Maqui berries appear to have ripened and...they taste like dry soap. The flesh was very firm without the slightest hint of juice, and the seeds inside were still oddly green. Despite the berries being very dark purple for a couple weeks now, I'm wondering if they're still not ripe somehow? Seems unlikely...
I'm hoping this is just a first year thing and they'll be better next year.
Anyone here with experience growing them that can compare their mature, ripened fruit?
Hmmm that’s interesting to note...I’ve heard it a little differently for folks who live in a less than ideal climate for seaberry, especially in areas that can receive high temperature with high humidity. I’m growing mine in the Deep South. Perhaps they seem to fare better in the high heat but low humidity environment of Vegas, so can handle more sunlight? It’s suggested that they be given indirect sunlight in hot regions, and by following that mantra my seaberry seedlings seem to be faring quite well.They’re getting some new leaf growths so that’s a good sign to note, but I also feel like you really need to baby them along way, especially in the heat of the summer. By the way, it’s a similar strategy with lettuce. In the North like Maine you can grow lettuce in full sun in May, June, and July. The temperature is mild so lettuce do not seem to mind being in full sun. Summer in Maine is almost equivalent to late Winter to mid Spring down here...In our summer, we need to give lettuce some shade and protection from the intense heat in order to give them a chance to give us a small but decent harvest, lol.😉
They definitely seem to be very tender plants when they're young and not established. Vegas sun tolerance, I think, depends on if you properly harden them off and give them some afternoon shade. That said, the one I have that's getting the most shade seems to be the healthiest, which I didn't expect based on the other one I had a couple years ago that loved the summer sun.
Lettuce is strictly a late fall/winter/mid-spring crop here. Plant them once the temps get over 90 and they'll bolt as soon as they sprout. Lol.
@CeeJay That's great! Glad to have someone else to bounce off of on how to get seaberries to succeed in the desert.
You're 100% right on how full sun here and in AZ means something very different in other locations. Moreso here since your elevation is a little more forgiving than ours. I'm hopeful afternoon sun will be sufficient to keep them happy. Also mulched and well watered until they can get established.
The real test hasn't come yet as our summer has been unusually mild so far. It's 83 degrees right now, and has stayed in the 80s and 90s for highs for the past few weeks. Totally unheard of for all 41 years I've lived here. Not complaining though. Lol.
Shade cloth will happen if they start to decline.
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