When it comes to gardening, nothing has been more popular in the past several years than edibles. While vegetables, fruit trees and herbs have always been hot, new varieties have taken over centre stage. Check out these 8 new and unusual edibles for 2015
Brazelberry Pink Icing Blueberry
One of the newest additions to the Brazelberry lineup is ‘Pink Icing’ Blueberry. It features breathtaking spring and fall foliage colours. Springs new growth has varying shades of pink mixed with blue and deeper greens. In the fall and into winter, in mild climates, Pink icing foliage takes on stunning iridescent turquoise blue hues. Very impressive when planted en masse. It is an excellent blueberry for decorative patio pots or for planting into the landscape. Berries are large, sweet and have a robust blueberry flavor.
Pink Icing prefers to be grown in full sun and moist, but well drained acidic soils. Fertilize each spring with a fruit and berry or rhododendron type fertilizer. This variety produces new canes each spring and fruits on the previous years canes. Once fruiting is complete, prune canes that have fruited leaving new canes to fruit the following season. Annual pruning promotes plant growth and berry production. Grows 3-4ft in height with a mounded, slightly spreading habit.
Brazelberry Blueberry Glaze Blueberry
Blueberry Glaze plants are unlike any other blueberries. They have a small stature and incredibly glossy, dark green leaves. They are similar in appearance to boxwood and can also be sheared as such. White with pink spring flowers beautifully contrast the deep green foliage colour. Small dark blue, almost black berries are present in little bundles in mid-summer. Berries have an intense, almost wild blueberry flavor that is packed with anti-oxidants. Super aromatic too! Blueberry Glaze is an interspecific hybrid that is hardy to Zone 5. Add it to your landscape as an accent planting or prune it into an informal hedge. It is also perfect for patio planting in decorative containers.
Blueberry Glaze prefers full sun in moist, but well drained acidic soil. Fertilize each spring with a fruit and berry or rhododendron type fertilizer. Prune the same way as Pink Icing. Grows 2-3ft tall in a compact, bushy mound.
Aloha Berry Strawberry / Pineberry
Fragaria ‘Aloha Berry’
The Aloha Berry is a strawberry variety with white-skinned fruit and red seeds.Not only is it interesting looking, it tastes and smells like a cross between pineapples and strawberries! It is also known as a ‘Pineberry’. This variety is self-fertile, ever-bearing and produces fruit from June through the summer.
Grow Aloha berries in the full sun in average to moist soils. Available at Art’s Nursery in mid-to late May.
Goji Berry
Goji berries or Wolfberries is the fruit of Lycium barbatum, a plant related to potato, tomato, eggplant and chilli peppers. It is a deciduous, woody, perennial plant that was first cultivated in parts of China up to 600 years ago. More recently discovered in North America by the masses, it has rapidly garnered attention for its nutrient value and anti-oxidant content. Flowers are bright, violet coloured while fruit is bright red an oval in shape. Grows 3-10ft tall and wide. Prefers full sun and moist, but well drained soils. Fertilize in spring before new growth begins. Prune to remove broken of damaged limbs. Extremely cold hardy to zone 3.
Fuyu Persimmon Tree
Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'
Persimmons are deciduous trees that bear large, reddish-yellow fruit with firm sweet flesh. This very ornamental tree has large oval, waxy dark green leaves that fall in autumn exposing attractive edible fruit. Self-fruitful non-astringent variety. Can be eaten fresh – many other varieties require being ripened before eating. Best grown in full sun and moist, but well drained, slightly acidic soil. Grows to 30ft tall and 20ft wide. Harvest in October to November. While hardy in the Pacific Northwest, Persimmons will benefit from some winter protection from cold winds and extreme temperatures.
Ketchup & Fries Plant
An incredible innovation in vegetable growing. Originally from Thompson & Morgan in the UK, this unique grafted vegetable produces cherry tomatoes on top and potatoes underground. Tomatoes for snacking, salads, sauces or ketchup. Potatoes can be baked, boiled, mashed, roasted or cut for chips or fries. All natural, non-GMO. Grow it in a patio container or in your garden.
It is expected to be available at Art’s Nursery in late May or early June depending on its growth rate.
Cathedral Gem Sausage Vine
Holboellia coriacea ‘Cathedral Gem’
This durable easy to grow vine has thick, glossy evergreen foliage (in warmer climates) and abundant clusters of white buds that emerge in late winter. They open to highly perfumed pendulous blossoms of cream to dusky mauve. Large pink sausage like edible fruit are displayed in summer. Ideally suited for an arbor or trellis near pathways, patios or garden entrances so the attractive flowers and intoxicating fragrance can be enjoyed up close. Best grown in full to partial shade. Grows vigorously with stems up to 25ft long. Needs winter protection. Hardy in USDA zones 7-10
Dwarf Pomegranate
Punica granatum ‘Nana’
Dwarf Pomegranates are a showy dense deciduous shrub that displays attractive orange-red single flowers at an early age followed by colourful fruit. Excellent for containers or for use in the garden. A wonderful bonsai plant. Needs full sun and moderate watering. Grows 3ft tall and wide. Needs winter protection in our climate. Treat as a tender tropical, hardy in USDA zones 7-11
As always, call ahead, 604.882.1201, to confirm availability, as our selection is always changing and quantities on some varieties may be limited.