Berries, Grapes, Kiwi for the Prairies (from The Urban Farmer)

Comments about Suitability for Schools (Claudia Bolli, (Vaccinium spp.) Evergreen) There are three types of blueberries that will grow in the Edmonton Success with blueberries varies greatly. Blueberries area: lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), highbush naturally occur in woodlands or on the edges, so they blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), and a hybrid cross of need a bit of partial shading. They prefer slightly acidic highbush and lowbush. soil.

Lowbush Blueberries Lowbush Blueberries are native to Alberta, extremely hardy and Growing conditions have to be similar to native habitat - produce small but very flavourful . may be difficult to achieve on schoolgrounds.

Highbush Blueberries Success with blueberries varies greatly. Blueberries naturally occur in woodlands or on the edges, so they Highbush Blueberries will grow up to 6 ft. high and will produce need a bit of partial shading. They prefer slightly acidic more and larger berries though they are less hardy. soil. Hybrids such as ‘North Sky’ and ‘Northland’ are hardy and good producers, growing to about 3 ft. in height. All blueberries will need a very acidic soil (ph 4.5) in order to thrive.

Buffalo (Sheperdia canadensis) Buffalo Berry is native to the prairie and Aspen parkland of Alberta. There are two species that produce somewhat edible fruit: These sucker quite a bit and need to be confined. Canadian buffaloberry (Sheperdia Canadensis) and silver You need 3 or more shrubs for fruit production. Fruit is buffaloberry (Sheperdia argentia). Both are hardy, drought resistant bitter. Caution: Sheperdia argentea (Silver Buffaloberry) and very attractive in the urban landscape. has spines.

Currants ( spp.) Black currants (Ribes nigrum), red currants (Ribes rubrum), and white currants (a hybrid) are all very reliable producers in the Edmonton area. Native edible species are the Wild Black currant (Ribes americanum) and Wild Red Currant (Ribes triste). Currants are an attractive and often aromatic with nice fall colour. Suitable for schools

Saskatoons (Almelanchier alnifolia) Saskatoons are finally gaining the recognition they deserve. This berry has been a staple of native peoples and prairie settlers for generations and their health benefits are many. As a native , it is very hardy once established and functions effectively as a natural fence, hedge or screen while producing bountiful crops of berries year after year. ‘Martin’, ‘Northline’, and ‘ Smoky’ have an upright shrub-like form while ‘Altaglow’, ‘Honeywood’, ‘Theissen’, and ‘Pembina’ grow more tree-like from a single stem. Mature Suitable for schools; fruit may be ready during summer will reach over 5 meters in height. holidays.

Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) Also known as Himalayan Goji Berry or Wolf Berry, this hardy plants produces clusters of small red fruit that is cooked into soups in some Asian cuisine. It is also dried and ground into a powder or juiced as a supposedly nutrient dense “wonder food.” The plants Some discussions that it may be invasive - keep an eye grow to around 5 feet in height and width in our climate. on it.

Gooseberry (Ribes spp.) Ribes oxycanthoides is the wild Canadian gooseberry that also works well in the urban landscape. Closely related is the species Ribes hirtellum. A very popular, high yielding domesticated variety is ‘Pixwell’. Most Gooseberries will grow to about 1 meter in height Prickly, but nice berries. In some years, are eaten and width. by caterpillars - great for discussions.

Josta berries Josta berriesare a cross between black currants and gooseberry which produces larger, sweeter berries.

High Bush Cranberries () Highbush cranberry is native to Alberta and produces abundant edible, though somewhat astringent, fruit. Works well as a hedge plant and will tolerate shade. Mature plants will reach over 3 meters while a compact cultivar (Viburnum trilobum compactum) Tough plants, fall harvest and berries cling on into stays closer to 1 meter in height. winter. Taste may be offensive to some.

Raspberries ( spp.) Raspberries are abundantly popular in Alberta and there are many varieties that produce very well in our climate. Summer-bearing varieties bear fruit on second-year canes called “floricanes”. Fall- bearing varieties bear fruit on the new canes each year. Raspberries can work very well in the urban landscape as a hedge or screen with select varieties reaching over 2 meters in height. Raspberries generally require little care for the amount of fruit they produce, though the fruit bearing canes need to be removed either in later fall or early spring each year. Raspberries range in colour from red to orange to yellow, to purple. , the wild raspberry native to Alberta, bears fewer and smaller but they are of Need pruning and main harvest is in the summer. exceptional taste. Usually trouble free. There is one variety of blackberry (‘Doyle thornless blackberry’) that is reputedly able to handle our Zone 3 winters with some Ask local gardeners if they have had success - may only protection. be hardy in urban micro-climate.

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhaminoides) Once used extensively in shelterbelts, this plant is making a comeback due to its highly nutritious (and medicinal) bright orange berries. Silver foliage is also very attractive. Male and female plants are required for fruit production. Shrub-like in growth habit, Sea Buckthorn will require at least 3 square meters for its mature size. Sea buckthorn is a very hardy, drought tolerant plant that also “fixes” its own nitrogen in the soil through a complex interaction between its roots soil micro-organisms. Sea Buckthorn can be Very thorny and speads aggressively - not usually suited aggressive for schoolyards. Strawberries (Fragaria X ananassa) There is no comparing the wonderful flavour of homegrown strawberries to the chemically-fed, commercially produced varieties that travel thousands of kilometers to our store shelves. June bearing, ever-bearing, and day neutral strawberries all do well in Rotate planting location every 2-3 years to reduce risk of Alberta. pests. Woodland strawberry or alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) produces small but extremely tasty berries and can make an effective ground cover or border plant. Low maintenance and not usually bothered by pests.

Sweetberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerula edulis) This member of the Honeysuckle genus, also called “Honeyberry”, or “Haskap” bears large purple, tart berries that are good for fresh eating or for use in juices, jams and syrups and for fresh eating. It is relatively new to North America but gaining in popularity. Plants are shrub-like growing to 3-4 feet in height and spread. Two different Great for schoolyards as they usually ripen before the varieties are required for pollination. Drought and semi-shade end of June. Make sure you have 2 or more varieties tolerant. that are guaranteed to cross-pollinate.

Other Wild Berries While these may be difficult to find for home cultivation, the following Alberta wild berries also produce edible fruit: bunchberry (), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum),dewberry (Rubus pubescens), and lingon berry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). Artic raspberry,(Rubus articus ssp. acaulis) is a sprawling, creeping native raspberry that makes an excellent ground cover. Long valued for their high vitamin c and other nutrient content, the rose hip Native wild berries from the Aspen Parkland eco-region producing prickly rose (Rosa acicularis) is easily integrated into the thrive best in conditions that are very similar to the home landscape. native habitat - partial shading is required.

Grapes (Vitis labrusca) Native to the prairies, the Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) is very hardy but produces little fruit. The dark blue variety, ‘Valiant’, is very hardy and a good producer. ‘Beta’, ‘Kay Gray’, ‘Minnesota #78’, ‘Frontenac’, and ‘St. Croix’ are other relatively hardy, good producers. All grapes will need a warm location and some winter protection.

Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta) Hardy Kiwi is a smaller (large grape sized) fruit with a sweet and delicious taste. It is a vining plant that will need support. At least one male plant is required for every six female plants. While it is relatively new to the prairies, gardeners have reported successful cultivation of this plant.