Even though fall makes you want pumpkin everything, now is also the best time to plant berries so you have lots of sweet, tasty ones in the spring and summer.
So finish your pumpkin spice latte and wait a minute or two to get ready for the rich taste of homegrown fruit.
Fall is the best time to plant shrubs, trees, and herbaceous perennials because the cool weather and warm soil give the transplants time to grow roots, giving them a good start in your yard.
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Planting in the fall gives plants time to get established before they go to sleep for the winter. This makes them better prepared for a bumper crop and leaf production in the spring.
So set your sights on next year’s smoothies, pies, and fruit salads, and dive into fall berry planting.
Planting berry bushes at the right time is crucial for getting a bountiful harvest. While berry bushes are relatively easy to grow proper timing and care will ensure your plants thrive and produce lots of delicious berries. In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover the optimal planting times and best practices for getting your berry patch off to a great start.
The Best Time to Plant Berry Bushes
In most parts of North America, early spring is the ideal time to plant berry bushes. This gives the young plants time to establish roots before the heat of summer arrives. Spring planting is recommended whether you are planting dormant bare-root bushes or container-grown plants.
Specifically, aim to plant in early spring after the last frost date when soil temperatures reach at least 45-50°F. This usually falls between March and May depending on your climate. Avoid planting too early when soils are still cold and wet.
Container-grown bushes can be planted a few weeks earlier than bare-root since their root systems are more developed. But don’t plant container berries too early either—wait until frost risk has passed.
Fall planting of berry bushes is another option, usually from September through November. This allows plants to establish roots before going dormant for winter. Fall-planted berries may produce a smaller crop the first year while they focus energy on root growth. But they often catch up in year two.
- Early spring after the last frost date
- Fall from late September through November
Planting in summer heat is not recommended.
Preparing for Planting
Proper site preparation and care when planting are key to getting berry bushes off to a vigorous start:
Choose a Sunny, Well-Drained Spot
Pick a planting spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of full sun daily. Berry bushes need lots of sunlight to thrive and produce abundant fruit.
The soil should be loamy and well-draining, neither overly sandy nor heavy clay. Amend dense or poor soils with compost to improve drainage and nutrition.
Avoid low, wet areas of the yard. Standing water can lead to root rot in berry bushes.
Space Bushes Properly
Leave enough room between berry bushes for good air circulation and sunlight penetration. This helps reduce pest and disease problems:
- Strawberries: 12-15 inches apart
- Raspberries/blackberries: 2-3 feet apart
- Blueberries: 3-6 feet apart (depending on variety)
- Currants/gooseberries: 3-5 feet apart
Prepare the Soil
Most berries prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5-6.5. Blueberries especially need acidic conditions.
Before planting, do a soil test to determine your pH. If needed, lower the pH by working in some elemental sulfur or peat moss.
Also mix in several inches of aged compost or rotted manure to enrich the soil with organic matter. This boosts fertility and moisture retention.
Water Thoroughly After Planting
Water each bush well after planting to saturate the root zone. Add a 2-4 inch layer of mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged for the first year. Berry bushes need about 1-2 inches of water per week from rain or irrigation.
Caring for Berry Bushes
Attentive care in spring through fall ensures healthy, productive berry bushes:
Apply Organic Fertilizer
Feed berry bushes annually in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea. This provides nutrition for good growth and fruiting.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which can spur excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.
Prune for Good Structure and Air Flow
Pruning berry bushes encourages an open, spreading habit for ample sunlight exposure and air circulation. This reduces pest and disease issues.
Exactly how and when to prune varies by berry type, so consult guides for your specific berries. But generally:
- Prune annually at the end of winter or very early spring before buds break
- Remove weak, diseased, dead or crossing stems
- thin congested areas and shorten overlong canes
- Cut fruited floricanes back to the ground after harvest
Control Weeds Around Bushes
Weeds compete with berry bushes for water, light and nutrients. Limit them by applying mulch and hand pulling or hoeing regularly.
Avoid using chemical weedkillers, as these may harm your berries. Weed barrier fabrics can also suppress weeds while allowing water and air to penetrate.
Check for Pests and Diseases
Be on the lookout for common berry pests like Japanese beetles, aphids, mites and berry borers. Also watch for diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spot and blights.
Control problems early by removing affected plant parts, using organic fungicides/insecticides, and improving air flow. Select resistant varieties when possible.
When planted and cared for properly, berry bushes will reward you with abundant, sweet homegrown berries for many years. Follow these best practices for site selection, planting, fertilizing, pruning and pest management.
Aim to plant your berry bushes in early spring once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Fall is another suitable planting time in many regions.
With a sunny, enriched planting site and attentive care, your berry patch will thrive and bear bushels of juicy berries to enjoy fresh or preserved in jams, pies and other treats.
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Consider How Many Plants You will Need
Are you looking for just a few handfuls to satisfy a one- or two-person household with occasional snacks, or do you see yourself making jam and pies this summer and fall?
Depending on the types of plants that you choose, some will take several years to reach full maturity.
Some cultivars are known to produce high yields, while others are more sparing with their output of fruit.
These factors may also affect the varieties that you choose, and how many you decide to plant.
For some varieties, it’s also best to plant several plants or different cultivars of the same type close to each other to encourage cross-pollination and a bigger harvest.
In this case, be sure to select cultivars that are recommending for planting together, with similar bloom times.
Plant Berries for a Constant Harvest
You should plan your choice so that you can have a steady harvest from spring to fall after you have made your short list of possible candidates.
Harvest times will vary depending on where you live, so get to know your local berry harvest schedule. Check out your local agricultural extension schools or keep an eye on what’s in season at the farmers market near you.
The types of plants you choose will also affect when you harvest, so make a list of when each type is supposed to be ready. Here’s a basic harvest schedule for your reference:
- Spring:
- Honeyberries
- Strawberries
- Early Summer:
- Black currants
- Blueberries
- Boysenberries
- Elderberries
- Gooseberries
- Huckleberries
- Raspberries
- Tayberries
- Late Summer/Early Fall:
- Blackberries
- Cranberries
- Goji berries
- Lingonberries
- Raspberries
To make sure you have a sweet harvest from spring to fall, try picking at least one type from each growing season.
Plant Raspberries And Blackberries NOW And Double Your Berry Harvest
FAQ
What month do you plant berry bushes?
What is the easiest berry bush to grow?
Where is the best place to plant berry bushes?
When should I plant fruit bushes?
How do you plant blackberries in spring?
In late spring after the last severe frost, prepare the garden in a full sun location for planting cuttings or bare-root plants. Plant blackberries a half-inch to an inch deep in the soil, and space them with one plant every three feet. Spring is a good time to plant elderberry trees, too.
Should you plant berries in the fall?
Planting in the fall allows plants to become established before going dormant, making them better prepared for spring leaf production and a bountiful crop. So set your sights on next year’s smoothies, pies, and fruit salads, and dive into fall berry planting. What Types of Berries Do You Like to Eat? How Tall and Wide Are the Plants Going to Get?
When should I start planting blueberry bushes?
If you need to lower the pH of your soil, then it’s best to start a year before you plan to plant blueberries. Acidic soil is the key to healthy, long-lasting blueberry bushes, probably more so than fertilizer. That’s because blueberries rely on certain trace minerals that can only be absorbed through acidic soil.
When is the best time to plant berries?
But the best time to plant them is in early spring or fall; that way, you aren’t interrupting the fruiting cycle. If you plant the bush while it has berries on it, be prepared to lose some or all of the berries due to transplant shock. If you’re planting in the spring, you need to do so well after your last frost date.
How to plant blueberry bushes?
If you are going to plant blueberry bushes, mix organic matter into the soil. This will help the bushes to set. Whether you have grown your blueberry plants from seed or bought blueberry bushes, you can plant blueberries in the fall or spring. Just make sure there is no danger of frost.
Can blueberries be planted near trees?
Don’t plant blueberries too close to trees, as the trees will block out sunlight and suck up any moisture in the soil. If planting multiple bushes, it’s best to plant them in a group rather than scattered throughout your garden. This will bolster berry production and quality. The blueberry is a shallow-rooted plant.