Are boysenberries difficult to grow in your backyard? No, they fall on the easy side once you set up the basics. Growing boysenberries at home takes a sunny spot, a trellis, and one yearly prune. Most folks get a good crop by year two with these few steps.
I planted my first crown eight years ago in a sandy bed. The plant grew fast and gave me a big crop the next summer. The only hard part was the prune. Soil and water did not trip me up, but the cane prune sure did. I cut the wrong canes my first year.
All the boysenberry care difficulty comes from one cycle. The plant works on a two year plan. First year canes are called primocanes. They grow tall and green with no fruit. Second year canes are called floricanes. They flower and set the berries. Then you cut the dead floricanes to the ground.
I missed that step my first winter. I cut all my canes by mistake. The next year I got zero fruit. Lesson learned. Mark your floricanes with a tag once they fruit. Then you know which to cut and which to keep for next year.
UC Cooperative Extension has clear tips for new growers. Keep 9 to 12 primocanes per plant. Cut the rest to the ground. Trim your canes back to 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) long in late winter. Set a three wire trellis at 1.5, 2.5, and 4.5 ft off the ground.
These steps make easy berry plants of a crop that scares some folks. The work is not hard. The trick is just to know when to do each task. I set a phone alert for late January each year. That cue gets me out to prune before the buds break in spring.
Soil needs are mild. Boysenberries like a loamy mix with good drainage. Aim for a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Water gives them about 1 inch per week in summer. Mulch heavy with straw or wood chips to keep weeds down and roots cool.
Your first task in any boysenberry beginner guide is to pick a thornless cultivar. Try a Thornless Boysenberry or Newberry from a good nursery. The thorny type cuts up your arms each pick. Why bother when a smooth cane works just as well for the home grower?
Set your trellis posts before you plant the crown. Mulch with 3 inches of bark right after you plant. Add a calendar alert for January 15 to prune each year. Tie new canes to your wires once they reach 3 ft (90 cm). Stick to these few rules and you will pick fruit for the next 15 to 20 years.
Read the full article: Boysenberry Plant Growing Guide
