"All sorts of Berries"

Berries have become more and more popular in recent years, although we seem to have gone full circle on this one, as wild fruits were an important part of our diet thousands of years ago.

Supermarkets are selling more different varieties every day, and it's hard to keep up with all the new names! Of course many berries can be grown in the home garden and, space and climate permitting, many different varieties could be tried.

And not all are small round and red!

Look at the prices in the supermarkets, and markets, before you start growing your own. Then when you do get your yearly crop, you'll not only be enjoying the freshest food, organically grown if at all possible, but you will also know exactly how much money you are saving! Once the initial plants have been bought, very little money, if any, will need to be spent in later years.

- The blackberry is a wonderful fruit that seems to be able to grow anywhere in any conditions. The bramble plant they grow on is also a good source of vitamins, although the thorns aren't too healthy! When you collect them, don't choose those near a road or too near farmers fields as they could be affected by chemicals or car polution. Thornless varieties are now available for garden growing. They are hardy plants and don't need too much looking after, and will produce plenty of fruit year after year.

- Strawberries grow wild in wasteland and woodlands, but the wild varieties are nothing like hybrid cultivated types, in taste. Although all wild foods tend to be higher in vitamins and nutrients than than fruits from hybrid plants. As taste is important, wild varieties are probably better left to their own devices and cultivating a strawberry bed or two in your garden is the best way to enjoy them.

- Raspberries are probably one of the easiest fruits to grow in the garden, and they are well worth growing. These delicious fruits are often very expensive to buy in a shop and are also possibly not grown organically. Plant a few canes and, with a little care and attention, you will have more raspberries than you can possibly eat.


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Online Suppliers.....

Crocus UK have a few varieties available:

"Autumn Fruiting Raspberry"
Berries in the UK Type 'raspberries' (without the quotes) in the 'find me more info on' box on their homepage.

Amazon are a good place to start for US deliveries - this blueberry bush is one of many products:


Patio Blueberry Bush

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There are also blueberries, cranberries, gooseberries and more. Although they are all berries, the differences between them are huge. Check back on the list of articles on the fruit page for individual growing instructions for many of these berries.

Plan your fruit garden and encourage the children to get involved in growing berries. The plants are generally easy to maintain, and will be there year after year, producing fruit to eat fresh, cook with and even store.

Freezing berries is possible although they lose their texture and a small percentage of vitamins. To get around the texture problem, you could try freezing fruit that is already cooked - for example blackberry and apple pie. What a treat at Christmas or on a cold day in January to be serving piping hot fruit pies. A great taste of summertime!

Probably the best way to store excess fruit is by making jam. Home made jams are delicious and nutritous and, once you organise the equipment needed, isn't too difficult to get together.

Happy Gardening!

More "Garden fruit" Reading

www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/berries.html