ISHS Acta Horticulturae 165: III International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
ACCOUNT OF MY TRHREE TYPES OF VACCINIUM VITIS - IDAEA "ERNTEDANK" - "ERNTEKRONE" - "ERNTESEGEN" |
| Author: | A. Zillmer |
| Abstract:
Already from my childhood days cowberries have fascinated me. For one thing it was the exquisite taste of the compote and also the beautiful appearence of this plant with its evergreen leaves and its pretty red fruit. About twenty years ago I noticed a cowberry plant i a north-west German upland moor, located within the large moor west of Uchte. It was fully laced with fruit and was glowing rather more in a red than green colour. That particular year was regarded by me as a good crop year. In subsequent years I noticed on this plant, occupying an area from five to ten square meters, that it bore the same amount of fruit every year. Moreover, it yielded a summer and an autumn crop. This plant is positioned in the centre of the moor, measuring approximately thirty square kilometers. It stands completely isolated by the roadside, exposed to sunshine, wind and cold. On this plant I discovered for the first time that there are differences among cowberry plants. Since I considered this selection valuable, I started multiplying this plant vegetatively by means of cuttings. The cuttings were planted at the end of July and developed roots in the autumn and early winter. These rooty cuttings were put into 7cm-pots and transplanted into gardens after eighteen to twenty-four months. I first had to test whether such plants were growing at all. Until then no data, based on practical experience, were available. This trial proved satisfactory. Consequently, in 1973, I started multiplying bigger quantities. In doing so, I was thinking of a new herbaceous soil-covering, especially for schools and kindergartens as well as an enrichment of pleasure-gardens. In the autumn of 1975 I put this selection on the market under the name "Erntedank". When naming it I was guided by the excessive produce. "Erntedank" can be translated into English by the word "Thanksgiving". Many tree-nurseries and blueberry growers too, became interested in this plant. Professor Dr. Liebster asked for information at once. After talks with Professor Dr. Liebster and the blueberry growers it became clear to me that there would be a place in the field of soft fruit cultivation. What then are the special characteristics of the type "Erntedank"? "Erntedank" is of weak growth and its leaves are of a light green colour and shaped oblong. The bright red fruit is small to medium sized. The plant is very | |
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