Growing your own berries is possible, no matter where you live! Container gardens are a great way to help control the conditions and grow gorgeous edible plants, even if you don’t have a yard. Now is the time to plant berries!
BERRIES
Who doesn’t love berries! Growing berries in containers is easy and a perfect choice for a small space garden. There are many different varieties to try like Arapaho Blackberry, Dorman Red Raspberry, and Powder Blue Blueberry. All known for producing delicious, sweet berries. Two other great and unique selections are the Pink Lemonade Blueberry and the Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry.
Pink Lemonade Blueberry
Pink Lemonade Blueberries are the most unique selection of blueberry producing deep pink and surprisingly sweet blueberries. When ripened, the berries have a clear and firm texture. Enjoy year- round beauty with pinkish-white flowers in the spring, fruit in the summer, and red to orange foliage in the fall. Try adding this to your foodscape design for edible beauty all year long. This plant prefers full sun and can tolerate our winter climate.
Prime Ark Freedom Blackberry
Prime Ark® Freedom Blackberry plants are cold-hardy, drought tolerant, and self-pollinating. This thornless shrub produces large, glossy blackberries with a deliciously sweet flavor. The great taste and disease resistance make this a fantastic choice for your container garden. Blackberries prefer full sun and regular watering.
PLANT CARE TIPS FOR YOUR BERRIES
CONTAINERS
When selecting your container, larger is better. Your plants need room to grow and time to establish. The container needs an adequate drain hole or draining system.
We recommend purchasing a plant dollies for your larger containers. This will help give you the ability to easily move your plants to a location with better sunlight or to protection from freezing temperatures.
POTTING SOIL
Berries need a well-draining potting soil like Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil. Our potting soil is made with the highest quality of peat moss and composted bark fines to create lightness in the soil. It provides an ideal balance of air flow to the plant’s roots and proper moisture retention for healthy growth.
Here are the 6 steps for planting in containers:
- Fill your container with potting soil.
- Create a hole in the soil larger than the root ball.
- Loosen the root ball and place your plant in the container.
- Add more soil, leaving 1-2 inches from the top of the container, and pat lightly around the plant.
- Water in thoroughly, allowing the water to drain.
- Add more soil if needed.
WATERING
Watering is the most important factor in the health of your plants. For new plants, keep the soil moist until it is established. Once established, you should water when needed. Overwatering is a common cause for poor producing berries. A good rule of thumb is to allow the top 1-2 inches of the soil to become dry before watering again. Watering needs will vary in the summer and the winter.
Try using a RapidTest® Digital Moisture Meter to help measure the moisture in the soil and see if you are watering your plants enough.
FEEDING YOUR PLANTS
Providing your plants with the proper plant food is important. Feed your plants, as directed, with Calloway’s Natural Garden Food. This natural fertilizer is enhanced with Jobe’s Biozome® and Archaea, a unique blend of beneficial microorganisms, which breaks down complex minerals to improve long-term soil quality. This highly enriched fertilizer also contains helpful mycorrhizae, a healthy bacteria that stimulates growth above and below the soil.
PLANT SUPPORT
Fruiting shrubs need extra support to grow and develop. They need strong limbs to support the weight of bearing fruit. Use a trellis or tomato cage for your berry plants to aid in the establishment of strong roots.
Stop by our store nearest you for all your planting needs! Questions? Ask one of our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals available at every store location!
