Seabuckthorn berries are considered a nutrient-rich superfood...and best of all, it's easy to grow seabuckthorn here in North America, even in the poorest soil. In this episode of the Urban Forestry Radio Show host Susan Poizner learns more about the history of this thorny shrub and she learns how to grow it by speaking to research scientist and plant developer Bill Schroeder of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. In the second half of the show Susan speaks to to Joanie Cooper, the president of the Temperate Orchard Conservancy in Molalla, Oregon. Joanie's organization is cloning America’s large private collection of apple trees – consisting of over 4,500 varieties from around the world.

Researcher Bill Schroder beside a seabuckthorn variety that he helped to develop. This is a thornless cultivar that produces large nutrient rich berries.

What you will learn about seabuckthorn in this show:

* Why are seabuckthorn berries considered a “superfood”?* What was the initial use for seabuckthorn plants?* Why did new cultivars have to be created for growth in Canada?* What does seabuckthorn look like?* What environmental conditions do seabuckthorn grow in?* How do you prune seabuckthorn?* How do you determine if a seabuckthorn plant is male or female?* What are the seabuckthorn’s light requirements for fruit growth?* What plants grow with seabuckthorn in its natural habitats?* How is seabuckthorn seed oil being marketed?

The show’s host is Susan Poizner, creator of the award-winning fruit tree care training website www.orchardpeople.com and author of the award-winning fruit tree care book “Growing Urban Orchards”.

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