Pineberries

[Shawn]

I know agfarm was growing Pineberries.  So today while in Trader Joe's I saw them.  I asked the worker what they taste like  She said a strawberry with a hint of pineapple.  So I thought what the heck, let me try them.

I just tasted one.  To me they really did not taste like anything.  I tasted sweetness but no strawberry or pineapple.  I will give one to Mark to try as my taste buds  do go on the fritz at times.  Ever since my thyroid was removed my taste buds sometimes do not work.  It is due to the radiation I had after. 

Funny side story.  One time I was making a meal, I ca not remember what it was off the top of my head.  I was cooking and tasting as I was going along and know I could not taste any of the spice so I kept adding more until I could.  SO when I served it no one ate it as it was way too spicy.  I ruined the dish LOL.... It happened twice.  So now I ask Mark to taste everything. 

We had once had a dessert and Mark said how good it was, I told him it was bland and I hardly tasted anything LOL...  Then there are time I taste everything but I do not trust them so much anymore.

[Shawn]

I think I am allergic to these.  I woke uo this morning and my face was all "dotty".  I cleaned my face good, used some noxema and then some Hibicleans.  It is looking a bit better now but still dotty.

[campingcorgis]

Mar 22, 2022 12:41:40 GMT -5 Shawn said:

I think I am allergic to these.  I woke uo this morning and my face was all "dotty".  I cleaned my face good, used some noxema and then some Hibicleans.  It is looking a bit better now but still dotty.

Yikes!  That's not nice at all.  Good thing these are not a big favorite, so you won't miss them!

[Shawn]

This morning I was less dotty.  They were the only new thing I introduce to my body so I know it was them.  I did throw them away so no more interaction.

I can eat strawberries and pineapple till the cows come home but now these pineberries.  To me they were nothing special. 

Has anyone else tried them?  What did you think?

[Sher]

I have never tried them, Shawn. I am content to watch others grow them.

[lynnee]

Foods don't give me hives or other reactions, Shawn. However, it sounds like pineberries are a no-no for Ray. He reacts to a number of foods if he eats too large a serving (e.g., regular eggplant).

[belugaleuca]

I saw Pineberries for the first time this week too, in Sprouts grocery. There was a picture of a pink fairy on the box. I was wondering what they tasted like, maybe I’ll grab a box and also try them. Sorry to hear about your allergies though, I hope the dots clear up for you.

[belugaleuca]

Shawn So I had the same experience as you with the pineberries - they taste a little sweet but no pineapple flavor. It is extremely mild. I would have probably called it a Plainberry  . I keep eating them hoping for pineapple but nope. It looks pretty but not very flavorful. I think it would be nice as a garnish on mild fragrant desserts where you might want some freshness but no strong flavors. But yeah I still want red saucy strawberries on my waffles!

[campingcorgis]

"I would have probably called it a Plainberry"  

I wonder if they would improve as a jam or just macerated?  

[Sher]

It sounds kind of like white dragon fruit. It's nice, but not much flavor.

[agfarm]

Shawn, I am so sorry to hear about your allergic reaction. I feel like it is partially my fault!

I too haven't tasted a good pineberry. My grow attempt is not going well and I have started to get demotivated.

They are extremely similar to strawberries which is why I am a little shocked about the allergic reaction. Growers are encouraged to pollinate pineberries with strawberry pollen, and since pineberry traits are recessive, the resulting seeds will most likely be strawberry. 

I am waiting for this miserable Michigan weather to improve and I will move the pineberry grow outdoors. To be honest, I bought into this aerogarden for pineberries and strawberries. I am dying to try a good pineberry but they might just end up being "plainberries" in the end. That could explain why they aren't more popular. 

[Shawn]

Mar 29, 2022 6:59:43 GMT -5 agfarm said:

Shawn, I am so sorry to hear about your allergic reaction. I feel like it is partially my fault!

I too haven't tasted a good pineberry. My grow attempt is not going well and I have started to get demotivated.

They are extremely similar to strawberries which is why I am a little shocked about the allergic reaction. Growers are encouraged to pollinate pineberries with strawberry pollen, and since pineberry traits are recessive, the resulting seeds will most likely be strawberry. 

I am waiting for this miserable Michigan weather to improve and I will move the pineberry grow outdoors. To be honest, I bought into this aerogarden for pineberries and strawberries. I am dying to try a good pineberry but they might just end up being "plainberries" in the end. That could explain why they aren't more popular. 

It is NOT your fault.  I really wanted to try it but me and plainberry, I mean Pineberries don't play well LOL....

[lynnee]

agfarm , don't give up yet on growing strawberries! Unless something calamitous happens, my Burpee Albion plants will be producing a lot of large berries. I've done nothing fancy--mainly I'm adding a little CalMag as needed along with AG nutes, leaving the pump on all the time, and doing a weekly R&R (siphoning, not emptying the bowl).

I do believe that starting with crowns sold at the beginning of each year's growing season is helpful. My first attempt at strawberries--started from the dried-up crowns that AG used to sell--was very disappointing.

Your experience has been instructive. I'd never heard of pineberries until you planted them!

[belugaleuca]

Yes agfarm don't give up! I'm still glad for all of your experimentation because otherwise I would probably never have tried a pineberry. Part of the fun is trying all the new things.