What new fruits are you trying this year?

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on January 13, 2008 at 1:43pm

When I was in southern France a few years ago, we parked on a lookout overlooking a valley between the hilltop villages of Gordes and Roussillon. There were silvery leaved trees waving in the breeze and suddenly I realized these were REAL olive trees, not the Russian Olive trees I'm used to seeing everywhere here in Idaho, a non-native species used for windbreaks. Birds love the fruits, however. Now I am wondering, are the Russian Olive fruits edible? has anybody explored this possibility?

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Permalink Reply by Valerianella on January 16, 2008 at 12:41pm

Is the botanical name of the tree you mean Eleagnus?
If yes, then they are edible, however I never tried them. I think the seed also yields oil, but I am not sure about this.

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Permalink Reply by Maya on January 16, 2008 at 2:25pm

Eleagnus angustifolia (Russian Olive) and Eleagnus umbellata Thunberg (Autumn Olive) are considered invasive species by the US Department of Agriculture because they thrive in poor soils, seed themselves easily, and crowd out native species.
The fruits are edible.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra on February 5, 2008 at 1:37pm

This year we are focusing on adding berries to our fruit production -- we already have a variety of citrus and other trees. So this year we've planted strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Hiestand on January 16, 2008 at 9:23am

I have never tried to use the fruits of the Russion Olive tree. I know birds like them. I also know that once you plant one bush, you don't need to plant another because they sprout readily from bird droppings.

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Permalink Reply by Marilyn Hiestand on January 16, 2008 at 9:26am

I would like to hear from anyone who is growing mulberries. I know the three main varieties-red, black, and white. I am most interested in the taste of the different cultivars. I have native red mulberries which are pretty good tasting. I have planted Illinois Everbearing. If you have experience with others, I would love to read about it.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela on January 16, 2008 at 10:48am

Marilyn,

Mulberries grow around here like weeds! I love the berries but they get no respect in our area!!! I allowed one to grow on our fence line and got our first berries this year! Great jelly, wines/juice and pancake syrup! Pruning is the only maintenance here!

Not sure what type i have (purple/bluish) but would be interested in learning more about Mulberries!

Pamela

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Permalink Reply by Valerianella on January 16, 2008 at 12:36pm

Mulberries grow here like weeds too, my husband just cut down some that were growing wild between the orange trees, however at the borders of our fields there are many growing, white and black. I would be interested in recipes of what to make with them as well.
For eating them fresh we prefer the black variety.
Here in Greece they also make alcoholic drinks from the black mulberries.
By the way dogs love them, ours used to stay for ages under the trees and eat the fallen fruit.
There is also a paper mulberry tree, the bark is used to make paper.

Does anyone know if they are good for drying, we really have lots of them ?

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Permalink Reply by Pamela on January 16, 2008 at 3:19pm

Valeriianella,

Any recipe for blackberries you can substitute Mulberries. Jelly (jam is no good due to texture) is good as well as syrup for waffles/pancakes. Wines or juice is good to.
I'd like to do more with mulberries this year!
Good luck,

Pamela

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn on November 7, 2009 at 1:59am

You can dry the white ones very successfully. Boil black mulberry juice until it looks like syrup or a bit thicker.....very healthy and very delicous.

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Permalink Reply by F. Duane Marcum on February 21, 2008 at 1:03pm

Female mulberry trees are the least respected trees in and around Phoenix, Az. I'm almost positive they are illegal, banned..... none are allowed to grow anywhere in the state. I believe the fly problem the berries created was the main reason for the ban on the female trees.

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Permalink Reply by Kate on January 22, 2008 at 3:49pm

I grow 'white shahtoot' here in Adelaide, Australia. They are sumptuously sweet and have a full, delicious flavour when fully ripe. They look like long, white tassles and the tree doesn't need much water, I have planted mine as an espalier and it is doing really well. I have seen chooks jumping up underneath a friend's tree to get them.

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