Native Black Raspberries

I come from a berry picking family. It's something my family has always done. I think as far back as I know, my family picked berries. Smart hobby. Free food. Blueberries, raspberries, you name it. And because we pick berries, a lessor known and truly fantastic berry, is well known to me. The Black Raspberry. 

Most people only know red raspberries. Basically, I think red raspberries are not worth the time it takes to pick them. They just do not do that much for me. But BLACK RASPBERRIES are a whole different story. They have such a unique flavor I think it would be fair to say they are the king of berries. I grow some reds and yellows because people like them, but, if it was just me, I would only grow  black raspberries. If you have never tasted a black raspberry, you have not lived. They are the most delicious berry in the world and their flavor is improved by cooking. 

And please do not confuse them with those wretched American blackberries. I hate blackberries with their big honking seeds and absence of flavor. This is most assuredly NOT a blackberry. It's a black raspberry. 

Interestingly, they have one flavor when fresh, and another exquisite flavor when they are cooked. You can make juice, jam, jelly, or syrup. They are fantastic in all formats. I prefer them once they have been heat treated. I think it brings out their full flavor. 

They are a native North American plant and like to grow here. That is key. Dont bother growing things that dont like to grow in America. They like to grow on the edge of a wood or along railway tracks.  For some reason, they really like railroad tracks.  I used to collect them from the wild and then decided I would grow then on the farm. Maybe with a little work they could become even better.  

As ever, many of my great ideas turn into a shit show.  Project plant a row of black raspberries at the farm was actioned one winter.  The wild black raspberries were dormant so I went out to collect some plants. I found a stand near the farm and dug up  a dozen or so plants. All good. I got them back to the farm, planted them, and went about my day. In the middle of that night I woke up on fire. My face, my arms, my fingers were covered with welts. POISON IVY. I am sensitive to it and when in leaf I can see it from 300 feet. I avoid it like the plague. But, it turns out, the black raspberries were commingled with a web of poison ivy. Not knowing there was poison ivy in the vicinity, and I had been exposed, I smeared it all over my self. I was so mad. And looked like I had a skin condition of the biblical variety for many weeks. 

Ok, this project got off to a rough start, but, I think it paid off. and I am willing to suffer for my folowers and customers. 

The transplanted black raspberries came out that spring and fruited. With the serious advantage I did not have to risk life and limb cruising the train tracks where I would have normally collected my black raspberries.  But, then I got a bright idea. These are good, maybe I can make them better. So, I started collected the best and biggest fruits, and planting them. I kept doing this for 10 years and voila, the Schar Black Raspberry. A slightly improved variety. You can order cuttings from my ebay store. 

Click on the buy button and it will take you to Ebay