Hedge Balls Now In North Dakota Grocery Stores: What are they?

On your next grocery run you may run into these in the produce section.

They look like dirty, overgrown tennis balls, but unlike bananas, apples, or strawberries, they come with an advisory sign.

"Hedge Balls" with a warning sign advising customers "not to eat them".  

This reminded me of going to my grandparents' house many years ago, as they were big believers in dispensing hedge balls all over their rather big home down in Hopkins, Minnesota.

I remember I tried to eat one, and I was reprimanded by my parents not to do so. They looked like green apples to me, and they certainly appeared edible.

At that time in my life, there really wasn't much we wouldn't try eating while outside playing.

Neighbors' apple trees and gardens were all fair game.  Somehow, after all this time, seeing these hedge balls again at the grocery store brought me back in time.  So, I had to figure out once again what these little green tennis balls look-alikes are used for.

As you can see by the picture above, you should NOT eat this fruit. 

However, it's not poisonous.  According to Homespun Hydrangea, the taste is very bitter and is not liked by either humans or animals alike.  The primary use of a hedge ball, known as a hedge apple to some, is to repel both spiders and mice naturally.

Simply cut the fruit in half and put it around the outside foundation of your home.  You can also bring them inside your home, but keep in mind that after a week or so, the fruit begins to leak a gooey substance. Therefore, it would be best to put them in a bowl if you plan to bring them inside.

I'm going to give this a try at my lake place, where creepy crawlies tend to be a problem this time of year.  If you have unwanted mice or spiders in your home, you might want to give it a whirl.