In a pernennial plant, what can I nibble on? I tried some Mexican Plum this summer and I liked them.
Barbados Cherry?
Elderberry?
Hawthorns?
Spring planning, edible ornamentals?
Nasturtiums are nice and spicy. How about prickly pear? I'm not into cactus myself, but they're tasty. Loquats are wonderful!
I tried some kind of cactus fruit last week and it tasted like a bland watermelon with tons of little seeds in it. I dont think its worth the trouble. I've never tried a loquat. Has anyone tried Persimmon? I think you can make tea from agastaches.
Toby, yes I have tried Persimmon. This tree is about 35 years old, planted by me, it is the Japanese variety Tamopan, which is astringent, and produces great crops.
Here is the tree.
And here I am with my crop, very blessed indeed.
Josephine.
Great picture, frostweed! And nice to put a face to a DG friend.
Toby, you can make tea from a gazillion herbs -- any mint, lemon balm, catnip, vanilla grass...
I'm planting peruvian goldberry this spring -- I've only just heard of it at Horizon Herbs - www.horizonherbs.com - but they say the fruit is like bing cherries, which wouldn't grow down here in a million years. I also just put in 2 pear trees, and I know figs and peaches will grow down here.
Frostweed, those persimmons are incredible!! What in the world do you do with all of them? Your tree looks pretty tall in the picture, but is lovely loaded with the fruit. How big does the Tamopan Persimmon get?
I want a small fruit bearing tree and was thinking of planting a pomegranate tree. I'm not sure which one would be best for my zone 8A.
Brigidlily, did you put the pear trees in your back yard?
Yes, they're dwarfs, a Keiffer and an Oriental. They'll make a great backdrop to my herb garden.
Brigidlily, thank you, I would love to put a face to your name too.
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Ohsusanna, my persimmon is about 35 feet tall and is planted on the corner of our yard, and is quite a sight in the Fall and Winter, so we get a lot of attention from passerby. Especially Mexican people and people from India. They believe that they are good for pregnant women, so they always ask for some.
We usually give them away to our friends at Christmas, and keep some for ourselves.
They can be frozen whole and then be taken out one at a time or whatever you need and they are pretty good that way, if you eat them while partially frozen they taste like fruit sherbet, they are very sweet. Sometimes I put 2 or 3 partially frozen ones in the blender, and it makes an excellent fruit ice.
The Tamopan variety is astringent, which means you can't eat it until it is totally ripe, and at that point you have to eat it with a spoon.
If you plant a Persimmon I would recommend the Fuyu variety, those are non astringent, and you can eat them while they are firm and extend your fresh fruit enjoyment longer. When I bought mine the tag said Fuyu, but evidently it was mislabeled, and I thought it was a Fuyu until I posted it on Daves and Farmerdill set me straight.
They are very high in vitamin A and sugar.
The Persimmon is hardy to zone 7, and the Pomegranate to zone 8. Why not plant one of each? and see what happens.
Josephine.
Has anyone tried agarito berries?
No I haven't, but I hear that they are good, especially in jellies.
Brigidlily, those pear trees will make a great backdrop for the herb garden
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Frostweed, thank you so much for the information. I've never tasted a persimmon, but your description sounds wonderful. I'll keep my eyes open for a Fuyu as well as the pomegranate. Maybe I can find room in my small yard for both of them and still have all the other plants that I want. I wasn't able to find out how large the fuyu persimmon is, but it looks like there is a dwarf variety. I'll check into that.
Oh my! You must have thought you had a Fuyu for a long time if the tree is 35 years old. We learn something new everyday don't we? We have to watch those labels. I know one thing for sure. I frequently read the posts in this forum and I've learned a lot from you. I've got a couple of plants in my yard that I really love because of your information. Thanks! Susan
Thank you Susan, I am glad that I have helped you find plants that make you happy, are they Texas natives?
Frostweed, yes they were natives. Scutellaria drummondii and Brazos Penstemon or Penstemon tenuis to name a couple, and your plant files have helped me with several other natives. I enjoy the natives and adaptable plants.
My goal is to have a Texas cottage garden using many natives and adaptable plants.
Tobydmv ~ have you considered something like a bed of garlic. It has delightful blooms and although not a real nibbler, definitely edible. There is an old bed of garlic circling a large tree in town. It is now putting on the new growth and when it is in bloom, it stands out!
Susan, since you are in Cedar Hill you will have to come to our next Dallas swap, then I can give you some seeds and plants to help you increase your stock, also so we can meet you. I am looking forward to it.
Josephine.
I sometimes eat a Turk's Cap blossom or two. And I use many kinds of mints for tea, also lemon grass. I like Agarita berries, just wish I could get a lot more of them. And I grow blackberries.
Linda, what do the Agarita berries taste like?
Podster, we may try some garlic, but I read that its very hard to get rid of once its established. Sounds too much like bermuda grass to me.
I have located a Parsley Hawthorn and a Prairie Crabapple. 2 small native ornamentals with edible fruit. Anyone tried either one?
Here's my list of maybes
Hawthorn
Crabapple
Mexican Plum (a bit tart, but still delicious)
Barbados Cherry
Agarito
Elderberry
Agastaches
Those are all good choices Toby, I have the Eldeberry and Mexican Plum, let me know if you want starts.
Josephine.
Frostweed, happy to oblige. I'm the one with the glasses. The other two are the sweetest little rosebuds that Texas ever knew, Cali and her little brother Eben.
Oh thank you Brigidlily! You are a very nice looking lady, but I can see that signature mischievous streak coming through.
Those children are adorable, you have good reason to be proud.
Josephine.
Mischief? Moi?? ;p