How to Grow Boysenberries in Denver
Boysenberry is a deciduous vine that grows in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 9. Growing to 6 feet tall and wide, this vine produces deep purple, edible fruit in the late summer. Native to North America, boysenberry fruit has a pleasant fragrance, a sweet-tart flavor and is suitable for jam-making, freezing or eating fresh. Boysenberry is a cross between loganberry, raspberry and blackberry according to Iprona. Boysenberry will not grow throughout Colorado, but it will thrive in Denver's USDA hardiness zone 5 with proper winter protection. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select a location in your garden that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun every day. A south-facing garden bed is ideal as it will take advantage of the maximum amount of sunlight.
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Loosen the soil with a shovel to a depth of 18 inches. In Denver, plant your boysenberry in the spring as soon as the ground is workable. Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost over the soil and mix well. The compost will enrich the soil and improve drainage.
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Dig a hole with a shovel roughly twice as wide your boysenberry root ball. Remove the boysenberry from its container. Boysenberries are typically sold wrapped in plastic bags, but can also be purchased in pots. If the roots are tightly wound, loosen them to assure they will spread out after planting.
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Plant your vine at the same depth it was growing in its previous container and location at least 3 feet apart to give your boysenberry plants room to spread.
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Provide a trellis on which your boysenberry can grow. Left on their own, boysenberries form a thick bramble, making them hard to prune and harder to harvest. Loosely tie a few of the boysenberry canes to the trellis to encourage upright growth.
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Water your boysenberry well to collapse any air pockets in the soil and ensure moisture reaches the roots. Water your plants every other day for at least a week to maintain a moist, but not wet soil, according to Just Fruits and Exotics.
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Feed your boysenberry plants with a 5-2-6, or equivalent, fertilizer after planting and again during the summer as fruit is setting. Never feed after August as this will encourage growth when the vine needs to go dormant.
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Spread a 3-to-4-inch layer of mulch around your boysenberry vines. This will help the soil retain moisture and prevent the growth of weeds.
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Prune the canes to the ground with garden clippers after harvesting the fruit. Boysenberry vines produce fruit on two-year-old canes.
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Winterize your boysenberry vine in November before the first hard freeze. Gently lay the canes down in one direction and bury them in soil to protect the canes from freezing temperatures, according to Colorado State University.
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Tips & Warnings
Boysenberries require well-drained soils; consider adding enough soil to raise the soil level.
Boysenberries have sharp thorns. Handle with care and use gloves when pruning.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit blackberries image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
