How Long Before Bushes Produce Berries?

Strawberries

• June-bearing strawberries produce one crop of fruit in early summer. Remove all the berries and blossoms the first year to allow the plant to develop strong fruit. These plants won't produce their first crop until the second year after planting. Day-neutral and ever-bearing types produce fruit throughout the summer. Remove the berries and flowers of these plants until July. They will produce a small crop in late July or August the first year after planting.

Raspberries

• Raspberries may bear fruit in summer on 1-year-old canes, or in the fall on new canes. Summer-bearing varieties won't bear fruit the first year, but will bear fruit the second year if the canes are not killed by winter frosts. Ever-bearing raspberries produce a small crop the first summer on the tips of the new canes. They'll produce a small crop the second summer, followed by a large fall crop.

Blueberries

• Purchase 1-year-old or 2-year-old blueberry plants and plant them in early spring. Remove any blossoms the first and second year after planting to encourage the plants to develop strong roots. Blueberries begin producing fruit the third season after planting, and reach optimal fruit production six to eight years after planting. Blueberries need acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.0.

Blackberries

• Like raspberries, blackberries produce fruit on long canes. No fruit is produced the first year after planting, but fruit develops on 1-year-old canes the second year after planting. Blackberries are not cold hardy and grow best in mild climates. They may not survive a cold, dry winter to produce fruit.