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The fruit of the juneberry resembles a dark blue-black or reddish blueberry.We sell two types of juneberries. Amelanchier canadensis is a multiple-stemmed shrub/tree that is used primarily as an ornamental and can reach 25 ft. tall. Amelanchier alnifolia grows very much like a highbush blueberry, producing a large bush, 6-10 feet tall, with multiple canes. The big advantage of Juneberries over blueberries is that they tolerate a wide range of soils and pH. Winter damage is not a worry, since Juneberries are hardy to -50oF., thriving even in the windswept prairie provinces of Canada, where they are grown commercially as “Saskatoons.”
Although they are not especially fussy and will thrive almost anywhere, they seem to do best in sweeter soils, (pH 6.6-6.8,) particularly in the eastern U.S. Full sunlight is best for maximum fruit production, and, since Juneberries are very long-lived, they should be planted in a spot where 40 years hence they will still have full sun.
Recommended row spacing is about 8-10 ft. apart, with 6-8 feet between plants. Once plants come into bearing and begin to sucker, do some annual pruning to keep the number of canes constant, removing any damaged or very old canes, or canes which have gotten leggy.
Mulching directly beneath the bushes will help eliminate competition from weeds. “Quack” or “witch”grass should be dug out. Also, adequate water is a must for any fruit crop, and access to either a drip irrigation or overhead water system should be considered when planting a patch.
Because Juneberries are fairly disease free, they are a good choice
for the organic fruit grower. They are, however, occasionally are bothered
by scab or fireblight, especially in the wetter growing regions.