Blueberry

Vaccinium species

You may be picking blueberries (shown above) anytime between late spring and early autumn. Pick as soon as they ripen but handle carefully as they bruise easily.

Size

Lowbush types are under 50cm tall, highbush and rabbit-eye types reach 1.5m or more.

Climate
Lowbush - cool temperate and cold parts of temperate.

Highbush - temperate, cool temperate and semi-arid zones and cool parts of Mediterranean. Choose rabbit-eyes for humid subtropical zones or warmer parts of Mediterranean.

Frost tolerance

All take -12C. Lowbush types are hardier.

Flowering season

Spring.

Fruiting season

Varies with type from late spring to early autumn.

Chilling requirement

At least 350 hours below 10C for rabbit-eyes, 850 for highbush types.

Cross-pollination

For rabbit-eyes use a different rabbit-eye variety that flowers at the same time.

Watering

Although not aquatic plants, blueberries do come from very moist areas. Never allow the plants to either dry out or become waterlogged.

Feeding

Apply rotted poultry manure as a thick mulch in autumn.

Problems

Birds.

Gooseberry

Ribes grossularia

Gooseberries make a delicious jam or they can be eaten fresh when ripe.

Size

About 1m tall and wide.

Climate

Best suited to the cooler parts of cool temperate zones.
Possible in the coldest areas within temperate zones. Gooseberries enjoy cool to mild summers and shade from mid-afternoon.

Frost tolerance

To -30C.

Flowering season

Early spring.

Fruiting season

Late spring and early summer.

Chilling requirement

At least 800 hours below 10C.

Cross-pollination

Not necessary; self-fertile.

Watering

Water as necessary, keeping moist in spring and summer and especially while fruits are developing.

Feeding

Grow in soil enriched with rotted manure and mulch in late autumn. Apply complete plant food in late winter.

Problems

Birds; mildews, rusts and moulds should be treated with a suitable fungicide.

Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

Raspberries are one of summer's most eagerly awaited berries. Early to midsummer is the time for raspberries.

Size

Plants form long, scrambling canes 2-3m long.

Climate

Temperate to cool temperate zones; may grow in the coldest parts of Mediterranean zones.

Frost tolerance

To -25C at least.

Flowering season

Spring.

Fruiting season

Early summer to midsummer.

Chilling requirement

At least 1000 hours below 10C.

Cross-pollination

Not necessary; self-fertile.

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist from early spring to autumn. Rain is sufficient moisture in winter. Soil must drain freely.

Feeding

Apply a mulch of rotted manure in winter and complete plant food in early spring.

Problems

Birds, thrips, caterpillars, mites; mildews and other fungus diseases should be treated with fungicide.

Strawberry

Fragaria species

A dozen plants will yield worthwhile crops of delicious strawberries. Strawberries fruit in spring, summer and autumn - and in subtropical areas, in winter, too.

Size

Grows about 20cm tall, spreading by runners.

Climate

Strawberries are not fussy, but do best in humid subtropical, temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean zones.

Frost tolerance

To -25C at least.

Flowering season

Spring and summer.

Fruiting season

Spring, summer and autumn; in subtropical areas, fruit also ripens in winter.

Cross-pollination

Not necessary; self-fertile.

Watering

Keep evenly moist.

Feeding

Plant into well-drained soil enriched with plenty of rotted manure and compost. Apply controlled-release fertiliser in spring, liquid or soluble fertiliser.

Problems

Birds, snails, slugs, aphids, mites, thrips and bugs.

All strawberries will eventually be infected with a virus and must be periodically replaced with certified virus-free plants.

Source: Gardening: A Commonsense Guide (Murdoch Books)