Rare Heirloom Fruits & Vegetables

[897tgigvib]

Thanks Hal! I'll take a trip down there one of these days, checking first to see if it's a sale day at either the sebastopol farm or the santa rosa garden. (What a cool job to have, to be in charge of burbank's garden. I always wanted that.)

 

[barefootgardener]

I believe back in 2009 someone listed seeds/cuttings @ SSE for the Snowbank (Burbank) white blackberry.. But it was found to be virus infected. Not sure if it is available now. I know a few people over @ Homegrown goodness were offering cuttings or seeds at one point. Maybe someone could hook you up with finding some.
Ginny

 

[barefootgardener]

There's Ginny!

She knows all sorts of things about these sorts of things!



Steve

Hi Steve!! I sorta know a little about these sort of thing!!

 

[ninnymary]

Bluebonnet, Welcome if I haven't said it before. Regarding Honeycrisp apples, I finally tasted one from the store and wasn't impressed. I know Steve, aka digits, loves these so I decided to try them. At $2.99lb, I didn't think they were worth it. I imagine homegrown are much better?

Mary

 

[Hal]

I believe back in 2009 someone listed seeds/cuttings @ SSE for the Snowbank (Burbank) white blackberry.. But it was found to be virus infected. Not sure if it is available now. I know a few people over @ Homegrown goodness were offering cuttings or seeds at one point. Maybe someone could hook you up with finding some.
Ginny

I had read that some sources were virus infected as well.
I thought there was a way to extract clean tissue from growing tips and grow it via tissue culture, I am a little surprised the USDA has not tried.
I doubt all Snowbank out there are virus infected but you'd have to get them tested which is usually beyond the means of the home gardener.

 

[Bluebonnet]

Bluebonnet, Welcome if I haven't said it before. Regarding Honeycrisp apples, I finally tasted one from the store and wasn't impressed. I know Steve, aka digits, loves these so I decided to try them. At $2.99lb, I didn't think they were worth it. I imagine homegrown are much better?

Mary

The store ones have declined in quality due to a focus on mass production.

The best ones are larger than baseball size, ripened right on the tree. They are big, glossy, colorful and delicious. I use them to make premium dessert apples. I dunk them in several layers of caramel, chocolates and or candy coating. I roll some in various types of chopped nuts or chocolate chunks and I package them nicely in individual wraps tied with fancy bows. I sell them at fairs to raise money for various causes and I never fail to sell out. Same goes for apple shortcakes or apple stack cakes.

 

[Hal]

The store ones have declined in quality due to a focus on mass production.

The best ones are larger than baseball size, ripened right on the tree. They are big, glossy, colorful and delicious. I use them to make premium dessert apples. I dunk them in several layers of caramel, chocolates and or candy coating. I roll some in various types of chopped nuts or chocolate chunks and I package them nicely in individual wraps tied with fancy bows. I sell them at fairs to raise money for various causes and I never fail to sell out. Same goes for apple shortcakes or apple stack cakes.

I think I am about to go to bed hungry. Those sound fantastic!

 

[Bluebonnet]

I had read that some sources were virus infected as well.
I thought there was a way to extract clean tissue from growing tips and grow it via tissue culture, I am a little surprised the USDA has not tried.
I doubt all Snowbank out there are virus infected but you'd have to get them tested which is usually beyond the means of the home gardener.

I view these varieties as a collector.

Price is not really an issue. I'm not looking to get something cheaply, I'm looking to gather these varieties to pass on to my children and grandchildren and so on and so forth.

If there is a way to get that berry, even if it costs a couple hundred dollars, I'm interested.

 

[Bluebonnet]

I think I am about to go to bed hungry. Those sound fantastic!

Not nearly as good as what I could do with those white blackberries.

I want to take them and pair them with pineberries and eversweet pomegranates, which are also white and turn transform them into a tasty filling for macarons.

The combination of slightly pineapple flavored strawberries, the sweetness of pomegranate and the richness of a blackberry would make for an excellent jam filling with a fragrant scent.

 

[897tgigvib]

Mmm, now I REALLY want to take that drive down to Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, my ole stomping grounds, and purchase some White Blackberry plants.

I can see that propagating those units could become a wealth producing endeavour.

And there are some other plants that would do the same.

Hmmm...

"MARSHALL'S CANDYSTORE NURSERY and GOURMET DESERTS FACTORY"

1 gallon White Blackberry plant, $ 227.79 ea.

Amber Raspberry, triple chocolate swirl French Cupcakes, $ 112.49 half dozen