I have a raised bed dedicated to strawberries and want to add more berries. I planted two blueberries and a raspberry last year, but they looked dead by winter. Can anyone recommend other berries to grow in full sun, especially any that might bear fruit the first year? Also, any advice on where to buy them or how to care for them would be fantastic! Thanks!
3 Answers
I'm in central NJ too! I have strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, golden raspberries, and red raspberries in my small yard. I’ll share my experience: I planted my raspberries and blueberries with little care, and even though they didn't do great at first, the raspberries surprised me! They looked dead but came back strong! My blueberries took a while and didn't yield much because of birds, but I started protecting them and got a few handfuls last summer. For my blackberries and golden raspberries, they produced a bit right from the start! If you’re patient, your plants might surprise you!
Definitely keep an eye on your raspberry! Mine looked like a dead stick, but they bounced back with tons of growth. Last year was rough for many plants, so maybe yours will do better this season! Oh, and if you’re looking for where to buy, I found my berry plants from Fast Growing Trees online. They've done well for me! Just make sure to set up some protection from pests; they can be a real pain.
Hey there! Besides strawberries, you've got other berry options like lowbush blueberries, gooseberries, and currants. However, those generally do better in ground soil rather than raised beds. Currants are fun because there are various colors, but red’s the most common and tasty one! Just keep in mind that many berry bushes can grow pretty large, so spacing is key if you're planting in a raised bed.