Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[R2elk]

The flowers actually look like Malva Zebrina. They are prolific self seeders. They a gorgeous.

I haven't tried choke cherries ever. What do they taste like? Do you do anything other than just eat them?

Its been a long time since I sowed the first packet of seeds so I may have the names backwards. They truly are prolific self seeders as are the Johnny Jump Ups that are also trying to take over the garden.

Chokecherries will make your mouth pucker and feel dry. The black chokecherries make superb jelly, syrup or wine.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Its been a long time since I sowed the first packet of seeds so I may have the names backwards. They truly are prolific self seeders as are the Johnny Jump Ups that are also trying to take over the garden.

Chokecherries will make your mouth pucker and feel dry. The black chokecherries make superb jelly, syrup or wine.

I'm a big fan of flowers planting themselves. I used to have jump ups but they have all disappeared in the last few years. I miss them.

 

[sharron]

The chokecherries are ripe.

The hollyhocks are trying to take over the garden.

oh, wow those i don't have but would like to. both

 

[sharron]

Your choke cherries are yellow, here they are red.

here, black, years ago i found a grove of them and was afraid to try them cause i didn't know what they were, still not 100 percent sure

 

[sharron]

The flowers actually look like Malva Zebrina. They are prolific self seeders. They a gorgeous.

I haven't tried choke cherries ever. What do they taste like? Do you do anything other than just eat them?

x2 ?

 

[lazy gardener]

Black here as well. As kids, we used to dare each other to eat them. I bet they do make a nice jam, but I've never tried it, as I'm sure you would have to use so much sugar, it'd make me feel guilty to eat the stuff! OH, choke cherries are truly a gastronomic experience. You've not truly lived until you've stuck one in your mouth and chewed on it a bit!

There are some berry trees/bushes cropping up around the property that bear a black berry, similar in size to choke cherry, has 2 - 3 fairly large seeds. The berries are borne individually and spread out across the whole tree. Clear flesh, a bit of sweetness. I have no idea what they are. Birds seem to not be eating them, but hawks have decimated a lot of the song bird population in my yard. I've only tasted b/c I don't know what they are, and don't want to take my experimentation any further.

 

[R2elk]

Black here as well. As kids, we used to dare each other to eat them. I bet they do make a nice jam, but I've never tried it, as I'm sure you would have to use so much sugar, it'd make me feel guilty to eat the stuff! OH, choke cherries are truly a gastronomic experience. You've not truly lived until you've stuck one in your mouth and chewed on it a bit!

There are some berry trees/bushes cropping up around the property that bear a black berry, similar in size to choke cherry, has 2 - 3 fairly large seeds. The berries are borne individually and spread out across the whole tree. Clear flesh, a bit of sweetness. I have no idea what they are. Birds seem to not be eating them, but hawks have decimated a lot of the song bird population in my yard. I've only tasted b/c I don't know what they are, and don't want to take my experimentation any further.

My guess is that they are currants. Currant jelly is highly prized. I use them to make muffins using a blueberry muffin recipe and replacing the blueberries with currants that have been covered in water and brought up to a boil, cooled and strained. I also add a quarter cup of honey.
Crandall Clove Currant in bloom

As for how much sugar is needed to make chokecherry jelly, it is no more than any other kind of jelly.

I once had some 20 year old chokecherry wine and it was wonderful.

 

[lazy gardener]

Nope, the berries in question are definitely NOT currants. The largest tree/bush is about 8' tall, and the leaves on it look like Saskatoon, but I do not believe it is that b/c the blossoms were super tiny, and the fruit set does not look like Saskatoon.

I did a search, and could not find any plants that are similar/have similar fruit.

But, I do have wild elderberries coming up here and there!!!

 

[R2elk]

Nope, the berries in question are definitely NOT currants. The largest tree/bush is about 8' tall, and the leaves on it look like Saskatoon, but I do not believe it is that b/c the blossoms were super tiny, and the fruit set does not look like Saskatoon.

Serviceberry? There are quite a few different kinds of serviceberry. Raintree Nursery sells the Smokey Serviceberry that they claim can produce fruit that is 3/4" in diameter. I planted some, they survived the winter but I have no idea how many years it will take them to produce.

I have currants that are over 6' tall and have seen some that were 8' tall. My other black currants have small blossoms but not as small as the gooseberries.

 

[sharron]

Black here as well. As kids, we used to dare each other to eat them. I bet they do make a nice jam, but I've never tried it, as I'm sure you would have to use so much sugar, it'd make me feel guilty to eat the stuff! OH, choke cherries are truly a gastronomic experience. You've not truly lived until you've stuck one in your mouth and chewed on it a bit!

There are some berry trees/bushes cropping up around the property that bear a black berry, similar in size to choke cherry, has 2 - 3 fairly large seeds. The berries are borne individually and spread out across the whole tree. Clear flesh, a bit of sweetness. I have no idea what they are. Birds seem to not be eating them, but hawks have decimated a lot of the song bird population in my yard. I've only tasted b/c I don't know what they are, and don't want to take my experimentation any further.

you tasted without knowing? brave person