Soft fruit for pots

Enjoy the convenience of picking your own juicy berries from the comfort of your patio

1 Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’

Compact, densely branching, thornless variety. Succulent berries ripen in July. Prune out spent fruited stems to soil level in autumn. Any soil, in sun or part shade. H: 90cm (3ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Tip Can be used to produce a tasty lowfruiting hedge.

From www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk; tel: 0333 003 0869.

2 Blackberry ‘Black Cascade’

Low grower producing thornless, trailing stems, each producing a succession of succulent fruit. Ideal for hanging baskets or tall pots. Any soil in sun. H: 30cm (1ft), S: 45cm (1ft 6in). Tip Encourage new stems by removing old fruited shoots. From www.thompson-morgan.com; tel: 0844 573 1818.

3 Strawberry ‘Albion’

Everbearing variety, producing sweet, dark red berries from early summer, and intermittently into autumn. Good disease resistance. Moist, well-drained compost in sun. H :20 cm (8 in ), S :30 cm (1 ft ). Tip Force or extend cropping by placing containers in a greenhouse or conservatory. From www.mr-fothergills.co.uk; tel: 0333 777 3936.

4 Gooseberry ‘Martlet’

British-bred variety with good mildew resistance. Upright, vigorous habit, with few thorns. Clusters of large, sweet, red fruit produced in late July. Grow in sun or part-shade. H: 90cm (3ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Tip Prune shoots by half in mid-June to keep compact.

From www.chrisbowers.co.uk; tel: 01366 386858.

5 Blueberry ‘Top Hat’

Self-fertile variety with large, blue berries from late July. Needs acid soil, so grow in well-drained, ericaeous compost. Orange autumn colour. H/S: 60cm (2ft).

Tip Crops even better if positioned with other blueberry varieties.

From www.jparkers.co.uk; tel: 0161 848 1100.