Spotlight: Berry Bushes

Summer is all about low hanging fruit, and berry bushes offer us just that. From blackberries to blueberries, there are a variety of bushes that give us juicy, decadent fruit all season long. Continue reading to learn about our favs —

raspberries & blackberries

These are fast growing bushes that yield plenty of sweet fruits. Also known as “brambles”, they only produce foliage the first year after planted. With patience, you’ll be bearing an immense amount of fruit for you to enjoy and share with your community. Their branches, which are known as “canes”, live for up to 2 years and die after they produce fruit. However, the bush is constantly producing more canes, so after that first harvest, you can expect continuous fruit year after year!

Some popular types are the Apache Blackberry and Raspberry Shortcake.

blueberries

Known to grow more slowly then raspberries and blackberries, blueberries are still a summer staple worth growing! Not only do they produce fruit high in antioxidants, they also produce beautiful red foliage in the fall time for you to enjoy.

*Note: Blueberries do require more acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). We suggest growing them in raised beds, as this allows more flexibility to alter pH levels versus growing them in the ground

berry bush CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Most berries require similar kind of care. If you’re seeking deeper information on a different variety that isn’t listed here, we suggest to do addiontal research!

Water: They have what are called “shallow root systems” which means that they require more consistent waterings, especially during immediately upon planting and during the harvest season.

Sunlight: Berry bushes need full direct sun (6+ hours) in order to see high production of fruit

Soil: They prefer well-drained and nutrient rich soil. If you can add compost, they’d even be happier!

Pruning: You must prune annually to remove anything that is damaged, dead, and diseased. If you prioritize this, you’ll achieve an even more fruitful bounty the following year.

Fertilizer: We suggest a slow release fertilizer that is catered for fruit plants in early spring

Space: Spacing is very often overlooked when planting berry bushes. They take up A LOT of space! Make room for them to spread out and grow in unruly ways to promote good air circulation and prevent diseases

strawberries

Strawberries don’t grow as bushes, but we wanted to include them in this article as they are one of the most popular fruit grown in home gardens. They have shorter life spans in comparison to the other berries, which tend to be around 2-3 years (for the “mother” plant). They go on to establish 3-6 offshoots (“daughter” plants) during growing season.

Care Instructions:

Water: In order to prevent molding, water the plant the base to keep the fruit dry. Focus on maintaining moist soil.

Soil: Strawberries require well-drained, nutrient rich soil. Make sure it’s slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.8). It loves additional organic matter such as copost to produce significant fruit.

Spacing: Ample space between mother and daughter plants is necessary for the bed becoming too crowded

Pruning: Add pruning to your winter chores and put down a fresh layer of mulch to protect the roots from freezing during colder months