Berries and Currants

Modified on Thu, 12 Feb at 4:35 PM

Is there anything better than picking fresh fruit that you have grown yourself? It’s one of those ‘memorable and defining’ moments in life. One that often gets people hooked on growing their own produce. This fruit planting guide will help you get started with growing raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and currants.

Strawberries

As you may imagine, our delicious strawberries are very popular across spring and summer – you’ll never taste better than home-grown strawberries!

These are supplied either as “runners”, which are small bare-rooted plants, or as “trayplants”, with a root ball of compost. We also sell some plants in 9cm pots.

Plant strawberries as soon as possible on receipt – if you have runners you’ll need to soak them for a couple of hours first. They can be planted in the ground, in tubs or pots, or in grow bags. Plant about 20-25cm apart in rows, or one plant per medium-sized pot. Make sure strawberries are well-watered – particularly in dry springs.

On Receipt

Plant strawberries as soon as possible on receipt – if you have runners you’ll need to soak them for a couple of hours first. Strawberries can be planted in the ground, in tubs or pots or in grow bags. Plant about 20-25cm apart in rows, or one plant per medium-sized pot.

Watering

Make sure you keep your strawberries well-watered – particularly in dry springs. You can do this by checking the compost daily in hot weather – water if the top half-inch of compost feels dry.

Crops

They will crop in the first season after planting – often as little as 60 days after planting – and for around 4 years afterwards. Each plant throws out more runners in summer. Cut these off, so the plants focus on putting energy into fruit. Feed with high-Potash feed when flowers appear, which helps set and swell more fruits.

We stock some unusual and fun strawberry varieties – including Alpines, Pineberry and Framberry – which can all be grown in the same way. For best results, Pineberries will need a pollinator plant – which we supply.

‘Grow Your Own Strawberries’ Care Information

Plant your strawberries as soon as possible, but only plant outdoors once all risk of frost has gone.
Plant in a sunny and sheltered position in fertile, free-draining soil. You can improve poor soil by adding compost or well-rotted manure prior to planting.
Give your strawberries plenty of space. Dig a hole with a trowel big enough to take the roots of the plant. Plant them 45cm (18in) apart, leaving 75cm (30in) between rows – the crown should be level with the soil surface.
If you plant strawberries too deep, they might rot, but if you leave the crown protruding from the soil, the plant will dry out and die. Firm your plants in well and water thoroughly.
If you’re planting into a basket, it’s best to limit yourself to three or four strawberry plants in a 30cm (12in) basket. Add water-retaining granules and slow-release fertiliser into the compost before planting.
If growing strawberries in pots or hanging baskets, feed them every two weeks during the growing season with a balanced fertiliser. When flowering begins, switch to a high-potash liquid fertiliser to encourage good fruiting.
As the fruits develop, place dry straw or mulching fabric underneath to stop splashes blemishing the fruit.
After cropping, remove any straw and netting to allow better air flow around the crown of the plant.
As the summer progresses, keep on top of weeding and continue to remove any runners. Clear away dead foliage as this can harbour pests and diseases over winter.
Each spring spread a general-purpose fertiliser around your plants along with a mulch of well-rotted manure or compost.

Alpine Strawberries

When you grow your own Alpine strawberries, the plant will produce an abundance of very small & sweet fruits. Fruiting between June and July, plant them from January to May for summer crops in the same year or in the autumn for crops the next season.

Summer Fruiting Strawberries

Plant summer fruiting strawberries between January and May for June harvest or plant them from August to October for fruits the next season.

Everbearer Strawberries

Everbearer strawberries are fantastic for prolonging the fruiting period, they’ll produce a flush of fruit from mid-July and continue to fruit throughout August, peaking again in September right up until the first frosts.

Blueberries

You can grow your own delicious blueberries in the garden or on the patio. It’s super easy and you can do it all for just a few pence per pound!

Blueberries are the original ‘super berry and are now one of Britain’s most fashionable (not to mention expensive) fruits. They are deliciously sweet whether eaten raw on their own, with yoghurt, in fruit salads or cooked into pies, preserves and even muffins and pancakes!

Those little berries are also jam-packed full of health benefits, being very high in vitamin C, rich in antioxidants and containing numerous trace elements.

Originating from North America, blueberries have only been cultivated for a few decades, yet they are remarkably easy to grow. Best grown in a large pot with an established bush producing up to 10lbs of delicious fruit every season!

Simple Steps to Blueberry Success

Choose a large pot about 12 inches in diameter as a minimum as this is less likely to dry out during warm weather.
Fill with ericaceous compost to about 3 inches from the rim.
This is specially blended for acid-loving plants like Blueberries.
It’s a good idea to include Gel & Feed as this will reduce the need for feeding and improve the water-retaining capacity of the pot.
Start with a good-sized plant as Blueberries grow quite slowly.
If you want fruit in the same year then go for a 2-litre potted specimen roughly.
Keep your plant well watered as blueberries favour moist conditions.
Pale pink bell-shaped flowers form in spring, later developing into blueberries, ripening in late summer.
Lightly prune the plant in winter to retain its shape.
Birds also love blueberries so protect the plant with a net as the berries ripen. This will help save your crop.
After the fruit is picked in autumn, the leaves turn a very attractive copper colour.
Raspberries and Blackberries
Raspberries and blackberries are very easy to grow in different varieties of soil and partial sun, even in small spaces.
They are low maintenance yet highly rewarding.
We are associated with the leading raspberry plants (‘canes’) producer in Europe.

Raspberries and Blackberries Planting Guide

Plant 60cm (2ft) in rows, along walls or fences, or in beds, where further support from posts may be needed.
You can also grow them in large pots (40cm+ diameter), potting 3 – 5 canes around the edges.
Water in well after planting.
Cut down any raspberry canes that have already fruited in November, leaving long canes for the following year’s bigger crops.
Summer-fruiting varieties crop in July on last year’s growth, so when their season finishes cut down the fruiting stems.
New shoots will soon emerge, and next year’s fruit will be produced on these ripened canes.
Don’t cut these down, as they will provide the fruit next season.
If you would appreciate fresh raspberries over a long season, grow at least one summer and one autumn variety of raspberry bushes.
Spring is the best time to prune blackberry bushes.
The canes usually grow one season; produce fruit the next season, then die.
Once the canes have fruited and died, you should cut them back to just above the ground.

Currants Planting Guide

Plant bare-root or potted currants, as soon as possible to allow for establishment before the hotter weather. Soak bare roots in water for at least an hour before planting, this will bring the plants out of dormancy.

Dig a hole about an inch longer than the length of the roots and double the width. Space them roughly 1.5m between plants. Fill the hole with soil and firm it down around the plant as you go.

Keep an eye on your plants during dry spells and make sure they are watered well. The best way to tell when currants are ready is by colour and taste, but the fruits should still be firm.