Mine aren't yet in the ground, but... One of the reasons why I'm planting Honeyberry this year is because they are such an early fruit. -Glenn

Glenn: Are you talking about what Raintree is calling Blue Honeysuckle? Would love to hear a first hand report on fruit quality.

Guess I should think about strawberries. Have held back there because I'm not sure about pollination requirements.

The Fruitnut

Strawberries, some currants and sour cherry for me.
Olga

Fruitnut, you wrote:

"Are you talking about what Raintree is calling Blue Honeysuckle? Would love to hear a first hand report on fruit quality."

Well, they are the first true fruit to bear anything here in Michigan, ripening about the same time as the very first strawberries. Rhubarb is, of course, earlier by about 4 weeks, but not technically a fruit.

I personally love them, and could see them becoming a significant commercial crop in some areas. The flavor is almost exactly the same as a blueberry, although quite a bit more sour (the "Honey" in honeyberry is a reference to the fact that it's a Lonicera, a honeysuckle, not to the attributes of the fruit). It's good for both fresh use (out of hand, on cereal, etc.) and for baking/cooking.

I've also found it an easy plant to grow. The only "trouble" with it is that birds, robins in particular, also really like this fruit, and will strip the bush bare at the first sign of ripening. Fortunately, they're not very large bushes, so they're pretty easy to cover.

I don't know how they would do in Texas, given their origins in a very cool, temperate to boreal climate, VERY different from S.W. Texas. It would certainly be interesting to find out.

Fruitnut, given that you're A) in Texas and B) growing all of this stuff in a greenhouse anyway, can't you grow citrus to fill the gap between the first fruits of spring/summer and the last ones of the autumn?

Hi Dennis & Fruitnut-
If memory serves, Honeyberries come from Russia and Siberia. Sounds a bit like blueberries in that the birds will really go for them, so I plan on protecting them in the same ways I protect my blueberries... Perhaps I'll even be able to reuse by netting and stands.

The best place I've found that sells them is www.onegreenworld.com. Go there, search for "Honeyberry", and then click on all the varieties. NAFEX had quite a bit of discussion on honeyberries a few months back, and that's where I got most of my info. Basically people were recommending to go with the later blooming varieties because they bloom so early, that there often arenÂt enough insects out to do the pollination. I believe they like a decent about of shade too. (This all from a person who has not yet planted his, so take it with a grain of salt!)

Someone told me though not to try to compare them directly to blueberries because they might have a bit less flavor... but rather consider them in their own right.

I believe I went with Blue Velvet, Blue Moon, Blue Forest, and Blue Pacific.

I'll let you know in a couple years when I taste 'em!

-Glenn

Thanks guys for the info. Might be worth a try. They certainly have an interesting appearance. Sour doesn't sound so good though.

I do grow citrus, navels and pummelo. About the easiest thing I grow and quality is excellent. But after a while even that gets old.

The Fruitnut

My first thought was citrus? What about papaya or pineapples :) I bet strawberries would do it. I brought my strawberries inside less then a month ago and they have already formed flowers (not opened yet).

You want early peaches? Read what they do in Israel!
http://www.unipa.it/medpeach/proceedings/Israel.pdf
They can get RIPE fruit by March.

Here is a couple of thoughts. What about loquat? Another thought would be Tx. everbearing fig. I would wonder if in a greenhouse either of these two may be able to produce perpetual crops. Lots of other citrus options also. Maybe these fruits are not interesting to you but maybe worth a thought.

Thanks,
Drew

Early and late are a matter of perspective. December can be both early and late depending on your point of view. Quinault strawberries are at their very best in December/January for me. Large, red, plump and insanely tasty. A real treat. I don't have a clue how you would get them to pop sooner (or would that be later?).