There is more to the wonderful world of berry gardening than strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, delightful as they are. Think goji berries or sea buckthorns, black chokecherry, and honeyberry. Unusual berry plants add interest and exoticism to a backyard berry patch. When space is limited, berries are perfect container plants. Here are some tips to get you started with non-traditional container berries.
Growing Berries in Containers
Berry container gardening is an excellent option if you don’t have a lot of garden area. You’ll have to pick containers that are sufficiently roomy for the plants at mature size. One other essential to berry container gardening is good drainage. Whether you are planting strawberries or growing unusual berries in pots, you’ll most likely need to place the containers in a place that gets plenty of direct sunlight. Though the needs of species vary, most berries produce most fruit with six hours of sunshine per day. When you are growing berries in containers, irrigation is important. Depending on the unusual berry plants you select, you may have to water several times a week.
Non-Traditional Container Berries
You’ll be surprised at just how many unusual berry plants are available in commerce. Honeyberry, lingonberry, currants, and mulberries are just the tip of the iceberg. Growing unusual berries in pots is fascinating since each unusual berry plant has its own, unique look and its own cultural requirements.
- Lingonberries are attractive, low-growing shrubs that grow happily in the shade, producing brilliant red berries.
- Honeyberries grow on attractive, silver-green foliage that turns bright yellow in autumn. Whether you place these containers in sun or part shade, the plant still produces small blue berries.
- Goji berries are fairly tall in the wild, but when they are part of your berry container garden, they grow to fit the pot they are planted in, then stop. This shrub has exotic foliage and is remarkably tolerant of heat and cold.
- Another one to try is the Chilean guava, an evergreen shrub that can grow to 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m.) when it is mature. It requires a warm climate for outdoor planting, but it makes a wonderful container plant that can come indoors when it gets cold. The guava’s fruits look like reddish blueberries and are slightly spicy.
Growing berries in containers is fun and delicious. When you are growing unusual berries in pots, it’s also a great way to expand your knowledge about the unusual berry plants available.
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