Brambles—raspberries and blackberries—are often mislabeled or misunderstood, leading to pruning mistakes and lost harvests. The key to identifying bramble types lies in when they fruit and which canes produce berries. Once you understand cane age and fruiting behavior, it becomes easy to tell summer-bearing, ever-bearing, and primocane brambles apart—even without a plant tag. Start With…
Growing strawberries has been one of the most satisfying and sweet parts of my gardening life. Over the years, I’ve cultivated strawberries in raised beds, mounded rows, and containers—experimenting with varieties and techniques to get the best possible harvest from my backyard. Whether you’re a first-time grower or a seasoned gardener, this pillar post will…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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