How to grow berry shrubs in your garden. Tips from Greensad.ua

Choosing berry shrubs for your garden

Berries are a necessary product for everyone. Any berry contains vitamins, minerals and other beneficial components, which our bodies need. In summer we can eat berries fresh, and in winter enjoy drinks, jams, delicious compotes. If you have a dacha, garden or private house, you should definitely plant at least a few berry shrubs there. You can buy fruit and berry shrubs on the website.

Berry shrubs are easy to grow even for a beginner gardener, you just need to know the basic care rules. Choose good planting material that is adapted to our conditions.

How to choose berry shrub saplings? When buying saplings, first find out what variety you have and whether it is suitable for your region. After that, you need to carefully examine the planting material. Pay special attention to the roots. They should be well-formed, not short and definitely fresh. Branches should be healthy, without damage. There should be no darkening on the bark. It's better to buy saplings from reputable sellers, not from the market or by the roadside. It's better to trust specialized nurseries. Greensad - a popular plant shop in Kyiv http://greensad.ua/shop/.

Which plants to choose? If you decide to grow a fruit garden on your property, think about which berries you like the most. Fruit and berry trees and shrubs impress with the variety of species and varieties. If the area allows, you can collect an entire collection of berry crops, but if not, start with the most popular and in-demand ones.

Popular berry shrubs for the garden: raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, gooseberry, grape, viburnum, blueberry, sea buckthorn, blackberry, currant, lingonberry, chokeberry, sea buckthorn, aronia, actinidia.

Most popular berry shrubs in Ukraine

Raspberry. Raspberry holds the top spot in popularity. You can find raspberry bushes on every dacha. They are very tasty, juicy, and most importantly - healthy. Raspberry makes great jam for winter, and the berries can be eaten fresh. All varieties can be divided into early, medium, and late. It's worth noting remontant raspberry, which can bear fruit again. Raspberry berries are red, but today yellow varieties are becoming popular.

Blackberry. All blackberry varieties can be divided into black, red and white. These are small round berries clustered in bunches, with a usually sour-sweet taste. Berries contain vitamin C and many other beneficial vitamins. Some varieties bear fruit on the second year, but usually later. This is a relatively un-demanding plant that can do without additional feeding. It grows well on all garden soils. Average berry weight - 4 grams, but there are large-fruited varieties with berries around 7 grams.

Gooseberry. This shrub has been grown in Ukraine for many years. Most varieties adapt well to our conditions. Shrubs rarely get sick and do not require complex care. Gooseberry berries can be green, yellow, or have a red tint. Your shrub will start bearing fruit already in the second year after planting. It can bear fruit for up to 15 years, and the yield will only increase each year. Berries are very beneficial for health. In summer, they are eaten fresh, and in winter, you can freeze them in the freezer.

Blueberry. Juicy, large, tasty and very healthy blue berries will not leave anyone indifferent. They are clustered in bunches, some varieties resemble grapes. Berries contain many vitamins and beneficial minerals. It is not possible to call blueberry absolutely undemanding. You will need to water and loosen the soil regularly, but the generous yield compensates for the time spent.

Grape. Grape can be grown not only for the purpose of harvesting. This plant is very decorative. It is used for landscaping gazebos, arches, and resting areas. Often planted to decorate balconies or verandas. In autumn, the shoots are adorned with beautiful fruits, and grape leaves take on a bright color. Grape can be blue, white or red. All varieties are divided by purpose: dessert grape, table grape, wine grape, and others.

Sea buckthorn. Can grow as a shrub or a small tree. Very abundantly fruits, branches are completely covered with small yellow or yellow-orange berries. The taste is usually sour, but there are sweet varieties too. Very beneficial berry for human health, containing a lot of ascorbic acid in its composition.

Strawberry and blueberry. Very compact shrubs that delight with their fruits. Blueberry berries are small, the taste is sour-sweet. Strawberry can have medium or large fruits. Varieties may be not only red, but also white. Today, white-berried varieties are being grown, which smell like pineapple. Ripe berries: early, medium, late and remontant.

These are the most popular berry shrubs you can find on a dacha or in a garden. You can grow actinidia, chokeberry, sea buckthorn, lingonberry, viburnum and many other interesting berry crops.

Popular berries:

Tips for planting and caring for popular shrubs

Preparing the planting site. Most berry shrubs prefer to grow in sunlight. Raspberry can yield in partial shade. The planting site is prepared in advance. Planning to plant shrubs in spring? Then carefully till the soil and add fertilizer in autumn. If you plant plants in autumn, prepare the planting site one month before planting. The soil should be level, all weeds and old roots must be removed.

Planting times. You can plant berry shrubs in spring, but it is better to do it in autumn. The optimal time is late September to early October. Viburnum is planted very early in spring, while its buds have not yet awakened. Other shrubs can be planted later. Autumn planting suits all.

Choosing soil. When choosing soil, take into account the individual needs of the plant. For example, blackberry does not like acidic soils, on them it wilts and grows poorly. For it, the best option is nutrient-rich soil without close groundwater. Go berry does not tolerate very wet soils, on them it may be affected by powdery mildew. The soil should be well-drained, it should allow water and air to pass through well. Viburnum prefers moist, loamy or sandy soils. Raspberry can grow on slightly acidic or neutral soil. It can be planted on poor soils, loamy soils are suitable. Blueberry prefers moist and acidic soils. On dry neutral soil, it will not give a good yield. Sea buckthorn is an undemanding plant, as practice shows, it usually roots quickly and fruits well even on poor soil. Strawberry and blueberry can be planted on any soil, but it is desirable to add compost. Never plant strawberry in low-lying areas or in drafty places, this crop is fearful of cold! Grape does not fruit on heavy or clay soils. The soil should be nutrient-rich and loose.

Planting hole dimensions. The planting hole for blackberry is 50 cm wide and 35 cm deep. The root collar is planted 8 cm deep, and the sapling is tilted. You do not need to tilt the gooseberry, the root collar is planted 5 cm deep. Raspberry can be planted in holes, but it also suits trench planting. Holes are filled with compost and organic fertilizers. Grape can be planted in holes or trenches, holes are always prepared in advance, the soil should settle. Fertilizers are added to the planting hole, and a support stake and irrigation tube are always placed next to the hole.

Caring for berry crops. After proper planting, you must care for your plants. Naturally, this varies individually. For example, blueberry is a moisture-loving plant that needs regular watering to get a harvest. Other shrubs are watered much less frequently. Grape is not recommended to water during fruit setting. All plants respond well to fertilization. In early spring, apply nitrogen, in summer add potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. After watering, always loosen the soil and remove weeds. You can mulch the soil. If you notice something suspicious on the leaves, treat the plant with special preparations.

Before planting a berry shrub, it is better to find information on how to care for it. Each berry crop is a kind of individuality that loves careful attention. In return, you will get a bountiful harvest!

Raspberry berries: