Bigger better tastier berries

Sweet succulent Berries are morsels of pure joy that take little effort and time to produce. To ensure you grow a bumper crop, they are best planted in winter.

Dust off the garden gloves, grab your hat and spend an hour or so preparing the soil for your new crop.

With fresh fruit and vegetable prices skyrocketing, now it the time to ensure you don’t have to pay $20 a punnet for your fresh berries for Christmas day.

If you are new to growing berries, start with Strawberries in your first season. They are quick, fun and exceptionally easy to grow, within a matter of months you will be able to harvest your own fresh berries with lashings of cream or better still enjoy them fresh from the plant whilst still warm from the sun.

Results and research shows that planting strawberries whilst temperatures are still cool increases vigour and produces a higher number of berries over the season.

An average strawberry plant will produce a handful of berries each week, don’t be shy, plant at least 5 or up to 10 per member of the family to eliminate ‘debates’ over who gets the last strawberry, this way there should be plenty to go round.

Blueberries are hardy shrubs that once established (which can take a year or two) will produce a decent crop. Plant at least 3 plants per person and ensure the soil isn’t water logged in winter or dry in summer. They are ideal in pots and containers too as well as the garden.

Raspberries are an upright plant almost like a vine that require staking or protection from strong winds. Fruit appears within the first season or two. Plant in winter or early spring, you will need 2 or 3 plants per person to satisfy the family.

Boysenberry, Loganberry and blackberries are all quick growing berries, which adapt to be planted in the garden or large tubs and containers. 1 or 2 plants per person is the recommended planting quantity.

Generally berries like the same conditions (with cranberries being the exception). Full sun, fertile soil and plenty of water in the spring and summer. It’s essential when planting to use Tui Strawberry Mix for all berries, this special blend can use used in pots and containers as well as raised beds and in the garden. Because it has all the goodies berries require to produce sweet, healthy berries, the added potassium promotes fruit and flower development instead of green leafy growth.

In poor or dry soils or when berries are being planted in pots, add Saturaid granular soil wetter to enable the soil to hold onto more moisture. Water stress is the number one reason for crop failure or poor performance.

In existing strawberry patches or plots, remove any weak or sad looking plants, spread Tui Strawberry Food alongside plants and cover with a layer of pelletised pea straw mulch. This will feed the crop and lift berries off soil.

Strawberries need to be replanted after 3 years, they naturally loose there vigour and flavour if grown much longer. Garden centres have a huge range of varieties available through winter and spring, but remember the earlier you plant the better your berries will be.

Watch out for pests or birds hooking into your crop before you. The main pest your berry plants will face is birds. In order to protect your crop from being eaten before you get the chance you need to put netting over the plants.  Haxnicks Easy Net Tunnels are perfect for strawberries as they provide the balance of ventilation and shade with protection from birds and animals.

For more information look out for the NZ Fruit Garden book, it has all the tips and tricks you need to be able to harvest your own fresh fruit all year round.