Gail Thomas celebrates her favourite homegrown berries.
As berry season kicks in, it’s time to think ahead. My berries of choice to grow are thornless loganberries and marionberries – even though the latter are prickly, it’s well worthwhile to persevere. Harvest them when fully ripe, just past the shiny black stage when the flavour is optimum.
Loganberries ripen here in Geelong, Victoria in mid to late November with the marionberries coming in around three weeks later. This extends the season and allows for a short crossover period when both are ripe.
Growing them along a paling fenceline also makes for easy access and picking and you only have to net one side by pegging the net to the top of the fence!
Perfumed and luscious, these berries are a perfect addition to desserts, as an accompaniment to cheese, transformed into jam or frozen for use after the season has finished. They also pickle well to serve with lobster, duck, turkey or venison.
As a festive treat, take a sweet pastry or sponge flan and spread the base with pureed berries – and a little rose water if you desire. Whip cream that has been combined with cocoa powder and spread over the berry base then top with fresh berries, cubes of Turkish Delight or maybe chopped pistachios and a garnish of lemon balm leaves.
Photos Gail Thomas
