Planting a Serviceberry

Like the Jostaberry in my last post, I learned about the Serviceberry in my permaculture class. I bought the Regent Saskatoon Serviceberry aka Amelanchier alnifolia ‘Regent’ from EggPlant.

The Serviceberry is also very hardy and good in USDA zones 2-7 and good down to –50F. It should have no trouble with Minnesota winters.

I started by digging a large hole twice as big as the pot and filling it with finished compost. The soil in this part of the yard is very poor and compacted. I am hoping the finished compost will give the bush a good start.

Filled it in with more finished compost and again around the plant to even the ground out.

I sheet mulched with cardboard and a heavy layer of wood chip mulch. The mulch should do a nice job suppressing weeds and holding in the moisture. The cardboard will break down over time adding more organic matter to the soil. I finished up by giving it a long, deep drink of water.

The Serviceberry bloomed the week after I planted it, so I hope that means it is happy in my yard.

Last Raspberries of the Season?

I was out harvesting the seed heads from my garlic chives and noticed the golden raspberries are still producing a few tasty treats. I quickly ate most of them before I remembered to take a photo. These may be the last two golden raspberries of 2014.

Planting Chokeberry Bushes

Last year I planted six cherry bushes. Only two of them survived the winter, so I bought some chokeberry bushes to add some variety to the future hedge. I planted two different kinds. One of them came with 1/2 pound of berries which I am going to turn into a syrup. The berries on the Autumn Magic tasted slightly better than the glossy black.




Glossy Black Chokeberry aka Aronia melaocarpa var. elata. Height: 4-6’, Spread: 4-6’, Hardy to –40F. Full Sun

Autumn Magic Chokeberry aka Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’. Height: 4-6’, Spread: 4-6’, Hardy to –40F. Full sun to part shade.

Planting a new Hardy Kiwi

Last year, I planted two Issai Hardy Kiwis. A few months later one was trampled by some contractors my neighbor hired. I was hopeful it would recover. It didn’t. I bought a new one and planted it. It is much more vigorous than the one I planted last year, so I am hopeful it will survive and thrive.
Issai Hardy Kiki aka Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’. Height: 15-25’, Spread: varies (vine), Hardy to –30F.

Tomato Fruit on my Potato Plant?

Walking through the backyard garden inspecting the different plants I was very surprised to find what looked like small tomatoes laying on the ground especially since I didn’t plant any. They were about an inch across and green just like an unripe cherry tomato. How did they get here?  I was stumped.

Then I found some more. Hmm. These were attached to a plant. Did a bird or a squirrel bring in some seeds? Then I brushed the leaves aside further and discovered they were growing out of the end of my potato plants. The more I looked, the more I found. Did I create some weird tomato-potato hybrid? Potatoes are from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) like tomatoes and peppers, so maybe it was possible. I’ve grown potatoes before, but I’ve never seen this fruit. Time to ask google.

After some quick searching, I found that no, I had not created a mutant plant. In fact potato fruit is common on the yukon gold potatoes I planted. The previous years plantings were a different variety, so no fruit.

The potato fruit is not edible just like the potato plant itself. Both contain large amounts of a poisonous alkaloid called solanine which is what makes some of the nightshade family poisonous. I also learned that the Internet recommends against saving the seeds as they won’t grown true to form. Instead, seed potatoes should be used which is what I had planted.

I love how the garden is always teaching me something new.