Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous ●
Soil
Well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost. These long-lived brambles prefer a soil pH around 6.0.
Position
Full sun to partial shade, which is beneficial in hot summer areas.
Frost tolerant
Yes.
Feeding
Drench with a liquid organic fertiliser when plants show rapid new growth in spring. Keep the root zone mulched to retain moisture.
Spacing
Single Plants: 90cm (2' 11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 90cm (2' 11") with 90cm (2' 11") row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Set out purchased plants in mid-spring, or root stem tip cuttings from an established plant. Like other brambles, boysenberries grow new stems which fruit in their second year and then die. Boysenberries are a complex cross between upright raspberries and trailing blackberries. A trellis or cage helps control the growth of the large, vigorous plants, and makes the fruit easier to pick.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Use a trellis to so you can train plants into a dense, head-high hedge.
Harvesting
Boysenberries are ripe when the fruits turn from red to a deep red-black colour. Harvest in the morning, while the fruit is cool, and refrigerate immediately. Boysenberries can be frozen or made into delicious jams and desserts.
Troubleshooting
Several fungal diseases can infect boysenberries. Septoria leaf spot is not uncommon. It causes numerous spots to form on leaves, and spreads in warm, wet weather.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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Pests which Affect Boysenberry