Growing Guide: Edible Berry Bushes

Currants

Currants are grown as both ornamental and edible multi-stemmed shrubs.
They have bright flowers in spring, colorful clusters of fruit, and fuzzy lobed leaves.
Currants grow well in slightly acidic, well amended soil in full sun or filtered afternoon shade.
Red and white currants can be planted closer together (3-5’) while black currants require more room to grow (5-6’).
Currants should be pruned regularly in early Spring (remove 3-year-old stems) to ensure ample fruit production and good air circulation.

Gooseberry
Gooseberries are self-fertile, multi-stemmed shrubs.
Similar to currants, they have bright flowers in the spring, colorful berries and fuzzy lobed foliage.
They grow well in slightly, acidic, well amended soil, in full sun or filtered afternoon shade.
Gooseberries need room to grow (4’-5’) and regular pruning in the dormant season. (Remove 4-year-old stems).
Produces on two-year-old wood.

Huckleberries
Huckleberries are a hardy, self-fertile, North American evergreen shrub.
They produce clusters of tiny white bell-shaped flowers in spring, followed by tiny blue-black fruit.
Grow best in slightly acidic, well amended soil in full sun or filtered afternoon shade.
They can be planted closer together when in full sun (3’ - 5’ apart), are fairly disease-resistant, and require only occasional pruning for shape.