Strawberries are known for being easy to grow—but growing them well, especially in hot summer climates like many parts of Florida, Texas, and California, takes a little strategic planning. Having gardened in both South Florida and Central California, I’ve learned that timing is everything. The secret to a successful strawberry harvest in warm zones? Don’t […] More
Few garden joys match the sweet burst of a just-picked strawberry. After growing strawberries for more than 30 years in raised beds and containers, I’ve learned that how you harvest and store these delicate fruits can mean the difference between a juicy treat and a mushy disappointment. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the […] More
Planting strawberries has become one of my favorite garden rituals each year. After years of trial and error—some seasons of juicy abundance, others of small fruit frustration—I’ve learned what works best, especially when it comes to timing, soil prep, and planting technique. Here’s what I would pass along to you — what you need to […] More
Raspberries are perhaps the most delicate fruit. This makes them a good choice for home growing and fresh picking. Just harvested raspberries quickly pass from ripe to overripe. It is difficult to find them just right at the market; they should be eaten within a day or two of picking, otherwise, they should be frozen […] More
Blackberry plants are easy to plant and grow. The blackberry is a vigorous grower. Modern blackberry varieties and cultivars are derived from native species which are still found growing wild along roadsides. Blackberry plants vary from trailing to erect to bushy and from thorny to thornless. Some varieties and cultivars are suited for chilly northern […] More
Raspberries are the most intensely flavored and delicate of berries. The peak season for red raspberries in the Northern Hemisphere is June through September; for the golden or yellow raspberry June through October, and for the black raspberry during July. To best experience the luscious raspberry—many consider it a finer fruit than the strawberry–be sure […] More
Strawberries are one of the most versatile and crowd-pleasing fruits you can grow at home—and as a lifelong gardener and cook, I’ve enjoyed serving them in every way imaginable, from fresh-picked bowls on summer mornings to elegant desserts at family gatherings. Their sweet flavor and vibrant color make them a natural centerpiece for the table, […] More
Table grapes are most popular for eating out of hand, but they can also be added to fruit salads or compotes and desserts on the savory side added to green salads, sauces, curries, stews, and stuffing, or served alongside poultry, fish, and seafood, and wild game. Grapes can be broadly categorized as either table grapes […] More
Blackberry, brambleberry, dewberry, boysenberry, loganberry, marionberry, olallieberry: blackberry is the collective name for a large group of fruits in the same genus. Blackberries are also called brambles and brambleberries, particularly in England. The boysenberry, loganberry, marionberry, and ollalieberry are common names for popular blackberry varieties or hybrids ‘Boysen’, ‘Logan’, ‘Marion’, and ‘Olallie’. Dewberries are almost […] More
Cranberries are bright red to reddish-orange berries that grow to about ¾ inch in diameter. The cranberry plant is a low-growing trailing vine that grows best in low-lying sandy bogs. Cranberries are native to North America and northern Europe and take their name from the shape of their pale pink blossoms that resemble the heads […] More
The blueberry is easy to plant and grow. The blueberry plant is best planted and grown where summers are cool and the soil is acidic. There are varieties that will grow in warm, dry summer regions. Blueberries are long-lived. Plant them where they can grow undisturbed for 10 or more years. Blueberries flower in the […] More
Gooseberries are small, round thin-skinned fruits that look a lot like grapes. Ripe gooseberries can be green, pink, yellow, or white. Some gooseberry varieties are for fresh-eating and desserts; others are for cooking—pies, tarts, jam, jellies, and sauces; and some varieties can be used both fresh and cooked. The gooseberry is a hardy, deciduous, perennial […] More
Stephen Albert