Berry vines are ideal for small backyard gardens because they can be grown vertically.
Berries are some of the easiest food crops to grow and the great thing is that they come back year after year, providing you with an abundance of fresh berries.
Here are 12 easy to grow berry vines that are perfect for growing on trellises, fences or arbors.
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12 BERRY VINES FOR BACKYARD GARDENS
1. Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Blueberry plants can be evergreen or deciduous and they range in height from 3 to 6.5 feet (1 to 2 metres).
They grow well in most climates but they need protection from strong winds.
Blueberry vines will begin producing fruit two years after planting.
2. Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)
Raspberries are fast growing berry vines that are ideal for growing on a trellis.
The plants can be grown from bare-root canes in spring, about 3 feet (1 metre) apart.
As well as red raspberries you can even find black and yellow raspberry varieties for something different.
RELATED: How To Grow Raspberries From Seed
3. Blackberries (Rubus canadensis)
Blackberries are easy berry vines to grow but in some areas they’re classified as a weed.
You can find blackberry plants in thorned and thornless varieties and they grow best in full sun.
Blackberry vines usually produce a small amount of fruit in the first year, followed by a full harvest the next year.
4. Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa)
Strawberries are one of the most popular berry plants to grow and I like to grow them vertically to save space in the garden.
A vertical strawberry planter
Growing strawberry plants off the ground means that they’re less likely to be affected by pests and diseases, plus it’s much easier to harvest the fruit.
Strawberry plants produce runners, which can be used to propagate new plants.
RELATED: How To Grow Strawberries Vertically
5. Boysenberries (Rubus x loganobaccus)
Boysenberries are a combination of raspberries, blackberries and loganberries. [1]
The vines grow about 6.5 feet (2 metres) tall and they need a trellis or fence to grow along.
Boysenberries grow best in a position that is shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
6. Gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa)
Gooseberries are small green berries that can be sweet or sour depending on the variety.
They can be trained into a fan shape on a trellis or left to grow in a bush.
Gooseberries are often eaten by birds before you get the chance to harvest the fruit, so it’s a good idea to cover the plants with bird proof netting
7. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Cranberry plants grow best in acidic soil that has a pH of less than 5.
You can use a soil test kit
Cranberry plants also like soil that is consistently moist.
It usually takes two to three years for cranberry plants to begin producing fruit.
8. Mulberries (Morus nigra)
Mulberries are easy care, self fertile berry plants that will grow just about anywhere except tropical areas.
Dwarf or weeping mulberry varieties are best for small gardens.
Mulberries can be eaten raw or made into beautiful preserves, jams or pies.
9. Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum)
Goji berries are highly nutritious berries that are commonly dried.
The plants produce flowers in spring which are followed by small red berries that can be harvested in summer.
Goji berry plants can reach 8 feet (2.5 metres) tall but they can be grown on a trellis and pruned regularly to keep their size manageable.
10. Elderberries (Sambucus nigra)
Elderberry plants produce hundreds of small berries that can be harvested in late summer.
The plants can reach 9 to 13 feet (3 to 4 metres) tall and grow best in full sun.
Elderberries are commonly used to make medicinal syrups and the flowers can be used for herbal tea.
11. Currants (Ribes nigrum)
Red currants, black currants and white currants are ideal for partly shaded gardens but you’ll get more fruit if the plants receive full sun.
They grow best in areas with cool winter temperatures as this helps with fruit production.
Currants are ready to harvest in mid to late summer and they’re great for eating fresh or adding to dessert and baking recipes.
12. Barberries (Berberis vulgaris)
Barberries grow on thorny bushes that can be evergreen or deciduous.
They’re commonly used as hedging plants and the foliage can be green, burgundy or yellow.
Barberries have a tart taste and they can be dried or used to make jams.
Caring for berry vines
Berry vines grow best in a position with full sun and well drained soil that is enriched with compost.
The plants are usually sold bare-rooted and they can be planted in the garden in early spring.
Set up your trellis
Train the vines to grow along the trellis by gently tying the canes onto the trellis using twine.
Berry vines don’t like competing with weeds so try to keep the garden as free of weeds as possible.
Applying a thick layer of mulch around the plants will help to keep weeds down.
As the plants mature you can thin out the canes by removing the old stems.
So there are 12 easy to grow berry vines that are perfect for home gardeners.
With the right care you can enjoy beautiful fresh berries from your garden year after year.
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Have you tried growing berries in your home garden? Let me know in the comments below.
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I enjoy my blueberries, blackberries and strawberries every morning with breakfast. I’ve never had a boysenberry or gooseberry in my life. Interesting article and opened my eyes to a few new berry vines to try out.
I actually wanted to try growing a blueberry vine during the growing season, but I just wasn’t sure . My mom has two, and she loves them. I really wish I would have given it a try. Fresh blueberries from the garden are always nice.
This just got me excited for spring/summertime. I now have a garden in my new apartment.
Berries are my favorite fruits, especially blueberries and raspberries. These all sound like lovely plants that I would love to grow for sure x
I love this! We have been growing strawberries around the back yard in hanging baskets, which has worked far better than I could have imagined (I saw it online and thought I would give it a try). This year, I’d like to add some more container gardening options around our back deck. There is one area of our deck with lattice work up the side that I think would be perfect for growing some vines. I’m going to have to think through what exactly I would like to have growing there!
My husband wants to grow blueberries, and I want raspberries. When I was a kid, my aunt had raspberry plants in her garden, and they were supported by a trellis. I see homemade jam in my future with these berries! Which would definitely be the goal in growing them for myself. There is nothing better than fresh fruit right off the vine, and then homemade jam later on. It is amazing.
I really like gooseberries. My husband’s parents have one of those vines as well other berries.
What a beautiful and useful article! I’d love to grow elderberries! I have no idea what to do with a gooseberry! Also, I thought cranberries could only grow in bogs, so that was a pleasant surprise to see we can grow those in the backyard! Thank you for such an informative piece!