Berries are nature?s super fruits and this autumn season GardenShop is delighted to offer our garden enthusiasts a variety of different berry plants that will certainly be an asset and delight to anyone who is already growing or wanting to grow their own edible crops. These berries are bursting with a host of culinary and medicinal properties, so don?t hesitate to get some of these plants into your garden.

• Gooseberries This easy-to-grow perennial berry plant usually grows up to one meter high and also known as the Chinese lantern plant.

  The golden berries, surrounded by an enlarged calyx, are popularly used in pies and jams. Make sure you prepare the soil with well-draining, compost-enriched loamy soil and add about 500 grams of superphosphate per meter squared. Generous layers of mulching will go a long way to protect the roots, retain moisture and to kerb weed growth.

  Plant them in full sun and space them at 60cm apart. They require regular watering until established.

  Harvesting is done when the surrounding calyx is light brown and almost dry, the fruit inside should be yellow.

• Goji berries are full of many beneficial properties. People who consume Goji berries on a regular basis notice benefits such as better eyesight, great hair colour, improved libido, improved mood, more quality sleep, a definite enhancement in their energy levels, and overall a brighter outlook on life.

  Plant them in semi-shade to full sun. This perennial berry is a spiny woody shrub that can grow to height of 3m. It prefers to grow in a sandy/clay soil and will flower in summer followed by the red berries in autumn.

  Prune back in spring and in summer (with less vigour) as needed. It's an ideal hedge or as a stabiliser for sandy banks since it has a very good root system.

• Blueberries The blueberry plant requires full sun for optimum yield and quality and grows best where the soil is very acidic and well-supplied with moisture. The level of acidity must be maintained throughout.

  Blueberry bushes have very shallow root systems and are very sensitive to water fluctuations and it is important to put generous amounts of mulch like sawdust, straw or peatmoss around the plant to prevent water loss, to keep the roots cool and to kerb weed growth. Blueberries should start producing fruit after the season of planting.

• Raspberries The medium-sized fruits are full of flavour, firm and ideal for freezing. Plant raspberries in full sun in well-drained soil. Raspberries will require a trellis as it tends to ramble. Water well throughout the growth period, cut the plant back in winter.

• Blackberries Fruits are eaten raw, cooked, made into jam, syrup, cordials, jellies, wine and to flavour vinegar.

  Blackberries are semi-evergreen with a sprawling growing habit that will grow up to four meters. Like the raspberry plant it also requires supporting to prevent it from getting out of hand. Blackberries grow very well in cold winters.