Berries and Brambles
Berries are the perfect fruit – not only are they great to eat, versatile in their usage and add fabulous colour to desserts and baked goods, but they are packed with nutrients including good doses of Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants. They are really easy to grow, occupy only as much space as you are willing to give them, and produce prolific quantities of fabulous fruit. They make jolly jars of jam and cheerful chunks of chutney when you have a bumper crop.
There is a wide range of Berries to choose from, some of which are known as Brambles, due to the fact that they have thorny or spiny canes and branches. Brambles are those tasty, colorful delights of early summer and autumn. The genus Rubus is divided into many species that include raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, loganberries and boysenberries. Berries include strawberries, blueberries and gooseberries.
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Berries are often treated as gourmet fruit because they don';t store well. They are easy to grow and are a desirable addition to any home garden. Summer-bearing brambles ripen right after strawberries, creating a succession of fruit crops.
Select a planting site higher than the surrounding area if possible, as this provides essential air circulation and water drainage, reducing disease and insect problems. Strawberries and blueberries can be successfully grown in containers if space is limited.
Pruning is essential for maximum fruit yields. Some gardeners prune their autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground in early spring, sacrificing the summer crop for the sake of one big bumper autumn crop. Raspberry bushes send up suckering stems that must be cut out immediately with a sharp spade, although the black and purple varieties are a little tidier.
Brambles are adapted to a wide range of soils but do best when planted in well-drained, deep, fertile soil that is high in humus. A pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is preferred. Compared to raspberries, blackberries are more tolerant of heavy soils. Adding organic matter and planting in raised beds can be of help in avoiding diseases.
There are so many mouth-watering recipes that include berries. Here are just a few fabulous ideas: Berry-Yoghurt Ice, Raspberry Nectar, Loganberry Jam, Boysenberry Parfait, Blackberry Cocktail, Chocolate and Blackberry Brownies, Boysenberry Brulee (just dee-licious!), Bramble Crumble (yum!), Raspberry Pavlova and the all-time favourite, Blueberry Muffins.
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31 LISTINGS
aka Blackberry
A highly rated American cultivar with sturdy thorn-less 'canes'. The large luscious berries ripen early in the season around about January. The berries are very juicy with a tart yet sweet flavour. For best results plant in sun or part shade in deep acid soil. Deciduous.
Blackberries fruit on 2nd year wood. It is usual to cut back the cane that has finished fruiting and then train a 1 year old new cane in preparation for fruiting the following season.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Rambling
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 1.8m
Blackberry Black Satin
Current Stock Height: 40/50 cm ?
Container: 3l ?
$26.99
aka Blackberry
A thornless variety that performs best when planted in groups to maximise flowering and fruiting. The spring flowers are followed by large red berries that turn black when ripe towards the end of summer. Prefers full sun and well drained soil that does not completely dry out in summer. Deciduous.
Blackberries fruit on 2nd year wood. It is usual to cut back the cane that has finished fruiting and then train a 1 year old new cane in preparation for fruiting the following season.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Spreading
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 1.8m x spreads
Blackberry Thornless
Current Stock Height: 10 cm
Container: 1.3l ?
$16.99
aka Blueberry Blast Rabbiteye
This 'Rabbit Eye' Blueberry is not only sweet and succulent to eat but it looks good in the garden as well. The berries are medium, full of lots of vitamins, high in vitamin C and good antioxidant properties too. Plant in sun or part shade in nice rich acid soil for best results. Self pollinator. Evergreen.
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Blast
Current Stock Height: 15/20 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
aka Blueberry Centurion Rabbiteye
A 'Rabbit-eye' Blueberry that crops well with clusters of medium sized dark firm fruit with a great flavour. Ripe around February. Recommended for warmer districts. Pollinate with another Rabbiteye
. Plant in a sunny position in acid soil that does not dry out in summer. Evergreen
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Spreading
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Centurion R
Current Stock Height: 15/30 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$34.99
Blueberry Centurion R
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
aka Blueberry Rabbiteye
Rabbit-eye Blueberry. An evergreen American variety that is suitable for warmer areas of NZ. The medium sized blue berries have an excellent flavour and start to ripen from January onward. Plant in the sun, in rich acid soil. Best planted with a companion such as another Rabbiteye.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Climax R
Current Stock Height: 15/30 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$34.99
aka Blueberry Delite Rabbiteye
This 'Rabbit Eye' Blueberry not only tastes good it looks good in the garden as well. The berries are small, light blue, have an excellent flavour and ripen around March. Plant in sun or part shade in nice rich acid soil for best results. Pollinate with another Rabbiteye. Evergreen.
It is important to remember that Blueberries fruit on the previous years wood and whilst they are self-fertile they will always do better with a companion.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Delite R
Current Stock Height: 15/25 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$34.99
aka Blueberry Ezigrow Northern Highbush
Northern Highbush. Medium sized, dark skinned, firm fruit that is flavourful to eat. Prefers well drained, acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Crops best with cross pollination, Blast and Tifblue are great partners. Deciduous.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Spreading
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 100cm x 150cm
Blueberry Ezigrow
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
aka Blueberry Southern Highbush
This Southern Highbush Blueberry is a good choice for warmer areas of NZ. 'Marimba' is highly productive with large firm fruit full of flavour that ripen around December. Pollinate with another Southern Highbush. Plant in sun or part shade in rich acid soil for best results. Deciduous.
Though most Blueberries are self-fertile they will set fruit better if cross pollinated with another cultivar of the same variety.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Marimba SH
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$34.99
aka Blueberry Maru Rabbiteye
Rabbiteye. Maru produces excellent crops of large dark blue fruit. Mature the berries well on the plant prior to picking, This is a good variety for Waikato North. Flowers in spring, fruit harvest toward the end of summer and displays gorgeous burgundy wine colours in autumn. Acid Soil. Deciduous.
Let fruit mature on the bush. To ensure the best flavour leave fruit on the bush for 7-10 days after turning blue.
Habit: Spreading
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Maru R
Current Stock Height: 20/30 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
aka Blueberry Southern Highbush
An attractive Southern Highbush selection with bright blue-green foliage. Medium sized berries of excellent quality and flavour. Recommended for warmer areas of NZ. Partially self fertile, but will produce bigger and better crops if pollinated with another Southern Highbush
. Deciduous.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Misty SH
Current Stock Height: 10/15 cm ?
Container: 2l ?
$34.99
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: