Kestrel blueberry

[m5allen]

I got to taste Kestrel for the first time last night. It has knocked Springhigh down a notch from its position as my second favorite tasting berry (Sweetcrisp being the first of course). It was a tasty berry, very sweet, but with a little acidity and a very "floral blueberry flavor" (kind of hard to describe). My plants were liners just a little over a year ago, so they are still small and I only let a few berries ripen this year. I am really looking forward to next year with this one.

[lilfiggy]

ironic I live on Kestrel Point Avenue and have a nest of Kestrel Hawks living behind my house they love to eat them little squirrels yeah. never heard of a Kestrel fruit

[Gina]

Kestrel is one of the newer southern highbush varieties from the University of Florida. It's one of the so-called 'bird' series with others such as Meadowlark, Raven, and of course, Kestrel. This is the first series that is next to impossible to get if you are a member of the public.

That said, I was lucky to get a few, and agree with m5allen that they really have good flavor. My plants are still young, but I'm thinking when they are larger vegetatively, they will be real taste winners.

[m5allen]

I had a chance to try a few more Kestrels lately...dang, they are good. They almost have what I would describe as a spicy, floral taste to them. It is pretty unique. Get one of these if you can.

[Harborseal]

Who wants to airlayer one for me. Not a Kestrel, of course, but one of these that you're talking about.

[m5allen]

I can try.

[lilfiggy]

lol bob I would like to see you layer with JOJO the Kestrel in my back yard. talons and feathers everywhere man he is getting huge

[Harborseal]

Yeah, I'd probably skip that one I'd want him to be happy and eat all my squirrels.

[Gina]

I had a chance to try a few more Kestrels lately...dang, they are good. They almost have what I would describe as a spicy, floral taste to them. It is pretty unique. Get one of these if you can.

I was just in the blueberry enclosure for the first time in a week or two, and to my surprise, found about a dozen fully ripe Kestrels. I'd tasted the variety before and was pleased, but these today were simply outstanding. Yes, a spicy, floral, strong taste that is unique. Very pleasing.

They also had a nice firm consistency, but that could be because of our recent rains and the cooler weather.

I've got more unripe fruits on that bush, but it does not appear to have any flower buds for a second set.

[anhkiet]

Do you guys know if the kestrel would grow in zone 8 (Seattle, Washington)? Also, I can't seem to find a place selling these, anybody know where I can grab one?

[Gina]

I don't know if they would grow in zone 8 or not. It is a very low chill variety.

As for finding one, that is going to be virtually impossible... Unless someone makes a mistake as JFE (Just fruits and Exotics) did last year with selling a few Indigo Crisps to the public. Or unless the rules against selling them to the public change.

[anhkiet]

That's a total bummer, thanks Gina.

[drew51]

I don't know if they would grow in zone 8 or not. It is a very low chill variety.

As for finding one, that is going to be virtually impossible... Unless someone makes a mistake as JFE (Just fruits and Exotics) did last year with selling a few Indigo Crisps to the public. Or unless the rules against selling them to the public change.

They are still selling Indigocrisps, they never stopped. Kestrel won't work here, so not looking for it. Although you never know! Sweetcrisp is really struggling here, but Indigocrisp is doing really well. Although I must say Indigocrisp berries are the worst blueberries I ever tasted. It may be my conditions. I need to stick to Northerns.
My favorite so far is Cara's Choice. Firm, and the richest tasting blueberry I ever had. Next is Toro, a soft berry but a fantastic sweet flavor, green berries taste sweet on this one, and no not kidding.

[Gina]

They are still selling Indigocrisps, they never stopped.

It does look that way. Yes, it is still listed on their site, but if you actually try to add it to your cart, it says 'out of stock'. Out of curiosity I've done that several times over the past year. (They couldn't send it to me anyway - I'm in CA). I don't know if it's been available at other times however. I've had a few ripe berries from IndigoCrisp, and while good, it's premature to judge it's position in order of favorites.

Kestrel however might have taken the top spot from SweetCrisp for me. It's not as crisp, but firm enough. And the flavor is definitely better. It is also a more healthy plant here. I think SweetCrisp would benefit from a bit more cold than my area can give it. But it fortunately gets enough to keep.

[drew51]

Yeah I'm not giving up on Indigocrisp yet, but I think I'm done experimenting for now. A new plant called Pink Popcorn was developed for as low as zone 3, and so I'm trying that one. it is supposed to produce more than Pink Lemonade, and not as fussy about pollination. A third pink is out now too.
I just mentioned my favorites for those who are in my area. I know Steve (fruitnut) tried Cara's Choice, and scraped it, so it doesn't work in all areas.
What caught my attention one of the breeders (Mark K Ehlenfeldt), who helped release Sweetheart, Legacy, Pink Lemonade, Raz, Both Hanna's and Cara's Choice was asked if he had to pick one, he picked Cara's Choice. So i tried it, and for me it is better than any blueberry I ever tasted. Very firm too.
Once it needs pruning of major branches, those branches will be air layered off for more plants. Oh my wife agrees too, it is the best. Toro is awesome too, but the berry is mushy compared to most. Still I like it a lot. Those two are my only keepers for sure. I also have Legacy, Liberty, Chandler, Sweetcrisp (yet to taste), and Indigocrisp.
A few other Northerns for production interest me, but nothing stands out as exceptional flavor. I'm hoping northern breeders can come up with some new ones. I probably have enough now anyway. Spartan is the only other one I want to add as it is early ripener here. Just to fill out the season.
I'm also looking at huckleberries and wild types for cooking.
Thinking of growing it's cousin the cranberry, not the highbush, real cranberries.
I'm looking for fruit to make juice. Cranberries would work well.
Thanks again for all the info, hopefully Kestral will make it out to the public one day.
Lately I have been more interested in Honeyberries. They to me have a much richer taste than blueberries. They can be tart, but the flavor is so deep. Another real surprise was the Canadian Romance series tart cherries. I have Carmine Jewel, and it has a wonderful flavor once processed in pies or jam. By far my best jam this year. You cannot stop eating it! Juliet looks like the best one, but these again as are honeyberries more for my area. Both developed for colder zones, and as far as I'm concerned proven winners.

[Gina]

but I think I'm done experimenting for now.

Yes, me too. Unless there is an opportunity too good to pass by. I have more blueberry plants than I ever dreamed I could have, and varieties that are just wonderful. Plus many older varieties that don't ask for much, and just crank out fruits come springtime. Right now, I'm relaxing and enjoying what I have.

[drew51]

So is Kestrel the only decent one out of this bird series? At first Raven sounded promising, but soon was dogged.I guess we don't know much as they are all aimed at commercial.buyers. Recently a trend towards heirlooms has been building. I see much interest in heirloom apples, tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies. I found one site that likes heirloom blueberries. They have many old cultivars.
Friendship is a true wild, it performed so well, it was released as is. A lowbush type.
I also saw some heirloom Northerns.
Pioneer received its name as it was the first ever named cross between two wild blueberries (the Brooks and Sooy selections). This cross was made in 1912 (by Dr. Frederick Coville), so this is really an old time cultivar. Berries are light blue, medium size (considered very large at the time of its naming), very sweet, and have no acidity when allowed to ripen fully on the bush.

Stanley is an heirloom cultivar selected by Frederick Coville in 1921. It was named for his son, on whose blueberry plantation in New Jersey the Stanley blueberry was tested. Then, and now, Stanley is considered one of the sweetest blueberries ever to be produced. It was a seedling from a cross between Katharine (a seedling relation of Pioneer) and the wild Rubel blueberry.

They also had Atlantic developed in 1939. Backyard Berry Plants was offering these heirlooms. This nursery also carries some very rare strawberry heirlooms. I recently added a French heirloom from another heirloom strawberry store called Legendary Strawberries. They carry Marshall, almost declared extinct. One of the best, I added Hybrid 'Gariguette'. These strawberries are from Provence France and are considered the best of the best when it comes to French Hybrid strawberries. Ir originated in the 1930's making it an heirloom variety. It is a favorite of many of the world's top chefs. This wonderful variety of strawberry produces elongated vermilion-red fruits with a sweet and delicate flavor, and is at its best when eaten fresh, either on its own, or when served with cream or ice-cream.


I also added Archer, the newest of the new. Very hard to find at this point, only one nursery has enough stock to sell. If anybody is ordering strawberries, and wants to trade say 3 plants, I'm in if you want to try Archer. PM me.
Info on Archer
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/...its-sweet-spot
http://strawberryplants.org/2016/09/...berry-variety/


Archer is the dream strawberry for northern growers. A perfect storm. Huge size, huge taste, and huge disease resistance. Also Cornell never restricts the homeowner, unlike Florida. The Michigan nursery distributing the berry will take orders from homeowners for as little as 25 plants for 16 bucks plus postage.