Blåbärstry (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica) hailed as the Superbar in last issue of the paper return and I can only agree. It is easy to grow and extremely hardy, although it would like to have a little more acidic soil for good fruit set. The flowers tolerate whole 8 Below Freezing, so that they can bloom very early. It also means that it is the earliest berry I know. I harvested the first today from a stately bush by the name 'Olga', it tasted sour and good, as the name suggests is similar to the blueberry in flavor.
I have previously promised to report how it went with apple trees which we grafted on the first date of our forest garden course. To my great joy (and some surprise, because I did not feel so sure to graft) it has gone very well. Most trees are in the pipeline and several look like they will turn out soon. Two years ago I had zero slips which took about ten I had grafted, so it is a big improvement.
The success this time learning depend on a good technology review of ympexperten Bosse Blomqvist, right materials and not least a good finishing, as I've probably botched the. The small trees were until recently in tubs filled with a little water in a rather airy outhouse and therefore not exposed to any frost, while also not have been too hot. I also snipping away all the shots from the rootstock, so that the tree puts all its energy scion instead. Now we have to continue watering the trees over the summer, tie them up and winter keep them in a good way, so they can be planted out next year.
