Further wild fruit
Wild and yet cultivated
Wild fruit or wild fruit is the fruit of fruit species that have undergone little cultivation. There are isolated cultivars. The transition to cultivated fruit is therefore often blurred. It is therefore not always possible to distinguish between wild and cultivated fruit.
Wild fruit is grown commercially, albeit to a much lesser extent than in intensive fruit growing. In general, it should be noted that sometimes only individual species of a genus produce edible and culinary fruits.
Here are some examples of proven varieties for commercial cultivation and those that have potential:
Actinidia arguta - Minikiwi
The small-fruited "sister" of the kiwi is creeping, very frost-hardy and predominantly dioecious like the well-known, hairy, large-fruited kiwi Actinidia deliciosa. The mostly gooseberry-sized fruits of Actinidia arguta can be eaten together with the smooth skin.
Amelanchier species - rock pear
Amelanchier lamarckii, growth height up to 5 m, grow in multiple shoots, shrub-like and do not have high site requirements. They have copper-colored shoots, cream to silver-white flowers arranged in clusters from mid to late April, splendid autumn colouring and purple, frosted, pea-sized, very sweet fruits. A. laevis ‘Ballerina’ produces a slightly larger fruit. In addition to raw and dried consumption, it can also be processed into juice, jam and compote.
Asimnia triloba - Indian banana
The Indian banana is an interesting, exotic-looking niche product that should also be cultivated in Germany - at least for the local market / direct sales - due to its many positive characteristics. The novelty value, exoticism, robustness, easy cultivation, possible organic cultivation, little pruning effort and favorable ingredients with positive values of amino acids and higher values of vitamins A and C than e.g. Apple as well as the positive, promotional name "Indian banana".
Chaenomeles - ornamental or mock quince
Like the real quince (Cydonia oblonga), the fruit of the mock quince can be processed into jelly, mixed juice, quince bread, liqueur and even wine. The intense, orange-red flower color of ‘Cido’ is captivating. The name "Nordic lemon" underlines the high vitamin C content of the Chaenomeles species, whose juice is considered a natural preservative. For the cultivation of this undemanding ornamental quince, a foot stem and spindle-like training is advantageous.
Cornus mas - Cornelian cherry
Cornelian cherry is an interesting fruit tree with high ornamental value due to its early flowering and attractive autumn color. The olive-sized "cherries", which are scarlet red when fully ripe in September but also somewhat tart, can be eaten raw or processed into jam, jelly, jam, juice, liqueur, wine and brandy. Special fruit varieties of this very robust, undemanding shrub are 'Jolico' and 'Schönbrunner Gourmetdirndl', which bear larger fruit and have significantly larger buds and flowers compared to the wild form.
Corylus avellana - Hazelnut
The hazelnut is not a medicinal plant, but it does contain a lot of fats (over 60%) and proteins, calcium, iron and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. As a food, like all other nuts, it is therefore of great health value. As a food, like all other nuts, it is therefore of high health value.
Hazelnuts grow as a small tree or shrub. They grow up to 6 m high and prefer nutrient-rich soil. Many varieties have been bred for yield cultivation. These include `Webb's prize nut', ‘Wunder aus Bollweiler’ and ‘Nottingham's earliest’.
Schisandra chinensis - split hazelnut
The Chinese split hazelnut (Schisandra chinensis), also known as Chinese berry grape or Chinese lime tree (chin. Wu Wei Zi), is a plant species from the Schisandra genus in the star anise family (Schisandraceae). The medicinal plant, which originates from China, has been used for over 2000 years as a medicine to build up and strengthen various forms of weakness. Schisandra berries contain a large number of effective ingredients, the study of which has not yet been completed. The antioxidant, radical-scavenging effect, which is mainly attributable to the lignan schisandrin B, can now be considered proven in view of many studies.
Lonicera kamtschatika - Hedge blueberry, Siberian blueberry
Lonicera kamtschatica is extremely frost-hardy in both wood and flower. They thrive in a wide range of locations. Supplementary irrigation is not absolutely necessary due to the early ripening period, but can be useful on light soils. Diseases and pests have not appeared so far, so plant protection measures are generally not necessary.
The ripening time in early locations is from the end of May and therefore well before strawberries and currants. When fully ripe, the fruits are sweet with a blueberry-like flavor. The content of vitamin C and other secondary ingredients is high. Lonicera fruits are interesting for direct sales and a special feature in a varied assortment that customers are increasingly demanding.