SMALL FRUITS

ASPARAGUS

 

ASPARGUS, JERSEY KNIGHT:  Full sun.  A marked improvement over Mary Washington, with a much higher percentage of male plants which produce larger spears.  A perennial which dies to the ground in fall.  Needs well drained soils.  Growing zones 3 to 7.

 

 

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are semi-self fruitful, meaning if you plant one variety you will get fruit.  By mixing two or more varieties, you will get better fruit production due to cross pollination.  Blueberries perform best on acidic soils with a pH range from 4.5 to 5.5.  Because of their shallow, fibrous root systems, blueberries require a soil that is uniformly moist, but not saturated.  Heavy, poorly drained soils should be avoided. 

 

BLUEBERRY, NORTHBLUE:  Height: 20”-30”, Width: 30”-36”.  Full sun.  Fruit is dark blue, 1/2" in diameter and attractive with a good blueberry flavor.  Glossy dark green leaves in summer turn a deep red in fall.  Partially self-fruitful, but will produce heavier if planted with another variety.   Requires acidic, well drained uniformly moist soil.  Growing zones 4 to 8.  

 

BLUEBERRY, NORTHCOUNTRY:  Height: 18”-24”, Width: 30”-40”.  Full sun.  A shorter variety with ½” berries with a sweet, mild flavor.  Partially self-fruitful, but will produce heavier if planted with another variety.  Requires acidic, well drained uniformly moist soil.  Growing zones 4 to 7. 

 

BLUEBERRY, PATRIOT: Height: 4’-6’, Width: 3’-4’.  Full sun.  Fruit is 5/8" in diameter, flat  and firm.  Bush is upright, open and vigorous.  Partially self-fruitful, but will produce heavier if planted with another variety.  Requires acidic, well drained uniformly moist soil.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

GRAPES

Grapes are fully self-fruitful, and do not require a second vine to produce fruit.  Grapes require full sun, and well drained warm soils to achieve maximum production. 

GRAPE, BLUEBELL:  Full sun.  Resembles Concord in size and color but with a more tender skin and much hardier.  Ripens 2 to 3 weeks earlier than Concord, in mid-September.  Can be left up on the trellis and suffers little or no dieback.  Excellent for eating, juice, and jellies.  Self fertile.  Can be planted with other varieties.  Best on well drained to dry soils.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

 

GRAPE, KAY GRAY:  Full sun:  A prolific variety for table use and winemaking.  Medium sized greenish-white berries produced profusely on small clusters.  Can be left up on the trellis with little to no dieback.  Ripens in early to mid-September.  Self fertile.  Can be planted with other varieties.  Well drained soils.  Growing zones 4 to 8. 

 

 

GRAPE, PETITE JEWEL Full Sun:  A red table grape that is hardy and seedless.  Large pea sized fruit in tightly packed clusters ripen in mid August.  Similiar in quality to Swenson's Red, but ripens 3 to 4 weeks earlier.  May  dieback in years with minimal snow cover.  Well drained soils.  Growing zones 4 to 8.  Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries Inc.

KIWI

KIWI, HARDY (Kiwi Kolomikta):  Full sun to part shade.  Height:  15'-20'.  A deciduous twining vine.  The female plant produces 1" long sweet smooth green fruit that resemble green grapes.  The male variety, Arctic Beauty, is sterile but required to set fruit on the female variety.  The male variety produces vibrant colored foliage with green, pink, and white variegated foliage, which is most colorful in full sun.  Plant one male and one female for fruit production.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

RASPBERRIES

Raspberries perform best when grown in full sun, althought they will produce fruit when they receive 6 or more hours of direct sunlight.  They perform best on fertile soils that are well drained.  All berries, including raspberries require an even supply of moisture from the time they start blooming until the fruit ripens.  A lack of water during this period will result in small berries that crumble when picked and aren't as juicy or as productive.  A thorough watering once a week during dry periods will greatly improve fruit production and quality.

July bearing types should have the old canes removed immediately after fruit production has finished.  The canes will quickly die off when they have finished producing fruit, making them easy to identify.  Cut the canes off just above the soil line to allow the new, fruiting canes to grow unobstructed.

Everbearing raspberries may be trimmed to the ground in spring if you are only interested in the fall crop.  If you are interested in the summer crop, trim the old canes after they die off. 

 

RASPBERRY, BRISTOL BLACK:  Full sun.  Height: 6’.  Fruit is black and large with attractive, glossy skin.  A July-bearing variety with vigorous and hardy canes.  Bristol has a stronger taste that isn't as sweet as red raspberries.  Excellent for eating and jellies.  Requires a well drained, fertile soil.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

RASPBERRY, EVERBEARING RED:  Full Sun.  Height: 5’-6’.  Large red berries with good flavor and quality.  Produces its first crop in mid-July, with the second crop in mid-September continuing until frost.  Can be trimmed to the ground in Spring for a fall only crop.  Requires a well drained, fertile soil.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

RASPBERRY, FALLGOLD:  Full Sun.  Height: 4'-5'.  An everbearing raspberry with medium sized round fruit.  Berries are deep golden-yellow with a sweet, almost sugary taste.  Fruit can be more fragile than other raspberries, but is more hardy than Anne raspberry.  Best on fertile well drained soils.  Growing zones 4 to 8.

 

RASPBERRY, JULY BEARING RED: Full sun.  Height: 5’-6’.  Large, red berries with medium acid and aromatic flavor.  Vigorous, large canes spread by runners and rarely suffer winter dieback.  Begins producing in early July and continues through the end of the month.  Requires fertile, well drained soil.  Growing zones 3 to 7.

 

RASPBERRY, ROYALTY:  Height: 6’-7’.  Full sun.  A July bearing type that is a cross between a purple and a red raspberry.  Extremely vigorous growing, the fruit is extremely large, turning a purplish-red when ripe.  Fruit has excellent mild sweet flavor and is produced in July.  Excellent for eating and jellies.  Requires well drained, fertile soils.  Growing zones 4 to 7.

RHUBARB

Rhubarb is an easy to grow perennial.  Choose an area with well drained soil and full sunlight.  You can use the stalks until the end of June, when they will get woody and and become much less palatable.  You must leave enough stems/leaves for the plant to grow, so don't remove more than about one-third of the stems. 

RHUBARB, (CHIPMAN’S) CANADA RED: Full sun.  Bright red stems are delicious for sauces and pies.  One of the sweetest varieties, it is excellent for sauces and pies.  Perennial.  Needs well drained soils.  Zones 3 to 7.  Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurrseries Inc.

 

 

STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries require full sun and well drained, fertile soils.  Like other berries, they require an even supply of moisture from the time they start blooming until the fruit ripens.  A lack of water during this period will result in small berries that may be misshaped, aren't as juicy, have or poor taste or be as productive. 

All strawberries should be muched in fall after the ground has started to freeze (usually in late November).  Use 6-8 inches of straw or meadow hay to cover the plants, and do not uncover until spring temperatures warm enough that hard freezes are no longer expected.  Keep the straw next to the row, and cover the plants if they have started blooming and frost is expected.   Once all chances of frost have passed, carefully place the straw under the plants to keep the berries clean by keeping them off the dirt.  The straw will also help retain moisture during dry periods.  

June bearing berries produce one crop starting in early to mid-June.  They are usually larger and more tart than everbearing varieties.  After they have finished producing berries, cut the plants down to the ground, fertilize and water to restart them for the next summers crop.

Everbearing varieties produce a crop in early summer, and will produce additional berries through the growing season.  Do not cut these plants down after the first crop.

 

STRAWBERRY, ALLSTAR:  Full sun.  A june bearing variety with an excellent strawberry flavor and large fruit.  Berries are firm, sweet and extra juicy. Great for fresh eating and an excellent choice for freezing and canning.  Growing Zones 4-10.  Best production on well drained, fertile soils.  Mulch in late fall with straw to ensure winter survival.  Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens Inc.

 

 

 

STRAWBERRY, JUNE BEARING:  Full sun.  Large, bright red berries with an excellent sweet-tart berry flavor are produced in mid June.  Best production on well drained, fertile soils.  Mulch in late fall with straw to ensure winter survival.  Growing zones 4 to 7.

 

STRAWBERRY, OGLALA EVERBEARING: Full sun.  Considered the hardiest of the everbearing varieties.  Small to medium sized dark red extra sweet berries are produced in early summer, and again in early fall.  Needs fertile, well drained soil.  Growing zones 3 to 7.