Soft Fruit

Soft fruit is the ultimate dessert ingredient, and the description of soft fruit being “nature's sweet shop” is certainly a fitting one! Our selection of soft fruit includes strong, high-yield varieties, which crop throughout the season and all make delicious preserves.

Good soil preparation is essential for successful growing, so we recommend adding plenty of good organic compost to your growing area – particularly important if your soil is heavy. Ensure your soil is well-draining and plant to the soil mark so the roots and stem sit evenly at soil level. It’s worth doing a little research on your chosen varieties, so you know how much space they need to flourish. It’s important to remember that people aren’t the only lifeforms that enjoy soft fruit – birds like them too, so it might be worth investing in a fruit cage if you’ve got some hungry visitors! Many soft fruits will grow on a wall or fence and, in fact, ramblers like blackberries will need a little support. A good way to start your soft fruit is with bare root plants, planted in autumn or winter. They can also be planted in partial shade, meaning you can maximise space on a plat. Mulching & comfrey pellets on an annual basis will keep your soft fruit healthy and cutting out older shoots to promote new ones is good practise, as is cutting out any rubbing or crossing stems – allowing for air to circulate around the plants.