Will
Sea Buckthorn grow in my area?
Sea Buckthorn is a very hardy shrub requiring only marginal soil, about 30cm
of water per year and full sunshine.
Which
variety's are the best for me?
Determine your purpose for planting Sea Buckthorn: Orchard, personal use,
erosion application, landscaping, hedge, wildlife habitat etc...
How
long will a shrub live?
Sea Buckthorn shrubs can remain productive in excess of 30 years.
How
big will the plants get?
Height varies with variety from dwarf (1 meter) to others upwards to 10 m.
Width can be in excess of 2m if left un-pruned.
When
will the plants start to produce berries?
Generally, flowers will start to appear on 4 year old plants and reach peak
production after 7 years.
Will
late Spring frosts damage flowers & prevent thorough
pollination?
No, the flowers are very resistant to frost. In fact the buds will swell,
even dusted with snow, and open before the leaves appear.
Can
I expect to get berries from having only one plant?
No, being dioecious, (having male & female flowers on separate trees) Sea
Buckthorn requires at least one male for pollination and one female to produce
flowers for fruit.
What
is the recommended separation between male & female
plants?
As pollination occurs strictly by pollen being transferred by the wind, the
frequency and intensity of prevailing winds can vary this distance from a few
meters to several.
For
larger plantings, what is the recommended ratio for
males - females?
7 - 10% depending on the spacing and available winds.
What
is ideal spacing for orchard application?
1-3m between plants and 2 -3m between rows
How
much care is required?
For optimum berry production, thinning and pruning perimeter is recommended.
Suckers can be promoted to encourage the plant to spread within the row or to
cover larger areas in erosion prone locales.
Will
suckers produce berries?
Suckers are true to the Mother plant so suckers from female plants will bear
fruit.
Does
Sea Buckthorn need fertilizer and/or sprays?
No. These hardy shrubs require little other than water and sunshine. They are
also very resistant to pests and disease.
When
are the berries ready to pick?
Varies with variety but generally about 100 days after pollination occurs
When
is the best time to pick the leaves?
In the peak growing time in the late Spring and preferably only from the male
plants
How
are the leaves and berries picked?
In most cases by hand however mechanical harvesters are presently being
improved upon to assist in this labor intensive task.
How
productive can these plants be?
3 - 6kg per plant is not uncommon. In an orchard environment, 20 - 25t/ha
How
are the berries processed?
On a small scale, berries can be easily juiced. On larger productions,
centrifuge, cold press and CO2 extraction techniques are utilized.
What
products can be made from Sea Buckthorn?
There are presently over 200 products manufactured and available on the market
worldwide. Consumable products range from juice, jams, candies to extracts,
elixirs, wine & beer. Body oils, creams, soap and shampoo compliment the other
end of the scale. Tea is made from the leaves. Bark and branches are
ground up and fed to pets and livestock either bulk or palletized.
What
are some of the chemical components in Sea Buckthorn?
• Vitamins C, A, K, P, E
• 10% Soluble Sugars
• Protein
• 18 Amino Acids
• 20 Trace Elements
• Palmitic & Palmitoleic Acids
• Linoleic & Linolenic Acids
• Carotene
Medicinal
& Cosmeceutical claims?
- Coronary heart disease
- Eye diseases
- Gingivitis
- High blood pressure
- Tumor growth
- Skin rejuvenator; anti-aging
- UV blocking capabilities; sun screens
Back to top
