The Tropical Fruit Forum

Temperate Fruit & Orchards => Temperate Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: cfinley on September 21, 2015, 05:03:48 PM

Title: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: cfinley on September 21, 2015, 05:03:48 PM
I've tried starting seeds but haven't had much luck getting them past sprouting phase. The only nursery I've been able to locate with live bilberry plants is Poyntzfield Herb Nursery in Scotland but they don't seem interested in trying to ship plants to the USA.. anyone else know a source for live bilberry? anyone growing bilberry?
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: fyliu on September 21, 2015, 05:28:55 PM
Horizon Herbs in Oregon? You could check. I don't know for sure.
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: cfinley on September 21, 2015, 05:36:32 PM
They offer seeds in dried berries, but unfortunately not live plants.
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: buddyguygreen on September 21, 2015, 09:21:13 PM
You need to soak the bilberries overnight, separate seeds and plant in acid soil mix on surface and use a spray mister to water them. It takes 3-6 months to germinate and give them dappled light but mostly bright shade. If you don't have acid soil mix, mix peat moss with whatever soil your using. I used Fox Farm happy frog soil and mixed a little peat moss in it and had great results. You being in California shouldn't have to worry about the heat/humidity cooking your plants, just make sure they are always moist. Have patience if you want them bad enough and the seeds from horizonherbs.com WILL sprout with great germination rates.
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: Doglips on October 08, 2015, 01:27:44 AM
Sorta on topic, can anyone offer comparisons of bilberries, huckleberries, blueberries.  I've had huckleberries, but only in shakes.
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: greenman62 on October 15, 2015, 10:41:19 AM

try here...
http://www.hartmannsplantcompany.com/plants_bluecold.htm (http://www.hartmannsplantcompany.com/plants_bluecold.htm)
http://www.hartmannsplantcompany.com/orderinfo.htm (http://www.hartmannsplantcompany.com/orderinfo.htm)

ive seen them online (besides Hartman), but cant remember where.

ive read years ago http://oikostreecrops.com/ (http://oikostreecrops.com/) had them

also...
out of stock
https://www.rollingrivernursery.com/products/61/46/shrubs-groundcovers/bilberry-vaccinium-ulginosum/bilberry-vaccinium-ulginosum-detail (https://www.rollingrivernursery.com/products/61/46/shrubs-groundcovers/bilberry-vaccinium-ulginosum/bilberry-vaccinium-ulginosum-detail)
Title: Re: Anyone know a source for Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) plants?
Post by: aethiopicum on October 31, 2015, 10:59:05 AM
I have some Vaccinium myrtillus plants from the wild, but i think its forbidden to send plants to the US (i live in Germany, where they grow wild). The yield from these plants is much lower than for cultivated blueberries, and they need even more acidic soil. But the taste is great, if you get enough of the small berries to taste it ;). Less sweet and much more aromatic than blueberries, and blue inside (instead of white).