Berries
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Before planting berries of any sort, prepare the soil as you would for a vegetable or flower
garden; a rich crumbly soil with plenty of organic matter and good drainage is best. Till the soil,
remove weeds, and work some compost into it. Early spring is the best time for planting.
If you have bare root plants, it’s a good idea to soak the roots in a bucket of water for several
hours before planting. Dig holes large enough to spread out the plant’s roots. Immediately after
planting, water thoroughly with a weak solution of fertilizer; be sure to completely saturate the soil
and wet the roots. A liquid fertilizer with root stimulator hormones will help establish new plants
quickly. Kelp, either liquid or dried, also works well to stimulate vigorous growth. New plants
should be watered every other day for three weeks or so, with a weekly application of liquid
fertilizer solution.
garden; a rich crumbly soil with plenty of organic matter and good drainage is best. Till the soil,
remove weeds, and work some compost into it. Early spring is the best time for planting.
If you have bare root plants, it’s a good idea to soak the roots in a bucket of water for several
hours before planting. Dig holes large enough to spread out the plant’s roots. Immediately after
planting, water thoroughly with a weak solution of fertilizer; be sure to completely saturate the soil
and wet the roots. A liquid fertilizer with root stimulator hormones will help establish new plants
quickly. Kelp, either liquid or dried, also works well to stimulate vigorous growth. New plants
should be watered every other day for three weeks or so, with a weekly application of liquid
fertilizer solution.
Berry Basics
General information for all types
of berries and grapes.
of berries and grapes.
More about each kind of berries and
how to grow them.
how to grow them.
Planting Berries
Pruning
Proper pruning prevents the plant’s strength from being wasted on weak or non-productive
plants may also grow too tall, or become a sprawling mess, making harvesting more difficult. In
general, prune back dead wood and weak or diseased parts of the plant, branches that cross or
crowd each other, and branches that grow beyond the desired size of the plant. All pruned
material should be burned immediately to prevent the spread of disease.
plants may also grow too tall, or become a sprawling mess, making harvesting more difficult. In
general, prune back dead wood and weak or diseased parts of the plant, branches that cross or
crowd each other, and branches that grow beyond the desired size of the plant. All pruned
material should be burned immediately to prevent the spread of disease.
Mulch helps keep grass and weeds from taking over your berry patch, keeps soil warmer in the
winter and cool in summer, helps hold in moisture during dry months, and adds organic matter to
the soil as it breaks down. Straw, bark dust, wood shavings, grass clippings, leaves, and
compost may be used for mulch. Peat moss and evergreen needles can be used to mulch
acid-loving blueberries.
winter and cool in summer, helps hold in moisture during dry months, and adds organic matter to
the soil as it breaks down. Straw, bark dust, wood shavings, grass clippings, leaves, and
compost may be used for mulch. Peat moss and evergreen needles can be used to mulch
acid-loving blueberries.
Mulching