Foodscaping With Berries—No Orchard Required

Fresh, tasty, nutrient-rich blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries—as well as some exotics—are surprisingly easy to grow in the backyard.

Blueberries grow well in highly acidic soil. Valentyn Volkov/Shutterstock

Foodscaping is growing in popularity across the United States, and with good reason. It incorporates low-maintenance plants that are both ornamental and practical. Berries are extremely popular since they don’t require the space of full-size fruit trees, usually only take two to three years to achieve decent harvests, and produce with minimal care for many years after reaching maturity.

Blueberries

Considered one of the world’s most powerful sources of antioxidants and vitamin C, blueberries are typically grown in sunny locations in northern climates (zones three to seven). But there’s good news for growers in zones eight to 10 in the form of the specially bred, heat-tolerant varieties such as Rabbiteye, Southern Highbush, and Half-High.

Blueberries work best planted in large groups rather than here and there in the garden. While they’re technically self-pollinators, better results are achieved with multiple plants. Caring for them en masse is also easier, as their shallow roots need to be watered regularly when there’s no rain. They also need protection from strong winds.

They prefer highly acidic soil (pH 4.0 to pH 5.0), so invest in a pH meter. If needed, add sulfur three months before planting or add sphagnum peat moss, coffee grounds, or pine bark or needles when planting or at the beginning of their growing season. Or simply purchase an acidic fertilizer designed for berries.

Pinch off the flower buds in the first two years to encourage more vigorous growth and better harvests thereafter. Resist the temptation to prune in the first two years, except for crossed branches. Remember, the focus is on growth. Starting in year three, they should be pruned when dormant, as 1-year-old wood bears the best fruit.

Blackberries, Raspberries, and Cousins

Often referred to as “caneberries” or “brambles,” the ever-popular blackberries, raspberries, and black raspberries (aka blackcaps) are part of an extended family of more than 200 species that includes boysenberry, marionberry, loganberry, dewberry, chinaberry, cloudberry, salmonberry, thimbleberry, wineberry, bingleberry, olallieberry, lucrecia berry, and phenomenal berry. There’s truly something for every garden situation, as they offer a wide variety of fruit shapes, sizes, colors, and fruiting seasons, as well as variations in thorniness and growth habits that range from tall and erect to sprawling groundcovers.

There’s also a wide variety of growing options, with raspberry cultivars being available for zones three to nine and heat-tolerant Bababerry, Dorman Red, and Baba Red for zone 10. In general, blackberries tend to prefer slightly warmer climes and do best in zones five to 10.

While brambles can tolerate a variety of soils, make sure there’s no standing water after a heavy rain—they hate “wet feet.” They prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0 to pH 6.5) in a location that gets at least six to eight hours of sun. There are two drastically different pruning schedules depending on whether the bramble is floricane-fruiting (summer-bearing) or primocane-fruiting (fall-bearing).

Blackberries prefer slightly warmer temperatures. Nellia2/Shutterstock

For summer-bearing plants, the new canes are not pruned in the first year. In the following spring, remove weak canes, leaving those that are one-quarter of an inch in diameter and larger. The fruit will develop on these floricanes, which essentially means “older wood.” For larger fruit, tip the canes at a height at which they’re still self-supporting, normally less than five feet tall. For larger yields, do not tip the canes, but be sure to secure them to a strong trellis.

Fall-bearing (aka everbearing, autumn-bearing) varieties form on new cane that grows during summer. It’s important to prune back dead canes at the end of the season to ensure that new wood is produced each year.

Strawberries

A strawberry plant is an interesting plant, as it is simply formed of leaves, a compressed stem (often called its “crown”), and roots. Some crowns form branch crowns (aka “runners”) that form daughter plants that root when they touch soil (free plants!). Strawberries do not breed true from seed.

These little red bundles of fruity delight come in three distinct types: June-bearing, which provide a large harvest in early summer; everbearing, which typically produce two smaller crops (late spring and early fall); and day neutral, which can provide a steady supply of fruit from late spring until the first frost.

All work well in the ground or as container plants and should produce reliably for three to five years. They can live longer, but after five years they tend to produce much less. Strawberries require six to eight hours of sun per day and an acidic soil in the 5.5 to 6.5 range of pH to produce juicy berries.

While there are strawberry varieties for zones three to nine, they are highly sensitive to local conditions. Check with neighborhood gardeners or a nearby garden center for what will do best in the area. Ideally, the varietal should be resistant to red stele and Verticillium wilt. Lastly, keep plants in the shade or a cool spot before planting, then soak the roots in water for 20 minutes before putting them in the ground. It’s critical to make sure the roots don’t dry out during transplanting. Bon appétit!

Strawberry plants start to produce less after five years. yuris/Shutterstock

Tasty Trees

Want even more berries? Go up! These trees provide shade, shelter for wildlife (consider adding a birdbath as well), and, of course, delicious delights.

Marvelous Mulberries

Sweeter than blackberries, which they resemble, and one of the fastest-growing fruit-bearing trees, mulberries come in single-crop and everbearing types. Keep them away from sidewalks, as the fruit will stain, or opt for a white mulberry. Zones four to 10.

Elegant Elderberry

Both American elderberry and its slightly less cold-hardy cousin, European elderberry, thrive in consistently moist, fertile soil. They can grow up to 20 feet tall, depending on the variety. Trimming them regularly keeps them at shrub height. Zones three to 10.

Strawberry Surprise

Tasting like a milder version of a ripe strawberry with tart undertones and an earthy aspect, the strawberry tree is not related to the low-growing perennial strawberry at all. It can grow up to 25 feet tall, with picturesque, twisted branches. Zones seven to 10.