Viewing comments posted by ediblelandscapingsc

It looks like it has a huge difference in color depending on environment. There are 2 photos in the database at the moment. One from zone 5 and the other from zone 10 and they almost look like 2 different flowers.

‘Von’ is a new floricane-fruiting blackberry released by North Carolina State University. Von is a very erect-growing thornless blackberry and can be planted alone without any support. Von also has better tolerance to wet conditions than other varieties and produces big berries up to 7 grams (6.6g each on average). The berries are sweet, with smaller seeds than most, and have low acidity. With high yields, a long harvest season, excellent postharvest attributes, and tasty fruits, you can't go wrong with this one. Under a standard commercial-spray program, ‘Von’ has shown no significant infection of common diseases observed, including orange rust (Gymnoconia nitens), fruit anthracnose (Elsinoe veneta), and double blossom/rosette (Cercosporella rubi). Virus infection and susceptibility are unknown. I grow without the use of sprays and such and I have seen similar results.
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Now for the specs

In a replicated trial at the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury, NC, total yield of ‘Von’ was 12,017 g/plant (24063 lbs/acre).
In that same trial, marketable yield of ‘Von’ was 10,704 g/plant (21,434 lbs/acre).

‘Von’ has a marketable post-harvest score of 90.6, which is as good or better than the leading commercial cultivars.

Soluble sugars content of ‘Von’ was 9.4% and pH was 3.57

COMMERCIAL MARKET:
· Process
· Fresh

CHILLING REQUIREMENT:
· Min 500 Hours

APPLICATIONS:
· Commercial Food Production

FEATURES:
· Self-fertile
· Fast Growing
· Easy to Grow

TYPE:
· Thornless
· Floricane (2nd Year Wood)

The buds and flowers are heavy, so the plants will need staking in windy areas!

Vitex agnus-castus is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical regions for its delicate-textured aromatic foliage and butterfly attracting spikes of lavender flowers. Vitex is derived from the Latin vieo, meaning to weave or to tie up, a reference to the use of Vitex agnus-castus in basketry. It's also referred to as false marijuana, chaste tree, vitex, monk's pepper, chaste berry, and many other names. The foliage as with all vitex agnus-castus looks similar to Cannabis sativa so it's always fun giving friends young plants and seeing their faces (priceless).

All jokes aside, the Vitex agnus-castus plant has many uses medicinally and was once used to suppress the sexual cravings of monks, hence the name monk's pepper. In addition to reducing sexual urges in men, it's been said to increase sexual urges in women and make them more fertile. It's also been rumored to help with menstrual cramps and irregular periods and to increase breast size.

The part most often used is the seeds, which are used as a pepper substitute in natural medicine, but many extracts are used in modern medicines outside the U.S. I have tasted the seeds and can't attest to any reduced sexual urges, but It does taste like pepper. All official evidence is limited to standardised controlled extracts, such as those used in Germany. Different extracts or herbal mixes may have significantly different properties and safety issues. Some of the modern uses include premenstrual syndrome, abnormal uterine bleeding disorders, and mastodynia. There are high levels of phytoestrogens in the seed to support these claims, and some of the compounds found in the plant seem to also work on the pituitary gland, but more research is needed. One should only use plants medicinally after speaking with a doctor or a professional and after both you and the doctor determine it's an approach you want to take.

There are 3 main flower colors of vitex agnus-castus currently available: white, pink, and purple, but in many different shades. Some purples are on the blue side of the spectrum while others have a deep rich purple color. Some varieties are difficult to locate at the moment, but for a plant to not only live but thrive on neglect and have so many medicinally useful qualities, I see big things for its future. I would recommend this plant to anyone in zone 7 and up except for people who may be allergic to bees.

This is a great plant for anyone in zone 7 or higher. The rare and lovely pink flowers of Fletcher Pink attract mason bees and other pollinators by the droves. Mason bees even seem to catch a nap on the flowers, often sitting in the same spot for hours. During the summer months the whole bush is loaded with pink blooms, putting on quite a show. It has no major pest problems, and it is drought tolerant.

Feng Chan Huang is a chinese fig that is moderately productive. Large sweet figs appear throughout the growing season and ripen at various stages. The taste is similar to Brunswick, but with a lower percentage of souring. In fact I can't think of a time Feng Chan Huang has ever soured on me. Feng Chan Huang is definitely a fig worthy of a spot in the garden and can be used in preserves, in cooking, and for fresh eating.

Bo Ja Huang is a chinese fig and seems happy in zone 7b. Bo Ja Huang is not as productive as other chinese figs I have, but it is packed with a rich honey flavor with hints of melon. The tree is not as vigorous as some fig trees, which can prove to be a valuable asset for those wanting to grow figs in colder regions, but it has not been tested outside of zone 7b.

Marseilles is a great all-around fig, both sweet and productive. It's also a heirloom fig with not only a rich taste but also a rich history.

In 1787 our third president, Thomas Jefferson, took a tour of southern France in search of mineral water for his health and the restoration of his hand. While touring, he tasted many different wines and sampled many fruits and foods in the local villages, but he was so intrigued with this fig that he wrote home about his wonderful experience, saying: "The most delicate figs in Europe are those growing about this place [Marseilles], called figues Marcelloises, or les veritables Marcelloises, to distinguish them from others of inferior quality growing here. These keep any length of time. All others exude a sugar in the spring of the year and become sour. The only process for preserving them is drying them in the sun, without putting any thing to them whatever."

In 1809, Thomas Jefferson wrote: "the Marseilles fig, which I brought from France with me, is unquestionably superior to any fig I have ever seen." Who knew that our third President of the United States was a fan and collector of figs? But honestly, who doesn't like fresh figs?

Atreano is not the sweetest fig in the world, but it bears abundantly and makes great preserves. The large figs also pair well with cheese. Even when frozen down to the ground, the Atreano fig tree will come back and bear fruit every year. It also has extremely large foliage, among the largest I have seen in my 300-some-odd fig trees. They really add a tropical feel to any setting. Its fruit, as with all figs, is actually an infructescence of the tree, in which the flowers and seeds are borne. Often called a false fruit, it is not a fruit at all, but more like an inside-out flower.

The flowers are not a true blue like the name implies, instead they are just lighter colored than Shoal Creek.