Position – If possible, plant your youngberry in full sun for good flower and fruit production. They are creepers, requiring a trellis or fence to grow up.
Soil – Youngberry plants like slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 and 6. Ensure the site has good drainage, and mulch it well with pine bark and green pine needles.
Watering – Youngberries do not like waterlogged soil. Once it’s been transplanted, water the plant daily in hot, dry weather. Otherwise, please give it a good 30-minute soaking every 3rd day. In winter, water it once a week (never letting it dry out completely).
Fertilising – Fertilise your plant with one teaspoon of our slow-release berry fertiliser every 4-5 months.
Pruning – Youngberry canes grow exceptionally quickly and reach up to 5 metres long during their first year after transplanting. After fruiting (around August) cut those canes back completely to encourage new growth in the spring. As new shoots will grow around the plant, dig them out to prevent the plant from taking over your garden.
Pests – Spray your youngberry vine with an organic pesticide like Neem oil (1 teaspoon) mixed with a small amount of dishwashing liquid in 1 litre of water. You cannot keep this mixture for more than 8 hours, but it can be used on all your fruit trees every two weeks to prevent pests, aphids, etc. Pour any leftover solution onto the soil around the plant.
Harvesting – Fruit will begin to form in the early summer, and you can pluck them when they are easy to pull off the vine.
