Patriot Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Patriot’ 藍莓 ‘愛國者’

Patriot Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Patriot’ 藍莓 ‘愛國者’

Patriot Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Patriot’ 藍莓 ‘愛國者’

Patriot Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Patriot’ 藍莓 ‘愛國者’

Very hardy shrub!  Easy to grow in full sun location in well drained, slightly acidic soil.   It will need different varieties for pollination in order to fruit.   Fruit in early season with large size blueberries.   In autumn, the green foliage turns brilliant red.  Very cold tolerant.   USDA Zones:4-7.   Mature plant size:3′-6′(H) X 4′-5′(W).

非常強健的灌木.  容易栽種在全日照,排水良好且微酸的土壤.  需要至少兩種不同的品種來授粉雜交才能結果實.  這是較早成熟可採收的品種,果實個頭也較大較甜.  秋天時葉色會由綠轉為紅豔.  植株非常耐寒.  成熟株高為3-6呎高,寬幅為4-5呎.

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 紅醋栗

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 紅醋栗

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 紅醋栗

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 紅醋栗

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) 紅醋栗

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) is very easy and fast to root from cuttings in water or in potting soil. 紅醋栗很快也很容易扦插發根,用清水或培養土都可以.

Red Currant (Ribes rubrum) flower cluster grow from the twig cuttings. 紅醋栗的花串從扦插的枝條冒出.

So hardy and so easy to grow! This shrub can be grew in sun or shade. Though the growth in partial shade probably will be the most ideal. Red currant is more attractive than white or black currant because its red fruit colour in summer. Even though its mature size can be up to 3′-5′(H) x 4′(W), it is very easy to prune to control the plant size. USDA Zones:3-8.

紅醋栗是極其強健,容易栽種的落葉灌木. 初春開花,夏天結紅色小漿果透亮小巧. 全日照到陰暗處都能生長的很好. 除紅色的品種外,常見的頦有黑色和白色的醋栗品種. 繁殖方式以扦插方式為主,種子的話要第2或第3年才會開花. 一般壽命年限為15-30年左右. 成熟株高約3-5呎,寬幅約為3-5呎,但容易修剪成想要的大小. 非常耐寒.

Very cold hardy and low maintenance!  Very easy and fast to root by cuttings from mature plant in water or potting soil indoors in late fall.  You will see each branch nod will send roots then you can cut individually so you can have many rooted cuttings produced from a twig quickly.

This plant when grow in full sun to partial shade will have the maximum crop but will be too tart to eat straight rather than in shade which is sweeter, good to eat straight although this way plant produces less quantity of berries.  I found it is interesting.

Reference links:

https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56005/                                     https://www.veseys.com/ca/red-lake-currant-37400.html

Taste comparison of strawberry spinach and spinach 草莓菠菜和菠菜的試吃比較

Taste comparison of strawberry spinach and spinach 草莓菠菜和菠菜的試吃比較

L: Strawberry Spinach leaves草莓菠菜葉
R: Spinach leaves菠菜葉

1.Result of Eating Raw 生食
L:mild taste, little after taste; thin foliage, red color under leaf無強烈口味,葉片較薄. 葉背紅褐色.
R:mild taste, no after taste; thicker foliage, lighter green under leaf無強烈口味,葉片較厚有肉. 葉背淺綠色.

2.Result of stir-fry cooking 快炒熟食
L:tender, taste very similar with spinach, a little bit like Gynura bicolor, the soup juice is red.
葉薄易煮熟,口感非常像菠菜,有一點點偏向嫩葉的紅鳳菜. 煮後因葉片薄感覺量縮水. 也像紅鳳菜（Gynura bicolor）煮後有紅湯汁產生.
R:meatier tender taste, more volume, the soup juice is light green.
葉厚,煮熟時間稍晚一點點. 量減少較少. 煮後湯汁呈淺綠.
Later on when the strawberry spinach fruit, I will let everyone knows its taste. If you have planted these plants before, please let me know how you like them.
等草莓菠菜結果後會分享我的試吃心得. 若你種過這種植物,也請分享你吃過的心得.

巴西耐寒的大花西番蓮Brazilian Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora caerulea)

巴西耐寒的大花西番蓮Brazilian Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora caerulea)

Zone 5! They are the ones I really want! In the past, I have only seen the tropical ones (Zone 9) selling in the nurseies and garden centres. This year I decide to grow from seeds. After one month sitting in the freezer and then plant them in the supermarket mushroom container with some soil, I then place whole thing in a clear plastic bag. Daytime put near heat register so it is quite warm, put them in the fridge to keep cool at night before I go to sleep. They are in and out of my fridge for 2 weeks now, I saw the first sprout (the pink one)today!

一般園藝店賣的都不耐寒. 除了秋末要整大盆搬進屋渡過漫長的冬天外就是當一年生的將它賜死,因為植株不便宜所以今年看到這耐寒品系就決定來孵種子了!

冰箱冷凍了一個月後拿出來種在洋菇盒裡的淺土,再用透明塑膠袋紮起來放在溫暖的地方. 睡前再整包冰進冰箱冷藏. 早上再拿出來. 如此2周就可發芽,今天已有一顆有芽了!

雖是園藝觀賞種,但果實依然可食用.–就是不知是否好吃?

無刺黑莓Thornless Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

無刺黑莓的粉紅色花

低管理的多產黑莓

熟成中的無刺黑莓

果實由綠轉紅

花謝結果了

無刺黑莓Thornless Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

為小型葡匐性灌木,春天開粉紅色小花,是良好的蜜源植物.  夏天果實漸轉紫黑,即可食. 一般品種像同科的玫瑰有很多的刺. 此品種為無刺品種. 由於結果時枝條較重有必要建支架支撐. 水果甜而多汁可直接食用,做成果醬,或釀酒. 植株生長快速強健,成熟植株高約4呎高,枝條伸展可達8呎寬幅,且非常多產,具農業價值.

地植為佳或用大的深盆種植,重磷及鉀肥.   我覺得和其他植物種植的話,為了便於管理無刺品種是很好的選擇. 否則一般有刺品種果實顆粒有較大的.

黑莓很容易高壓,扦插或以種子來繁殖. 半日照可,土壤排水要良好.

黃花醋栗Yellow Flowering Currant (Ribes aureum)

醋栗科醋栗屬，主要分布在北溫帶地區和南美西部溫帶地區。中國約45種，主要分布在西部和東北。落葉灌木,春天開黃花,有強香,吸引蜂鳥採蜜,花謝後會結黃色轉黑色好吃的果實,秋天葉色會由綠轉紅, 植株強健耐修剪,很適合作為綠籬,株高可達6呎, 耐陰

Yellow Flowering Currant, is a medium size shrub with fragrant yellow flowers in spring (April-May)followed by black berries in late summer. Green summer foliage turns scarlet-red in the fall.  Yellow Flowering Currant has yellow flowers that are popular with hummingbirds. It has yellow berries that turn black as they ripen and are quite tasty. This plant tolerates shade and soil types and can be used on difficult sites, but make sure they have good drainage. These drought tolerant plants don’t want wet feet. It grows 6 feet in height and width and makes a neat clean bush.