Berries come in all shapes and sizes yet the only thing that seems relevant to each is the term "Berry". They come from different genera, have vastly different growing conditions yet somehow they've been lumped into this category of "berries" that blindly pigeon-holes them for us.

The botanical definition of a berry is: a simple fruit produced from a single ovary. This includes grapes, tomatoes and the assortment of fruits which we colloquially bundle into the berry cart.

So, if they're so vastly different can any single rule simplify the process of growing these delicious fruits? Sure, they do have some common traits and requirements;

• Sun - all berries require full-sun to grow and produce their fruits during the warmer months


• Water - berries contain more than 90% water as part of their make up. So, it makes sense that regular watering is an essential element in successfully growing them


• Well-Nourished Soil - this may not be as important once the plants become established (for example, mulberry trees, once mature, can source many of their own nutrients and require very little on-going care). However, for smaller plants such as strawberries this is a must.

Types of berries

As mentioned previously, there are a myriad of berries available that offer both nutritional and flavour benefits. Here is a list of some of the more common ones;

• Strawberries Probably the most common berry, strawberries have been enjoyed throughout the centuries. Synonymous with love, they are often symbols used to accentuate Valentines Day and other embracing moments. They are quite easy to grow and maintain and I have previously written a post on how to grow strawberries that may be helpful for you.
• Blueberries
  Blueberries grow on bushes and are also a favourite type of berry. Their plump, juicy flesh pops on your tastebuds with subtle ascetic flavours and they are wonderful to consume with bucketloads of double cream (not helpful for the waistline though). Growing them requires a few pointers and these are best pointed out with this earlier post on how to plant blueberry bushes.
• Blackberries, Raspberries, Loganberries (Tayberries) and Boysenberries
  These berries all grow on canes that can be pruned in their dormant season much like a climbing rose, cutting out the dead canes and allowing the new ones to be pruned for future fruit production. They are a feast for local birds and often become invasive plants in the wild due to birds carrying seeds away from the garden.
• Mulberries
  A childhood without a Mulberry tree is like snow without a snowman. These large shade trees produce the most wonderful fruit and many a mulberry war has been started underneath their big boughs. Today, many gardeners opt for weeping mulberry trees due to size limits on their gardening space and these still produce the delicious fruit without having to climb ladders to obtain them.
• Elderberries
  These are an interesting berry as everything else about an elder tree or bush is toxic and contains high levels of cyanide. Even unripe berries can be detrimental to your health or that of your children. However, ripe elderberries are delicious and can be consumed in abundance.
• Goji and Acai berries
  These two berries have been growing in popularity over the past decade due to their many health benefits. If you haven't heard much about these two then you can get up to speed by reading these earlier posts; growing goji berries and What is Acai fruit?.
  

Common questions about berries

Q: How you tell the difference between edible berries and poisonous ones?
A: There is no easy way to determine whether a berry is poisonous or edible. There are some ways to test edibility but they require some effort to conduct properly, and still not always conclusively. It is far better to educate yourself of the edible varieties before exploring.

Q: Why does my berry plant have more leaves than fruit?
A: The soil they are growing in is too high in Nitrogen (the major chemical element needed for leaf growth). Take a soil test and amend your growing medium with increased doses of Potassium (K) - required for fruit production - and Phosphorous (P) - required for fruit set.