How to Germinate Macqui Berry?

Intriguedbybonsai · Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:30 pm

Macqui, Maqui, Chilean Wine Berry, or by it's latin name; Aristotelia Chilensis.

A shrub that originates from South America that bears a fruit that supposedly has more antioxidants that the Acai berry. I found myself lured into "antioxidant super fruit craze", and wanted to experience the fruit for myself.

I searched various websites only to be bombarded with advertisements about how good the fruit was for your health. Juices, vitamin supplements, powders, and etc were the only thing I could find for sale. It can make you live longer, reduce aging, make you lose weight... Though I highly doubt that those sayings are true. Those items weren't what I was looking for. I wanted the actual plant itself. To have and grow just for botanical purposes, and maybe even to one day harvest it's fruit.

I did however manage to find a Chilean dealer that sells seeds to the plant. So I ordered them, and they have arrived in the mail. The only thing I found disappointing was that there were no instructions on how to properly germinate the seeds. Could it be as simple as just covering them in a pot of potting soil, and watering?

!potatoes! · Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:06 am

...from seed, I don't know. I would kinda expect it to want stratification, but who knows?

I think the oregon company 'one green world' sells the plants, among lots of other ones. they might be able to help you.

Intriguedbybonsai · Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:54 am

A reply at last...

I searched their database, but found no results for the fruit. Thanks anyways!

!potatoes! · Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:08 pm

oops, sorry, must have been thinking chilean wintergreen, Pernettya mucronata...

good luck!

Vorguen · Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:16 pm

interesting... let us know if you have results

Intriguedbybonsai · Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:02 am

The first attempt to germinate them failed. Before my second attempt to purchase another seed packet, I emailed the botanist who sells them, and asked him if growing instructons could be included. He told me that instructions aren't included with the seeds, and to check their website instead.

The website ( https://www.chileflora.com/index.html ) is so vague on a proper germination procedure. What I did manage to find on the website is that they require a cold stratification method to germinate. Some varieties of the plant take a longer cold stratifaction than others. So basically you're taking a gamble on these seeds. You never know which seeds needs longer cold period than others.

That said, I think I'm done trying this for now. If anyone else has another solution then I'm up for it.

DoubleDogFarm · Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:12 am

Forest Farm in Oregon has them.
https://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=530

$15.00 for 2-3ft tall seedlings. Unsexed. You need cross pollinators.

Eric

Intriguedbybonsai · Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:24 pm

Thanks. I wish I had known about that site before hand.

DoubleDogFarm · Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:30 pm

Do you know about Aronia berry? Also high in antioxidants. I have about a dozen in my orchard and maybe another dozen potted up.

Eric

Intriguedbybonsai · Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:02 pm

That's a new one I haven't heard of. I'll research it sometime. Thanks.

ruggr10 · Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:11 pm

DDF- I ordered some Aronia for the spring and they should be coming in early May. I've never tried them before but I am excited to grow something new.

What do they tasted like?

Are they easy to take care of or is there anything special I should know?

Thanks!!

DoubleDogFarm · Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:27 pm

ruggr10,

Hard to describe the taste. Some don't like them right off the plant. They are not sweat like blueberries nor sour like cranberries.

You can plant them in your lower, wetter areas. I have several along the edge of the duck pond.

I find them easy to grow with little pruning.

Pictures from my orchard
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Fruits%20and%20Berries/Aronia004-1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Fruits%20and%20Berries/Aronia003-1.jpg[/img]

Eric

ruggr10 · Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:34 pm

DDF, thanks for the info. I have a little stream through my yard (dries up in summer when it doesn't rain). I may be able to put them along that. There were pine trees there, I hope they like a bit of acidic soil. I guess I should add a little lime and it would be fine.

DoubleDogFarm · Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:12 pm

The stream sounds perfect. I don't know the Ph requirements and I usually don't worry about it.

Eric

Misterbee · Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:44 pm

Found this data on https://www.rarexoticseeds.com/en/gibber ... a3-90.html

I am experimenting with 100mg of GA3 in 400ml of water yielding 400ml at 250 ppm (dissolve 100mg of powder dropwise with a small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol, then add 400ml of water) and am soaking the seeds in the solution for 24 hours. I'll report back on the success or failure...