B.C.'s Best Berries

Here in British Columbia, we are fortunate to enjoy some of the very best conditions in the world for producing delicious, top-quality berry fruits. Our local strawberries, red raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries and, of course, the various Ribes - black, red and white currants and gooseberries - are second to none in flavour and other key characteristics.

While growing conditions are particularly good in our province's southwestern coastal region and through the southern interior, berry cultivars exist that will also work well in other regions. However, with so many cultivars available of every type of berry, it can be hard to choose the right one for your needs. With that in mind, I present a selection of the best berries for B.C. gardens.

Strawberries
Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring - always a highly anticipated event, often recognized by traditional teas and festivals. Currently the best cultivar to grow is 'Totem,' which begins to ripen in early to mid-June and produces luscious, deep-red fruit for more than three weeks. 'Totem' has the quintessential strawberry flavour and is ideal for eating fresh. The fruit is also perfect for freezing or for jam, allowing you to enjoy its flavour throughout the winter months. Plants are vigorous, relatively tolerant of virus diseases, with some resistance to red stele root rot and several leaf diseases. 'Totem,' the leading strawberry cultivar throughout the Pacific Northwest for more than 25 years, came from the breeding program sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Pacific Agriculture Research Centre (PARC).

'Rainier,' originating from the Washington State University breeding program, ripens later than 'Totem' and stretches the season in which to enjoy delicious local strawberries. Like 'Totem,' it is vigorous and offers much disease resistance, although the fruit is softer and more susceptible to rot. 'Puget Reliance,' a recent introduction from Washington, is a very productive and vigorous plant that is resistant to most common diseases. The large fruit, which ripens about the same time as 'Totem,' is softer but, surprisingly, no more susceptible to rot.

These three cultivars are the most suitable of the "June-bearers," but if you want strawberries later in the summer, I suggest you try the "day neutrals," either 'Tristar' or 'Tribute.' Day neutrals flower and fruit until well into autumn and produce a continuous supply of fruit, but not in any great quantity - perhaps a few every other day to enjoy with your breakfast cereal. Flavour is usually milder than the June-bearers. If available, 'Seascape' and 'Diamante,' two newer day neutrals, are worth trying.

Raspberries
Most raspberries ripen just as the strawberries start to taper off, and what better way to continue enjoying B.C. berry fruits? 'Tulameen' is the

current favourite in produce markets and because of its long harvest season, as much as six weeks, is an especially good choice for the home garden.

Another cultivar, 'Malahat,' starts the raspberry season and produces large, juicy fruits nearly as tasty as 'Tulameen.' Mid-season ripeners 'Chilliwack' and 'Qualicum' also produce delicious fruit that keep well, always a consideration with raspberries. 'Chilliwack' is particularly good for heavier soil types, as is the darker-coloured 'Meeker,' still the most widely planted cultivar for the processing market.

With the exception of 'Meeker,' which was introduced from Washington 35 years ago, these cultivars were developed by the PARC program. Several new cultivars from this program may be available soon, including 'Cowichan' and 'Chemainus' which produce fine-quality fruit, quite comparable to 'Tulameen' or 'Qualicum.' 'Esquimalt' has particularly large fruit that ripen so late they will give a good overlap with the early-fall fruiting 'Autumn Bliss,' which was developed in the United Kingdom. 'Heritage,' from Cornell University, New York, is another fall-fruiting cultivar and produces from mid-September through to the first frosts. Invariably, the fall-fruiting cultivars lack the strong raspberry flavour of the summer-fruiting ones, but are great for extending the season in which to enjoy fresh raspberries.

Two older cultivars, 'Chilcotin' and 'Skeena,' from the PARC program, are still recognized as good bets for the home garden. 'Chilcotin' has a bright, non-darkening red colour and has been credited with helping to revive the fresh market industry in B.C., though its flavour is a bit bland compared to the newer cultivars. 'Skeena' is early ripening, about the same season as 'Malahat,' and has a pleasant flavour. It has a rather dull cast to it, so does not stand out like 'Tulameen' and the other new cultivars.

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