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Wednesday, June 28, 2023

A BARBADOS CHERRY

Even though it was crazy hot at the farm, we did have a surprise growing for us.


This is the new cherry tree/bush we got on super clearance last Fall.  It's called "Cherry of the Rio Grande" in these parts, but is also known as "Barbados cherry".  Native to Brazil and considered a tropical cherry, it's not directly related to cherries but is said to have a very similar taste.

We are already growing two Nanking cherry bushes (those are related to cherry trees) so we figured this would be fun to try.  We've just left it on the porch for now, keeping it watered and letting it have light.  Then it developed blossoms and we hoped that we might get something from them.


Well look there!
Up on the top corner end of a branch...


It's an actual Barbados cherry fruit!

Hard to tell scale here (looks like an apple, ha) but it's about the same size as a good sized bing cherry you'd see in the store.  We hope this one stays on and healthy so we can at least get to taste it.  They are supposed to have a sweet taste that is very similar to a cherry but with a slight tartness that makes them unique.  We shall see!

It'll go in the ground next Fall after the heat has passed.  For now, it will stay on the porch where it's not crazy hot and gets a good watering every week.  

15 comments:

  1. How sweet to have a nice pretty cherry. Probably can expect a few more sweetness poppy out before long.
    Symbolically, cherries signal goodwill and prosperity among individuals.
    Enjoy your day and have a great evening

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    1. Thank you for that, I didn't know that lore about cherries. Awesome.

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  2. With those blossoms, you should get more then just one of those beautiful cherries 🍒! Wow! I am curious as to what they do taste like!

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    1. Update, that one was gone when I went back. But there are some more coming in.

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  3. Do you have Rainier cherries where you are? Yellow with pink/red blush? If so, watch for one of those ... they are a great eating cherry, sweet and juicy.

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    1. We can't grow them here of course in our tropical climate but we can get them at times from the store. Not sure if they are AS good as fresh up there but will have to check for that.

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  4. Rainier cherries are a rare find in these parts and when they are in the market I buy every one they have. If you find one get it and plant it and treat it like royalty. However I think they get their name because that is the only place they grow.

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    1. Yeah, I've done some googling over the years about growing them here but alas, many have tried and none have succeeded, ha.

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  5. What a happy surprise! The blossoms are beautiful. Can’t wait until you can taste them.

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    1. Lost this one (bird?) but there are more coming.

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  6. I would put a light net or something over the red cherry, it might look very tempting to a bird passing by.

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    1. Yes, you may have seen the replied above. It was gone when I went back. There is some netting on there now for the small ones developing.

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  7. Malpighia emarginata, (Barbados Cherry) is different from Eugenia involucrata, the Cherry of the Rio Grande. From your pic, you have the Barbados cherry.

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    1. Thanks for this. I looked at the tag from the nursery (see top of first pic) and it says Cherry of the Rio Grande and then Barbados Cherry but the scientific name is different, Eugenia Aggregata. Could this be even another variety?

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    2. I think Eugenia Aggregata and Eugenia involucrata are probably the same cherry of the Rio. Rio cherry is supposed to be elongated not round. Sometimes you have to double check the nursery labels with online botany sites. I don't know much about Cherry of the Rio Grande but I know the Barbados cherry well. Grew up with it. It can be sweet but is usually bland or sometimes a little bit acid.

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