Nursery Care Sheets

Berries

Blueberries

Blueberry plants require a sunny location of well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. An acid soil is best, preferably with a pH of 4.0 to 5.5. Most gardeners in this area will need to amend their soils using soil sulphur to achieve the correct pH. It is important to do a soil test to determine the current soil pH before adding any sulphur. When adding soil sulphur remember it is slow-acting but long-lasting in the soil and its effect will not be complete until 6 to 8 weeks after application.

When selecting blueberry plants for your garden, there are two main types that can be grown in Iowa, highbush and half-highbush. Highbush blueberries can reach to 6 feet in height and have an upright growing habit. Popular varieties include: Bluecrop, Chandler, Darrow, Patriot, and Spartan. Half-highbush blueberries maintain a mature size of 2 to 3 feet in height making them easy to fit in the landscape. Popular varieties include: Chippewa, Northblue, Northcountry, Northsky, and Polaris. Although blueberries do not need multiple varieties planted together for cross-pollination, fruit set is increased when there is more than one type present.

To plant blueberries:

  • Select an area large enough for the plants you’ve chose. Allow 4 to 6 feet spacing for highbush types and 3 to 4 foot spacing for half-highbush types.
  • Dig a hole twice the diameter and the same depth of the container the plant is currently in. Remove the plant from the container and place it into the planting hole.
  • Backfill with a mixture of existing garden soil and composted organic material.

To maintain healthy blueberries, apply a thick layer of mulch around each plant. This will help to retain moisture at the roots as well as control weeds. Be sure to maintain the soil pH with an annual spring application of ammonium sulphate. Blueberries are relatively free of insect and disease problems, however, keep in mind that birds may become a nuisance and use of netting is an effective way to protect your crop.

Raspberries & Blackberries

Raspberries and blackberries are relatively easy to grow and adaptable to most soil types. They prefer well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Amending poor soils with composted organic matter will improve drainage. Areas in full sun and free of perennial weeds are best. There are many types of raspberries to choose from: black, purple, yellow, summer-bearing red, and fall-bearing red.

Some suggested varieties for Iowa include:

Black - Blackhawk, Bristol, Jewel
Purple - Brandywine, Royalty
Yellow - Fallgold, Goldie, Kiwigold
Summer-Bearing Red - Liberty, Latham, Willamette
Fall-Bearing Red - Heritage, Redwing, Autumn Bliss

Blackberries are grouped by their growth habit: erect, semi-erect, and trailing. The most winter hardy types are the erect and semi-erect. Some suggested varieties for Iowa include Chester Thornless and Darrow.

To Plant Raspberries & Blackberries:

  • Plant the red and yellow raspberry varieties every 2 to 3 feet in rows spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. Black and purple raspberry varieties will need to be planted every 3 to 4 feet in rows spaced 6 to 8 feet apart. Blackberries should be planted 3 to 4 feet apart in rows 4 to 6 feet apart.
  • Avoid planting black and purple raspberry varieties within 500 feet of red raspberry varieties as there are numerous viruses that can be transmitted between them.
  • Dig a hole twice the diameter and the same depth of the container the plant is currently in. Remove the plant from the container and place it into the planting hole.
  • Backfill with a mixture of existing garden soil and composted organic material.
  • To keep your raspberries and blackberries healthy, be sure to fertilize regularly. Applying a thick layer of mulch around each plant to help retain soil moisture and control weeds.

Strawberries

Strawberries are another easy to grow fruit crop for Iowa. Requiring an area free of weeds, strawberries are best in an area with full sun and well-drained soils. Provide a soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0. Consider growing strawberries in raised beds or mounds if soil drainage is a problem.
There are two main types of strawberries, June-bearing and ever-bearing. June-bearers are those produce their flowers in fall and fruit the following spring. Ever-bearing types are separated into double-cropping and day-neutral. Double-cropping varieties, which fruit in fall and again the following spring, include Fort Laramie, Ozark Beauty, and Quinault. Day-neutral varieties, which continuously produce fruit from spring through fall, include Tristar and Tribute.

To Plant Strawberries:

  • June-bearing varieties should be planted every 18 to 24 inches in rows spaced 4 feet apart. Allowing runners room to root freely to 2 feet wide. Ever-bearing varieties should be planted every 12 inches in rows spaced 1 foot apart.
  • Dig a small hole and place plant directly into the planting hole.
  • During the first growing season, remove the first set of blossoms. Ever-bearing types will produce a second set of flowers for their fall crop, however, you will have to wait until spring for the June-bearers to produce fruit.
  • To maintain healthy strawberries, feed with 10-10-10 water soluble fertilizer. Birds can become a nuisance for strawberries, if this is a problem, cover your plants with netting. Also, be sure to mulch your strawberries for the winter months using clean, weed-free straw.

For More Infromation

To learn more about growing berries, consult a Iowa City Landscaping & Garden Center staff member or the following website.

www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews