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Garden Gate:  Wild Blackberry (Bramble) bushes  |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 07:09:55 AM
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My husband and I are "rediscovering" our lower backyard, and this am found berries, on what I thought was a wild rose bush, based on the bloom in early may....well, I was half right, it IS a member of the rose family. I realize that these are invasive, but this is in the lower portion of a wild "naturalized" element, that we keep for birds, deer, etc...
Anyone else utilize the berries for human consumption? Any advice on how to keep them happy and healty? I'd really like to have some wild blackberry cobbler..
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 09:44:02 AM
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There are several wild varieties of blackberry in the US and as far as I know they are all edible. If they really are wild, they will do fine with whatever state they are currently thriving in. You may want to get some armor for your harvesting...they can have nasty thorns depending on the variety. Sometimes you can lay a log or plank into the bushes to have a safe path to get in and harvest, and due to their invasive nature, they will quickly make up for the damage by spreading.
When in doubt, take a sample branch in to the county extension office and verify what you've got. Never hurts to be safe.
We make a difference. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 12:07:58 PM
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Michelle-
We should get together to do berrying! I know a place just about 1/2 hour from Pullman that has about an acre of wild berries! They are either Raspberries or blackberries. I am not sure.
Alee
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 2:50:07 PM
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Oh Alee, wild berries, yummie. I miss picking them form the other side of the mountains of washington.
Carol Sue
Life is short, enjoy every moment. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 4:18:15 PM
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Carol Sue-
You should come with also! I will start checking on the berries when I get back to see if they are in season and then we should do an area Farmgirl berry pick!
Alee
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 5:08:05 PM
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Great, thanks. Erin...that must have been why my daddy was so terrified of snakes. When he was a boy, he was given to his 2 native american grandmothers to be raised...they kindof used him like a laborer, and made him do a lot of chores. Anyway, picking the blackberries was one of them, and he always said those snakes were coiled around in those bushes like crazy. He would quite literally pass out as an adul--the only weekness I'm pretty sure my daddy had 
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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Runbikegrrl
True Blue Farmgirl
250 Posts
MaryAnn
Waterbury Ctr
VT
USA
250 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 6:15:09 PM
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If y'all want to come on up to Vt I have more blackberrys then I know what to do with....mostly the birds enjoy them...I think they were originally planted and then just spread and now grow wild on the edge of the property line. I noticed they only produce fruit every other year...what's up with that?
"So many interests so little time!"
http://lovelifelivegrrl.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 8:18:35 PM
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MaryAnn-
If you want them to produce fruit every year you might need to prune them. I am not sure if that is the case or not, but I think that pruning helps stimulate them to produce.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
Edited by - Alee on Jun 17 2007 8:18:56 PM |
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Runbikegrrl
True Blue Farmgirl
250 Posts
MaryAnn
Waterbury Ctr
VT
USA
250 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 04:00:06 AM
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Thanks Alee! You are a wealth of information! I will need to get the full body armour to prune those babies...there are about 25 full bushes and a bunch of knee high ones ALL overgrown! As far as the beer and slugs I have been doing that for years but never thought to put the container INTO the ground what a great idea! Last night I just went out and picked with a flashlight...hrs of work after a long day in the car....hopefully I can salvage the rest of the garden. Oh back to blackberrys I have some great recipes when harvest time comes!
"So many interests so little time!"
http://lovelifelivegrrl.blogspot.com/ |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 09:01:37 AM
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Alee and Carol Sue, a local berry hunt sounds great! Let me know what you find out. I just love wild blackberry goodies. Well, wild berry goodies of about any type. MMM
We make a difference. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 09:17:20 AM
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I will cruise by my spot when I get home to see how the berries are doing this year! It would be tons of fun I think!
Alee
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 09:37:32 AM
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Awesome Alee! I keep listing things to make as I think of summer berries, I sound like the Bubba Gump of wild berries. When you get back, I've got tons of wild currants that should be ready, if you are interested. They make a nice jelly for glazing chicken/pork.
We make a difference. |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 10:49:56 AM
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| My wild berry spot is in a city park! I think they are black rasberries, not blackberries. I made jam last year, but I'm wondering about this year...I heard someone say (she's kind of an authority on wild plants) that she does not pick any edible plants in the city because of spraying for mosquitoes. I wonder how I could find out from the city about this location without telling them that I'm planning to harvest free berries? Not that they want them, but sometimes they get finicky about things like that... |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 12:45:09 PM
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Amie- I would ask them what chemicals they routinely spray.
Michelle- I would love to berry with you! I love currants! My grandma has an awesome recipe for currant jelly and I used to eat it on my morning toast whenever I would visit them in the summer!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 1:01:43 PM
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Alee,
I would absolutley love that. Tell me where and when.
Carol Sue
Life is short, enjoy every moment. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 4:54:55 PM
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This is going to be fun ladies! How does the first week in July sound if the berries are ripe?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 8:59:02 PM
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Make sure you prune the black berries and keep them in line or they will take over everything, crowding out the native plants. We have llamas just for eating them down in the pastures. They are good berries, but also a pain in the rear end.
http://love-in-a-mist-shannon.blogspot.com/ |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 9:12:17 PM
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Sounds great, remind me again cause this brain doesn't always remember......
Carol Sue
Life is short, enjoy every moment. |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 09:29:16 AM
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Alee, that sounds like a good time, first week in July. Maybe after we get together for your berries, that same week, you and Carol Sue would like to come for currants? After the 4th I'm going on a trip and will be gone a while.
We make a difference. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 11:44:26 AM
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That sounds like fun Michelle!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 12:16:58 PM
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So, I guess Wild blackberries are a good thing, right?
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 2:21:00 PM
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oh yes! I love wild berry bushes of any kind! I need some kind local farmgirl to guide me to some huckleberries!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Lavendar fields dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
1032 Posts
little monkeys mommy
washington
USA
1032 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 10:49:22 PM
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| ok gals i would love to try some currant jelly, ive never had it. Alee i will see you when the berries are ripe. with two little princesses in tow or shall i say in all their royal splendar. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 08:37:23 AM
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This is going to be such fun!! I am really excited, Ladies! I can hardly wait to see you and all of the kiddos that will be coming!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 08:56:36 AM
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Teresa, I'll bring some currant jelly and biscuits so you can give it a try and see what you think. My currants are wild, so they come out a bit differently than the pretty ruby red of domestic ones. The jelly comes out a deep purple, but I really enjoy it. Let's see who meets up for those yummy blackberries and then plan the next berry get together. :)
Yes, wild blackberries are/can be a treasure.
We make a difference. |
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Garden Gate: Wild Blackberry (Bramble) bushes |
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Wild Blackberry (Bramble) bushes
