Chokecherry Tree

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I have always wondered what is that tree by the chicken coop with the blueberries on it? My husband said, "Don't eat that berry, you will get sick. It's poisonous!!!" Well, I'm hard headed and i tasted the berry juice. It was pretty darn tasty (for me) and 3 days later I'm still alive and kicking. So I did a little research on the net and here and I believe it is a chokecherry. It looks like a blueberry, it's a smallish tree with ashen colored bands on the trunk. The berry's grow in clusters and have purple juice with a small pit like a cherry in them. So I will take some pictures tonight and ask for help and some jelly recipes if it is indeed something edible. My little tree is loaded with them.

Just proves that you will never know what you have until you question and look for answers. I will be exploring more this weekend for some blackberries. We have some around the house (wild) but I want enough to make 3 or 4 small jelly jars full. I love some jelly. Also my neighbor has blueberry bushes and I've been raiding them about once a week. It's a rental house that is currently empty, had permission last year so went ahead and took advantage this year, until he tells me otherwise. I hate to see them all wasted on the ground like in years past. Melissa

Question: Wouldn't it be too early for ripe chokecherries? There are still green/red unripe ones but there is a lot of the black/purple ripe ones.

 

[ducks4you]

Also my neighbor has blueberry bushes and I've been raiding them about once a week. It's a rental house that is currently empty, had permission last year so went ahead and took advantage this year, until he tells me otherwise. I hate to see them all wasted on the ground like in years past. Melissa

I have an arrangement like that with a pear tree owner up the road.

 

[NurseNettie]

Search out internet pics that show the difference between ripe and unripe berries, and post your pics,both berries and leaves.
Chokecherries are NOT poinsonous--it's an old wivestale. There is,likein many "pits"some small amount of a poison in the pit, but there is such a tiny amount it would be nearly impossible to eat enough to even get ill.

There are LOTS of great recipes and information online. I love chokecherry jelly, but haven't done much more than that with them yet.

Edited to add: if they ARE ripe--- get them picked asap,or the birds will do it for you. They will wipe mine out in a day or 2 if I don't get them picked.

I have always wondered what is that tree by the chicken coop with the blueberries on it? My husband said, "Don't eat that berry, you will get sick. It's poisonous!!!" Well, I'm hard headed and i tasted the berry juice. It was pretty darn tasty (for me) and 3 days later I'm still alive and kicking. So I did a little research on the net and here and I believe it is a chokecherry. It looks like a blueberry, it's a smallish tree with ashen colored bands on the trunk. The berry's grow in clusters and have purple juice with a small pit like a cherry in them. So I will take some pictures tonight and ask for help and some jelly recipes if it is indeed something edible. My little tree is loaded with them.

Just proves that you will never know what you have until you question and look for answers. I will be exploring more this weekend for some blackberries. We have some around the house (wild) but I want enough to make 3 or 4 small jelly jars full. I love some jelly. Also my neighbor has blueberry bushes and I've been raiding them about once a week. It's a rental house that is currently empty, had permission last year so went ahead and took advantage this year, until he tells me otherwise. I hate to see them all wasted on the ground like in years past. Melissa

Question: Wouldn't it be too early for ripe chokecherries? There are still green/red unripe ones but there is a lot of the black/purple ripe ones.

 

[hoodat]

Far from being poisonous my Granny used to make great chokecherry jelly by combing the chokecherry juice with apple juice. I used to eat them as a kid till I was so puckered up all I could do was whistle.

 

[beavis]

Nice topic. @hoodat.. are you really old

Reported.....

 

[hoodat]

I don't mind comments about my age. It's kind of an accomplishment to get this far and still be moving around.