Smoky saskatoon bushes

Smoky saskatoon bushes for sale

Smoky is the sweetest-flavoured Saskatoon or Juneberry, and one of the main commercial varieties. It is very heavy-cropping.

The fruits ripen unevenly - regarded as inconvenient by commercial growers, but a useful for the gardener who wants to be able to pick fresh Saskatoons over a longer period.

How to grow

Like all Saskatoons, Smoky is susceptible to frost damage, so best planted in a sheltered frost-free area, in full sun.

If planting several bushes, allow 3m between each one. They should reach a mature height of about 2m-3m or so in the UK.

Do not add fertiliser at the time of planting, but water well, and keep the young bush regularly watered (but not drowning) during the spring. Water should be applied to the base of the stem and the root area, try to avoid letting water splash on to the leaves. Keep weeds and grass well away from the base of the plant.

No pruning is usually required for the first 5 years. After that, prune out some of the older branches each spring, since fruiting is best on younger shoots.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Smoky is named after the Smoky River in Alberta, Canada, where the first seedling of this variety was found, in the early 20th century. It was the first Saskatoon to be grown commercially, and even today is still probably the most widely planted.

Smoky characteristics