55. Mountain Huckleberry
Bare root, divide and cut.
In Finland I love eating mustikka (vaccinium myrtillus) or Bilberry in English. I have been unable to find this plant here in the us. I did find Oregon Mountain Huckleberry (vaccinium membranaceum) on Amazon. Let’s try to grow it!
Vaccinium Myrtillus vs. Vaccinium Membranaceum
What the difference? High-level: they sound really similar, with the huckleberry slightly bigger than the bilberry.
Here is ChatGPT’s detailed response:
Appearance:
Vaccinium myrtillus typically produces small, dark blue to black berries that grow singly or in pairs. The plant itself is a low-growing shrub with small, oval-shaped leaves.
Vaccinium membranaceum produces dark purple to black berries, and the plant generally grows as a small shrub or bush with narrow leaves.
Culinary Uses:
Both berries are edible and can be consumed raw or used in various culinary preparations.
Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberries) are often used in jams, pies, syrups, and as flavorings in beverages.
Vaccinium membranaceum (black huckleberries) are also used in similar culinary applications, such as jams, pies, and syrups, particularly in regions where they are native.
Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry):
Bilberries typically produce small berries, usually ranging from 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) in diameter.
The berries are often described as smaller than cultivated blueberries commonly found in supermarkets.
Vaccinium membranaceum (Black Huckleberry):
Black huckleberries tend to produce slightly larger berries compared to bilberries.
Berries of Vaccinium membranaceum are usually around 6 to 15 millimeters (0.24 to 0.6 inches) in diameter.
While still relatively small, they may be slightly larger than bilberries on average.
Propagate
Now with my Amazon six pack of Oregon Mountain Huckleberry (vaccinium membranaceum) — how can I get the more of them?
According to Better Homes and Gardens:
Division: Growing huckleberries by division is easy. The bushes spread by underground stems, so they don't have a central root system. In late fall or early winter, dig up a root clump big enough to fill a 3 to 5-gallon bucket. Next, backfill the container with potting soil. Water thoroughly and leave the plant in the container for one to two years, so it has time to recover. When you're ready to plant it in the ground, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball, mix in lots of organic matter, and backfill the hole. Water thoroughly and apply a layer of mulch around your plant.
Cuttings: If you prefer, take 4-inch cuttings in late winter to early spring. Bury them in flats of damp sand and cover them with clear plastic. When their roots are 2 inches long, move them into one-gallon pots filled with potting soil. Plant them in the garden when they're 6 inches tall, spacing them 3 feet apart.
Bare Root
The six-pack arrived bare root, and unfortunately quite dry, so I soaked them overnight and potted up the six plants in one-gallon pots the next morning.
Photo timestamp February 19, 2024
Division
By chance, a few “offspring” were separated from the larger bunches, so I took these divided, smaller plants and put them in their own smaller pots.
Photo timestamp February 19, 2024
Cuttings
Wanting even more, I decided fill a sand filled trays with the 4” cuttings, dipped in rooting hormone and soaked the tray.
Photo timestamp February 19, 2024
My next step is to wait a few months and see how it goes! Then only another three to five years before we get some fruit. Hopefully it will be worth the wait.
2025 Update: division worked, cuttings mostly failed. Divided plants now growing next to our guest house.