Picking Berries

Berries are great fruits to grow in city farms because they can be grown without a large space requirement. The delectable berries listed below are nutritional powerhouses — rich in antioxidants and fiber.

Like fruit and nut trees, most berries thrive in sunshine and fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid planting them in frost pockets. Most berry species come in a number of cultivars suitable for various regions and climates across the United States. Consider growing these popular berry species on your city farm:

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Blackberries

Zones: 4 through 9
Erect, semi-erect and trailing species.

 

 

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Blueberries

Zones: 2 through 9
Highbush, Southern Highbush (or Rabbiteye) and Lowbush species. All blueberries require acidic soil conditions.

 

 

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Raspberries

Zones: 3 through 9

Red, yellow and black species. Look for raspberry species resistant to diseases that plague your area.

 

 

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Strawberries

Zones: 3 through 10
Junebearing and everbearing species. Look for strawberry species resistant to diseases in your area.

 

 

To find out what zone you are located in, download the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones map.

About the Author: Cherie Langlois is a freelance writer and photographer who gardens in Washington state.