Friday 30 December 2011
This is a great place to grow berries - there are hundreds of thousands of acres of them growing wild all around our house. Growing those same berries here in the yard takes a little more diligence, however. My big problem: moose. These 900-pound aphids come into the garden every winter and nibble the berries right down to the snow line. Next summer we'll be putting up a much bigger fence, as the moose are out there right now teaching the young where to go for goodies. My wish that a large bull with a 58-inch rack walks into the garden in mid-September remains unfulfilled.
Summer 2011
Rhubarb - Lots of good production in everything, but the Hog River rhubarbs died in the pots, probably from neglect. The Victorias were much better. I've got a bead on some rhubarb from Skagway that I once saw in a history book - the leaves looked like elephant ears. Our production was great. Isa tried to make some rhubarb wine, which was fine when we tasted it, but turned to foul vapors after we left it in the bottle an additional week. She said she'll try again.
Raspberries - The raspberries ended up under the high tunnel, so I moved them out and created a living fence around the new parameters of the garden, one row deep. That should look great, especially in two or three years. I put down the paper and moved in the bark and wood chips around the plants (about one foot thick). I'm hoping they grow as well there as they did in their former home.
Saskatoons - Again, there was a moose attack at the end of the season. I need to put up a fence for those guys, as well as deal with the soil under the plants. At least they're growing well - now I have to cultivate them well.
Raspberries
The raspberries we planted several years ago in the back yard garden have established themselves well. During the summer of 2010, we collected more than a gallon of raspberries. As part of an experiment, I also put in several wild raspberries in among the commercial varieties, and they haven't seemed to hurt. My hope is that the vigor from the wild variety will mix with the production of the commercial varieties. Either way, something is working. The raspberry canes are very attractive to the moose in the winter, so pruning them back isn't necessary.
Saskatoons
Saskatoons are the Canadian attempt to cultivate the serviceberry, which occurs around here in the wild. I haven't seen any, but according to an old research book about plants of Alaska, some have been collected here. They have grown very well, although the berries attract the robins in the summer and the moose in the winter. This winter I put a net over the saskatoons in an attempt to deter the moose; for all I know, the net was a signal to come in and eat lunch. In any case, next year we'll have to put up a sturdy fence. This is more of a showcase plant than a real food powerhouse - we get a couple of cups of berries every year and beautiful white flowers in the spring.
Strawberries
We've tried strawberries several times here. In each case, we've had trouble with critters. It is annoying to see the berry growing, then coming up to the plant just as the fruit is ripening to see that a vole with a healthy appetite has nibbled the ripe half of the berry. Next year I plan on putting the plant in bags made from burlap or ground cloth, hanging the bags from a pole or fence, and growing them that way. It's worth a try.
Rhubarb
These grow great, and perhaps deserve a page all to themselves. During the summer of 2010 I received a bag of seeds marked "Hog River" from someone - sadly, I can't remember who - and grew them. They did fabulously. I also grew the Victoria variety, which also did very well. I'm going to start looking for other varieties - these are a superior crop for these parts.
Currants
I've planted currants from a commercial supplier, and they have suffered year after year. No berries, but no death, either. Maybe they'd do better in a more favorable location. After all, the moose are hungry in the winter.
Gooseberries
We received a hand-me-down from the UAF berry program which has grown slowly and unproductively. It's been three years, and every year we get a few leaves, no berries, and little growth.
Blueberries, high-bush and low-bush cranberries
Isa goes out every summer and comes back with lots of these tasty wild berries. She freezes some and turns some into fruit leathers. Really good stuff all around, growing in profusion everywhere.
Swedish aronia
This is a bush purchased from Raintree Nursery which should grow in zone one. It's grown pretty well, although the moose just nailed it as I'm writing this. *sigh*
Crab apple
We tried growing a Dolgo crab apple in 2007. We got one beautiful little apple the same year. The next year, it struggled to produce leaves, then died. At least it wasn't eaten by the moose.
Manchurian apricot
In theory, the Manchurian apricot is hardy to -60 degrees. That's the theory.
Grapes
Raintree Nursery offerred a variety of grape called Valiant, supposedly hardy to -50 degrees. It grew really well in the greenhouse, but I planted it in a metal garbage can, and I think that killed it. If there is a next time, I'll find a different spot outside for it to grow.