Ideas for community gardens < fast fruits

Blueberries are a tasty berry fruit to grow in the community or home garden.

BERRIES

A range of berry fruits are suitable for the community garden.

Selection

Species are selected depending on climate:

• raspberry (Rubus idaeus) - cool temperate climate, cold winters
• blackberry (Rubus subgenus eubatus) - cool temperate climate, cold winters (in parts of Australia the blackberries is considered an invasive weed - check with state department of agriculture or your local council)
• gooseberry (Ribes glossularia) - cool temperate climate
• blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) - cool temperate climate
• redcurrant ( Ribes sativum) - cool temperate climate
• blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) - varieties suitable for cool temperate and warmer climates
• strawberry (Fragaria spp) - cool temperate to warm temperate.

In Australia, species adapted to a cool temperate climate are suited for growing in Tasmania, southern Victoria and the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Strawberry and blueberry varieties are available for warmer climates such as Sydney and coastal northern NSW. Blueberry are fruit fly resistant, making them suitable for planting in the Sydney region and places north.

Berry fruits are not suited to arid regions.

Growth form

• shrub or trailing

Edible part

• berry - eaten raw or made into jam

Growing + harvesting

• depends on species

PAGE UPDATED... Wednesday, 16 January 2002