Berry fields forever
Enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor – start a berry garden today
Image courtesy Burpee
A just-picked, sun-warmed berry is as good as eating gets. Nothing, not even berries from a farmers market, can match the delicate flavor and heady scent of straight-from-the-garden berries.
Don't just dream of a delightful berry experience – savor it by growing your own strawberries, raspberries or even blueberries.
"Blueberries are so satisfying, so easy to grow and so suitable for the homeowner's landscape," says Penelope O'Sullivan, a gardener in Stratham, N.H.
Growing the popular berry varieties doesn't require special skill, say the experts. However, you'll have to plant now and defer your dreams of backyard berries for a season or two while shopping your farmers market, if you want years of berry-eating pleasure.
Although each berry has its own specific growing needs, berries have some common characteristics you should take into account. When shopping, look for plants with healthy root systems.
"The roots should be plump, moist and supple, not dry and ready to fall apart," says Stella Otto, who gardens near Traverse City, Mich.
Avoid plants with broken stems, which could be a sign of disease, according to O'Sullivan, author of "The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook" (Storey Publishing, 2007). Tempting though it is to get a plant that's already bearing fruit, it's not your best choice.
"It looks more attractive to see the berries. However, you want to get the roots established first, so you'll need to clip off stems and sacrifice the initial fruit," says Otto, author and berry expert. Fruiting may also be a sign that a plant has been in a cooler for a long time, according to Otto.
Instead opt for a plant that has a few green leaves and is healthy, not spindly, says Emily Hoover, professor of horticultural science at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Before planting, check your soil with your local county extension service. Blueberries need a very acidic soil, and strawberries and raspberries slightly acidic. Weed thoroughly before planting. It's harder to pull weeds once you've set strawberries or raspberries, says Otto. Assuming your berry plant is green and growing, get it into the ground after the last frost, says Hoover.
Blueberries can tolerate a short frost period, though you may lose some buds, says O'Sullivan. When it comes to harvesting your crop, patience pays off. "With strawberries, I recommend pinching off the blossoms on the first year to allow the plant to get food and [grow] strong for the following season," Otto says.
Similarly, O'Sullivan suggests removing blueberry flower buds for the first year or two. "That way the plant will get really well established," O'Sullivan says. Raspberry plants will produce a few berries the first year, but "what you get is a bonus; it won't be the highest quality," says Otto. And Blueberry bushes offer delightful dividends even if you have to wait for a season or two to enjoy the berries, says O'Sullivan.
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
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