WSU Extension Publications Growing Small Fruits for the Home Garden Home Garden Series- Replaces EB1640

Begin cultivating in the spring as soon as the soil is workable. Avoid deep cultivation that may cut the blackberry roots; undesirable suckers develop when roots are damaged. Herbicides can be useful on established blackberry plantings; consult the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. As with other types of blackberries, remove all the old fruiting canes after harvest. Construct the blackberry trellis by stretching a wire between posts set 20 feet to 30 feet apart in the row.

When growing blueberries on such soils, keep the pH around 5.0. Any sulfur applications should be made a year before the anticipated planting time. Check the pH one or two times during the first year to determine if more sulfur is needed. Do not plant in high pH soils without first lowering the pH and adding acidifying organic matter. Berries develop and ripen 45 to 80 days after bloom, depending on the cultivar, and ripen over a period of three weeks to five weeks. Then, another leaf bud near the tip of the shoot opens, and another flush of growth begins.

• Just be sure to cover your plants with netting to protect them from birds once the fruit arrives.
• Weed killer may be picked up by the grape roots and cause vine injury.
• Blueberries do not grow well under conditions where other plants may be expected to thrive.

To avoid reaching this stage, thin canes by making cuts to selectively remove clumps of twiggy, brushy-looking, matchstick-sized laterals (Figure 14–24). At this time also cut any long whips or canes to a convenient height for picking. Flower buds open sequentially in the spring, from the tip down. The flowers within a bud open in a similar manner, with the flowers nearest the tip opening first. Flower bud age affects blooming; buds on older, thinner fruiting twigs open before buds on younger, thicker wood.

Blackberries and Raspberries (Brambles or Caneberries )

In the spring following planting, leave one or two shoots to form trunks. Select the strongest shoots from the previous growing season. Young blueberry bushes are usually planted in late winter while fully dormant and leafless.

Strawberries are one of the first fruits to mature in the spring and one of the most versatile. If you want to grow another fruit tree on your property, consider growing cherry trees. Cherries are some of the easiest fruits to grow, especially for beginners, because the trees require little to no pruning and rarely face pests or diseases. Kiwi flowers develop on shoots that come from buds that formed the previous year.

No matter what variety of apple trees you grow, they all need full sunlight, well-draining soil, and pruned yearly to stimulate growth. Once established, a healthy apple tree will grow and produce fruits for years to come. Fruit set and production is reduced if the vines are shaded for several hours each day during the growing season. Muscadine grapevines can survive and produce a crop on a wide range of soils as long as drainage is good. Plants are likely to die in locations where water stands for even short periods after heavy rains. Some cultivars respond better to annual long-cane pruning rather than the cordon-and-spur system.

The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening

Make sure wherever you’re growing raspberries has well-draining soil and ample sunshine. If you don’t have space to grow berries in the ground, blueberries are perfect for container gardening. The berries come to harvest in the late summer, but first, you enjoy lovely scented flowers throughout the spring. Many different types of small trees can be grown in the home garden, depending on the space and growing conditions available. From blueberries, to strawberries to grapes there is sure to be a small fruit you can successfully grow at home.

The old traditional cultivars, ‘Scuppernong’ and ‘Thomas’ , are the most widely known and asked for by the public. Trunk – the main perennial, woody part of the vine. For more information on raspberries, see the Blackberry and Raspberry Portal at NC State. For more information on blackberries, see NC State Extension’s Blackberry and Raspberry Portal.

Prune back all shoots to 4 inches to 5 inches in length, but leave the main arms . Muscadine grapes ripen in August through early October. Muscadine clusters are small compared to those of bunch grapes. Clusters ripen in the order they bloomed; the first are the ones nearest the base of the shoot. Cultivars with a wet scar do not store well and should be used soon after harvest. Cultivars with a dry stem scar keep well for a week in the refrigerator.

A blueberry hedge, a strawberry border, or a grape arbor can also enhance the beauty of a landscape. With a little creativity, fruit can be incorporated into an edible landscape. This chapter provides information on the establishment and care of small fruits in home gardens.