Blackberries
Blackberries are an amazing fruit, not only naturally sweet, cholesterol free and low in sodium and fat, they are packed full with healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E. Blackberries love our climate and with the right variety will produce bumper harvests. When planting in the garden make sure to tie the plant to a support and it will flourish, making sure to remove any old fruited sections and retie new ones to a support.
Recommended variety: Blackcurrant Ribes ‘Ben Sarek’ Ideal for smaller gardens, producing heavy crops of large fruits. Pick fruits in mid-July.
Blackcurrants
Another easy to grow soft fruit that is rich in vitamin C and produces heavy crops of large fruits. If space is limited, blackcurrants can be grown in containers.
Recommended variety: Blackcurrant Ribes ‘Ben Sarek’
Blueberries
Blueberries are increasingly popular fruits with well-documented health benefits. Blueberry plants are also exceptionally handsome bushes. The fruit can be eaten fresh, or frozen for out-of-season use. Plants require an acidic soil and ericaceous compost, and are well suited to containers. The plants offer year round interest with white blossoms in late Spring, glossy green leaves in summer and outstanding red foliage in Autumn. We recommend planting more than one variety to encourage cross pollination and extend your cropping period.
Gooseberries
A delicious and easy-to-grow soft fruit. Gooseberries prefer a sunny position and can be grown in containers, making them ideal for smaller gardens.
Recommended variety: Gooseberry Ribes ‘Hinnomaki Green’ A heavy cropping dessert variety producing large fruits with excellent flavour. Pick fruits in mid-July.
Raspberries
Prepare the area by digging out trenches, incorporating plenty of manure as you go. Plant Raspberry canes around one foot apart. If you have room, grow at least two varieties to prolong the cropping season.
Recommended variety: Raspberry ‘Autumn Bliss’
Redcurrants
Redcurrants are another fruit that are very simple and inexpensive to grow, but which are so expensive to buy in the supermarkets. They are delicious tart fruits which can be eaten fresh or cooked into sauces, preserves and pies and other desserts. They are perfectly suited to our climate. Redcurrant bushes like sunshine, but too much can damage the leaves. Therefore look to plant currant bushes in a location with a bit of shade in the afternoon. Our favourite is the ‘Jonkheer Van Tets’ for its bright, juicy fruit that is full of flavour.
Recommended variety: Redcurrant Ribes ‘Jonkheer van Tets’
Tayberries & Loganberries
Loganberries are similar to tayberries, loganberries have darker, sharper fruit while tayberries have more wine-red fruit with a sweeter taste.
Recommended varieties: Tayberry Rubus Tayberry and Loganberry Rubus ‘Thornless’
We have everything you need for successful fruit growing. Our soft fruits are now available and our plant experts are always on hand to offer tips and advice so get planting and enjoy the fruits of your labour next summer.
