BRING ON THE BERRIES
Add broken pottery, gravel, or shells
to the bottom of the planter for drainage and fill with a topsoil blend or
regular potting soil. Depending on
the size of your blackberry plants,
you may need to add a trellis for
support. Consider applying fertilizer
regularly in small doses or once per
year in slow-release format to ensure
optimal growing conditions.
Let the Sun Shine: Plan to place your
blackberry containers in full sunlight
where they will enjoy between six to
eight hours of direct sun per day.
Monitor the Moisture: Water blackberries
when the top inch of the soil in their
container is dry.
WINTERING OVER YOUR BERRIES
If you’ve grown your plants outside
during much of their growing season,
you’ve likely found a routine of care that
seems to work best for each type of berry.
As the colder months set in, however,
you’ll need to adjust your care a bit.
You may wish to bring your berries away
from the elements for the coldest part
of the year. Bring plants indoors or find
a sheltered location outside, like under
your deck or against a wall or shed. You
can also add a layer of mulch to the tops
or wrap a blanket or burlap around the
containers for increased protection.
While they won’t need as much watering in the winter, don’t let your berry
plants completely dry out, either. Water
raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries just enough to
keep them alive. At the start of the
next growing season, top off the soil
with new nutrient-rich mix as per the
plant’s preferred medium. Then, after
the danger of frost has passed, you can
return your berry containers to their
favorite sunny spots outdoors.
OTHER KEY CONSIDERATIONS OF
CONTAINER BERRIES
In addition to all the basics, here are a
few other important points to remember
when growing berries in containers.
• Picking is probably the most fun part!
Get the hang of when to pick for best
flavor and ripeness. With blueberries,
resist the urge to pick right when they
turn blue; wait a few days and then
pick every three to five days thereafter.
• Refrigerate berries to prolong their
freshness. Freeze in zippered storage
bags or ice cube trays for future use.
132
Maximum Yield USA | January 2017
“
BRING PLANTS
INDOORS OR FIND A SHELTERED
LOCATION OUTSIDE, LIKE
UNDER YOUR DECK OR AGAINST
A WALL OR SHED.”
• Protect berry plants from birds
with wildlife netting once fruit
begins to develop.
• Bring pots indoors or under shelter
during heavy rainfall if you are
concerned about overwatering.
• Prune plants as needed, even while
they are in containers. Research each
individual plant’s pruning requirements for best results and a better
yield next season.
• In addition to pruning, you may also
need to divide your plants into new
containers if they multiply beyond the
available space in their containers.
• Move pots around your yard to ensure
optimal conditions if desired.
Once you choose your variety of
berry, your container, and your
location, you’ll be in good shape to
enjoy delicious berries and the joy of
growing your own year after year.