If you’re growing your own fruits and veggies, you definitely don’t want to skip out on berries. Honestly, it’s so worth it—berries bring a huge splash of color and a ton of flavor to your backyard, and they’re incredibly healthy to boot. Here’s the lowdown on how to get your berry patch started the right way.
The Best Berries for Your Garden
Once you’ve decided to go for it, the hardest part is choosing which ones to plant. You’ve got plenty of delicious options to pick from:
- Currants
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Gooseberries
- Goji berries
- Elderberries
- Cranberries
- and many more!
For the most part, berry plants are pretty low-maintenance. As long as you put them in the right spot and give them a little TLC, they’ll thrive. That makes planting berries a perfect project for gardening newbies. Even fruits like blueberries, which usually need specific forest soil to grow in the wild, have cultivated varieties that are super easy to grow at home. Plus, you can choose the style that fits your space, from small shrubs and climbing vines to elegant upright bushes and mini-trees.
How to Get Your Berry Patch Growing
Ready to start your own berry garden? Your best bet is to head to a local nursery. I recommend buying “container-grown” or “balled and burlapped” shrubs rather than bare-root plants. They tend to establish their roots much faster, and you’ll usually get your first harvest a lot sooner.
While you *can* start berries from seed, it’s usually not worth the hassle. You can find high-quality young shrubs at great prices that are ready to go. Remember, berry bushes are perennials, meaning they’ll come back year after year. In fact, if you treat them right, your yields will actually get bigger as the plants mature. To really give your plants a boost, make sure to fertilize and mulch them regularly to encourage healthy growth and plenty of fruit.
Why You Should Definitely Grow Your Own
The amazing taste of homegrown berries really speaks for itself, but the high yields are a huge bonus too. Let’s be real: buying fresh berries at the grocery store can get pretty expensive! But it’s not just about us—your garden’s wildlife will thank you, too. Bees and other beneficial insects rely on these plants for food. Since natural food sources for bees are becoming harder to find, planting a few berry bushes is a great way to help out the environment while filling your pantry.
