Chokeberry (Aronia) harvest - grow a superfruit for $2/plant and requires little water!

[@heppylifestyle]

i'm working on the smoothie vid now!! ;) total no-brainer. we tossed-in some Elderberry fruit too -- kids would go nuts over the color!!

[@baneverything5580]

I have a 100ft blackberry patch to blend with the Chokeberries to make a medicinal syrup. Hopefully my fig tree doesn`t freeze and produces fruit in its second year. It was 5 inches when I planted it. Now it has several three ft branches. I took two cuttings and have those rooting inside. One has started growing tiny leaves so that`s a good sign. I`ve never had Brown Turkey figs. Everyone grows Celeste in central Louisiana. My sister who has never gardened keeps "forgetting" to get cuttings from someone she knows so I`ll have to order trees. I have no car. So growing food is about survival for me. Freezes have destroyed my frost tolerant winter gardens two years in a row. It got down to zero twice. My Florida Broadleaf Mustard is GIGANTIC right now and I have turnips, radishes, cabbage, kohlrabi, mint, beets, sweet peas and other things growing. I planted garlic and already have seed potatoes ready. I`m growing as much as possible inside too and dug up a small Moringa tree and brought it in.

[@heppylifestyle]

wow! Mustard, turnips, radishes, cabbage, kohlrabi, mint, beets, sweet peas -- very nice! yes, odd cold weather events are throwing us a curve ball. we're getting a sustained freezing event in late fall these days. stopped my kiwis from ripening. you're a very active gardener -- great work! 🐞

[@teddimcrae9963]

I'm in Ontario and figs grow here. We cover them up for winter 🙂

[@sandiam7809]

I just planted 11 of them waiting for a couple more!

[@OceanFrontVilla3]

That's a lot, lol, but you can make juice too. I make low sugar jam and freeze them. I have 4 bushes

[@tairarankin2800]

I just found these sequoia mountains, ca. I’ve been watching them, impatiently. I think I picked mine a little early. Thank you for the information!!

[@heppylifestyle]

;). jet-black is the color; it's too early if you eat some and start talking funny cause of the astringency 🤣. the fruit hang on the plant well / for a long time; birds may show up but you'll figure it it ;) thanks for stopping by. Chokeberry is a well-studied, well-proven super duper fruit. heppy.org/chokeberry be good, pete moss

[@tovcovehomestead4694]

Thank you for the info. I have a some aronia and since this year is my first time harvesting I wanted to make sure I knew what the berries should look and feel like when ripe. Your video is the only video I found that gave that info. Thanks again for the help!!

[@heppylifestyle]

@@tovcovehomestead4694 thank you for the feedback, and thanks for stopping by 👨‍🌾. Jet black fruit is best; the freeze perfectly well and last a long time in the freezer 🤗

[@ecosgarcia]

Keep the videos coming, please! Thank you!

[@heppylifestyle]

well thank you!!! more vids r coming my friend!!

[@amanda69]

Thank you for the great information. I wanted to buy some of these,but they are sold out😢 I wish I would have found this video a few months ago.

[@heppylifestyle]

sorry to hear about the sold-out stock; did you check State Nurseries (not expensive) or regular nurseries (expensive)? heppy.org/products#US_State_Nurseries. if you find better or new info, then please let me know! i hope your a subscriber! ;) take care 😃🐞

[@iamthewelcher]

Wow , nice work!! I hope to see plenty more from you sir !!

[@heppylifestyle]

thank you iamthewelcher! we had an 'ok' harvest this year. last year was huge; this year was ok ;) thank you for stopping by & for subscribing! Chokeberry (Aronia) are super nutritious: heppy.org/chokeberry#Aronia_berry_Benefits

[@singhgurmail6186]

Thanks for your information. Really appreciate it.

[@heppylifestyle]

@singhgurmail6186 thank you! i added content and details in this 2024 vid, kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKLWoICdiJp-o68 i'm making my Aronia Berry smoothie right now ;) thanks for stopping by and plz sub and share!

[@charlesbale8376]

I found the information very useful.

[@heppylifestyle]

well thank you Charles! thanks for stopping by....

[@beautifulwo]

Thank you for sharing. Smothie is a great idea to consume such a nutritious fruit!!!

[@grantbrown3647]

Thank you for your video. Your question about fruit trees not requiring much watering(if at all). We have the Natal Plum from here in South Africa that you might like too. Its apparantly already available in those United States, and favored.

[@heppylifestyle]

thank you Grant! i looked her up this morning. she may be the Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa), aka, Amatungulu. i read things i like: an evergreen; fragrant white flowers; showy edible red fruits; and typically small, at 5 to 7 feet tall (but can get taller). then i saw that she's a warm climate girl and we may get too cold :(. i'll keep an eye on it; we do have a few zone 8 girls that i overwinter inside. thanks for stopping by. plz sub!, pete moss.

[@thehomicidalduck6867]

Wandering around the hospital when I found some had no idea they had edible fruiting plants around

[@TimberwolfOutdoorLife]

Thanks for the informative video! I'm going to do some research and if I can grow this in my area, I'm definitely going to give it a try.

[@heppylifestyle]

it's deer candy but other than that, they totally take care of themselves and people should be eating a cup of the fruit per day (if only i was the King..... ;) hope you find space. Zone: 3 to 8. will fruit best in full sun. check your state forestry nursery. i LOVE the vid on the two Whipporwhills

[@TimberwolfOutdoorLife]

@@heppylifestyle Thanks!

[@glenhouse46]

Brilliant video. Ive got a dozen of these guys growing here in Ireland. I tell the neighbours that they thrive on neglect..

[@heppylifestyle]

Ireland! that is awesome!!!!! so glad these girls made it to your neck of the woods. many (real) studies show it's super super healthy fruit! thanks for stopping by glenhouse, and thanks for the feedback, pete moss.

[@glenhouse46]

@@heppylifestyle Great vids Pete. I have a feeling that Aronia will grow anywhere. We are not exactly overwhelmed with heat here in Ireland. Must try and get some of the berries myself next year. All the birds in the area are now super-healthy tanked up with antioxidants!

[@heppylifestyle]

@@glenhouse46 oh man, those will be fast flying, gnarly tanked up birds. damn birds :). i think our birds are too small or too retarded to figure out the Chokeberries. they found the Goumi berries this yr but not the Chokeberries. fingers crossed ;). thanks again for the feedback. be good, pete

[@rafaelfleitas5038]

It's been just a couple a days since I learned about Chokeberry and I am amazed about everything I find out in every step of this new discovery in my life. I have only just one problem, I live down in Venezuela, the capital city of Caracas and I would like to know if it would be possible to to grow chokeberry in our tropical climate, considering that it requires very little water. I live in suburban part of the city, where climate turns to be barely cool. If so, I would imagine I could get some 5 or 10 plants through Amazon and have them shipped down here in a vaccum package and proceed to give a try. Please let me have your opinion. I enjoyed your video. By the way I am 79 years old and I am trying my best to have the best final year of my life.

[@OceanFrontVilla3]

Great video, hope you're well. Any aronia jam recipes?

[@heppylifestyle]

@snowbird6855 thank you! yup, but forgot to mention it in my fresh (2024) vid, kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKLWoICdiJp-o68 got it from Roy at www.chesterriveraronia.com/ the jam was loaded with berries. take care and i hope all is well with you 🐞

[@charlesbale8376]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@heppylifestyle]

thank you, and thanks for stopping by!

[@graysongrant7532]

This is 311… Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏽

[@heppylifestyle]

Super duper fruit. Tour very welcome Grayson, and thanks for stopping by!

[@ronnipassmore8717]

I live in Colorado and my Aronia is 15 feet tall and an ABUNDANT crop this year! ❤️❤️❤️

[@heppylifestyle]

wow -- she's healthy Ronni. super super healthy fruit. freezes well and perfect in shakes. have fun!

[@alleyoop5185]

Great video! I’m in central Illinois and I have a beautiful bush that I bought at a tree nursery sale ten tears ago. It’s now about ten ft. Tall and loaded with berries. I picked a couple gallons in mid august and froze them. Then I went back and picked the very tops in mid sept. I found quite a few berries in the sept. harvest were filled with a tiny beetle type bug. So I’m thinking if I wait too long the bugs do like them also:)) Your right about maintaining them. I don’t think I watered them ever except when I planted them.

[@heppylifestyle]

wow -- 10' tall!!! that's a healthy girl! u have a great location & soil. but picking in Sept ... i hope is Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). be careful! the fruit DEFINETLEY hangs on the plant but just be careful. the fruit's taste is distinct. the fruit freezes well. enjoy a tasty shake often because the evidence points to a VERY healthy fruit! thx for stopping by Alley Oop. hope u subscribed. gracias, pete moss.

[@alleyoop5185]

@@heppylifestyle at least 8 foot anyways:)

[@lexusarejan8859]

Awesome Videos Sir..! Love it!! Very Informative,,

[@heppylifestyle]

well thank you LEXUS88 Arejan! thanks for stopping by and thx for subscribing!

[@tanvigawde1612]

Just saw this In my nursery. Planning to go and buy it! Is chokeberry, autumn magic a good variety?

[@heppylifestyle]

hey tanvigawde1612. hi! i don't know about that variety; Viking & ?Nemo? are common. we have Viking and another 10 were native cultivars purchased from a State nursery (not always available but inexpensive when they are....). now, that was a HOT tip! u subscribed?!?!? don't be cheap :) thanks for stopping by, pete moss

[@madmecyr]

Does this make a good pie? I'm getting my first fruits now and was told they hold on the branches pretty long and the longer they go the sweeter they get? Your thoughts?

[@heppylifestyle]

well, the pie question i can't answer, sadly. i'm "kitchen challenged." well, bakeing-wise :/. i have baked Blackberry cobbler; however, Chokeberry are a very firm fruit. oh, YES plz -- pick the fruit when it's super black in color. try one; if ripe, you'll get a hint of sweetness and, no (or VERY little) astringentness. and yes, the fruit hold on the branches very well. in fact, they'll even get raisin'ish (over-ripe) before they fall off. GREAT questions. thanks for stopping by!

[@phild8095]

Damn, you have hedges of these. I bought 25 from Iowa DNR, good price, good shipping. They will arrive in April bare root for planting. We have deer in town, but I have a big dog that pees all over the yard.

[@heppylifestyle]

buying from State's DNR is a great idea! They'll take a few years to mature but 25 is a nice grouping! about deer. you'll soon find out how well the big pooch helps because i list Chokeberry as 'deer candy.' keep an eye on 'em 🙂

[@phild8095]

@@heppylifestyle 25 for about $44 including shipping. Iowa DNR will ship to many states besides Iowa. Last year was plum trees same price, shipping was less. I will give about half of these to friends and neighbors. I've only got half an acre. Also have blackberry, blueberry, blueberry, apple and grapes. And 1,500 square foot garden.

[@heppylifestyle]

@@phild8095 very nice garden and nice neighbor -- why to go! btw, thank you for the tip. i just added Iowa DNR to my list of State resource departments, heppy.org/products/#US_State_Nurseries

[@Kay-xi9kv]

Do they need fertilizer? If so, what do you use?

[@heppylifestyle]

@Kay-xi9kv i stopped fertilizing my plants (I build DEEP mounds of organic soil). FYI -- it's ALL about the soil (this my plea to folks regarding 'sustainability'). But you ask a GREAT question. from University of Nebraska: (1) low rate / moderate amount of fertilizer is best for plant growth, vigor, and long-term survival. Use 10-10-10 NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). (2) don't over-fertilize; that will cause too much soft growth that attracts aphids. (3) apply in autumn or very early spring.

[@martinraeside]

Passing them around friends, I found 3 out of 4 people thought they were pleasant raw. The aftertaste to me is like you just had a glass of red wine - must be the tannin, I suppose.

[@heppylifestyle]

excellent comparison (wine). off the chart health benefits: heppy.org/chokeberry/#Aronia_berry_Benefits thx for stopping by Martin.

[@baneverything5580]

I have seeds stratifying in my fridge here in zone 8 Louisiana. I hope it can do well in partial shade. I have an open sunny area but also some shady areas I hope to find a fruit crop for. I need to start blueberries here. My nephew killed two big bushes in the summer by being lazy. I would have gotten cuttings had I known what was happening. It`s so frustrating.

[@heppylifestyle]

Sorry to hear about the challenges but good work on your perseverance!

[@baneverything5580]

The extreme heat and severe drought this past summer was the worst I`ve seen in just over a decade, but we get this about every 10 years. Things should be much better this year with El Nino expected to end sometime in spring. My winter greens are doing very well and my turnips will be ready for a decent first harvest in about 10 days. I hope I can grow these berries to mix with my blackberries for syrups, jams, and wine. I hope the birds like them too. I`m planning to plant the birds their own fig trees they can have away from mine. @@heppylifestyle

[@heppylifestyle]

ur inspiring me to get off my duff and start growing more veggies! i always planned to do it; however, don't plant too many (like, only tomatoes in the summer). i've been weeding and am seeing my composty soil is SO rich and it's weeds that I'm pulling and not veggies! carry on@@baneverything5580! thanks for stopping by!​

[@baneverything5580]

In fall I just throw some of the bulk seeds around my garden and let them grow and stick some beet seeds in the ground here and there. I bought bulk packages from Everwilde Farms and about a tablespoon full of each type like radish, turnip and mustard scattered around is the easy way. In spring I threw some mustard seeds around between the okra, peas and squash and by fall after the first cool weather all the survivors suddenly grow huge leaves. A few will begin making seeds in late summer and continue blooming through the winter. The stalks on some of my Florida Broadleaf mustard leaves are way larger than celery and that part is mild and not peppery like the raw leaves. I eat some leaves raw every day though for the vitamins and cancer fighting spicy compounds. If you have nematodes you can chop mustard up with a mower and till it into the soil green to control them. They sell much spicier non edible mustard seeds that are better for doing this. It`s the only thing home gardeners can do about root nematode problems. @@heppylifestyle

[@heppylifestyle]

@@baneverything5580 nice garden! VERY interesting root nematode solution too! thank you!

[@uaus3321]

Are those you are harvesting in the video are named varieties or just grown seedlings? Thank you!

[@heppylifestyle]

Hey UA. Viking is the cultivar in the vid. three plants. in 2021 we purchased another 10 bare root from a US State nursery. those 10, i believe, are native Aronia melanocarpa (non-cultivar). you can't go wrong eating this fruit but eating it in a smoothie is a WHOLE lot tastier.... maria and i make a smoothie here (no big secret, just mix Aronia with banana & milk & cinnamon & stuff): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmmqgniXn5ehipo

[@jamesbarron1202]

I see differing opinions on their tendency to sucker and form thickets. I’m in sand so that would probably make them sucker even more. Have you noticed them suckering? Wild plums are very bad about that here.

[@heppylifestyle]

hi James. yup, i read that they sucker too but ours do not. a lot of new growth from around the base but nothing 'popping up' away from the base. we have four mature girls, and another 10 we planted 2 years ago. no suckering, so far. i'm learning about the wild plums (mature trees maybe 4-5 yrs old) we're getting a little suckering. thanks for the heads up.... take care, pete moss

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@heppylifestyle I killed every wild plum on my property. They form thickets so bad you can’t walk thru them.

[@karenforrester1844]

Who do you keep the birds for eating them before I can get to them.

[@heppylifestyle]

u have hungry birds! our birds can be a pain but not so much with Chokeberry. someday i'll experiment with bird mitigation things (owls, fluttering things, etc). sorry to hear that they're scarfing the fruit! but you'll have darn healthy birds -- be careful 😂 thanks for stopping by!

[@sueknowski6650]

Hello, I thought red chokeberries were also edible?

[@heppylifestyle]

they may be; i say maybe because i don't remember researching it (NIH / PubMed); HOWEVER :), at a nursery last summer, i gobbled several red chokeberries. they were totally fine. online i read this and that; if i don't know something personally, i attempt to translate it to my audience; in parallel, i'm planting them (any edible fruiting plant for zone 7) and will give the 'pete moss' honest feedback ;). FOR sure, i'll have them in the garden, gobble my fruit, have the research in-hand, and will give unbiased feedback. sorry, the caffeine has kicked in.... take care Sue, pete moss

[@corydeguzman2348]

will it thrive in a climate like philippines?

[@heppylifestyle]

i'm so sorry; i just won't know how well it grows in the Philippines. you'd have to look at high/low temperatures of US plant zones, 3 to 8. 3 is SUPER cold; 8 is warm. i can say that the Chokeberry is very hardy plant. i hope you do some research for the Philippines. Thanks for stopping by, pete moss.

[@postscript123]

Where do you get free wood chips? It's like $5/bag for pine at Lowe's.

[@heppylifestyle]

i literally meet/greet local folks chipping trees and offer them a place to dump chips; i've placed an post in craigslist; i've not used this service (getchipdrop.com) but it may work for u. i understand that everyone has different localities and space; here in Maryland they're chipping trees and vegitation ... like, daily. hope all this help, and thanks for stopping by!

[@heppylifestyle]

i see ur request for link to forestry nursery for Aronia. check your state's nursery; Virginia, Maryland, and New Hampshire are three that come to my mind. on a webpage, I want to list all relevant State Nurseries. i just google for them in winter and look at what they're selling ;)

[@martinraeside]

So glad I managed to get one of these - not well know in the UK yet.

[@heppylifestyle]

nice work Martin!

[@janejanis9199]

so they are dehydrate-able?

[@heppylifestyle]

Great question; very likely that they are. The size of a blueberry but a drier fruit. Picked fruit last for a LONG time in the freezer, which is how we store them 🙂

[@gokaykandemir]

Hello

[@heppylifestyle]

Hello (Merhaba) Türkiye!

[@victoriafisher6934]

Are these the same as choke cherries.?????????

[@heppylifestyle]

hey Victoria, chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is EASILY confused with the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) :/ the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a truly verified superfruit. search & grow "Aronia melanocarpa" if interested! :) more is here: heppy.org/chokeberry be good, and thanks for stopping by!

[@alleyoop5185]

Victoria, the choke cherry has a pit in it, the pit has arsenic in it so you should never swallow it. Choke berries have several seeds somewhat like a fig. Actually it’s not arsenic but an enzyme which the body converts to a cyanide.

[@kentdavis7787]

I’ve seen some chokeberry descriptions that say sun or part shade and 4-6 feet tall. Do they grow in shade? My yard is woodlandish with dabbled sunlight. Are there cultivars that are only 4-6 feet?

[@heppylifestyle]

Hi Kent. my mature girls are 5' and i can see them go to 6' without pruning. about shade: all my girls are full sun so to get maximum fruit. yes, i can imagine they tolerate part shade but like all fruiting plants, they'll produce fewer flowers & fruit. dabble sunlight is good and technically, they may do just fine. it's a super nutritious fruit. thanks for stopping by & plz subscribe, pete moss

[@kentdavis7787]

@@heppylifestyle I found a place in my yard for a chokeberry but it’s only about 4 feet diameter. Would it be easy to maintain it in that space? Or should I try to grow it somewhere it can spread out? Thanks for any advice

[@heppylifestyle]

@@kentdavis7787 4' area is adequate however, be mindful of sunlight. they tolerate shade but thrive (and bloom & fruit) best in full sun. the more sun, the more stuff to eat ;). but yes, this is a polite, upright plant. prune any limbs that may go sorta sideway; the rest of the plant will be upright. thanks for stopping by Kent!

[@mcelroymountainlearningaca5952]

So I made the mistake of picking some before they were ripe. I don’t want to waste them do you have any recommendations?😢

[@heppylifestyle]

Sorry to hear that; yes, when unripe they are astringent. I'm sorry, I don't have a recommendation.

[@mcelroymountainlearningaca5952]

Thank you anyways.

[@gabby0329.]

Can the seeds be ingested?

[@heppylifestyle]

yup, and thanks for checking out the 'make-a-shake' vid ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmmqgniXn5ehipo

[@Bright_iiii_s]

Leathery kind of texture seems to me.

[@heppylifestyle]

yup, can be ;). and we're pickin' now -- sounds like u r too! we don't water ours so yup, sorta like dry fruit. smoothies are the ticket; chokeberry SO blends-in with banana & some milk (cow, almond, soy). am glad you're eating them -- VERY nutritious fruit (studies posted on, heppy.org/chokeberry). thx for the feedback Bright i. be good, pete moss

[@lexusarejan8859]

Can i Avail of Plant Aronia Berry Sir?

[@heppylifestyle]

hi LEXUS88 Arejan. i think you asking about getting the Aronia plant. my best source is U.S. State Forestry nurseries. if interested, hit me at [e-mail] for specific nurseries ;) are you in North America? thanks for stopping by and thx for subscribing!

[@martinraeside]

For a non-native species, the birds sure caught on fast.

[@heppylifestyle]

interesting. birds can take a toll. we noticed a little more bird action this year; the Goumi were 'hit' for the first time and birds were fluttering around our Chokeberries. Maria went out and picked them regularly and we did have a good haul. i hope you beat the birds too!

[@martinraeside]

@@heppylifestyle I don't grudge them, really. They were here first.

[@martinraeside]

And maybe some random bushes will appear in the neighbourhood.

[@heppylifestyle]

@@martinraeside i 100% agree.

[@heppylifestyle]

@@martinraeside ;). it's only a matter of time ;)

[@Morrisonjuicen]

You said the health benefits 5 minutes and 40 seconds into it if you would have started with that I would have been hooked off the bat. I like using another plant as well for other things you were looking for super fruits lol let's use that as a lucid term Florida cranberry less use at also as a lucid term also known as Jamaican sorrow Roselle and throughout the planet and jut also related a hibiscus also related to cannabis okra produces delta 5 cold-press probably extracted some other way out of the seeds which is called a anti-cholesterol or technically a steroid with a gut benefits and heart benefits that I don't even know about yet I'm on my third season growing it down in Okeechobee how do I get in touch I would love to grow a couple clippings and love to share a bunch of the genetics that I've surrounded myself with in this lifetime msg me Zac Reddy I would love to share some of my seed library and learn more

[@heppylifestyle]

hi Morrisonjuicen! well-documented health benefits: heppy.org/chokeberry#Aronia_berry_Benefits i appreciate your kindness in sharing; i'm running on 'all cylinders' right now. let me know how your gardening evolves and thanks for stopping by!, pete moss