Knowledgebase
serviceberry species or variety for production #227443
Asked February 11, 2015, 12:20 PM EST
Washington County Virginia
Expert Response
Here is some information from Illinois that is appropriate for your question. These varieties should work here.
While the fruit on all Amelanchier species are edible, saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia) and its varieties are the most productive and produce the best quality fruit. 'Smokey' is a 6- to 10-foot-tall shrub. Plants sucker freely. Its fruit are large, sweet, and mild flavored. 'Northline' is a 10-foot-tall, free-suckering shrub. It has consistently produced the highest yields in trials conducted in Canada. The fruit are large. 'Pembina' produces large, sweet, full flavored berries. The shrubs reach a height of 10 feet. Unlike other varieties, 'Pembina' produces few suckers. 'Thiessen' was found growing near Langham, Saskatchewan and was introduced in 1976. It is perhaps the largest fruiting variety with good flavor and productivity. However, the fruit may ripen unevenly. 'Regent' is a commonly sold variety. However, plants are low yielding and the fruit lack full flavor.
Serviceberries grow well in a wide range of soils. They grow best in moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.8. Avoid poorly drained, heavy clay soils.
Serviceberries grown as ornamentals can be planted in partial shade to full sun. When growing saskatoons for their fruit, plant them in full sun.
Saskatoons are often planted in hedgerows in home gardens. Plants should be spaced 6 feet apart within the hedgerow. Rows should spaced 9 to 12 feet apart. Saskatoons should begin to flower and bear fruit in 3 to 4 years. They should reach peak production in 8 to 10 years.
Harvest saskatoons when the berries turn from pink to deep purple. Birds are the biggest threat to the saskatoon crop. The use of plastic netting is the best way to protect the ripening fruit from birds. The plastic netting must be placed over the plants and then secured to the ground to prevent bird entry from below the netting.