Berry plants between espalier trees

General Fruit Growing
1

I would like to plant some sort of berry bushes between my espaliered fruit trees. The lowest cordon on them is about 2 ft from the ground.

  • Should I prune whatever bushes I choose to be lower than 2 ft?
  • I am thinking of using blueberry and huckleberry bushes. Any other recommendations?
1 Like
2

Gaylussacia brachycera (box huckleberry) is one I went with that is evergreen and stays below 2 feet tall. Lowbush blueberries and lingonberry should work too.
Check Hartmannsplantcompany.com for all 3. They also have bearberry but I’m not familiar with that one.

1 Like
3

I have thought of doing this kind of thing. A natural food forest if you will.

2 Likes
4

I am gonna put some strawberries in between mine. Everbearing so should have 2 crops. Will probably put some black rasps in as well if my spacing works out. Maybe a few haskaps as well.

3 Likes
5

How about some of the more dwarfish gooseberries, like Hinnomaki Red and Yellow? Hinno. Yellow is downright minuscule: mine can’t even break the 1’ barrier. Would be a good one to squeeze in among other plantings.

3 Likes
6

Great ‘rock garden’ item, too, Jeremiah.

1 Like
7

i have alpine strawberries, arctic raspberries, mid height blueberries, lowbush blueberries, lingonberries, Jeanne gooseberry, red currant, rhubarb and dewberry. all are less than 2 ft. and grow well in front of or in between my trees.

3 Likes