Ivydene Gardens Soft Fruit Gallery:
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"Grow Your Own Fruit" by Ken Muir, Honeypot Farm, Weeley Heath, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex. CO16 9BJ Tel: 01255 830181 provides the information on cultural practices in a clear and concise manner. It is strongly recommended that this booklet is read before growing Soft Fruit or Top Fruit, so that correct plants for your soil can be purchased by you and to give you a good fruit yield.

Choosing a soft fruit bush (Blueberry, Gooseberry, Blackcurrant, Redcurrant, Whitecurrant or Jostaberry) instead of a shrub from the shrub lists provides you with the size of shrub suitable for most current gardens.

The Raspberry may be used as a mini-hedge in the garden to separate areas or against your boundary fences/walls.

The Blackberry, Boysenberry and Tayberry cane climbers can also be used as mini-hedges or to clothe walls/fences/pergolas.

They all provide you with edible fruit.

Soil
Most fruits prefer a fairly neutral soil, pH of 6.5. Where possible, it is best to improve planting sites a month before the bushes/climbers arrive. Sandy soil should have plenty of organic matter incorporated (such as leaf compost from your garden, spent mushroom compost or bark from Gardenscape) to increase the water retention of the soil. On heavy clay soils try to incorporate a 2" layer of horticultural grit, sand and organic matter to aerate, and improve drainage through flocculation.

Choose varieties that can be eaten from July, or store well as cooked pies, jams or jellies.

If space is limited and a 'sunny' wall or fence is available, soft fruit bushes can be 'trained' into forms such as cordons, espaliers and fans.

The best time to plant is during the dormant season from mid-November to mid-March. Bare rooted plants have to be planted at this time, with no competition from other plants for 2 feet radius from their trunk. Container grown trees can in theory be planted anytime, but particular attention to watering will be neccessary; if planted from Spring to Summer.

The ideal site would be a well sheltered South facing slope. More vigorous rootstocks have more root to provide better anchorage on exposed sites. All fruit bushes/climbers need good light to produce good quality fruit, and a site facing South or West is best. Gooseberries, Red Currants and Blackberries will all produce some fruit on a site facing North.

Soft Fruit Bush Form. Bush Form refers to the way in which the bush has been trained:-

• Bush. Two year old Bush trees are trained as open centre (goblet shaped) trees with a clear stem of 2ft (0.6m). Suitable for relatively small trees on semi-dwarfing rootstocks for small and medium sized gardens.
• Centre Leader. The centre leader has been maintained on these trees to allow training into dwarf pyramid and spindle bush forms. Suitable for trees on dwarfing rootstocks for small gardens or restricted spaces. These trees would require permanent support with a long stake.
• Cordon. Cordons are single stem trees with short branches or spurs bearing fruit. They are usually planted as oblique cordons at an angle of 45-60 degrees to the ground, but can also be planted as vertical cordons sometimes referred to as minarettes (available from Ken Muir). They need a set of horizontal wires up to about 6ft (1.8m) for support. They also need appropriate summer pruning to maintain the cordon form. Cordons are very useful for small gardens, or for planting along fences.
• Espalier (2 Tier). Espalier trees consist of a vertical stem and a set of horizontal arms or tiers extending either way bearing short lateral branches or spurs on which fruit is produced. The arms would typically be 18 inches (0.5m) apart. Two tier espaliers will have two sets of arms already partly trained and a continuing centre leader which would allow more sets of arms to be trained if required. They need a set of horizontal wires for support. They also need appropriate summer pruning to maintain and develop the form. Espaliers are very useful as a decorative feature on walls and fences.
• Family Tree. Family trees have more than one variety of fruit grafted onto one rootsock, eg three different varieties of apple. The varieties are selected to cross pollinate so there is no need for a separate tree as a pollinator. They are useful for small gardens where there is room for only one tree.
• Fan. Fan trained trees have been trained with several branches starting near the ground all in the same plane forming a fan shape. They need a set of horizontal wires for support. They also need appropriate summer pruning to maintain and develop the form. Fans are very useful as a decorative feature on walls and fences.
• Half Standard. Half standard trees are trained as open centre (goblet shaped) trees with a clear stem of 4-5ft (1.3m-1.5m). Suitable for medium sized trees on semi-vigorous rootstocks for large or medium sized gardens.
• Maiden. Maidens are untrained one year old trees. Some varieties naturally produce branches in the first year. These are known as feathered maidens. Other varieties do not and are referred to as maiden whips. Typically maiden apples, pears and cherries are 4-6ft (1.3-1.8m) in height. Maiden plums may be taller.

"Grow Your Own Fruit" by Ken Muir, Honeypot Farm, Weeley Heath, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex. CO16 9BJ Tel: 01255 830181 provides the information on cultural practices in a clear and concise manner, as does The RHS Encyclopedia of Practical Gardening FRUIT by Harry Baker ISBN 1 85732 905 8.

"Success with Growing Fruit in containers" by Peter Himmelhuber ISBN 1-85391-797-4 shows which varieties of these fruits can be grown in pots with cultural practice information.

Thornless Blackberry canes can be supported on 4 heavy-gauge wires stretched between 3 inch by 3 inch posts at 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet from the ground. Use the front side to attach this year's canes to (which will bear fruit in the summer and autumn) and the back side of the wires to attach the new canes produced in the autumn for fruiting next year. Then next year, use the front side to take the new canes produced in the autumn of that year. Himalaya Giant variety is a very thorny variety, that could be used as a vandal-proof screen. Fruit can be eaten from the cane, cooked in pies or frozen.

Helen

Potted

Early to Mid-July

Combines fruit quality, earliness and yield. Large bright firm fruits, long and conical. Excellent flavour, rich and aromatic. Thornless canes and vigorous requiring 8 feet width by 6 feet of support.

Loch Ness

Potted

Late August - September

Thornless variety with stout erect canes requiring 6 feet x 6 feet of support. Heavy yielding, good flavour and large fruit.

Highbush Blueberries require a mixture of moss peat, coarse sand, soil and sawdust to fill their planting holes with. The bush will eventually have a height and spread of 5 feet. If your soil is acidic, then blueberries may be planted with your rhododendrons. If your soil is not acidic, then plant them in 1.5 feet deep containers with ericaceous compost. Anti-bird netting is required. Wait until the fruit has been blue for a week before picking individual berries, and then returning to pick on subsequent days. Use in pies or tarts.

Blue Crop

3 litre potted Bush

Early-Mid August

Large light blue fruit. Good flavour and bronze autumn colour. Vigorous upright grower.

Chandler

3 litre potted Bush

Late July

Bronze-red Spring foliage slowly turning green that sets off the cream flowers. Enormous cherry-sized fruit and excellent flavour. Picking over a 4-6 week period.

Gooseberries are usually the first fruit of the season. The fruit should be thinned in late May and the thinnings used for cooking. The remainder should be left to swell to full size and then used for pies, jamming and freezing.

Hinomaki Yellow

Bare Root Bush

July

With it's red sister, this variety is excellent for organic growing, with high mildew resistance.

Invicta

3 litre potted Bush

Late July

Large pale green fruits for cooking, jam or freezing. Heavy cropper, mildew resistant, prickly stems, vigorous and spreading.

Rokula

Bare Root Bush

Early July

An early dessert variety of excellent flavour. Resistant to mildew, but slightly susceptible to fruit cracking in heavy rain.

Martlet

3 litre potted Bush

July

This is a red form with part Invicta parentage. Has excellent dessert fruit quality (hairless) with good resistance to American gooseberry mildew and leaf spot.

Pax

3 litre potted Bush

July

Red, sweet and medium size. A new red gooseberry of excellent quality and resistant to mildew and leaf spot. Plants are vigorous and spreading, so need to shaped by pruning. Young plants and new shoots have thorns, but become virtually thornless once mature.

Raspberries are borne on the current season's canes, so the current year's canes must be removed to the ground in October and the new canes then should be supported on the other side of the 3 horizontal support wires.

Allgold

Bare Root Cane

September

A yellow autumn fruiting primocane similar in habit to Autumn Bliss, but slightly sweeter.

Autumn Bliss

Bare Root Cane

Early August to October.

An early autumn fruiting variety picked from early August to October. Heavy cropper. Outstanding.

Glen Prosen

Bare Root Cane

Mid July-Mid August

Superb quality. Easy to pick from thornless canes of moderate vigour.

Glen Ample

Bare Root Cane

August

High yielding thornless variety with large fleshy quality. Fruit picking over a long period.

Joan J

Bare Root Cane

Late July-Mid September

Very similar to Autumn Bliss but an earlier season. An outstanding primocane with fruits of a superb size and flavour. Starts cropping at the end of July for a 7 week period.

Tulameen

Bare Root Cane

September

Medium to large fruits of good quality. Few spines(thorns). Long picking season.

Blackcurrants are grown on a stool system - that is, many shoots spring from below the ground rather than from a single stem. A well-grown blackcurrant bush may reach 5-6 feet in height and spread and should last 15 years before needing replacement. The site should be frost-free and sheltered from strong winds so that pollination by bees is not affected. They produce the best fruit from wood produced in the previous summer, so prune in early autumn.

Baldwin

3 litre Bush

Late July

Medium sized berries hang well. Good for Vitamin C. Still the best flavoured blackcurrant.

Ben Connan

3 litre Bush

Mid July

Carries high yields of exceptionally large fruit on compact bushes. It has good frost, pest and mildew disease resistance and is very suitable as a garden variety.

Ben Sarek

3 litre Bush

Mid July

High yielding variety with large fruit carried on easily picked short strigs. Produces neat, compact bushes, which rarely grow more than 3 feet in height. Frost and mildew resistant.

Redcurrants are grown as an open-centred bush on a 4-6 inch stem or leg, rather like a miniature apple with a height and spread of 5-6 feet. A well-grown redcurrant bush should last 10 years before its yield reduces and thus needs replacement. The site should be frost-free and sheltered from strong winds so that pollination by bees is not affected. The fruit buds are produced in clusters at the base of the one-year old shoots and on short spurs on the older wood. Therefore, their is a permanent framework of branches for this fruiting habit.

Laxtons No 1

Bare Root Bush

July

Most mildew resistant and of good quality. Heavy cropper.

Red Lake

Bare Root Bush

July-August

Sweet and Juicy with good flavour. Heavy cropper with long strigs. Very reliable.

Redstart

Bare Root Bush

August

Late ripening and highly recommended for jelly making.

Whitecurrants are grown as an open-centred bush on a 4-6 inch stem or leg, rather like a miniature apple with a height and spread of 5-6 feet. A well-grown whitecurrant bush should last 10 years before its yield reduces and thus needs replacement. The site should be frost-free and sheltered from strong winds so that pollination by bees is not affected. The fruit buds are produced in clusters at the base of the one-year old shoots and on short spurs on the older wood. Therefore, their is a permanent framework of branches for this fruiting habit.

White Versailles

Bare Root Bush

July

Sweet with long abundant strigs. Heavy cropper. Reliable.

Boysenberry. is a Raspberry x Blackberry cross. Useful on light sandy soils. Grown the same way as a blackberry.

Plant Form Availability

Boysenberry

3 litre Bush

July-August.

This thornless selection carries large round or oblong fruit. Purplish-Black in colour and with a characteristic, attractive flavour similar to a wild blackberry. Drought resistant and hardy.

Jostaberry is a Gooseberry x Blackcurrant cross. Jostaberries are grown on a stool system - that is, many shoots spring from below the ground rather than from a single stem. A well-grown jostaberry bush may reach 5-6 feet in height and spread and should last 15 years before needing replacement. The site should be frost-free and sheltered from strong winds so that pollination by bees is not affected. They produce the best fruit from wood produced in the previous summer, so prune in early autumn.

Jostaberry

Bare Root

July

A thornless hybrid with shiny black fruit, the size of a small gooseberry. Resistant to American gooseberry mildew, blackcurrant leafspot, big bud mite and blackcurrant gall mite. Strong growing but needs protection from early frosts. Good for jam making.

Tayberry is a Raspberry x Blackberry cross. Excellent for the small garden. The stems are slightly thorny. Grow the same way as blackberries.

Medana

3 litre Bush

Late August

This is a superior virus-free Medana form, which picks early. Large and juicy fruit, with a mild sweet flavour. It is juicier but sharper flavoured than raspberry. The fruit ripens over a long period in July and August. For best flavour, it should be allowed to fully ripen to a dark red colour before picking. It is best used for jams and summer puddings, but can also be eaten fresh.

This plant gallery has thumbnail pictures of soft fruit blossoms in the following colours:-

• Orange
• Other Colours
• Pink
• Red
• (o)White
• Yellow

This plant gallery has thumbnail pictures of soft fruit foliage in the following colours:-

• Bronze
• (o)Green
• Purple
• Yellow

This plant gallery has thumbnail pictures of soft fruit plant fruit with its colour:-

• Green
• Orange
• (o)Other Colours
• (o)Red
• Yellow

This plant gallery has pictures of flower beds with Soft Fruit with description.

These gallery photographs of Soft Fruit were provided by ACT Publishing, Lion House, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 1EN.
Tel: 01622 695656
Email fruit@actpub.co.uk
who publish the following for United Kingdom commercial growers:-

• The Fruit Grower
• The Vegetable Farmer
• The Commercial Greenhouse Grower
• The Berry Yearbook
• The Potato Yearbook
• The Vegetable Yearbook and
• The Greenhouse Yearbook

You can select one of
5 SOFT FRUITS by clicking on the thumbnail in

• Blossom Colour
• Foliage Colour
• Training of Soft Fruit Plant
• Fruit Colour or
• Soft Fruit Bed Pictures Comparison Pages in the menu on the right

or by clicking on the Soft Fruit Name in the list below.

Soft Fruit Description and Comparison Pages

WHITE Soft Fruit BLOSSOMS blueberry bush - BLUECROP blueberry bush - HARDIBLUE strawberry midsummer - FIGARO strawberry midsummer - SONATA strawberry late summer - FLORENCE GREEN Soft Fruit FOLIAGE BLUEBERRY BUSH TRAINING FORM STRAWBERRY MIDSUMMER TRAINING FORM STRAWBERRY LATE SUMMER TRAINING FORM OTHER Soft Fruit COLOURS RED Soft Fruit COLOUR Soft Fruits Gallery Introduction Site Map for Soft Fruit Individual Plants

Nurseries that grow and sell plants to the Public:-

Ken Muir Ltd, Honeypot Farm, Rectory Road, Weeley Heath, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. CO16 9BJ. Tel: 08707 479111. Email: info@kenmuir.co.uk. Website: www.kenmuir.co.uk grow soft fruit and top fruit plants. They provide a 175 page handbook packed with the most up-to-date comprehensive information on all aspects of fruit growing free with the first fruit stocks order (Grow Your Own Strawberries will be supplied instead with your order of strawberry plants).

Trees for Life, Frank P. Matthews, Berrington Court, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. WR15 8TH. Tel: 01584 810214 Email: enquiries@fpmatthews.co.uk Website: www.frankpmatthews.com grow soft fruit and top fruit plants.

Marshalls, S.E. Marshall & Co, Alcondbury Weston, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 4HY. Tel: 01480 443390. Website: www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk sell seeds and plants.