Building Memories Together
Do you remember a time when you went out to the garden on a summer morning and came back with a bowl full of berries to put on top of your cereal?
When I was growing up, my father and I were the first ones up on weekend mornings. One of my favorite summer memories was to go out to the wild and cultivated berry patches while they were still shaded from the hot summer sun and pick strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Father and I would bring in our full baskets just as the other family members were getting up and gathering around the kitchen table. My dad was as much of a “kid” on those berry-picking days as I was!
So, some of the first plants I wanted to put in my garden were berries for my grandchildren to enjoy. When they know it’s ripening season, they run over to wade through the strawberry patches, gingerly reaching for raspberries and blackberries from among the thorns, and eagerly compete to see who can pop the most blueberries into their mouths.
Conventional store bought berries probably have a high residue of pesticides, so growing them in my organic garden creates a healthy alternative while also building memories and instilling the love of gardening into the souls of my grandkids.
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Berries are Healthy Superfoods
Micronutrients and antioxidants are necessary to offset the normal but harmful byproducts of oxidation known as “free radicals.” Healthy foods high in antioxidants are essential for children throughout their growing up years, and berries are among the highest sources of antioxidant foods as compared to serving size. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are good for developing a strong immune system and decreasing the risk of infection. (10 Berry Health Benefits)
Blueberries, in particular, are considered a superfood with nutrients that support “healthy aging, better memory, decreased inflammation” (Health Benefits of Blueberries)
Strawberries are packed with even more vitamin C than an orange, and one serving provides enough vitamin C for an entire day.
Raspberries are not only high in vitamin C, but also very high in fiber. We all know the phrase “eat the rainbow” and raspberries come in many colors. I grow gold and red, but they also come in black and purple.
But blackberries win the prize with one of the highest antioxidants of any food per serving. (What are the Health Benefits of Blackberries?)
Children Love Berries
What’s not to love? They are sweet and juicy, with just the right amount of tang for a youngster’s palette. Blueberries and strawberries are easy to pick. Older kids can work around the thorns of many raspberry and blackberry patches. The beauty of modern agriculture is that many thornless varieties are now available.
basics of How to grow berries
If you have enough space, you can grow enough of these plants to satisfy casual picking/eating as well as gathering enough fruit to make into jam, pack into a pie, or sprinkle on top of ice cream for dessert. How To Grow Berries: Easy for Beginners
Blueberries grown as individual plants may need 6 feet of separation, or 3 feet if planted in a hedge. Plant MORE THAN ONE VARIETY of blueberries together. They also like a highly acidic soil.
Both raspberries and blackberries need to be about 2 feet apart. Warning: they can become unruly, especially blackberries, so I put mine in the yard where I don’t care if they thrive. Best when kept pruned.
Strawberry plants need to be planted about 1 foot apart. You can plant strawberry plants in spring, summer, or fall, but many gardeners say fall plantings are best.
All of this depends, of course, on the variety you choose, but you can expect each of these berries to spread as they mature. Growing Berries in Your Back Yard
If you don’t have enough space, both blueberries and strawberries can be grown quite successfully in containers placed on a sunny patio or porch. In fact, I know many gardeners who do both - plant some in the ground and some in containers. Growing Berries In Containers: How to Grow a Small-Space Fruit Garden Kids and container gardening pair well together!
After all, can anyone really have too many berries when kids are around - no matter what age they may be!?
