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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38 LISTINGS
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: 50/70 cm ?
Container: pb18 ?
$26.99
Stock of this item is very low.
Blackberry Black Satin
New stock arriving beginning of September, 2020. Pre-order now. Estimated price $29.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
Thornless Blackberry. Upright habit, no thorns and bumper crops of firm sweet fruit in summer - what more could you want? Someone to make the jam I suppose! Plant in sun or part shade in nice deep acid soil for best results. Deciduous.
See our How To pages for tips on growing Brambles and Berries.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Spreading
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 1.8m x spreads
Blackberry Navaho
New stock arriving beginning of September, 2020. Pre-order now. Estimated price $32.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
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
New stock arriving beginning of September, 2020. Pre-order now. Estimated price $14.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
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: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$24.99
Rabbiteye Blueberry. Developed in conjunction with Plant and Food Research this variety has delicious large dark blue fruit that are ready to pick from around January. Suitable for the warmer districts of NZ. Plant in the sun, in rich acid soil with 'Blue Magic' or 'Tasty Blue'. Evergreen. PVR.
Blueberries taste best when left to ripen on the bush 7-10 days after turning blue.
Trademarked under this name.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Blue Dawn R
Current Stock Height: 30//40cm ?
Container: 3l ?
$26.99
Rabbiteye Blueberry. Produced in NZ in conjunction with Plant and Food Research this variety produces copious amounts of delicious blue fruit ready to eat from December. Plant in the sun in nice rich acid soil for best results. Plant with a companion -'Blue Dawn' or 'Tasty Blue'. Evergreen. PVR.
The fruit will taste best when left to ripen on the bush 7-10 days after turning blue.
Trademarked under this name.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Blue Magic R
Current Stock Height: 30/40cm ?
Container: 3l ?
$26.99
Rabbiteye variety. An excellent crop producing large clusters of medium sized berries from mid February to early April. Fruits on second year wood. Best left on bush until after fruit has turned blue to ensure best flavour.
Ideal for warm climates as they require low chill hours for bud initiation. Pollinate with another Rabbit eye variety.
Habit: Upright
Est. Hgt/Wdth in 7/10 yrs: 2m x 1.5m
Blueberry Burst
Current Stock Height: 30/40cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$26.99
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: 30/40 cm ?
Container: 1.9l ?
$24.99
Blueberry Centurion R
New stock arriving beginning of September, 2020. Pre-order now. Estimated price $31.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
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
New stock arriving beginning of September, 2020. Pre-order now. Estimated price $31.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
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
New stock arriving shortly. Pre-order now. Estimated price $29.99 each. Payment when stock arrives.
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: