Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 106 6/5/17 2:59 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 107 5/24/17 11:12 AM

Fruiting Shrubs

Fruits that grow on shrubs are also good choices

for container gardens. Though there are certainly

fruiting shrubs capable of growing quite large, as

long as you keep a keen eye out for varieties with

a shorter growth habit, these backyard fruits are

exceptional additions to edible container gardens.

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)

With their shallow, fibrous root systems,

blueberries are ideally suited to container

growing, but some varieties do better than others.

Blueberries perform their best in soil that’s

slightly acidic, so for container gardeners, that

means incorporating an acid-specific granular

organic fertilizer into the potting soil before

planting. Follow the directions on the label to

determine how much fertilizer to add (more on

container fertilization in Chapter 3).

Blueberries are extremely hardy (some

varieties survive down to -35°F) and thrive in

acidic soils with a pH range of 4.0 to 5.0 and full

to partial sun. There are many different types

of blueberries, including high-bush, low-bush,

Miniature blueberries, such as the one on the right side of this wheelbarrow planter, grow only 18 in. high but

provide lots of berries.

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Designing and Planting Your Containers 107

half-high, rabbit-eye, and lots of assorted hybrids.

Container gardeners would do best to grow

either half-high varieties, which reach 3 to 4 ft. at

maturity, or miniature varieties.

Most blueberries require two or more varieties

for maximum pollination and berry production,

but there are a number of self-pollinating,

miniature blueberries that are the perfect fit for

container gardens. ‘Top Hat’, ‘Jelly Bean’™, and

‘Blueberry Glaze’™ top out at just 18 to 24 in. in

height and are excellent for containers in most

gardening zones.

If you live in the south, your best choices are

the rabbit-eye varieties, as they produce well in

areas with warm winters. The 3-ft.-tall ‘Sunshine

Blue’ is a great choice for southern container

gardeners; it’s self-fertile but does better when

a cross-pollination partner is present. ‘Northsky’

is a favorite for up north—a mid-season ripener

that’s extremely hardy and reaches only 18 in.

high, though it does require another variety for

cross-pollination.

Gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum)

These unique fruits are a delightful addition

to the container garden. Though many tart-

flavored varieties exist, choose one of the many

available sweet gooseberry selections instead,

including ‘Jeanne’, ‘Black Velvet’, ‘Poorman’, and

‘Amish Red’. They grow anywhere but in very

hot southern regions and survive down to -40°F

during the winter. Gooseberry shrubs reach 2 to

4 ft. in height and produce a substantial number

of berries. Though many gooseberry plants are

spined, thornless varieties are a better choice.

Currants (Ribes spp.)

This pretty little berry bush matures to a height

of only 3 to 5 ft. Currants are fully hardy to -40° F

and are resistant to most diseases and pests.

Most currants are self-fertile, though they all

produce better yields when partnered with a

different variety. Not all varieties of currants are

good for fresh eating, as the flavor can be quite

tart, but they’re great for jams, jellies, sauces,

and syrups.

Currants come in many beautiful colors,

including red, black, white, and pink, with most

being good producers across most of North

America, except where winters drop below

-40° F or in the extreme south where summers

are very hot. In some states, however, the planting

of certain currant and gooseberry varieties

(particularly black, red, and white currants) is

restricted due to the plant’s ability to serve as

a vector for white pine blister rust. Please pay

attention to any restrictions in your state.

Figs (Ficus carica)

These delectable fruits are an excellent choice

for container gardening. Even in the north, where

they must be carefully overwintered, container

culture is perfect for figs because the plants are

easily moved indoors for the winter.

Figs can be grown as a tree or a shrub,

depending on how the plant is pruned. There

are dozens of fig cultivars, some of which have

very specific climactic preferences. Talk to other

gardeners who grow figs in your area, or stick with

varieties that are more widely adapted, including

‘Excel’, ‘Hardy Chicago’, ‘Petite Negri’, ‘Brown

Turkey’, ‘Black Mission’, and ‘Norland’.

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