Growing Berries

There are plenty of berry bushes that can be easily grown in the garden, many of which take up little space and thrive with a minimum of care and attention. For beginners, blackcurrants or gooseberries make an ideal choice. Bushes are usually sold in pots or as bare roots to be planted during their dormant season. All you need to do is plonk the fruit bush into a freshly dug hole, cover the roots with soil (preferably mixed with a bit of compost or manure), give it a good watering… and wait. Depending on how trusting you are of nature, you may wish to protect your crop from greedy birds before they ripen. Most homegrown berries freeze extremely well, so why not stick your surplus harvests in the freezer and combine them with another fruit later in the year for a boozy berry medley.