Berries just got better thanks to new dwarf varieties suited for smaller spaces. A tinier plant means these delightful gems live right at home inside your favorite patio pot. The next time you crave a handful of fresh berries for your bowl of cereal or a smoothie, all you’ll have to do is step outside.
3 Steps to Better Berry Care
- PLANT: For most berries, choose 5-gallon pots that are 24 inches wide and offer plenty of drainage. Berries need 6 to 8 hours of full sun.
- PICK: Harvest your yummy blueberries and strawberries when they break off the stems, and raspberries when they slip off the receptacle.
- PRUNE: After harvesting, remove any fruited stems by cutting them at the base. Pruning varies between plants, so research first!
Where to Order MiniBerries
If you want to get growing right away, check out bushelandberry.com. It’s a one-stop berry shop for all your miniberry plant needs, including most of the varieties mentioned here.
Use a potting mix with acidic soil and fertilize in early and late spring to promote growth and fruit production. Peach Sorbet is a self-pollinating plant with a rainbow of leaves ranging from peachy pink to emerald green. Another tantalizing blueberry option is Jelly Bean. It produces a crop of super-sweet blueberries in midsummer.
Choose a thornless variety and plant it in a wide, shallow container. The long canes need to be tied, so insert a few strong stakes or place the pot next to a trellis to keep the plant growing straight and upright. If you’re not sure where to start, try Baby Cakes. It’s 3 to 4 feet tall and thornless, with bright, white flowers in spring and large, zingy blackberries in summer. In some regions, it offers another crop of sweetness in midautumn.
Look for fall-bearing dwarf raspberry varieties. Apply a generous amount of compost and balanced fertilizer in early and late spring. For a thorn-free raspberry plant with a compact growth habit, look no further than Raspberry Shortcake. It grows best in full sun and in soil with good drainage.
Everbearing varieties work best for containers. Pick a pot or hanging basket at least 18 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Give Quinault a go when you’re ready to plant. It’s everbearing and produces heavy fruits. Try other varieties like Tribute or Seascape. Delizz, a 2016 All-America Selections winner, is a good choice, too, because it grows fast from seed to harvest.
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Amy says
I definitely will have to try out some of these berries. Thank you for the info! 😉
Linda F Eng says
We live in SE MN. Are these berries hardy enough to survive the winters, or do they need to be brought in?
Jessica says
isn’t it with blueberries you need several plants of different kinds so they can cross pollinate to produce? i’d have been nice if their was a note added on that idk
Jane Staley says
I have a blueberry bush as part of my landscaping and enjoy picking sweet good size berries each year. Certain kinds of blueberry plants do not have to planted as a pollinator. The label on the plant should tell which plant is good for single bush planting.
Sherry says
When you click on the link to buy berries they tell you the plans are self pollinating.
MQ Nichols says
Although many traditional blueberry bushes need two or more varieties to cross pollinate, the article did note that the blueberry was self-pollinating, meaning that one bush will take care of its self. Hope this helps.
Carrie says
Some plants are self polinators you just need to check
Papa says
Our neighborhood squirrels and chipmunks would love Them!
Sj says
Probably somewhat of a no-brainer, but we would definitely have to cover ours somehow. Any suggestions on how to do this while still maintaining that sweet, pretty look of fresh berries in a pot? 🙂 I’m a novice.
Paula Jean says
Are these GMO PLANTS?