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Soft fruit suggestions please

PoddingtonPPoddingtonP Posts: 196
in Fruit & veg

I have space in my fruit cage for some more bushes and would like some recommendations please. 

I already have raspberries, strawberries, wineberries and gooseberries. 

I have room for about 4 bushes. 1 will probably be a redcurrant (have been told I won't need more than 1) so would like some suggestions for the others. 

Contemplating the classics like blackcurrants and blueberries, but also wondered about some of the more unusual ones like jostaberries. Any suggestions? 

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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,528

    Blueberries will only do well if you have acid soil. I would go with blackcurrants,they are easy, prune once a year, and big crops.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,528

    Do you eat many redcurrants?

    I only grow what I like to eat. I used to grow gooseberries for Dad, but this years crop is still in the freezer, no one wants them, so I pulled all the bushes out.

    I love raspberries all summer long. With a few varieties, you can eat them fresh from June to October, and have plenty to freeze and jam.

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Blackcurrants for definite. Gooseberries are lovely to eat raw if you leave them to ripen on the bush or even just in the bowl. We found builders' debris netting kept the birds off.
  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    Blackcurrants or tayberries or blueberries.

    I have two blackcurrant bushes and get lots of berries. I only have one tayberry and its also covered in fruits, it sends up new stalks every year and I cut down the old ones. Blueberries I have three and they are planted in ericaceous, again lots of berries.

    I would suggest rhubarb, but that is best on its own.

  • PoddingtonPPoddingtonP Posts: 196

    Thanks for the replies everyone. Gardenmaiden, I have loads of rhubarb elsewhere in the garden! 

    Verdun, why do you need more than one blueberry? Is it for pollination like apples, or just to extend the cropping season? And would you need 2 different varieties? 

    Has anyone grown the pink blueberries? Are they just a gimmick? 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,827

    Blueberries crop better if they can cross pollinate.   

    If you only have summer or autumn raspberries, I'd suggest getting a few of the other to extend your season and go for a couple of blackcurrants.  They are so versatile for jams, crumbles, and spiced jellies and full of vitamins and flavour.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • DougTheDibberDougTheDibber Posts: 15

    Pink blueberry "Lemonade" really tastes bright and sparkly whereas my blue varieties crop well but are insipid.

    Jostaberries crop well though the bush can get big if not controlled and the fruit is very tart but nice when sweetened.

    I speak from my own experience, others may differ.

  • PoddingtonPPoddingtonP Posts: 196

    Thanks Doug, that's useful to know. Might give pink Blueberry 'Lemonade' a go then. It's on offer in one of the many catalogues I was looking at this evening! 

    I'm going to go for more compact varieties of blackcurrants as Verdun suggested rather than jostaberries.  Thanks for your help! 

  • DougTheDibberDougTheDibber Posts: 15

    Acid soil or ericaceous compost then as Verdun says above. According to the Blackmoor site, and Verdun, it will give heavier crops if another blueberry is planted nearby, but I can't work out if another "Lemonade" would be acceptable (because it would likely be a clone) or if a normal blue blueberry would suffice.  

    Any ideas anyone?

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