4 Rare Fruit Bushes You Need To Grow | Cold Hardy Fruit To Wow! | Part 1

[@TnT_F0X]

My Chicago Cold Hearty Fig leaves started to wake up today. Even in a 5gal bucket indoors in the dark with very little water it knows Spring is coming. I'm thinking of putting some Goji Berries in the back of my house... but definitely getting raspberries, Black red and Gold for my greenhouse. Edible Landscaping is the best.

[@patrapper7367]

I watch a pile of videos about vegetables, fruit bushes fruit trees and this guy is in the top 2 for his content

[@PlantFanatics]

Wow! Thank you so much for the amazing comment. I hope to live up to those words. You're too kind. Happy growing!

[@Terri_Stauffer]

I planted all 4 of these last year, looking forward to harvesting soon. The goji berry and currant were older plants while the Nanking cherry and honey berry were starts, so will see what happens this year. With the cold temps we have been having good to know they will all survive negative temps.

[@PlantFanatics]

Wow! I'm so excited for you. They are all amazing fruits and you won't be disappointed. Thank you for watching the video. Happy growing!

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

Hi,, i planted the exact same plants,,,, but i planted a Montmorency Cherry,,,It got Leaf Cherry Curl at the later part of the summer. (i have to learn more about that),,, but its grown beautifully (im in NH so of course all the leaves have fallen off now.... But i need a pollinator, i was looking at the Stella Variety,, im not sure if Nanking is a good pollinator for Montmorency. I really want to master growing cherries,, they are Gorgeous Trees,,,,

[@PlantFanatics]

@@JustMe-gs9xi The Nanking Cherry is not a true Cherry and therefore would not be capable of pollinating your Cherry trees. That being said, there are many varieties of cherries that will in fact pollinate your tree. I grow the Northstar Cherry which is a dwarfed variety and I love it. As far as leaf curl is concerned you will need to get out and spray your tree with a copper fungicide which you can get from almost any store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). I usually spray a mixture of copper fungicide and dormant horticultural oil twice in the wintertime before bud break in the spring. This should help get rid of pests and disease for the following growing season.

[@borisnoone]

Just be warned that the Nanking cherry sends out lots of root sprouts which you'll have to control; otherwise the plant will quickly spread and take over its neighbors.

[@tiarianamanna973]

Black current is one of my top3 favorite berries! 🤗 it works well here in finland, where we have often cool or even cold summers.

[@zarahsgarden2097]

❄🤍 I am growing all of these except the goji & our winters we get temps of -30°C with occasional drops down to -40° and they all come back in the spring! Strawberries do great too 🍓💚

[@markstevenson9080]

You can probably grow the goji if you have an area that stays slightly warmer like against a house on the eastern side.

[@elizabethraworth64]

Perfect timing ! Your video brought some badly needed warmth to my frozen zone 5 heart. Going to give some of these lovelies a try. Thank you.

[@PlantFanatics]

I highly recommend them. You'll be so happy you did. Thank you so much for the uplifting comment and continued support. Happy growing!

[@Ursaminor31]

Growing up in Manitoba with -40 -30 temps Nanking cherry shrubs were abundant. They didn’t sucker and would self regenerate if hard pruned every few years so renewal is easy. Berries re early and yummy. Jame made easy

[@PlantFanatics]

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

[@tomytruckdriver1670]

Currants are illegal in MA, you get fined for growing it 😭 LOVE THE FLAVOR!!!

[@PlantFanatics]

Yes, I know that they are illegal to grow in some states. Stinks…

[@doubles1545]

Goji berries are very versatile. They do well for me in south central New Mexico.

[@leanev]

I live in Sweden, Currant is very popular here. I just ordered 2 kiwiberry Vines as they also do really good in cold. The HoneyBerry seems interesting! Ill have to look for it 😊

[@PlantFanatics]

Sweden? So cool! Honeyberries are much better to me than blueberries, but both are very tasty. They also flower long before anything else in the early spring. Freezes don’t affect them.

[@haribo666adler]

Hi. Related to honey berries one of the best variety in my opinion is MORENA so far. Thx

[@PlantFanatics]

Thanks for naming this variety! Happy growing!

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

not sure which one i have,,, but thanks for sharing.

[@haribo666adler]

@@JustMe-gs9xi no worries, this year I’m going to show on a vid some of my varieties. MORENA has a big berries and tastes awesome

[@katherinewhite5415]

Thank you for the info, I am now planning to incorporate these in my garden

[@stayinggolden2665]

I noticed a few nanking cherries in my community a few years ago used strictly for ornamentals. I asked to harvest the fruit and made jam, first time having made or eaten it two years ago. It's very tasty, a bit tart with the right amount of sweet.

[@sschul5886]

My goji berry flowers late August starts fruiting in early September in Denver. Doesn't get pampered much.

[@jameslilly2552]

Thank you so much! living in a 1a - 2b zone finding fruit that will grow up here is not always easy.

[@mariannerichard1321]

I didn't know of the Nanking cherry. These even grow in Japan, so I could use it to replace a sakura in my Japanese garden! Who am I kidding... my Hokkaido mountain garden.

[@charlesbale8376]

The information was very helpful.

[@constancemiller3753]

Evan's Cherry. Propagated here at U of Alberta, Edmonton by a young orchid enthusiast who saved a few before an old lady's homestead was torn down for a prison. Evans gave them to his rugby friends hence why the were on the south side of Edmonton. Huge production and self propagating it is quickly becoming a favorite here in Santa's backyard. Related to Alaska cherry. Delicious.

[@microfarming8299]

There is a few of these what I have and a few what I want to get.

[@debbiehenri345]

I've had no success with Goji berries here in Scotland (I think it is too wet generally, and too humid when it's not wet). However, thanks for the Nanking Cherry (the only other plant I don't have) - I have been deliberating over one of these for a while, but your video has confirmed it for me now.

[@PlantFanatics]

I’m glad this video could help you with your decision! Is the soil well draining where you are?

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Greetings Chad, from Windermere, Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 Great picks for people who live up North 👍 Your channel is growing so well. 👩‍🌾👍

[@PlantFanatics]

Hey Peggy! Great to hear from you. Thank you so much. I hope all is well! Happy growing!

[@THEEVAAN]

It’s so true. I have all these plants with seabuck thorn, silver berries blue berries bushes and mahonia aquifer

[@THEEVAAN]

And a service berries (Saskatoon)

[@brettfoster6786]

Exciting news. I have a old rundown house with a yard that I’m filling it up with berries and fruit trees. Missouri Mississippi mud farm. Excellent video brother.

[@PlantFanatics]

I'm so excited for you! You're gonna have an amazing time on the journey. Please keep us all updated when you can on your progress. Happy growing!

[@ricco7472]

WOW !!! Thank you soo much for this info...... GOD BLESS !!!!

[@PlantFanatics]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@victorbenner539]

I wanted to get the gogi berry a couple of years now but haven't found any.This year I will order one if I have to.

[@PlantFanatics]

Check out TheAmericanFigCompany.com Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. Happy growing!

[@sschul5886]

They're at home depot starting around February, when they get the early raspberries and grapes in. They'll have Chicago fig, too.

[@mio.giardino]

Love this info. One tinny point… cite your temps in °C too for us 🇨🇦 Thank you

[@PlantFanatics]

Future videos will all have Celsius for reference as well. I never expected these videos to do so well and for people to see them internationally. However, I am very glad they have. Happy growing!

[@debiesubaugher]

Litchi tomatoes are also great for cold weather

[@janew5351]

Any sources for this tomato variety?

[@debiesubaugher]

@@janew5351 a few that I know of - Baker Creek, Burpees, Rare Seeds

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

i just read on Bakers Creek they are not frost hardy,,,, so that's not cold weather

[@debiesubaugher]

@@JustMe-gs9xi I was going off of several articles I've seen, here is one from Practical Self Reliance 2020: Frost Tolerance ~ While tomatoes can perish from a single early frost, litchi tomato is frost tolerant down to 25 degrees F (or -4 degrees C), which means the plants will weather the first fall frosts in northern climates with short growing seasons. In very mild climates, litchi tomatoes develop a woody stem and can actually overwinter to produce the following year

[@debiesubaugher]

@@JustMe-gs9xi my mom grew them in Virginia with no problems, I don't think they would do well during my iowa winters.

[@greenhousefun3235]

Good video. This is the year of the bush in my food Forrest. I planted gooseberry and mulberry. I am going to get the Nanking currant and honey berry. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@PlantFanatics]

Thank you for watching and good luck with your food forest! Keep me up to date. Happy growing!

[@rosem7042]

I just picked up some honeyberries! They're dormant right now, but I'll find a decent patch where they don't get our brutal afternoon sun in the summer. You've almost convinced me to get a goji, too.

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

goji's are very cool. i got mine from fast-growing trees... (not cheap, but i buy good quality fruit plants if at all possible),,,,,,,,, I love it!,,,, It grows like Crazy,, you can trim it,, it was FILLED with goji berries and i kept picking them as they ripen for like 2 months,,,, the fruit has to be picked at JUST the right moment,,, Bright Red,,when they just take no pull to get them off. I was thinking in August i should shade it somehow,,, The Berries ripen so fast in the heat, they can go overripe. (in a day),,,,,, I am getting used to them,,, I've been eating fresh handfuls during the summer,,,, they have one tiny seed inside, I tried to dry them, but my dehydrator is not that great,,,, so they overcooked and were ruined. Im thinking since i have alot growing now,,,i 'might' pick them fresh and ripe,,,, and get mylar freezer bags. they're supposed to last a year?! in those,,, but frozen fresh berries for 6 months would be fine with me. I would love to make jelly or jam with them,,,, but they don't ripen all at the same time,,, so im going to try the freeze method and see if i can get enought this year to make jam. I have one big one,, one i cut and rerooted so another one growing,,, i think it would be Perfect for jam. you could strain out that one seed,,,,, i would like to grow alot of them just for jam,,,, (i think birds go crazy over them,,, so im trying to keep them in places not too far from the house,,,

[@PlantFanatics]

Just make sure you’re cooking with them or using them in a smoothie because straight off the tree they do not taste good at all.

[@pbhello]

awesome!

[@lurvklutt7415]

Subscribed! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, i will be looking into a few of these plants for our garden later this year. Have seen Goomiberries as a great suggestion, curious to see if that will be in your next videos Cheers from Sweden

[@PlantFanatics]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video, and for the kind words! It just might be in the next one... stay tuned. haha, Happy growing!

[@stephenremo9200]

Was just wondering if these are all self pollinating

[@PlantFanatics]

Definitely not all of them. Honeyberries will need a pollinator to set fruit.

[@LittleRapGuy]

nice

[@judykuzmitz4585]

I'm here in michigan and have a nanking cherry that i planted 4 years ago. it has grown to about 4 ft but has yet to flower and as a result no fruit, yet. it is in a sunny location and the soil is average. Do i need to plant another one to get it to flower?

[@markstevenson9080]

I planted one and it took a few years to flower. The fruit are really tiny so don't expect much unless you give it lots of sun and let it grow large so you will have more berries.

[@PlantFanatics]

One plant is all that's necessary in order to have fruit set. Make sure you add compost around your plant starting in early spring, and continuing to add a layer every month throughout the growing season. Stop adding compost about a month out from fall. Also, I always recommend adding a 4-6 inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant the extends out at least 2 ft from the base of the plant. Microbial life will break this mulch down over time and will automatically compost your plant in the future. Continue to keep the mulch at a 4-6 inch layer throughout the life of the plant. Usually adding a little mulch once a year is sufficient in most places. I hope this information helps you out. Thanks so much for the support on the channel. Happy growing!

[@amandalanders6319]

what are some of the most important things to consider when planning a food forest in a zone 4-5? starting from scratch?

[@PlantFanatics]

Type of soil you have, planning to have lots of mulch available to you for water retention and eventual fertilizer, location of the forest, and plants that will grow best in your hardiness zone.

[@JohnLemmon4]

I have 2 goji berry plants. One has bitter berries and the other taste ok. Any way to tell the difference when buying?

[@PlantFanatics]

Mainly just make sure you buy from nurseries that list what varieties they have. If it just says “Goji Berry” that’s not enough information.

[@thesilentone4024]

Can we get a top 10 cold hardy Vegetables?

[@andrewhall7826]

Had trouble getting Goji to fruit, tried different location but still the same and it suckered something terrible in soft ground. Haskap and Currents are my favorite here in zone 2 Alberta. Haskap being very good for the bees, so early to flower.

[@modestoca25]

Me too I can't get my gojis to fruit??

[@Earthy-Artist]

Honey berries sound super great to grow however I have a problem with growing them that is not really a 'problem'. It is that I have a ton of sun most places in my yard {yes I know it's really a huge blessing}. The north side of my yard which is shady doesn't have enough room to grow Honeyberry bushes 😔.

[@PlantFanatics]

I had the exact same "problem" the first year we planted some. They got so sunburned we thought they were goners. We ended up moving them under the canopy of some of our older, more established fruit trees. This seemed to help. The only new "problem" you'll face is planting more fruit trees! Yay!

[@wesh388]

They'll do fine in full sun just put up shade cloth during the hottest months in summer or when you start to notice some sunburn. You'll have to net them anyways for the birds, so just use the same frame from your net to drape a shade cloth over them

[@SpiritOfTheHeretic]

Was thinking currants would be nice in my backyard only to find out they are illegal in my state because of White Pine Blister Rust ☹️

[@PlantFanatics]

Oh wow! What a bummer!

[@shinnam]

Great suggestions. Thanks for using the scientific names, helps when common names can vary so much. Please use celcius temps too. It will help your viewer not in the US, and maybe help Americans and Myanmar get more comfortable with the measurements the rest of the world uses.

[@PlantFanatics]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video! It means so much. Newer videos will include Celsius. Fahrenheit is how the US talks about temperatures and 98% of our subs come from the US. Thats why there is a strong leaning towards Fahrenheit. With the International viewership taking place now it will be added. Happy growing!

[@hirofortis]

having a hard time finding a place to buy seeds for things like honeyberry. any suggestions?

[@PlantFanatics]

Perhaps Tradewind Fruits would carry those types of seeds. I recommend you buy cuttings and root them yourself, or find a plant online or at a local nursery to purchase. Wait times to receive your first crop can take many years from seed. If you enjoy doing it that way (I certainly do for pawpaws and citrus) then by all means do so. Happy growing!

[@MaryrosePurple1]

Alas, the only one of these I want is the currant bush but I live in NC and they are illegal here.

[@PlantFanatics]

Wow! What a bummer!

[@dywanecox4880]

I grow everything on this list. 😂

[@PlantFanatics]

You’re a true plant fanatic then!

[@crystalwinter-powers5208]

Here in nevada, I see alot of American cranberry and thornless hawthorn...am working on cooking with these...we also have currants along the creek and goji berries near a hot springs. Thanks for showing me there are more like these

[@PlantFanatics]

Thanks so much for watching the video! Happy growing!

[@Jeffrich308]

Can you recommend any sources for these plants? Can they be grown from seed?

[@PlantFanatics]

It’s almost always better to find cutting if you can. Finding the plants is always the hardest part with their rarity. We just search around the internet and make connections and hopefully find someone who will send us cuttings.

[@scpatl4now]

You might want to check to see if growing currants is legal where you live. They used to be banned because they carried a disease that was fatal to white pine. It is not federally banned now, but some states do not allow currants to be grown.

[@PlantFanatics]

Of course. Always check local laws and regulations. Happy growing!

[@HomesteadForALiving]

People should not comply with tyrannical laws that ban nature.

[@scpatl4now]

@@HomesteadForALiving It's not exactly tyrannical if you are trying to prevent an ecological disaster, which this disease would have caused. Just think...how many American Chestnuts are there now...almost none and they at one time made up 1/3 of the American east coast forest. They were wiped out due to an imported disease, so there are usually good reasons for these rules. Now, I do believe there are cultivars of currants that no longer carry the disease and some of these rules just need to be updated, but they are still on the books.

[@SgtScourge]

Do the Nanking flowers resist early frost?

[@PlantFanatics]

It depends how hard of a frost it is honestly

[@marian20012]

red currant is common in my country, I am not big fan. the taste is kinda "tongue twister" like lemon. white and black currants are much better.

[@modestoca25]

I can't get my gojis to fruit, any suggestions?

[@PlantFanatics]

Always mulch around your plants for water retention and for microbial breakdown of the mulch to eventually feed the plants. Add roughly 4-6 inches of mulch around the base of the plant. Make sure your Goji is in full sun in order to have largest fruit production. Soil health is very important and another great thing you can start doing is adding compost around the base of your plant starting in early spring and continuing about once a month throughout the growing season if you can. Stop composting once fall hits. I hope this information helps you out. You do those things and you're set up for success. Happy growing!

[@susanfreeman5340]

I wish I could figure out why my Nanking cherry doesn't flower

[@PlantFanatics]

How long has it been in the ground?

[@916619jg]

Not all goji berry plants taste good. One plant can taste completely different than another. They can grow huge and be invasive as well. Mine grew at least 15' tall. And they are thorny....

[@Jimdandy-w8c]

That is correct,luckily mine closely resemble the flavor of tomatoes but in tiny form ,with throw them in our salads since they taste like tiny fingernail sized tomatoes

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

@@Jimdandy-w8c yes,, mine are really yummy,,, you have to pick them JUST at the right moment.

[@eleanorerosanova7538]

How high heat can Nanking take ?

[@PlantFanatics]

Its reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit here on multiple occasions and its handled it like a champ.

[@beakj]

Love your video, but I wish you would also write the temperatures in Celsius, for us Europeans. :D and maybe the height in cm?

[@PlantFanatics]

We’ll definitely try to do that moving forward!

[@beakj]

Thank you :)

[@silverrose7554]

Honey berry are hard to keep in pots . And u mmmmmmust have a pollinator or no fruit ! Get 4 when one dies you still have one

[@ErelasInglor]

It's important to also look into local regulations regarding some of these, as non-natives unattended can spread and do harm. Better to market our native and local bushes for fruit.

[@PlantFanatics]

Absolutely, local regulations should always be heeded. Many plants that we would consider natives today in the fruiting world aren’t. It depends how one chooses to look at what a native truly is. If a plant has grown here 100 years? 500 years? 1000 years? Just food for thought. Happy Growing!!

[@amcken]

If its edible, non-hybrid and grows in my zone, I'm planting it native or otherwise.

[@veeselevatedconsciousness8843]

But all you have are figs? Are the tree cuttings barren too? Just need to know because you are advertising a lot of different stuff? I do not see any fruitful trees for sale , only figs?

[@patrikfrisk6516]

I thought Black currents was illegal in USA. I never got the reason for it though

[@PlantFanatics]

There is a disease that affects White Pines. The disease affects both the health of the Currant and the Pine Tree. Now there are varieties which are resistant to this disease. Definitely worth growing! Happy growing!

[@expatconn7242]

Where do you get these at .

[@PlantFanatics]

You can usually find them online from plant nurseries. If you're really luck your local plant nursery might carry some of them. Happy growing!

[@jimchallender4616]

Can I assume these are Perennial?

[@PlantFanatics]

Absolutely. Every plant listed is in fact a perennial. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video! Happy growing!

[@secretgarden4877]

Honeyberry is an older variety of Haskap. If you look up Haskap you will come up with the newer varieties that are sweeter and bigger. They need to be planted with a pollinator and usually come as a set. And just a heads up, the birds love them and will strip your bushes if you arent watching. I grow mine in northern Alberta and use them in crisps and a really tasty mead.

[@PlantFanatics]

Great advice and knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

[@wesh388]

Honeyberry is not a variety of haskaps. Both terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same plant. The term haskap comes from Japan and it's what they call them there. Over here, they use the term honeyberry because it sounds better for marketing.

[@danieledwards4274]

New subscriber here. Great content! I'm zone 7A zip code 23005!

[@PlantFanatics]

Thanks for the sub! Glad to have you here. Happy growing!

[@dstringf]

I’m disappointed with the Goji berries I planted a few years ago. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but I’ve found them to have no real flavor.

[@PlantFanatics]

There are different varieties of Goji Berries. They are not the best tasting for fresh eating, but they are jam packed with vitamins and minerals. Even if you don't like the taste you could easily throw them in a smoothie with other fruits and eat them purely for their health benefits. Try growing the Black Goji or Golden Goji. Both are harder to find.

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

I wish you would share cil hours along with cold hardiness. Does no good to grows a plant that requires 500 plus, in an area that gets less, and only rarely freezes.

[@PlantFanatics]

There will most likely always be some piece of the puzzle that I may miss, or simply didn't place in the video for times sake. However, I try to give just a slight overview of these plants and leave a desire to research more in the future for you guys. After all, the most exciting part is the search. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video. Happy growing!

[@ColCurtis]

It would be nice if you would add Celsius temperature measurements as most of the world uses it.

[@PlantFanatics]

We’ll try to do it moving forward. A majority of our followers are in the US so we haven’t gotten too many complaints about it. I appreciate you letting us know

[@wesh388]

Because we're in America, convert it yourself. It's not hard

[@VladimirKelman]

Fresh goji berries are barely edible.... Black currants are among the tastiest of any berry.

[@PlantFanatics]

I'm always very specific in saying that gojis are not my choice for a fresh eating berry. They go great in smoothies when mixed with other fruit. But they always grow in my yard due to the health properties. And I agree, Black Currants are absolutely amazing! Happy growing!

[@VladimirKelman]

@@PlantFanatics - yes, I still have one goji berry bush as well. And I know they are very nutritious and healthy. Somehow I like the taste of dried goji better than fresh. Currants, and especially blackcurrants are common to grow in Russia. Everybody who has a garden grow them. And it's a favorite plant for me to grow here in the US as well.

[@PlantFanatics]

@@VladimirKelman It seems like Goji's get a bump in flavor from drying, and I think thats probably the most common way they are sold. You should also grow the Black and Golden Gojis. In my opinion they are of a better flavor. Though much harder to find.

[@Aeon08897]

3 Countries in the world use Fahrenheit, THREE. Why not use Celsius or at the very least, show both temperatures!

[@PlantFanatics]

Future videos will now have both temperatures. I understand that a few countries use Fahrenheit, and I happen to live in one of them. 98% of my subscribers are from the US. That means only 2% of my subs use Celsius. Please be patient with us as we work through the growth the channel has received. Happy growing!