Chokeberry fruit is TRUE superfruit. it's also called, Aronia. the human health qualities are WELL published, heppy.org/chokeberry#Aronia_berry_Benefits. this is a looooooong vid so check-out the Chapter descriptions!
And now I see how they get the whip size version of choke berry 😂 i have this tree on my patio in grow bags. I see that maybe it would be more suited in the ground 🪴🌱
They'll grow as an open/airy shrub to about 6-7 feet after 5-7 years. VERY easy to prune (after fruiting or in winter). HIGH quality fruit; HIGH human health qualities. Heppy.org/chokeberry Thanks for growing this plant, and for stopping by!
Fantastic, fantastic video. I inherited a row of bushes used as a hedge which I'm thinking are extremely old, unpruned chokeberries. The branches at the base are huge, gnarled, tangled messes of ancient growth. Now I know how to bring them back to life, thanks to you!!
start at the bottom and be a little harsh pruning. she needs air, to not carry old or funky wood, stuff growing through the middle, etc. my Chokeberry are just showing flower buds (not flowers -- just the bloom buds). zone 7, April 11. it's a VERIFIED superfruit. but...be sure it's chokeberry.... thanks for stopping by Elisa.
I love your brake system I do something similar with all sorts of things that need to be broken down it keeps everything cool and it keeps the moisture look into isopods in springtails you do rolly pollies in other stuff they eat stuff up at least the four most common types of mold
Great video, thanks. I got my first proper crop off my viking aronia just this month. A really generous crop from what was just a single stem two years ago. I just took a dozen cuttings, maybe a bit too late, as one or two leaves are just starting to turn. Very encouraging to see how well mounding works, in case the cuttings fail. This is absolutely my favourite plant just now. Such a good looking bush too. I see viburnum tinus in gardens and nurseries and think of aronia similar look , but actually prettier , plus you get a crop!
i'm soooooooooooooo elated that you're seeing what i'm seeing!! in fact, you have an ideal location if they're growing quick and blooming well!! they can be drought tolerant too; water them to stimulate growth or, in the right location, they don't need to be watered (rain is sufficient). very nice. yes, they are a wonderful blooming plant and yes, and provides a crop! but Martin, this is a genuine superfruit. it's health benefits are WELL studied, heppy.org/chokeberry/#Aronia_berry_Benefits. i study a lot of NIH studies for my plants (heppy.org/plants) and tooooo often i read, "the promising health benefits of [name the plant] warrants further studies." but not the Aronia melanocarpa. it's documented over and over. thanks for stopping by. great comments too. be good, pete moss
I have planted Aronia in my garden. I'm crazy about these berries, and they are easy growing. Every branch on my plant gives fruit. What I don't eat. The chicken are also crazy of choke berries.
GREAT -- i found someone who appreciates Chokeberry! they are a super duper healthy fruit (many studies point to many human-health benefits)! thanks for stopping by!
Just found your channel today! I don't know what cultivar of aronia I have in my garden - I inherited it when my grandparents passed away - but I need to seriously prune that thing. My grandfather would just prune the tops, I think, which is why it would only fruit every second year. Thanks for showing so clearly how to prune and thin it out from the inside, I'm thinking mine is going to take a bit of work... :)
sorry to hear about your Grandparents. thank you for your feedback! you'll have (I hope) great rootstock so a solid pruning of old wood will allow them to regenerate with new, fresh growth. and while the fruit is not as tasty as many, it's SUPER nutritional and works GREAT in a smoothie. thanks for stopping by and please subscribe, pete moss
@Earth_Systems hi. 2023 was a productive year (no pics) and 2024 wasn't (i think it was the heat and i don't water much; historically, not watered). here's my 2024 vid: ua-cam.com/video/2qsoMgS5KmM/v-deo.html the organic farmer i mentioned in vid had a bumper crop; a viewer in PNW has a low-yield yr. is it fert or water or off yr. 2024 was my first off year and my young 10 did great. please subscribe and that's for stopping by!
Watching the rest of your video doing a lot of research a friend asked me not in good health give me about two days I'll be teaching you soon and learn at the same time let me cover all the bases and see what all societies doing with this even big pharma down to Mom pops
My respect for you... do you have a video where you can show us how you plant a chokeberry cutting (purchased or from those obtained from your plants?) I did a little research before asking you and I can confirm that chokeberry, along with sea buckthorn are the best choices for human health...aronia does not have many pests...during the growth of the shoots, aphids appear (under the young leaves at the top of growth) and during flowering and pollination, the hairy beetle (epicometis hirta) which, if I do not take removal measures (chemical or mechanical), can cause great damage, up to the destruction of the aronia crop... I also have 5 aronia plants, planted 4 years ago by someone else and I am interested in their propagation through your method in this video... what can I tell you, from my own experience: - Aronia does not grow in the shade or semi-shade, it prefers sunny places as much as possible during the day; -In very dry periods, it requires watering (evening or early morning) about 2-3 gallons of water for each plant, every 2-3 days until the peak period of drought passes - as you have shown, it requires shortening of branches and "ventilating the bush" starting from the inside of the shrub - in the period after picking the fruits and in the spring, it is necessary to "help" the plant with well-soaked manure (at least 2-3 years old), decomposed and transformed into organic fertilizer, which is placed around the shrub, at a a minimum distance of 10 cm from the center of the bush and a maximum of 40 cm around the outside... - it is important to keep the soil clean, without weeds or the like, which "compete" with the roots of the plant for food from the ground - it is a profitable plant, the price for 1 kilogram of beans is (in my country) 5-6 dollars per kilogram (1000 grams). Thank you for the kindness of the explanations in the video as well as for the answers given to those interested in your experience... much patience in the future, Dan from Romania
That is a thoughtful response, and thank you for your insight! I'll have to google the pest u mentioned (E. hirta). I prefer soil layering as the propagation method because it fits my busy schedule; rooting cuttings may be possible but requires too much attention (for me). Buying 12 inch tall bare root plants is easy here in the States; many states have a subsidized nursery that sells native species at low cost. I fully agree with, and learned from your insights. Yes, they really do want full sun, low competition around the roots, composting, etc. and yes, the health benefits are extraordinary! Thank you for your feedback. BTW, much of my family is from your neighbor, Hungary, are u in North Romania? Just wondering. Thank you for stopping by, and best wishes! 🐞
@@heppylifestyle Thank you for the answer... I don't live in the northern area, but I have many friends from college who live in the northern area of my country. the big problem here is corruption and incompetence (among many other negative aspects)... this fact affects young people, those whose future we must take care of... because of the poor education received in their families and the low level of quality of education, they are only interested in working as little as possible (preferably not working) and receiving a lot of money... what you share through the videos on your own channel, would be something unimaginable..." too much work, too much attention..." or "my parents have money and I can do what I want without working"... as for the respect given to others, it is almost zero... we have reached a country from which it is preferable to leave, than to stay and make your contribution to the general good... I'm 62 years old and I'm passionate, in my free time, about hot peppers (carolina, etc) and fruit trees... my little garden is 10mx50m, as an area and it's almost my only refuge where I hide from the benefits of "civilization" in my country...thanks once again for the kindness and patience with which you explain something I'm really interested in...my respect for your work and I wish you good health , Dan
@@zarzarel1910 well, congratulations on YOUR contribution by setting an example. sadly, you're confirming my intuition that people have lost their innate skills (grow & gather food). yes, my intuition is that our political strife has a very negative affect (prioritizing family, health, and a thoughtful culture). passion to do the right things is inside everyone; we just need leadership to set the example. thank you again for the comments. what i do is selfish -- it really is my passion ;). sincerely, pete
hi Maria -- thanks for stopping by! January to March is a good time to prune ;). just, anytime before she starts to bud & flower (April-May). i believe this was filmed March 9. of course, these are months for the Northern Hemisphere ;). hope you subscribe & Happy Holidays, pete moss
Nice video. I like your passion for these berries. I just got some eight inch chokeberry cuttings, and I'm wondering what to do with them until spring comes. I applied some rooting hormone powder and stuck them in small plastic containers with some potting soil/sand/compost. Should I leave them outside in my Zone 9b under some cover so they don't get snow-covered?
hi John! low maintenance & high human health qualities -- got to love 'em ;) i have tried to root cuttings (with rooting hormone) on very few plants and Chokeberry isn't one of them. sorry, i'm not of much use. BUT, although 9b is plenty warm for them to be outside (with some cover), i think they need to be in a more controlled climate (indoors) until the cuttings start rooting. that's just my intuition. i wish you great success John and thanks for stopping by, pete moss
Say, i inherited a very tall chokecherry bush right next to the house. The tall branches are starting to lean way over and out a bit. Is it ever Ok to prune height by cutting off more at the top? Also, i saw other sites saying to wait until after flowering...its now June. Too late?
i hope you mean Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and not Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) :/ for our Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), i would, and i have pruned leaning/floppy branches with flowers or fruit. if done strategically (the worst leaning branches), all we're doing is giving the plant LESS branches & flowers & fruit to feed. the remaining branches & flowers & fruit should be healthier. just the other day i topped a few Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) to promote bushiness; they were leaning too far over. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) MAY grow similarly; all plants can use a modest haircut IF/when they need a haircut (prune). i could ramble on; for us, it's best to prune in winter BUT modest pruning is ongoing, irrespective of blooms, fruit, etc. throughout the growing season ;)
i look at the plant's age, and how upright it is. the first 5 minutes of the vid shows: evaluating what to prune, prune at the base, and prune Chokeberry at the top. hope this helps.
Hi & thx for watching! They r remarkably hardy so: Directly into ground if u have ample roots AND it's cool (spring / fall). Pot 'em if roots r iffy, or it's, like 150 degrees like right now :/ I'm seeing that they like sun; shade starts making them lanky. My $0.02 ;) Be good, pete moss
Enjoying the videos. I've recently purchased 10 of each of the following from MDC. Wild plum, Chokeberry, persimmons, red mulberry, paw paw, black cherry, and 25 blackberries. Im planning on doing this on 1.5 open flat acres. Any recommendations for setup, spacing or layout of this many Plants? I've done my own research but you have clearly been at this for a while and have more experience than I could gleam from the internet. Thanks! Great video and I'm subbed.
OMG! and what a beautiful property (if ur youtube banner-pic is the property). is MDC the Missouri Department of Conservation? red mulberry are not easy to find went i went looking a few yrs ago ;) spacing: we planted trees 15' and shrubs tightly together (maybe 3'). 15' feet spacing is ample for tree; heck, 12' may have worked, given that we prune regularly. 15' is more than enough. shrubs can go to 4-5'; we sorta fit-to-space, and have our shrubs 3' apart in many location. Blackberry will be everywhere; containing Blackberry is like containing cats ;) setup: i kept finding more and more plants suited form zone 7 so plant-selections have...blossomed (heppy.org/plants). my point: ask yourself what's ur purpose? sales, give-away, personal pleasure, human health benefits, etc (or, combo). tilt your plant selections to meet ur purpose -- it'll help you say 'no' to some plants (possibly say 'no'.) i decided on an 'exhibition garden', walkable space, yada yada yada. it gets tricky thinking of which plants tolerate shade AND full sun; Pawpaw grow great in heavy shade to full sun. a majority of our Pawpaw are in full sun so we get max' fruit production. Wild Plum are the same. but most or our Plums are in part-shade areas (1/3rd days is dappled light) and they do great. soil: we use TONS of organic goodness in 5'x5'x18"+ holes and plant trees on top of a mound of our mix. our soil isn't great (a lot of Maryland BS clay; some areas is perfect loam). 1/3 equal parts: black compost, old woodchips, native soil. u'll need stakes. then, stand back cause the tree will explore with growth. select ur hole-size; our large holes accommodate companion plants & herbs & stuff (including seeding Goumi!). we stick a bell pepper or tomato plant here & there. of course, shrubs don't need the same sized holes and candidly, i would not waste the latter resources on the Black Cherry (I assume the native one). layout: focus on tree height and sunlight. tallest plants to the south. but that varies; for example, you probably have American Persimmon (tall) but could graph Asian scion to them (Asian Persimmon are short). Pawpaw flower/fruit in full sun but need protection from sun for their first 1-3 years (depending in vigor). stay on top of the Red Mulberry -- OMG, she'll take off on you. Black Cherry: they grow long in any sort of shade; have tendency to lean & break. for firewood, i'm cutting up fallen Black Cherry each yr. a very attractive tree is the Eastern Redbud, btw. blooms with the Pawpaw too (ua-cam.com/video/Sz9TPa5slro/v-deo.html) sorry, this response got away from me. i probably re-enforced what you know so, garden on Backyard Life and thanks for subbing!!
@@heppylifestyle yes the banner is part of my property and thank you. I'm excited to fill it with trees. MDC is Missouri Department of Conservation. They have a program where they sell native species of Missouri 10$ for 10 saplings. It runs out pretty quick though! I have big plans to have a natural orchard on the property. With times the way they are I feel it's super important to have some food independence and this is one of the ways I'm planning for the future. This was exactly what I was looking for thank you. Its very helpful to have this knowledge from someone who has been doing what I want to do for the most part so thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. I know most of my plants will likely be astringent as I'm going native with them but I dont actually mind that so much. I have persimmons naturally on the property and they are great when ripe. I have hopes for lots of wines and jams and meads and anything else I can think of to make from them as well as bringing in some deer for hunting purposes. Ill be sure to look at the resources you provided for more in depth information. Thank you. Ill try and share some videos on youtube of the process as well.
i don't live online I swear but just saw your message Ann ;) Winter -- when she's dormant Late summer -- after you pick the fruits. Chokeberries flower early-in-the-season so you could prune after she fruits. They're very forgiving plants. and because of the nutritional qualities, i'll have them everywhere (as time permits). but remember, deer love 'em too. plz sub's and thanks for stopping by, pete moss
At about 7 minutes into your video what are you doing with the XS growth they're not dead technically I guess my question is are you throwing away clones
hi Morrisonjuicen! it was composted :). i suppose it could be propagated; however, that takes time that we don't have (truthfully, i could have laid some cuttings in decomposing woodchips to see if the cutting would root....like may plants do). the rooted branched were potted and are doing well ;) thanks for stopping by and please subscribe, pete moss
i'll try that Wilbur! we root cuttings from several plants; i'm sure you know how easy rooting Elderberry, Currant & Figs are. Chokeberry looked a little woody but i'll try! gracias amigo -- thank you, pete moss.
@@heppylifestyleI must admit, I don't know if that will work for sure, but you can definitely "air root" the branches you are going to prune. 2 weeks to 7 weeks and a branch will fill a little container with roots! I was at the neighbors last night and got a big jug full of "chokecherry", and they will be in willow water for 24-48 hrs, then into pots. Choke cherry and choke berry are different, but seem to be hardy rooters. Im in the Great Falls Montana USA, area, about a "2b" climate. Cheers!
@@wilburellis9510 understood; the UNpruned Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) limbs i weighted down into decomposing woodchips are budding out very well this spring. yup, Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is another animal. WOW, zone 2b. that's chilly willie! thanks for stopping by Wilber and plz subscribe!
@@heppylifestylethought I'd update you on my failure. Chokecherry didn't work, as we knew it wouldn't, but I bailed early on the sprouting attempt, since the neighbor has some to dig, and also because everything says you can't root a "cut off" choke cherry branch, and my common sense rules. Going to dig some up, then air root later. Seems I always try to root things, even when they say it won't work, Chokecherry included. I have wasted a lot of time and energy, but it has made a much longer lasting impression, and has improved my sense of humor, lol.
@@wilburellis9510 so glad you took the lessons as humorous. yup, it's a 'kick in the pants' when things don't work: it ain't always funny; BUT we're here today to try again or, try something new! but Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a tree; our Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a shrub. anywho, best wishes to Montana, and stay curious! pete moss
Chokeberry fruit is TRUE superfruit. it's also called, Aronia. the human health qualities are WELL published, heppy.org/chokeberry#Aronia_berry_Benefits.
this is a looooooong vid so check-out the Chapter descriptions!
This is exactly what I was looking for--how to choose what to cut. Thanks!
glad it helped Wendy! the lil' Chokeberry emerged this Spring -- all is well! ;)
thanks for stopping by and plz sub' ;),
pete moss
I just started to grow chokeberry bushes so I appreciate the information you shared.
great news Charles, and thanks for stopping by!
Inspirational video truly in the spec of the internet
thank you for all the feedback Morrisonjuicen! thanks for stopping by and watching the vids!! much appreciated!
And now I see how they get the whip size version of choke berry 😂 i have this tree on my patio in grow bags. I see that maybe it would be more suited in the ground 🪴🌱
They'll grow as an open/airy shrub to about 6-7 feet after 5-7 years. VERY easy to prune (after fruiting or in winter). HIGH quality fruit; HIGH human health qualities.
Heppy.org/chokeberry
Thanks for growing this plant, and for stopping by!
Fantastic, fantastic video. I inherited a row of bushes used as a hedge which I'm thinking are extremely old, unpruned chokeberries. The branches at the base are huge, gnarled, tangled messes of ancient growth. Now I know how to bring them back to life, thanks to you!!
start at the bottom and be a little harsh pruning. she needs air, to not carry old or funky wood, stuff growing through the middle, etc. my Chokeberry are just showing flower buds (not flowers -- just the bloom buds). zone 7, April 11. it's a VERIFIED superfruit. but...be sure it's chokeberry....
thanks for stopping by Elisa.
I love your brake system I do something similar with all sorts of things that need to be broken down it keeps everything cool and it keeps the moisture look into isopods in springtails you do rolly pollies in other stuff they eat stuff up at least the four most common types of mold
Great video, thanks. I got my first proper crop off my viking aronia just this month. A really generous crop from what was just a single stem two years ago. I just took a dozen cuttings, maybe a bit too late, as one or two leaves are just starting to turn.
Very encouraging to see how well mounding works, in case the cuttings fail. This is absolutely my favourite plant just now. Such a good looking bush too. I see viburnum tinus in gardens and nurseries and think of aronia similar look , but actually prettier , plus you get a crop!
If you get your nose close enough, the blossom even smells good.
i'm soooooooooooooo elated that you're seeing what i'm seeing!! in fact, you have an ideal location if they're growing quick and blooming well!! they can be drought tolerant too; water them to stimulate growth or, in the right location, they don't need to be watered (rain is sufficient). very nice.
yes, they are a wonderful blooming plant and yes, and provides a crop! but Martin, this is a genuine superfruit. it's health benefits are WELL studied, heppy.org/chokeberry/#Aronia_berry_Benefits.
i study a lot of NIH studies for my plants (heppy.org/plants) and tooooo often i read, "the promising health benefits of [name the plant] warrants further studies." but not the Aronia melanocarpa. it's documented over and over.
thanks for stopping by. great comments too.
be good,
pete moss
I love it it's kind of half-ass broken maybe it works maybe it don't. When people ask me how I grow the largest that's the answer I give them
You had me at "funk!" 😅
Great presentation and nice camera work, friend. Sub'd without hesitation!
Be blessed, brother.
well thank you!!! thanks for stopping by and subscribing -- that ain't no funk! ;)
much appreciated,
pete moss
I have planted Aronia in my garden. I'm crazy about these berries, and they are easy growing. Every branch on my plant gives fruit. What I don't eat. The chicken are also crazy of choke berries.
GREAT -- i found someone who appreciates Chokeberry! they are a super duper healthy fruit (many studies point to many human-health benefits)!
thanks for stopping by!
Just found your channel today! I don't know what cultivar of aronia I have in my garden - I inherited it when my grandparents passed away - but I need to seriously prune that thing. My grandfather would just prune the tops, I think, which is why it would only fruit every second year. Thanks for showing so clearly how to prune and thin it out from the inside, I'm thinking mine is going to take a bit of work... :)
sorry to hear about your Grandparents.
thank you for your feedback!
you'll have (I hope) great rootstock so a solid pruning of old wood will allow them to regenerate with new, fresh growth.
and while the fruit is not as tasty as many, it's SUPER nutritional and works GREAT in a smoothie.
thanks for stopping by and please subscribe,
pete moss
Hey there.
Great video, thank you .
Do you have any follow up shots to see these plants fruiting after the pruning?
Best
D
@Earth_Systems hi. 2023 was a productive year (no pics) and 2024 wasn't (i think it was the heat and i don't water much; historically, not watered).
here's my 2024 vid: ua-cam.com/video/2qsoMgS5KmM/v-deo.html
the organic farmer i mentioned in vid had a bumper crop; a viewer in PNW has a low-yield yr.
is it fert or water or off yr. 2024 was my first off year and my young 10 did great.
please subscribe and that's for stopping by!
I would love you to experiment with brackish water saltwater plants please do this with the mangrove and similar seafaring plants
Watching the rest of your video doing a lot of research a friend asked me not in good health give me about two days I'll be teaching you soon and learn at the same time let me cover all the bases and see what all societies doing with this even big pharma down to Mom pops
Great video by the way I watch a f*** a lot of them
Great video. Thank you for sharing. 💜
thanks for stopping by Kitty Kat, and thx for the feedback 🐞
Very informative. Thankyou.
Thanks, very instructive
Well thank you DjapDude!
My respect for you... do you have a video where you can show us how you plant a chokeberry cutting (purchased or from those obtained from your plants?) I did a little research before asking you and I can confirm that chokeberry, along with sea buckthorn are the best choices for human health...aronia does not have many pests...during the growth of the shoots, aphids appear (under the young leaves at the top of growth) and during flowering and pollination, the hairy beetle (epicometis hirta) which, if I do not take removal measures (chemical or mechanical), can cause great damage, up to the destruction of the aronia crop... I also have 5 aronia plants, planted 4 years ago by someone else and I am interested in their propagation through your method in this video... what can I tell you, from my own experience:
- Aronia does not grow in the shade or semi-shade, it prefers sunny places as much as possible during the day;
-In very dry periods, it requires watering (evening or early morning) about 2-3 gallons of water for each plant, every 2-3 days until the peak period of drought passes
- as you have shown, it requires shortening of branches and "ventilating the bush" starting from the inside of the shrub
- in the period after picking the fruits and in the spring, it is necessary to "help" the plant with well-soaked manure (at least 2-3 years old), decomposed and transformed into organic fertilizer, which is placed around the shrub, at a a minimum distance of 10 cm from the center of the bush and a maximum of 40 cm around the outside...
- it is important to keep the soil clean, without weeds or the like, which "compete" with the roots of the plant for food from the ground
- it is a profitable plant, the price for 1 kilogram of beans is (in my country) 5-6 dollars per kilogram (1000 grams).
Thank you for the kindness of the explanations in the video as well as for the answers given to those interested in your experience...
much patience in the future, Dan from Romania
That is a thoughtful response, and thank you for your insight!
I'll have to google the pest u mentioned (E. hirta).
I prefer soil layering as the propagation method because it fits my busy schedule; rooting cuttings may be possible but requires too much attention (for me).
Buying 12 inch tall bare root plants is easy here in the States; many states have a subsidized nursery that sells native species at low cost.
I fully agree with, and learned from your insights. Yes, they really do want full sun, low competition around the roots, composting, etc. and yes, the health benefits are extraordinary!
Thank you for your feedback. BTW, much of my family is from your neighbor, Hungary, are u in North Romania? Just wondering.
Thank you for stopping by, and best wishes! 🐞
@@heppylifestyle Thank you for the answer... I don't live in the northern area, but I have many friends from college who live in the northern area of my country.
the big problem here is corruption and incompetence (among many other negative aspects)... this fact affects young people, those whose future we must take care of... because of the poor education received in their families and the low level of quality of education, they are only interested in working as little as possible (preferably not working) and receiving a lot of money... what you share through the videos on your own channel, would be something unimaginable..." too much work, too much attention..." or "my parents have money and I can do what I want without working"... as for the respect given to others, it is almost zero... we have reached a country from which it is preferable to leave, than to stay and make your contribution to the general good... I'm 62 years old and I'm passionate, in my free time, about hot peppers (carolina, etc) and fruit trees... my little garden is 10mx50m, as an area and it's almost my only refuge where I hide from the benefits of "civilization" in my country...thanks once again for the kindness and patience with which you explain something I'm really interested in...my respect for your work and I wish you good health , Dan
@@zarzarel1910 well, congratulations on YOUR contribution by setting an example. sadly, you're confirming my intuition that people have lost their innate skills (grow & gather food). yes, my intuition is that our political strife has a very negative affect (prioritizing family, health, and a thoughtful culture).
passion to do the right things is inside everyone; we just need leadership to set the example.
thank you again for the comments. what i do is selfish -- it really is my passion ;). sincerely, pete
❤❤❤❤❤
@@SG-ce7ji 🥰
Thank you for the video. It will be great if you could add some estimated date of cutting this plant.
hi Maria -- thanks for stopping by! January to March is a good time to prune ;). just, anytime before she starts to bud & flower (April-May).
i believe this was filmed March 9. of course, these are months for the Northern Hemisphere ;).
hope you subscribe & Happy Holidays,
pete moss
@@heppylifestyle Thank you very much for some advice :)
@Maria Ryś thanks Maria. Aronia is very very nutritious fruit :)
Happy New Year soon 🥳
Nice video. I like your passion for these berries. I just got some eight inch chokeberry cuttings, and I'm wondering what to do with them until spring comes. I applied some rooting hormone powder and stuck them in small plastic containers with some potting soil/sand/compost. Should I leave them outside in my Zone 9b under some cover so they don't get snow-covered?
hi John! low maintenance & high human health qualities -- got to love 'em ;)
i have tried to root cuttings (with rooting hormone) on very few plants and Chokeberry isn't one of them. sorry, i'm not of much use. BUT, although 9b is plenty warm for them to be outside (with some cover), i think they need to be in a more controlled climate (indoors) until the cuttings start rooting. that's just my intuition.
i wish you great success John and thanks for stopping by,
pete moss
Say, i inherited a very tall chokecherry bush right next to the house. The tall branches are starting to lean way over and out a bit. Is it ever Ok to prune height by cutting off more at the top? Also, i saw other sites saying to wait until after flowering...its now June. Too late?
i hope you mean Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and not Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) :/
for our Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), i would, and i have pruned leaning/floppy branches with flowers or fruit. if done strategically (the worst leaning branches), all we're doing is giving the plant LESS branches & flowers & fruit to feed. the remaining branches & flowers & fruit should be healthier.
just the other day i topped a few Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) to promote bushiness; they were leaning too far over.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) MAY grow similarly; all plants can use a modest haircut IF/when they need a haircut (prune). i could ramble on; for us, it's best to prune in winter BUT modest pruning is ongoing, irrespective of blooms, fruit, etc. throughout the growing season ;)
My aronia bush is 5ft tall. How much can I take off the branch to reduce the height?
i look at the plant's age, and how upright it is. the first 5 minutes of the vid shows: evaluating what to prune, prune at the base, and prune Chokeberry at the top. hope this helps.
Can u transplant them directly into the ground or do they need to be potted first?
Hi & thx for watching!
They r remarkably hardy so:
Directly into ground if u have ample roots AND it's cool (spring / fall).
Pot 'em if roots r iffy, or it's, like 150 degrees like right now :/
I'm seeing that they like sun; shade starts making them lanky.
My $0.02 ;)
Be good, pete moss
Enjoying the videos. I've recently purchased 10 of each of the following from MDC. Wild plum, Chokeberry, persimmons, red mulberry, paw paw, black cherry, and 25 blackberries. Im planning on doing this on 1.5 open flat acres. Any recommendations for setup, spacing or layout of this many
Plants? I've done my own research but you have clearly been at this for a while and have more experience than I could gleam from the internet. Thanks! Great video and I'm subbed.
OMG! and what a beautiful property (if ur youtube banner-pic is the property). is MDC the Missouri Department of Conservation? red mulberry are not easy to find went i went looking a few yrs ago ;)
spacing:
we planted trees 15' and shrubs tightly together (maybe 3'). 15' feet spacing is ample for tree; heck, 12' may have worked, given that we prune regularly. 15' is more than enough. shrubs can go to 4-5'; we sorta fit-to-space, and have our shrubs 3' apart in many location. Blackberry will be everywhere; containing Blackberry is like containing cats ;)
setup:
i kept finding more and more plants suited form zone 7 so plant-selections have...blossomed (heppy.org/plants). my point: ask yourself what's ur purpose? sales, give-away, personal pleasure, human health benefits, etc (or, combo). tilt your plant selections to meet ur purpose -- it'll help you say 'no' to some plants (possibly say 'no'.) i decided on an 'exhibition garden', walkable space, yada yada yada. it gets tricky thinking of which plants tolerate shade AND full sun; Pawpaw grow great in heavy shade to full sun. a majority of our Pawpaw are in full sun so we get max' fruit production. Wild Plum are the same. but most or our Plums are in part-shade areas (1/3rd days is dappled light) and they do great.
soil:
we use TONS of organic goodness in 5'x5'x18"+ holes and plant trees on top of a mound of our mix. our soil isn't great (a lot of Maryland BS clay; some areas is perfect loam). 1/3 equal parts: black compost, old woodchips, native soil. u'll need stakes. then, stand back cause the tree will explore with growth. select ur hole-size; our large holes accommodate companion plants & herbs & stuff (including seeding Goumi!). we stick a bell pepper or tomato plant here & there. of course, shrubs don't need the same sized holes and candidly, i would not waste the latter resources on the Black Cherry (I assume the native one).
layout:
focus on tree height and sunlight. tallest plants to the south. but that varies; for example, you probably have American Persimmon (tall) but could graph Asian scion to them (Asian Persimmon are short). Pawpaw flower/fruit in full sun but need protection from sun for their first 1-3 years (depending in vigor). stay on top of the Red Mulberry -- OMG, she'll take off on you.
Black Cherry:
they grow long in any sort of shade; have tendency to lean & break. for firewood, i'm cutting up fallen Black Cherry each yr. a very attractive tree is the Eastern Redbud, btw. blooms with the Pawpaw too (ua-cam.com/video/Sz9TPa5slro/v-deo.html)
sorry, this response got away from me. i probably re-enforced what you know so, garden on Backyard Life and thanks for subbing!!
@@heppylifestyle yes the banner is part of my property and thank you. I'm excited to fill it with trees. MDC is Missouri Department of Conservation. They have a program where they sell native species of Missouri 10$ for 10 saplings. It runs out pretty quick though! I have big plans to have a natural orchard on the property. With times the way they are I feel it's super important to have some food independence and this is one of the ways I'm planning for the future.
This was exactly what I was looking for thank you. Its very helpful to have this knowledge from someone who has been doing what I want to do for the most part so thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. I know most of my plants will likely be astringent as I'm going native with them but I dont actually mind that so much. I have persimmons naturally on the property and they are great when ripe. I have hopes for lots of wines and jams and meads and anything else I can think of to make from them as well as bringing in some deer for hunting purposes. Ill be sure to look at the resources you provided for more in depth information. Thank you. Ill try and share some videos on youtube of the process as well.
What time of year do you suggest pruning?
i don't live online I swear but just saw your message Ann ;)
Winter -- when she's dormant
Late summer -- after you pick the fruits. Chokeberries flower early-in-the-season so you could prune after she fruits.
They're very forgiving plants. and because of the nutritional qualities, i'll have them everywhere (as time permits). but remember, deer love 'em too.
plz sub's and thanks for stopping by,
pete moss
Hello do you mean deer love the actual plant or just the berries? I had heard it is deer resistant so I planted one. 😢
At about 7 minutes into your video what are you doing with the XS growth they're not dead technically I guess my question is are you throwing away clones
hi Morrisonjuicen! it was composted :).
i suppose it could be propagated; however, that takes time that we don't have (truthfully, i could have laid some cuttings in decomposing woodchips to see if the cutting would root....like may plants do). the rooted branched were potted and are doing well ;)
thanks for stopping by and please subscribe,
pete moss
You could have rooted all the branches you cut off. They root easy and quick. No need to dig up babies roots, clone your cuttings
i'll try that Wilbur! we root cuttings from several plants; i'm sure you know how easy rooting Elderberry, Currant & Figs are. Chokeberry looked a little woody but i'll try! gracias amigo -- thank you, pete moss.
@@heppylifestyleI must admit, I don't know if that will work for sure, but you can definitely "air root" the branches you are going to prune. 2 weeks to 7 weeks and a branch will fill a little container with roots! I was at the neighbors last night and got a big jug full of "chokecherry", and they will be in willow water for 24-48 hrs, then into pots. Choke cherry and choke berry are different, but seem to be hardy rooters. Im in the Great Falls Montana USA, area, about a "2b" climate. Cheers!
@@wilburellis9510 understood; the UNpruned Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) limbs i weighted down into decomposing woodchips are budding out very well this spring. yup, Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is another animal. WOW, zone 2b. that's chilly willie! thanks for stopping by Wilber and plz subscribe!
@@heppylifestylethought I'd update you on my failure. Chokecherry didn't work, as we knew it wouldn't, but I bailed early on the sprouting attempt, since the neighbor has some to dig, and also because everything says you can't root a "cut off" choke cherry branch, and my common sense rules. Going to dig some up, then air root later. Seems I always try to root things, even when they say it won't work, Chokecherry included. I have wasted a lot of time and energy, but it has made a much longer lasting impression, and has improved my sense of humor, lol.
@@wilburellis9510 so glad you took the lessons as humorous. yup, it's a 'kick in the pants' when things don't work: it ain't always funny; BUT we're here today to try again or, try something new!
but Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a tree; our Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a shrub. anywho, best wishes to Montana, and stay curious!
pete moss
oh this is recent
hot off the press ;). thanks for stopping by Mimosveta!