What unusual fruit are you growing in the Vancouver area?

I was just out in my gardens harvesting the Poncirus trifoliata - with every intention of making a marmalade out of them - and started wondering what edibles other people are growing in their gardens.

Here are a few weird and unusual fruits that will grow here in Vancouver:

Poncirus trifoliata aka bitter orange 'Flying Dragon'
* good for juicing or marmalades


Holboellia coriacea aka sausage vine or china blue vine
* tastes pretty bland and has an odd creamy texture


Actinidia chinensis aka gold kiwi 'Sunshine'
* yellow fleshed and sweet they are entirely edible, including the skin


Mespilus germanica aka 'Breda Giant' medlar
* once the fruit has bletted they have the taste and consistency of apple sauce


Let me know what you are growing...

 

Pmurphy, do you know where you can buy the gold kiwi variety? I've never seen them for sale, and I thought that the patent holder was deliberately withholding the plants from sale to the public.

 

You can't.
I was able to purchase three 24" tall plants out of the US about 6 years ago and shortly after that grower was no longer selling them.

 

Not what you're asking about, but I've seen the small smooth-skinned kiwi fruits at my local green grocer this year. They have one of those plants at UBCBG in the food garden, seem to do well around here.

 

Mostly like one of the varieties of Actinidia arguta - I harvested enough of mine ('Issai', 'Ken's Red' and a third unidentified variety) to make 9 jars of jam this year.

 

Pmurphy, regarding what we're growing, I'm trying out Acca/Feijoa sellowiana. I purchased a (probably three year old) seedling plant last year, along with a packet of seeds. The bought plant and 16 new seedlings survived last winter quite well with some mulch for protection, and I sprouted 14 more seedlings this year for planting in a less sheltered location. The idea is to let natural selection identify the hardiest of the seedlings. Do you or anyone else on this forum have any experience with this species, which is supposed to have very tasty fruit but probably needs more summer heat than our climate provides.

 

I actually know of a local gentleman who gets fruit from his plants but he is not a member of this forum. If you want to PM me I can speak with him and pass along your contact info.

 

Hello Feijoa grower,
How are your plants doing 3 years later? Any fruit yet? Any advice about how to position them? Might they fruit best against a south facing wall? Or is there no need for that?
Thank-you!

 

There are long-growing plants at Royal Roads, I don't know if they ever get to fruiting stage. Might want to check with the horticulturists there.

 

My Feijoa plants received a real hardiness test this past winter, with a low of -15.3C at YVR and -13C on my backyard thermometer. All of the unsheltered plants lost all or almost all of their leaves, and the two lightly sheltered plants (mulch around the bases) lost fewer leaves. So far, I can't tell if any of them actually survived because there is no sign of opening buds. I'll know more after the weather warms up in May. None have bloomed so far.