Mock Huckleberry – Garden Huckleberry is an old-fashioned annual fruiting plant grown for its glossy black berries. Despite the name, it is not related to the perennial wild huckleberries native to the Pacific Northwest. Instead, these productive plants grow easily from seed and produce clusters of dark berries in a single growing season, making them a unique and rewarding addition to the home garden. For Cooking and Preserves – Garden huckleberries are not for fresh eating. On their own, the berries have a bitter, slightly tart flavor and contain very little natural sugar. When cooked and sweetened, however, they transform into a rich flavor often compared to blueberry, blackberry, or grape—making them excellent for pies, jams, syrups, and traditional preserves. Harvest After Frost for Best Flavor – Berries should be harvested only when fully ripe and deep black. Many gardeners find that waiting until after the first frost improves flavor and reduces bitterness. Garden huckleberries must always be cooked before eating, which develops their distinctive taste. Remarkably productive plants can yield more than two gallons of berries from a single plant. Premium Seeds – We aim to offer the best seeds possible. Our chemical-free, USA-grown, non GMO seeds are regularly tested to ensure at least 85% germination. Whether you like to get a head start indoors or you're looking for fruit seeds for planting outdoors after the last frost, you can be confident that your heirloom berry seeds will get off to a quick start. Should you encounter any problems, we'll happily make it right. We want to help make your garden a success. Convenient Packaging – Durable packet protects seeds from light and moisture, extending the survival of the seeds by years. Resealable zipper tops make for convenient storage and planting. Sow what you need today, seal and store the rest for later. Your garden seeds will remain viable on the shelf for years. A great choice for off grid living supplies, emergency preparedness seed vaults and an excellent way to keep your seed bank fresh and organized. DISCLAIMER: Only harvest fully ripe berries with dull, dark skins as green or under-ripe berries may be poisonous. Cook prior to consumption. (Solanum melanocerasum) Solanaceous garden berry native to Africa and commonly used as a berry substitute in baking and canning recipes. With this variety, we feel that establishing realistic expectations is critical before growing. First, this huckleberry is not the same as the native huckleberries of the Vaccinium or Gaylussacia genuses which are commonly found along the Pacific coast of the United States. Secondly, although often described as a blueberry substitute, the berries do not taste like blueberries. Instead, they are tasteless and sometimes bitter, especially when eaten raw. Garden huckleberries are traditionally cooked, sweetened and mixed with a bit of lemon juice before using in jam or pies. We also can say that we were very impressed with the productivity of this variety, with plants growing to 4' tall and yielding more than 10 gallons of berries from just three plants. We recommend harvesting the berries in the fall, once a majority of the berries have ripened. Green or under-ripe berries have been reported to be poisonous, so only harvest fully-ripe berries that are somewhat soft to the touch and have dark, dull skins (See note below.) 90-100 days from transplant. 50 seeds per packet. Note: The camera settings in the first few pictures above make the berries appear glossy. Refer to the last picture for an example of how the skins should appear at harvest. CULTURE: Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before last frost. Plant 2-3 seeds per pot, 1/4" deep in sterile, seed-starting mix. Thin to one plant per pot after germination has occurred (10-14 days). Transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed, spacing plants 24-36" apart. Plants grow 3-4 feet tall.