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We are all familiar with berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and of course, bananas.
Bananas? Yes. Botanically they are berries, but are not commonly described as such. When it comes to identifying berries, the world of botany can be difficult, even more so than a one handed tree pose in yoga.
So why are berries so hard to define?
Judy Jernstedt, professor of plant sciences at UC Davis, claims that “the discrepancy in berry nomenclature arose because people called certain fruits “berries” thousands of years before scientists came up with a precise definition for the word.”
In botanical language, a berry is a fruit having seeds and fleshy pulp produced from the ovary of a single flower. Alien terms (e.g., bacciferous, anthocyanins, hermaphrodites, drupelets, among other spelling test words) were also used in this definition, thereby adding to the confusion. In the end, cucumbers, eggplant persimmon, pumpkin, tomato and watermelon became berries.
Some websites even list certain cell phones as a berry.
Back on earth, a berry is generally a small, edible, juicy, brightly colored fruit that does not have a pit.
So, how well do you know your berries?
Goji berry (Native to China and the Himalayas)? Gooseberry? Lingonberry (tasty on Swedish pancakes)? Bearberry? Bilberry? Buffalo berry? Bunchberry? Chokeberry? Farkleberry (nicknamed Sparkleberry)? Juneberry? Nannyberry? Salmonberry? Tayberry? Thimbleberry? Youngberry?
According to the Gardening Channel, several berry plants are toxic: baneberry, holly berry, ivy berry, mistletoe berry, yew berry, pokeberry and the privet berry. Be super careful. If in doubt, check it out. Follow your heart but bring your brain with you.
Strawberries are produced globally at twice the amount of all other berry crops combined. Strawberry plants can be planted in pots, in raised beds and in the back seat of someone’s old convertible. They need full sun, good drainage and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5) soil. If planted in ground, keep them off the soil using weed stop, which retains moisture and minimizes weeds. Albion, Camarosa, Chandler, Quinault Everbearing, Seascape and Sequoia grow well in Poway. With berries, botrytis, root rot, fungal diseases and vine weevil grubs can be a problem. Control with an organic fungicide or with beneficial nematodes (worms), available at finer nematode stores near you.
Raspberries have prickly branches and stems. If potted, they will require a trellis for support. I use tomato cages. Those redwood trellises won’t last a year. In ground, space each plant two-to-three feet apart. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Remove and dispose dead, diseased, overgrown or weak canes in late winter and again right after they have produced fruit. After picking, do not rinse them with water until you are ready to eat them as this will cause them to quickly mold. Baba Berry, Canby Red, Fall Gold, Indian Summer Red, Nova and September Everbearing are easy to obtain in our nurseries.
Blackberries are either trailing or upright. Upright blackberries have strong stems and can support themselves. Trailing blackberries can’t. Avoid planting near peppers, eggplant, tomatoes because they are susceptible to the same diseases. Local choices include Apache, Black Butte, Black Satin, Chester, Kiowa, Marion, Navaho, Olallie (sweet), Osage (flavorful), Ouachita (very productive), Prime Jim and Triple Crown (juicy). Blackberries are self-fruiting so you do not need to worry about cross-pollination.
Blueberries are high in vitamins A, C and E, fiber, and low in sodium and cholesterol. Soil should be pH 4-4.5 which is higher than most garden fruits. Fertilize with ammonia sulfate. Consider: Emerald, Jewel, Jubilee (consistently productive), Misty (loves Poway heat), O’Neal (sweet), Pink Lemonade, Sharp’s Blue, South Moon (tastes great, less filling), and Sunshine (self-fruitful).
Boysenberries are named after Rudolph Boysen, who was experimenting with his food and mixed a red raspberry, blackberry, dewberry and loganberry. Heat-tolerant. Ripens in July. Sweet flavor. Self-pollinating. They need full sun and sandy loam soil. Use a metal trellis for support. Apply fish meal or a 20-20-20 fertilizer in spring. The Regular and Thornless varieties are available locally.
Schmidt is a Poway resident and has been gardening for over 40 years.
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