Boysenberry

Boysenberry Plants – Best In New Zealand!

Growing boysenberries in your garden delivers a vast range of benefits:

• Reduced food waste.
• Lower grocery costs.
• Fewer food miles and less plastic packaging, decreasing your carbon footprint.
• Convenience.
• Children can learn the plants and become more involved with nature.
• These plants will bring you pleasure for many years to come.

From Mapua to Tasman, and many more, we have the right boysenberry bush for your space. Our fruiting plants have been selected to thrive in New Zealand’s climate. We stock only the highest quality plants, sourcing them from NZ’s leading nurseries. Each plant is packed and transported with extreme care, ensuring it arrives to you in the same condition it was in when it left the nursery. If you are wanting to buy boysenberry plants, shop with confidence from the best in the industry.

Boysenberry Questions

1. Can I plant boysenberries?

Yes, you can plant boysenberries in New Zealand. They prefer a full sun or partial shade position and a well-drained soil.

Planting boysenberries involves:

1. Choose a well-drained location in full sun or partial shade.
2. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball of the plant.
3. Mix compost or other organic matter with the soil.
4. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil, firming it down gently to remove any air pockets.
5. Water the plant well after planting.
6. Mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Boysenberries need regular watering, especially during the first year after planting. Water the plants once a week, more often if the weather is hot and dry.

2. How do you grow boysenberries NZ?

To grow boysenberries in New Zealand, follow these steps:

1. They need full sun or partial shade and a well-drained soil. They are also susceptible to frost, so it is important to choose a location that is protected and sheltered from wind.
2. Add compost or other organic matter to improve fertility and the soil biology.
3. Plant them in spring or autumn and space plants 1 m apart.
4. Water and fertilise regularly. Water them once a week and more often if the weather is hot and dry. Feed them once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertiliser.
5. Boysenberries need support to grow and they are best trained to grow on a trellis or fence.
6. Prune the boysenberries in the late winter to remove any dead or diseased canes.
7. Boysenberries are typically ready to harvest in the summer months and are ripe when they are a deep purple colour.

Here are some additional tips for growing boysenberries:

• Mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Boysenberries are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, so it is important to inspect your plants regularly and to treat any problems promptly.

With proper care, boysenberry plants will thrive for many years and provide you with years of enjoyment.

3. Where are boysenberries grown in NZ?

Boysenberries are grown in a number of regions throughout New Zealand, but the most significant production comes from the Nelson region. The warm summers and well-drained soils of Nelson are ideal for growing boysenberries.

Other regions where boysenberries are grown in New Zealand include:

• Northland
• Waikato
• Bay of Plenty
• Hawke's Bay
• Manawatu-Wanganui
• Canterbury
• Otago

4. What are the easiest berries to grow in New Zealand?

The easiest berries to grow in New Zealand are:

• Strawberries
• Boysenberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries

These berries are all relatively easy to grow and produce good yields in New Zealand's climate. They also require relatively little maintenance, making them a good choice for beginner gardeners.

5. What is the lifespan of a boysenberry plant?

Boysenberry plants typically have a lifespan of 5 years, though some well-maintained plants can live up to 7 years. However, their peak fruiting years are usually the first 2-3 years.

6. Should I prune my boysenberry?

Whether or not you should prune your boysenberry depends on the time of year and the current state of your plants. Here's some advice:

When to prune:

• Late winter/early spring (before new growth starts): This is the ideal time for the main pruning. You can remove old canes (canes that fruited last year) that are brown, woody, and have no leaves. You can also thin out new canes to prevent overcrowding and encourage better fruit production.
• Summer: You can do some light pruning throughout the summer to pinch back the tips of new canes. This will encourage branching and bushier growth, which can lead to more fruit.

What to prune:

• Old canes: These canes have already fruited and will not produce fruit again. Cut them back to ground level.
• Weak, diseased, or damaged canes: These canes are unlikely to produce much fruit and can be a source of disease. Remove them to keep your plants healthy.
• Excess new canes: If you have too many new canes, it can crowd the plants and reduce fruit production. Thin them out to keep about 5-7 strong canes per plant.

7. Do boysenberries fruit on new or old wood?

Boysenberries, like many brambles, fruit on old wood. This means they produce fruit on canes that grew the previous year, also called floricanes. These canes are typically brown and woody, with visible scars from where the previous year's berries were attached.

The current year's growth, called primocanes, are green and flexible and won't produce fruit until the following year. Their main role is to grow vegetatively and establish themselves for next season's fruiting.