How to Germinate Berries

Pick a selection of healthy berries from your existing bush. Lay the berries outside on a flat surface leaving an inch of space between each pair of berries. Flip a large glass bowl upside down and place it on top of the berries to keep predators from getting to them. Leave the berries under the bowl for a few weeks until they are completely dried.

Put your dried berries into a freezer bag. Roll and seal the bag with as little air inside as possible. Put the sealed bag into a second freezer bag. Roll and seal the second bag. Place the double-bagged berries into the freezer for four weeks to put them into dormancy. Remove the berries after waiting a month and place the bag into a cool dark place so that the berries can thaw slowly.

Pick a spot in a sunny area of your garden. Remember that your berries will enjoy at least six hours of sunlight per day. Morning sun will produce the best results. Dig a hole 6 inches deep with a small gardener's shovel. Put 3 inches of loose soil into the bottom of the hole. Lay three berries into the hole and add the rest of the soil to fill in the hole. Make another hole every 4 feet until you've planted all your berries.

Grab the top of a circular, stand-alone tomato cage. Place the points of the cage against the soil around your berry hole. Press the top of the cage to push the anchor points into the ground. Install a tomato cage around each hole. Leave the cages in place until the berry bushes outgrow them so that predators cannot get to your immature plants.

Water each of your berry plants daily. Gently spray each hole with the spray nozzle on your hose. Be extra careful while watering tender, young plants. Water each plant at sunset until the soil is moist.

Give each plant a dose of plant food each month. Give the food to the plants at the same time you water it on that day. Use the amount of plant food that is recommended by the manufacturer.