Tips for Growing Fruits

Tips For Growing Berries and Grapes

Growing and eating your own berries and grapes is very rewarding! Read on to find out some helpful information for successful growing.

~ Blackberries ~

Blackberries are self-pollinating so only one variety is needed for pollination. Blackberry canes are biennial which means they grow one year (primocanes) and produce fruit the next year (floricanes).

Planting & Tips:

Please refer to our Planting and Watering Instructions for general guidelines on soil preparation and watering. In addition:

1. Plant in an area with at least 8 hours of sun per day.
2. Make sure the soil is amended with plenty of rich, organic material.
3. Give blackberries plenty of water, however, don’t let the soil become soggy. 
4. Plant varieties with trailing canes about 5 – 6 feet apart along a strong trellis. 
5. Plant compact varieties about 3-4 feet apart. 
6. Plant canes in fall or early spring. 
7. After harvest, remove canes that bore fruit (floricanes) and train the current season’s canes (primocanes) along a trellis. Fertilize in early spring (February or March) or when planted. We recommend EB Stone Organics Fruit & Berry.

~ Blueberries ~

Blueberries are divided into three classes based on the season they produce fruit. 

• Early Season – produce fruit June into July

• Mid-Season – produce fruit July into August 

• Late Season – produce fruit August into September 

While most blueberries are self-pollinating, cross-pollination between two different varieties of the same season will result in larger, sweeter berries.

Planting & Care Tips:

Please refer to our Planting and Watering Instructions for general guidelines on soil preparation and watering. In addition:

1. Plant blueberries in an area with at least 6 hours of sun per day. 
2. Make sure the soil is well-drained with plenty of organic material.
3.  Soil pH should be between 4 and 5. Blueberries need acidic soil.
4. Space 2 feet apart to grow as a hedge OR 4 to 5 feet apart for individual bush development.
5. Apply mulch to retain moisture. Blueberries have shallow roots and need moisture but not soggy soil. 
6. Fertilize in late spring with an acidic fertilizer like E.B. Stone Organics Rhody, Azalea and Camelia Food.
7. Pick off the flowers and fruit the first year to let the plant focus on root growth. 
8. Prune dead wood and older branches that bear little to no fruit after the first year.

~ Raspberries ~

There are two classes of raspberries, summer-bearing and everbearing. Summer-bearing produces one crop in the summer on 2-year-old canes. Everbearing produces one crop in summer on 2-year-old canes and another in early fall on current season’s growth. Raspberries are self-pollinating so only one variety is needed for pollination.

Planting & Care Tips:

Please refer to our Planting and Watering Instructions for general guidelines on soil preparation and watering. In addition:

1. 1. Plant in an area with at least 8 hours of sun per day.
   2. Raspberries need rich, amended soil with full sun and ample water. 
   3. Plant varieties with trailing canes about 5 – 6 feet apart along a strong trellis. 
   4. Plant compact varieties about 3-4 feet apart. 
   5. Fertilize in early spring or when planted. We recommend EB Stone Fruit & Berry Food.
   6. Prune for maximum yield:

Summer-bearing: After harvest, remove canes that bore fruit (floricanes) and train the current season’s’ canes (primocanes) along a trellis.

Everbearing: After summer harvest, prune fruiting canes back completely. After fall harvest, prune the fruiting canes back halfway.

~ Strawberries ~

Strawberry varieties fall into two classes, June Bearing and Everbearing. June Bearing produces fruit all at once in late spring/early summer. Everbearing produces fruit in late spring/early summer and then again in late summer/early fall. Both kinds are self-pollinating so only one variety is needed for pollination.

Planting & Care Tips:

1. Plant in an area with at least 8 hours of sun per day.
2. Apply aged compost or rich organic matter to the soil.
3. Space plants 18 inches apart.
4. Protect from slugs.
5. Strawberries spread by sending out runners which root into the soil. Their offspring plants grow at the tips of the runners.
6. For best results, harvest in the morning and refrigerate immediately.

~ Grapes ~

Grapes are self-fertile; only one variety is needed for pollination. Vines require 2-3 years to produce a good harvest.

Planting & Care Tips:

1. Plant in an area with at least 8 hours of sun per day.
2. Plant in deep, well-drained soil. Grape vines grow best in warm soil; mulching is not necessary.
3. Make sure grape vines have plenty of room to grow. Space plants 7-8 feet apart and rows 8-9 feet apart.
4. Fertilize sparingly in the spring with a slow release fertilizer. We recommend EB Stone Organics Fruit & Berry Food.
5. Regular pruning is important. Fruit forms on one-year-old wood.

Pruning:

Prune grapes in January or February to prevent them from bleeding sap. Grape vines are pruned differently according to the age of the vine. The following method is referred to as “spur pruning”.

• First Year Vines: Remove all but the strongest shoot. Cut this shoot all the way down to one or two buds. This will stimulate a strong root system and good growth.
• Second Year Vines: Cut back the shoots by about 1/4 and train them to your support. Rub or prune off buds so that there are 4 – 5 inches between them.
• Third Year Vines: cut back the main stems as needed. Side shoots can be cut back to two buds. To prevent crowding, take out selected shoots.
• To rejuvenate an older vine, a hard pruning may be necessary. Cut back the main stems to about 2-3 feet and thin out dense growth by completely removing some of the shoots.