Karakaberry (forum)

amanda starts with ...
Hi all - happy new year! Does anyone know what parentage these berries are? I have been eating quite a few punnets from the supermarket and they are delicious!? They list them as a blackberry - but they seem far too big/long?

Time: 9th January 2011 4:19pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Wayne says...
They must have been good Amanda if you didn't leave any for a photo

Time: 9th January 2011 5:04pm

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About the Author Wayne
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Jantina says...
Welcome back amanda, were your ears burning while you were away ? Reg misunderstood something and thought you had left the forum! I think it was snottie or Julie who put us straight.

Time: 9th January 2011 9:57pm

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allybanana says...
happy new year Amanda "kackle"berry dont they come out of a chooks behind

Time: 9th January 2011 11:24pm

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About the Author allybanana
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amanda says...
he he - I will buy some more today and take a pic - it's definitely "Karaka" Berry though. Woolies and Coles (in WA) have them in right now (on special too!)
I have bought back some awful flu' bug from Bali with me snottie :-((
But ate loads of jackfruit and mangosteen while there - heaven!

Time: 10th January 2011 11:41am

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About the Author amanda19
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
They sound tasty - originating from Victoria's Yarra Valley it would seem.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 10th January 2011 4:21pm

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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kert says...
They(Karakaberries) should come true from seed . Anyone have access to seed in the eastern States?

Time: 11th January 2011 10:43am

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amanda says...
Well anticipated kert - that was going to be my next question! :)
For a shop-bought berry I found them to be excellent, both in flavour and size.

Time: 11th January 2011 11:44am

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About the Author amanda19
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Charles cant spell says...
Some Kiwi said they where the native NZ Blackberry on another forum. I get the impression from another site they are meant to be less invasive then the blackberry that go nuts down south but who knows.

Time: 11th January 2011 1:28pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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micarle says...
Kert these berrys are available in coles in the hawkesbury area! You should be able to find them easy!! Amanda they are huge, i used them on a Trifle at chrissy time, when i say huge i mean 3-4 inch's

Time: 11th January 2011 1:30pm

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snottiegobble says...
Just like Kiwifruit, NZ yams (ocas) & tamarillos these berries would all originate from New Zealand :) Er I dont think so!
Sounds like they are an improvement in size on Boysenberries & Girlsenberries!
Would love to get some for seed, but just hope they are not GM nd using a kiwi black sheep:)

Time: 11th January 2011 1:50pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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kert says...
Thanks,Micarle.I'm on my way.

Time: 11th January 2011 3:31pm

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Jantina says...
This berry sounds a bit like the Giant Colombian Blackberry , which is described as being up to 5cm long and 2.5 cm wide. I hope so as I have long wanted to get my hands on it. No berries have appeared in the shops here as yet.Maybe you could save me a seed or two amanda.

Time: 11th January 2011 4:54pm

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Brad says...
i get annoyed when we market fruit in such a way that you can't actually figure out what it is. next thing you know we'll be buying aussie chip plants rather than so and so variety potato

Time: 11th January 2011 4:56pm

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About the Author Brad2
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amanda says...
Yea Brad! it's a bit like trying to find a Govt Dept in the phone book these days...?? And just when u have memorized their fancy new name - they go and change it...again...(on purpose I am certain!)
Yes Jantina! I will email u tonite :) I don't think u would be dissapointed with the fruit at all - very much a "giant blackberry"! and super soft and velvety on the palate - mmmmm.

Time: 11th January 2011 10:22pm

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About the Author amanda19
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kert says...
Yes, the K.berry hit the G spot; very tasty. Some difficulty finding the tiny seed but each fruit has several. I'll try coco peat and bottom heat for germination.

Time: 12th January 2011 10:10am

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Charles cant spell says...
Dont know what your experience germinating berries is Kert but I found most of the European berry seeds I got in germinated fine but I lost the majority to damping off (rotting just under the soil) if you do know some tricks etc please lets us know I would love to not loose 90% of the plants should I try it again. Cheers and gl.

Time: 12th January 2011 10:19am

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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kerrt says...
The coco peat seems to be pretty free of fungi but you can heat sterilise it if you have the inclination. Anti-Rot ,a phosphonate fungicide is supposed to be helpful but no personal experience.

Time: 13th January 2011 8:16am

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denise says...
The karaka blackberry was developed by the nz government and makes up for about half of all commercial blackberries grown in nz. Though the vigour was not the greatest they were chosen for the fruit. It is a smaller, easy care bush.The parentage includes some USA native blackberry cultivars. If you google karaka blackberry you will get the full story from the various entries.It has many small thorns that are not overpowering. I got one for my own garden after learning about it from your forum, thanks Daleys.

Time: 25th February 2011 5:02pm

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About the Author denise4
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denise says...
/Users/bernardking/Desktop/8797780639774.jpg

Time: 25th February 2011 5:03pm

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About the Author denise4
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Jantina says...
So not the Giant Colombian then, thanks for the info Denise. Do you know if it comes true from seed?

Time: 27th February 2011 11:02pm

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About the Author Jantina
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Amsterdam Mariner says...
Please stop telling everybody about these berries, as every time I buy them (multiple packets) and then I come back for more there is NOTHING.
They are the best and now I have to research the possibility to grow them myself.

Time: 15th December 2011 5:44pm

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About the Author Amsterdam Mariner
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Where do you get 'em from AM?

Time: 15th December 2011 6:49pm

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ringelstrumpf says...
Shouldn't need European berries cold stratification?
I would rather like to buy a bush than wait ages, anyway our local coles never sells a thing like that.

Time: 15th December 2011 6:53pm

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About the Author ringelstrumpf
Mountains
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john says...
Yes, they need stratification . I did that and have one viable plant from a Wollworth's punnet; they are not terribly easy to germinate.

Time: 16th December 2011 8:38am

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Julie says...
ebay has seeds of these.

Time: 4th December 2012 10:31pm

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About the Author Julie
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lenn says...
Yes, but his price is high. Better to wait til they are in the shops and enjoy the fruit AND save the seed.

Time: 5th December 2012 7:33am

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BJ says...
There are also seedlings on eBay that have sold for a reasonable price. The nature of the site means that some will be cheap, others expensive, depending on the number of people bidding and if two really want it badly the price can soar.

Time: 5th December 2012 10:47am

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About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
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Julie says...
lenn, never seen them in the shops. I bid $6.50 (free postage), not sure if I will go above that, but I'm the only bidder.

Time: 5th December 2012 6:16pm

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About the Author Julie
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John Mc says...
Just bid on a small plant, 70mm high. If no-one else bids I'll get it landed for $18.
Same seller has buy it now for 3 plants for $36 delivered.

Time: 5th December 2012 6:38pm

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Julie says...
70mm? That IS small!

Time: 5th December 2012 9:24pm

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About the Author Julie
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lenn says...
As KB is a hybrid you may not get something good from seed. Rubus seeds are always a challenge to germinate and may need extra help of various sorts. The plants in question are likely to be seed grown.

Time: 6th December 2012 6:48pm

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Julie says...
What sort of 'extra help' lenn?

$18 for a seed-grown 70mm plant sounds steep! I would expect a hybrid for that price.

Time: 6th December 2012 9:24pm

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About the Author Julie
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lenn says...
Only one grower (Yarra Valley) has been licenced by the NZ originators. It would seem that the plants on sale are not clones, therefore. Pre-treatment with sulphuric acid hastens germination.(no personal expeience)

Time: 7th December 2012 9:25am

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Julie says...
I bought mine today from ebay at $6 for 10 seeds. Hope I get plenty of growing instructions.

Time: 7th December 2012 8:54pm

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About the Author Julie
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amanda says...
Julie - the punnets of berries are in the major stupor markets now...got some at Woolies (and saw them in Coles too..)
Just in case u need more.. ;-) I am going to plant some also..Speedy mentioned planting a heap and seeing what came out - I have some room here to have a go - so why not I say!? :)

Time: 12th December 2012 8:03pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Julie says...
Thanks amanda,I'll have a look when I go shopping tomorrow.

Time: 12th December 2012 10:02pm

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About the Author Julie
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Julie says...
Woolies didn't have them, and Coles had sold out. At around $48kg, they are strictly a novelty item! But people go on a spending frenzy at Christmas, so they had all gone.

Time: 13th December 2012 9:12pm

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About the Author Julie
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John Mc says...
My little plant arrived today. There's plenty of growing season left so I'm hoping it'll like it's new home and flourish. $18 delivered, and it appears to be a seedling. We'll just have to wait and see how true to form it turns out to be.

Time: 13th December 2012 10:57pm

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Julie says...
Got my seeds a couple of days ago. Says to stratify for 2-3 months.

My question is, do I stratify in damp or dry conditions? And what is the best material to use? Do I plant them in soil?

Time: 16th December 2012 10:11pm

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About the Author Julie
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John Mc says...
I had success with my Asimina seeds by wetting some coco coir and hand squeezing out as much water as I could, so it was just damp. I then wrapped the seeds in the coco, put it all into a plastic bag and left it in the crisper section of the fridge for 3 months, they all germinated soon after they were removed from the fridge.

Time: 17th December 2012 7:35am

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Julie says...
Thanks John. I need to get some coco stuff.

Time: 17th December 2012 9:34pm

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About the Author Julie
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Julie says...
On second thoughts - the seeds are so small I think they will get lost in coco coir. I'm thinking of placing them on white kitchen paper on top of soil so I can see them. What do you think?

Bought some in Coles today, so at last I get to try them. $6 for 125gms.


Time: 18th December 2012 8:48pm

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Jon M says...
I bought a punnet today as well and will try and keep the seeds, hopefully I will have some luck.

Time: 20th December 2012 2:02am

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About the Author John
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lenn says...
I,too, have bought a punnet ; each berry has at least 6 seeds. The trouble comes with the low germination rate . Several articles talk about 98% sulphuric acid pre treatment. Battery acid is around 30% and it will ahve to do, I suppose. Any ideas?

Time: 20th December 2012 3:25pm

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CanberraJohn says...
They are a hybrid developed by the NZ government, the exact details are sketchy but the original plants were hybridised with some different North American varieties. From what I can work out Costas' have the rights in Australia and currently licence berry farmers to grow the crops. The one in the Yarra Valley is well known but there are others. It's a pity that the plants aren't easily available to the general public.


Time: 4th December 2015 1:47pm

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