Boysenberry Growing Guide

Rubus hybrid (Rubus ursinius x R. ideaus)

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. Protect young plants from nibbling by deer with a wire cage. 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 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.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Boysenberry

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail