Plant figs, raspberries, blackberries & more from Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko

This isn’t the end of the growing season—or the planting season—in Western New York.

In fact, there are new offerings of fruit plants at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville.

You can plant them now and as long as you keep them watered, “They’ll do fine,” said Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s.

Tip: When planting these or any perennials, water them properly in the heat of summer, said Jessica Limardi, staff member at Mischler’s. “To make sure the soil and roots are moist, let your hose dribble at the base of the plant.” See more about how to water here.

The new fruit plants and bushes are sold in one-gallon pots:

• Blackberry ‘Chester’
• Fig ‘Chicago Hardy’
• Raspberry ‘Caroline’
• Strawberries that fruit in June as well as everbearing strawberries

While you can plant these fruit bushes now, you won’t get fruit until next season.

Blackberry ‘Chester‘

Blackberry ‘Chester’ is thornless and produces large berries.

It’s self-pollinating; you don’t need to have a male and a female plant. It’s also resistant to stem blight.

The fruit is produced in July, but the plant needs to get established first. If you plant now, you will probably get fruit next year, Limardi said.

The bush can reach a height of 4 to 10 feet tall. It needs full sun.

Fig ‘Chicago Hardy’

“‘Chicago Hardy’ is the hardiest fig on the market,” Yadon said. “It should overwinter here. That’s why we chose it.”

You can plant it in a pot or in the ground.

In a pot: Before the first hard freeze, take it inside an insulated but unheated space, such as an unheated garage. Water it well, but don’t let it get soggy or dripping, Limardi said. Leave it alone, then check it in January to make sure it hasn’t dried out.

In the ground: Mulch the fig tree heavily to protect the roots. You could cover the branches with burlap for the first few winters to protect it or plant it in a protected spot, such as close to your house or a fence.

While people refer to it as a tree, it’s more like a bush than a tree, Limardi said. The branches may die, but new shoots will come up from the bottom of the plant. The fruit grows on new growth. Just cut out the dead wood in spring. You also need to prune the branches selectively in spring to make sure light gets to the leaves; you don’t want it to get too dense.

‘Chicago Hardy’ needs full to partial sun.

Raspberry ‘Caroline’

‘Caroline’ has soft thorns and is known for its flavor.

“Give it room to roam,” Limardi said. “It will climb into other stuff. It can definitely try to travel.” That traveling habit doesn’t end up in a neat look. “Put it in the back corner unless you want the cottage look.”

‘Caroline’ likes sun, but tolerates part sun. It doesn’t like wet, soggy feet.

It’s self-pollinating; you don’t need to have a male and a female plant.

‘Caroline’ fruits in fall.

In spring, prune off dead branches and thin out the canes. When it matures you want to leave only last year’s growth.

Strawberries

Mischler’s has two kinds of strawberries: the kind that bears fruit in June, plus an everbearing variety that keeps producing fruit throughout the season.

The strawberry plants that produce in only June have larger berries than the everbearing varieties. You can plant the June strawberry outside now for a fruit crop next June.

The everbearing variety has smaller fruit but keeps producing. However, you won’t get as much fruit overall from this variety, Limardi said.

Either variety can be planted in the ground or in a pot. If you plant in the garden, rake in some compost and mulch the plants well; they need good drainage. Place them in a sunny spot.