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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2011)
voices ► O R EG O N 'S LGBTQ N EW SM AG AZIN E W hen I first moved here 18 years ago, some one told me in order to call myself an Orego nian I had to live more years in Oregon than I had in any another state. (Insert eye-roll.) My hope is that hy sharing my vast knowledge of Oregon’s berries—one of the top things I love about the Beaver State— with you here, I’ll be able to finally call myself an Oregonian. Summer time means berry time to me, and the beauty of our berries aptly meets, or sur passes, their flavor. The decadence of picking buckets of berries among the warm, heady vines is among my cherished seasonal activities. But which kinds are best? And what are the differ ences? W hat if you want to grow your own? Do not despair, berry lovers. This column is for you. First off, what’s the difference between blackberries and raspberries? Other than the obvious color difference, raspberries have a hole in the center of the fruit (it’s hollow), whereas blackberries are solid throughout. Raspberries have that ability to simply fall apart when picked if they’re too ripe and can literally melt in your mouth.To me, raspberries have a bright taste, matching their bright red color. They’re delicate and gorgeous, and the tang they deliver to the middle of your tongue is sweet. They might be my favorite, were I to have one. For many people, marionberry, or the M ari on blackberry, is a local favorite. It was devel oped specifically for growing in the W il lamette Valley by researchers at OSU and carries a complex flavor that is both tart and earthy. Marionberries are fantastic in pies and B errytastic baked goods, but if you’re like me, fresh ber ries all by themselves are pretty fantastic. One of my favorite berries to eat fresh is the loganberry. A strange, accidental crossing of a raspberry and a blackberry, the loganberry was developed in California in the 1880s. Their flavor is soft, very much derived from that of their raspberry parentage. They seem to dissolve in your mouth, making them a fleet ing summer memory and almost magical. The loganberry is a parent to my jam -m ak ing berry o f choice, the tayberry. Many people haven’t heard of the tayberry, but for W il lamette Valley jam-makers like me, they’re a favorite, a cross between a loganberry and black raspberry. Originally developed in Scot land, the fruit can be hard to pick, making it impossible for machine harvest or commercial purposes. The flavor is strong and tart, hut best of all, the tayberry possesses floral qualities, perfect for sauces and jams. Paired with a hit oflavender, this is my favorite jam to make. The Sylvan blackberry is juicy and if you’re seeking a true taste of summer, I’d point you this direction. Some say the sylvanberry makes even better pies than marionberries, but perhaps you JULY 15. 2011 26 _ ja (raspberries and blackberries) can yield good crops for up to 20 years. W hen siting berries, drainage is one o f the most important factors for success, making sure they don’t sit in boggy or overly wet conditions during our months of rain. Caneberries need to be trained onto a trellis, and your structure should be installed at the time o f planting. Planting should occur as early as possible in the spring, and be pre pared to wait a year for berry production. However, patience is a virtue— raspberries, freshly picked on a summer morning for breakfast atop your cereal, are a pretty great way to start the day. Once established, plants just need a little fertilizer, some manure in fall or winter, and 1-1.5 inches o f water per week during our dry season. Depending on the kind o f caneberries you grow, pruning will vary if you’re working with primocanes (first year o f growth) or floricanes (second year o f growth). should make one o f each and have a taste off. I like to say that if you look up blackberry in a dictionary, the quintessential look for the Sylvan blackberry would be pictured there. All o f the berries described above are avail Feel like celebrating berries? able at u-pick farms in the areas surrounding Attend the Oregon Berry Festival, Friday, Portland. During berry season I am aware and July 22 (noon-6 p.m.) and Saturday, July 23 (11 grateful for our urban growth boundary, al a.m.-6 p.m.) at the Ecotrust Building (721 NW lowing for agriculture to be accessible and not Ninth Ave.) in Portland. Sample berry ice hours away from the city population. To find creams and pies and check out the first Oregon local farms for u-pick or produce purchase in Berry C hef Cook-Off. For more information, the Washington, Clackamas and M ultnomah visit oregonberryfestival.com. J i county area, visit tricountyfarm.org. L e A nn L ochf . r is an O SU Extension Master Grown your own! Gardener and can befound gardening this summer W ith a little planning and thoughtful loca tion setting, growing your own caneberries in her North Portland garden. Connect w ith her i-------------------------------------------------------------- and other gardeners atfacebook.com/sassygardener. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 25% OFF "fe a tu re d Vendor Products! Every Thursday, all summer long, we have a party a harhecue, and one-on-one advice from gardening experts! You’re invited! 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