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Berries are delicious gifts from nature. If you have ever had the pleasure of picking berries right from the garden, you already know how tasty they are. General Manager of Garden World, Louis d’Hotman tells us more.
The tempting thought of raspberry ripples, blueberry cheese cake, strawberries and cream, mixed berry smoothies and black currant tarts stir up feelings of the comforts of home baking and delicious aromas or, perhaps for the not so few, thoughts of absolute pleasure and decadence.
This alone should be reason enough to tempt you to invest a little time, effort and space into planting your own berry patch. In pots, on trellises, free-standing frames along backyard walls or along fences, there will be a variety to suit any place in the garden. Not only will these plants grow almost anywhere, they have the wonderful benefit of being healthy, nutritious — recommended as having all sorts of good stuff that is lacking in our frenetic life styles.
Raspberries are a good variety to start with as a confidence booster. They are the hardiest of the berries and the crop rewards will give you confidence to look into other varieties.
They prefer a sunny, but cool area to grow in with very well-drained soil. Add in an organic 3.1.5 fertilizer. Water regularly as berries do not tolerate dry conditions. Support the canes in an upright position. The berries are born on canes from the previous year in summer. After harvesting, cut back these canes to allow room for the new canes to be trained. New plants should be planted during July or August.
Raspberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, have minimal impact on blood sugars, and a great source of dietary fibre. They contain ellagic acid, which is an antioxidant. These bind and neutralise free radicals.
Blackberry varieties such as Boysenberries, Loganberries and Young berries, are also very hardy, require little maintenance and are vigorous bearers. They prefer a cooler space to grow and a well-drained deep soil, rich in organic matter. Canes of these varieties can be supported horizontally along fences or against walls. The fruit is borne on second year canes. Once harvest is done, cut back to allow for new canes. Remember to remove the weak and poor bearing canes.
Blackberries have the highest dietary fibre content of the berries, a low fat content, are a source of vitamins A and C and rich in potassium. The berries are full of antioxidants to neutralise those free radicals that impair the cells and your immune system.
If not eaten straight away, both the raspberry and blackberry fruit can be frozen and will retain their fresh-fruit nutritional qualities.
Blueberry plants are not so easy to find, but once planted in a cool position away from heat, they demand very little attention. Deep, well-drained soils full of organic matter and regular feeding will ensure bumper crops every season. The bush is self-supporting, so it can be grown in the garden among other shrubs or in large pots.
The small berries are borne from buds on last season’s wood, so a light pruning to remove weak wood and to shape, will make certain of a good crop the following season. These small juicy beads are packed to bursting with antioxidants. Three types are in abundance in blueberries; anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid — all ready to bind cancer- causing chemicals and free radicals.
Blueberries are high in vitamin A, C and E, full of betacarotenes and low in sodium and cholesterol.
A must for any garden is the ever-popular strawberry. The botanical name, fragaria, comes from the Latin, meaning ‘fragrance’ and this delectable fruit certainly lives up to its name. In dedicated beds, pots, window boxes and even in hanging baskets, these rewarding plants require little effort and maintenance for the rich bounty they can deliver.
Make sure you have a well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and in a sunny area. Use a good organic fertiliser at planting and keep feeding regularly throughout the growing cycle. Watering must also be on a regular basis and never let the plants dry out — especially, during flowering and fruit formation. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium, low in calories and high in dietary fibre.
The fruit is a healthy choice for diabetics as strawberries have a low glycemic index. They are also high in ellagic acid, so they perform as an excellent antioxidant.

Details: Garden World on 011 957 2046 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.gardenworld.co.za