Mixed berry plants: gooseberry, blackberry and yellow raspberry - 15 cm pot - Height 50 cm - Set of 3

Yes, the three varieties in this lot are perfectly suited to container growing on a balcony or terrace, provided you choose sufficiently large containers, at least 30 to 40 cm in diameter, for each plant when fully grown. Use a well-draining growing medium (potting mix mixed with pumice) and water regularly, as containers dry out quickly in summer. Be sure to place them in full sun: without sufficient sunlight, fruit production will be disappointing. A d'fertilizer for fruit trees in spring and at fruit set will guarantee generous harvests even in confined spaces.

One of the great advantages of this trio is that it spreads the harvest throughout the entire growing season. The redcurrant (Ribes rubrum 'Jonkheer Van Tets') produces its juicy clusters from the beginning of summer, typically in June-July. The thornless blackberry 'Black Satin' (Rubus fruticosus) takes over with its large black berries in late summer, between August and September. Finally, the remontant golden raspberry 'Fallgold' (Rubus idaeus) extends the season into autumn, with its golden and aromatic raspberries available for harvest from August to October.

Yes, the three species in this lot are fully hardy throughout almost all of France. The redcurrant (Ribes rubrum), the 'Black Satin' blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and the 'Fallgold' raspberry (Rubus idaeus) withstand temperatures dropping down to -15 °C to -20 °C depending on the varieties without damage, making them suitable for winters in the mountains and continental regions. When planted in the ground, no protection is generally required.

For the three species in this lot, cross-pollination i's not strictly essential for fruiting, which is certainly a practical advantage. The gooseberry 'Jonkheer Van Tets' is largely self-fertile. The blackberry 'Black Satin' produces fruit from a single plant, and the raspberry 'Fallgold' is also self-fertile. That said, the presence of several distinct plants, as in this lot, significantly improves the fruiting rate thanks to the cross-visitation of pollinators, especially bees attracted by the white spring flowers.

Rubus idaeus 'Fallgold' is an autumn-fruiting raspberry, which means it requires specific pruning different from that of classic summer raspberries. The easiest and most productive method is to cut all canes down to ground level (to about 10 cm) in late winter, between January and March, before the growing season begins. This hard pruning allows the plant to grow vigorous new canes that will bear abundant fruit in the autumn.

Rubus fruticosus 'Black Satin' is a selected variety of blackberry bush that stands out from the wild blackberry in several key ways. First, its stems are almost thornless, making harvesting much easier and more pleasant. Second, the fruit is significantly larger and fleshier than that of wild brambles, with a very balanced sweet and slightly tart taste. Third, the plant has controlled growth and a more compact habit than the common bramble, making it easier to incorporate into a garden or a pot.

Absolutely, this collection of three small fruit plants is ideal for creating an informal edible hedge or a fruit curtain at the back of the garden. The 'Black Satin' blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) can be trained on a fence or wires to form a productive, space-saving hedge. Redcurrants (Ribes rubrum) and 'Fallgold' raspberries (Rubus idaeus) can be planted in a mass or in rows, naturally structuring the space while producing fruit.