I have grown these for the first time this year, from seed given to me. Does anyone have a picture of what the plant should look like? I want to make sure I am not going to poison the whole family with them! Are they related to the humble spud, as the flowers look similar. Any help anyone?
hmm, you know, I have a sneaking feeling I am nurturing a patch of deadly nightshade! :o
I've just realised that these humble fruits are what I used to call WORTS when I was a kid in the west country!!
A whortleberry!! ;D
http://www.huckleberries.org/page6.html
they make magic pie with apple (and Devonshire clotted cream)- yum yum ;D
???I think that you may be mistaken!! The seeds of "Garden Huckleberry" that I purchased from Unwins, are of the plant "solanum nigrum var. guineense or S. intrusum". The seeds come from Canada, do NOT require an acid soil, grow to about 3 feet high, and do NOT match the photos on your link, which relate to a completely different group of Huckleberries.
Unwins used to do two pages of recipes for the Garden Huckleberry.
I think that what you used to see in the West Country, also appears in the North of England and Scotland on acid soils and I know as a "blaeberry". Also used in the North of England to make "mucky pies"! The berries were collected using special combs.
For further information, see my previous postings re the garden huckleberry
I too am growing these - given to me by a kind lottie neighbour.
They are approx 6" tall at present.
Debs
Real Food,
Admit I have not come across 'garden' huckleberries. Mucky pie sounds about right for the ones that I know of!! :D
Did search but can't find previous post.
Now I cannot find any of my previous posts!! Anyone know how to search for "real food" previous posts?
Mucky pie?
I am from the North east and have never heard of such a thing.
The ones I am growing are supposed to grow to approx 3',
although I do not know the name as I was given them as plants.
Debs :)
;D They were called "mucky pies" because when they were used as filling for pies, the eater's tongues were left all blue!
Okay, so I have now looked at Solanums, to find that as I suspected, they are all the same family...deadly nightshade! This is exactly what I am growing....so...safe to eat?
Well, you obviously have to know exactly which solanum you are growing!! I knew because I had bought the seed from Unwins.
The Garden Huckleberry has an unusual form when fully grown, which may help with identification. It basically has a single stem about 3 feet high, and then branches out almost horizontally like a small round coffee table. You will need to net it against the pterodactyls- birds, when the fruit is ripe, a dark blue black.
I no longer grow it as I found the taste rather bland. It is more like a vegetable than a fruit, with very little acidity. All the recipes require a lot of citrus fruit to be added.
It certainly grew very well with me in the west of Scotland, provided it was started under cover in pots and then planted out.
I have no idea on variety as the seeds were given to me by someone...and I don't remember who! Have to say, it has rather put me off eating them as it would be Sods law they would give the kids belly ache! The berries are ripening nicely, glossy black and big and juicy looking. Maybe I shall just leave them for the birds to enjoy...... :-\
Huckleberries have rounded leaves and nightshade has pointy leaves. I think you get huckleberries as black or blue also. Hope this helps
Also black hucks ripen from red and the blue ones look like blueberries (i think)