra vine. That one had a few tiny clusters of berries once, but nothing significant. My favorite berry, taste-wise, is the black chokeberry. I've had a few of those bushes, and almost ate all the berries off before planting one! At present I am seeking a vigorous berry ground cover, so any suggestions are much appreciated. I live in Zone 5A. This site and you guys rule!

Alternative Fruit Crops

jo Sun Mar 19 2006

looking for a supplier of seeds or plants for schizandra and kudzu in the UK or London area? ANy ideas? Thanks jo take_out_the_first_words_jwizno2002@hotmail.com if you have any ideas this is a great site

Alternative Fruit Crops

rtdrury Fri Apr 7 2006

Is there a source for more info on selection history for each variety? You stated these are not selected for heavier yields or for flavor but I'm still very curious about their selection histories. It would be real nice to see for each variety the original variety used in the selection and the selection goals.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Vix2000 Thu May 11 2006

I have a pheasant berry plant (Himalayan Honeysuckle) in my garden. I have found some sources that say the fruit is edible; but would like some reassurance :) It is a vigorous grower, with lovely pagoda style flowers, producing lush and squidgy (when ripe) mauve berries. I have tried a few and they are a bit gritty but have a super burnt sugar / toffee taste. Any info? Thanks

Alternative Fruit Crops

James Sat Jun 17 2006

Just to let people know there are many seeds/plants available on www.ebay.com/co.uk/nz/au ect

Alternative Fruit Crops

Felicity Carne Fri Aug 25 2006

Any ideas for recipes for wild pears ? felicity.caren@bexley.gov.uk

Alternative Fruit Crops

Patrick , in Santa Cruz Sat Sep 9 2006

In response to the note on Himalayan Honeysuckle, if you are speaking about Lycesteria I've grown it and eaten the fruits many times without incidence and so have many of the birds that visit my garden.It is a very attractive plant in both flower and fruit,the flavor of the fruit is rather toffeelike with tones of chocolate. I would'nt base my diet on it but it definitly adds another flavor to my garden

Alternative Fruit Crops

Rachel Fri Sep 22 2006

I am looking to buy a feijoa (acca sellowiana) in the UK. Does anyone know of any stockists of good plants? Also, I would prefer a grafted plant so that it will hopefully fruit earlier. I do hope it fruits as it is my absolute favourite fruit. I live in London and we hardly get a frost. In New Zealand we had a huge feijoa tree and we got frosts constantly in the winter. Email racheloulangdon@yahoo.com.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Ken Fern Sat Sep 23 2006

With Global Warming seeming to become a greater reality, Feijoa is a plant that would very well have a fruitful future in Britain - I have seen it with a small crop at Kew Gardens on a few occasions. If you want to give it a try, it would be best to obtain a named variety - there are a number of them available in Britain nowadays. Two that come to mind are 'Apollo' and 'Mammoth', both of which have potential in Britain. To find out where your nearest suppliers are, visit the Plant Finder at http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Ken Fern Sat Sep 23 2006

With Global Warming seeming to become a greater reality, Feijoa is a plant that could very well have a fruitful future in Britain - I have seen it with a small crop at Kew Gardens on a few occasions. If you want to give it a try, it would be best to obtain a named variety - there are a number of them available in Britain nowadays. Two that come to mind are 'Apollo' and 'Mammoth', both of which have potential in Britain. To find out where your nearest suppliers are, visit the Plant Finder at http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Neville Sat Oct 7 2006

Does anyone know if Cherimoya (Custard Apple) can be grown in the UK? Does anyone know of a UK stockist?

Alternative Fruit Crops

Cecilia Mon Oct 23 2006

Ken Fern! I was delighted and impressed to see your name here, on such a relatively recent posting. Your book is amazing and inspiring. Thank you for writing it! I live in Melbourne, Australia. What Global Warming is doing to us here, is giving us southern Australia's worst drought on record, so I am trying to grow food plants with low water requirements (not easy!) Incidentally feijoas grow like weeds around here, in suburban home gardens, but it's impossible to source a Damson plum tree! I wish there was an Australian "Plant Finder"...

Alternative Fruit Crops

Rebecca Parkin Wed Jan 17 2007

Hi, have you got any info re mahonia berries, I believe these are edible, I have tried them before, as I heard they were & they were ok, slightly tangy in flavour, Rebecca, Leicester,UK

Alternative Fruit Crops

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future Sat Jan 20 2007

The fruits of all Mahonias are edible (as indeed are all the fruits of the closely related Barberries). The tastiest fruits are juicy with an acid flavour and a hint of bitterness, though several species are dry and bitter. There also tends to be more seed than fruit. I quite like the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolia, M. repens and M. nervosa). Mahonia confusa, if you can get hold of it, is also quite pleasant and the various cultivars of Mahonia x media such as 'Charity', 'Charity's Sister' and 'Lionel Fortescue' can be quite reasonable (though are often quite bitter). If you would like more information on the Mahonias, then just type in Mahonia on the database search form.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Augustus Harris Thu Mar 1 2007

pouteria suavis. I would appreciate some feedback on this fruiting tree. According to records in Dominica this plant was planted between 1891 - 1920 and was considered to be a potential economic plant for the future. THAT Plant originated from Uraguay. What is the common name and where can it be found?

Alternative Fruit Crops

Cathy McNab Fri Jun 22 2007

For edible feijoa's you have to wait until they drop on the ground. Sometimes if you bag them up with a ripe apple or pumpkin they will also ripen.

Alternative Fruit Crops

Phil Renouf Thu Aug 9 2007

I have eaten Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) in New Zealand and have a fifteen year old plant in my garden in Jersey which fruits regularly but I am never there to see it ripen. I have been told that Feijoa are cropped commercially in Italy. Initial enquiries led me to believe that cross pollination was required but our plant in Jersey apparently sets its own fruit as I am not aware of any Feijoa growing nearby.

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