Why Are There No Huckleberry Farms?

Washington State University researchers are setting their sights on domesticating the wild huckleberry, a goal that has eluded plant scientists for decades. Huckleberries are notoriously fickle plants. The mountain shrubs don’t transplant well and even huckleberry bushes grown from seeds seldom produce fruit.

Why are there no huckleberries?

Strik said she often gets asked why commercial growers aren’t producing Western huckleberries. She explained that in addition to not being adapted to grow at lower elevations, even in ideal conditions, the plants just don’t produce a lot of fruit.

Can you farm huckleberry?

There are zero huckleberry farms, and most wild stands are unmanaged. Some nurseries sell seedlings, but they take years to bear fruit. By and large, there’s only one way to eat fresh huckleberries: by the fistful, straight off the branch.

What state produces the most huckleberries?

Montana is home to majestic mountains, big skies, and everything huckleberry. While they look a bit like a large, dark-colored blueberry, huckleberries are a different fruit with a distinct taste. They are also much more expensive than blueberries.

Where are most huckleberries grown?

You can find huckleberries in many Pacific Northwest and Northwestern National Forests. Huckleberries often thrive in the Rocky Mountains – and specifically in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

Can huckleberries be grown commercially?

Commercial huckleberry harvesters most likely don’t pick their berries by hand, but most huckleberries are still grown in the wild (mostly in national parks). However, the Western Huckleberry and Bilberry Association is actively fostering the commercial development of huckleberry-based industries.

How hard is it to grow huckleberries?

Huckleberries are notoriously fickle plants. The mountain shrubs don’t transplant well and even huckleberry bushes grown from seeds seldom produce fruit. But in a WSU greenhouse, cloned shrubs are producing berries. Scientists say their ultimate goal is a sturdy plant with high yields of the tangy-tart berries.

How much does a pound of huckleberries cost?

Fresh Huckleberries are in season for $12.50/lb.

Are huckleberries easy to grow?

Growing Huckleberries are very easy and not much bothers the plant. The plants have some cold tolerance and fruit may continue to ripen after light frosts.

Can you eat raw huckleberries?

Ripe huckleberries are fairly sweet with a little tartness. Though they can be eaten fresh, they’re often made into tasty beverages, jams, puddings, candies, syrups, and other foods. Huckleberries are rich in powerful antioxidants, including anthocyanins and polyphenols.

What animals eat huckleberries?

Mammals such as the black bear, chipmunks, red fox, squirrels, gray fox, and skunks, also eat the berries of many Vacciniums [38,61]. Grizzly bears along the coast of British Columbia relish the fruits of many species of huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.) [22].

Are huckleberries expensive?

Huckleberries can sell for upwards of $10 per pound.

What is the difference between wild blueberries and huckleberries?

Interior color: Blueberries are pale green or white on the inside, but huckleberries are either blue or purple when split open. 4. Seeds: Huckleberries are full of hard seeds, which can taste bitter if eaten. Blueberries, meanwhile, have much softer, tiny seeds inside.

Are huckleberries good for you?

They are high in antioxidants, which help protect the body from the effects of high blood sugar including diabetic retinopathies, kidney damage and poor tissue healing. Recent research studies suggest that blueberries and huckleberries also lower cholesterol, slow age-related dementia and reduce tumor formation.

What climate do huckleberries grow?

Between April and May, expect the western huckleberry to flower, provided you live in USDA zones 7-9 where the specimen is recommended for planting. It is often found in mid-alpine regions and will thrive if you have similar conditions.

Can blueberries pollinate huckleberries?

Expert Response. Hello and thank you for asking about your blueberry and huckleberry plants. They are both Vaccinium, and so if blooming at the same time, could cross-pollinate. With these berries, this generally means a larger berry and more fruit on the plant.

Do huckleberries need a lot of water?

They need sandy, acidic soil with a pH between 4.3 and 5.2. Use a DIY kit to test yours or send a sample into a soil testing lab. If needed, amend your soil based on the results of your soil test. Huckleberries do best with regular watering.

Can huckleberries grow in Texas?

Farkleberry, Sparkleberry, Huckleberry, Winter Huckleberry
Farkleberry is a small, stiff-branched, evergreen or persistent-leaved tree or large shrub found on acid, sandy, well-drained soils in fields, clearings, open mixed forests, dry hillsides and wet bottomlands in east Texas west to the Bastrop area.

Where is the best huckleberry picking?

The Huckleberry
Twelve species of huckleberries grow in Washington and Oregon. They are often grouped into plants producing red or blue berries, and plants that produce berries in clusters or individually on the twig. The most sought-after huckleberry is the thin-leaved huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum).

Where is the best place to pick huckleberries?

The Coeur d’Alene mountains are especially known for their great quantity of huckleberries. Most people’s strategy is to pick a hiking trail, like the lengthy Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and follow it until you spot a berry bush! When it comes to berry picking, it doesn’t get much better than Northern Idaho.

Can you pick huckleberries in Montana?

Huckleberry Picking
Summer is the best time for berry picking in Montana, with most berries at their peak in mid to late summer. The best time to go out in search of huckleberries is around August.