Article: Every Home Can Have Fresh Berries: Meet the Bushel & Berry® Collection
Fresh Berries for Every Home: Meet the Bushel & Berry® Collection
No acreage required. These compact, container-bred berry plants prove that everyone can enjoy fresh fruit — right off their back porch.
Growing berries used to feel like something reserved for big gardens and long rows. The Bushel & Berry® collection completely changed that.
These plants were intentionally bred, trialed, and selected for container growing. That means compact habits, reliable fruiting, and plants that thrive in pots, patios, balconies, and small garden spaces.
Even better? They’re self-pollinating. You only need one plant to enjoy fresh berries — perfect for a bowl of oatmeal, a lunchtime snack, or a handful straight from the pot. Everyone deserves berries.
Baby Cakes® Blackberry
If you’ve ever wanted blackberries without thorns, sprawl, or a full garden row, Baby Cakes® is a dream come true.
This dwarf, thornless blackberry stays compact and container-friendly while producing surprisingly large, sweet berries. In many climates, it even fruits twice — once in early summer and again later in the season.
It’s proof that you don’t need acreage for abundance.
Raspberry Shortcake®
Raspberry Shortcake® is exactly what it sounds like — sweet, compact, and perfect for small spaces.
This tidy raspberry doesn’t need staking and won’t run all over the garden. It produces delicious, dessert-quality berries that are perfect for fresh eating, baking, or a quick snack right off the porch.
Silver Dollar® Blueberry
Silver Dollar® is one of those plants that stops you in your tracks. The foliage has a soft, silvery cast early in the season before turning lush green, and the berries have a sweet flavor with tropical notes.
It’s compact, ornamental, and productive — exactly what a container blueberry should be.
Peach Sorbet® Blueberry
I love plants that earn their place even before they fruit — and Peach Sorbet® does exactly that.
The foliage shifts through shades of peach, pink, orange, and green, making it just as beautiful as any ornamental shrub. Then come the berries — sweet, flavorful, and perfect for container harvests.
'Perpetua' Blueberry
'Perpetua' is reliable, neat, and incredibly satisfying to grow. It produces consistent crops on a compact plant that fits beautifully into pots or mixed patio plantings.
This is one of those “plant it and enjoy it” berries.
Jelly Bean® Blueberry
Jelly Bean® produces sweet, medium-sized berries on a compact, mounded plant. It’s ideal for containers and perfect for gardeners who want steady harvests without fuss.
Pink Icing® Blueberry
Pink Icing® might be one of the most beautiful edible plants you can grow. The foliage carries soft blues, pinks, and teals — then it rewards you with generous, flavorful blueberries.
It’s a showpiece plant that just happens to feed you.
BerryBux® Blueberry
BerryBux® looks like a miniature boxwood — until it blooms and fruits. It’s perfect for structured containers, low hedges, or mixed patio plantings.
This is form and function in one very charming package.
Sapphire Cascade® Blueberry
Sapphire Cascade® was made for hanging baskets and elevated containers. Its trailing habit spills beautifully over the edge while producing clusters of sweet blueberries.
How to Plant & Care for Bushel & Berry® in a Container
One of the things I love most about the Bushel & Berry® collection is how approachable it is. These plants were designed to succeed in containers — which means you don’t need special skills, a perfect garden bed, or years of experience to grow fresh berries at home.
Planting Your Berry (Step by Step)
- Choose the right pot: Select a container with drainage holes that is at least 12–16 inches wide (larger is even better). Berries like room for roots, and a larger pot helps regulate moisture.
- Use quality potting soil: A well-draining, high-quality potting mix is essential. For blueberries, choose an acid-loving soil mix. Avoid heavy garden soil — containers need air and drainage.
- Plant at the correct depth: Remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the roots. Set the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Do not bury the crown.
- Water thoroughly: After planting, water deeply until water runs out the bottom of the pot. This settles the soil and eliminates air pockets.
- Mulch lightly: Add a thin layer of mulch (pine bark or wood chips work well) to help retain moisture and protect surface roots.
Caring for Your Container Berry
- Sunlight: Most Bushel & Berry® plants thrive in 6–8 hours of sun per day. Morning sun with afternoon protection is ideal in very hot climates.
- Watering: Containers dry out faster than garden beds. Check soil moisture regularly and water when the top inch feels dry. Consistent moisture is key — avoid extremes.
- Feeding: Use a fertilizer formulated for fruiting plants. For blueberries, choose an acid-friendly fertilizer. Feed lightly and consistently during the growing season.
- Pruning & maintenance: Remove dead or damaged branches as needed. Most container berries require minimal pruning, especially in the first few years.
- Winter care: In cold climates, move containers to a protected location, group them together, or insulate the pot to protect roots from extreme cold.
These plants are incredibly forgiving. If you give them sun, good soil, and steady water, they will reward you. Start small, enjoy the process, and don’t overthink it — fresh berries really can be part of everyday life.
Everyone Can Have Berries
What I love most about the Bushel & Berry® collection is that it removes the barrier. You don’t need land. You don’t need rows. You don’t need multiple plants.
Just sunshine, a container, and a little care — and suddenly fresh berries are part of your everyday life. Right off your back porch.
Happy Gardening,
Heidi
