<< back to main Small Fruits MUCH OF THE UNIVERSITY of Minnesota small fruit research takes place at the North Central Research and Outreach Center at Grand Rapids, where horticulture, agriculture, and forestry research has been under way since 1896. Here, fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and flowers receive their maximum test for winter hardiness at the coldest horticultural research center in the continental U.S. BLUEBERRIES, CURRANTS, and strawberries are grown as ornamental plants, as well as for fruit. Strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and raspberries are easy to grow in most of Minnesota. Blueberries require acidic soil, with a pH of 4.0-5.0. Have your soil tested through your county Extension office. Strawberries can be grown as a ground cover and usually benefit from winter protection. June-bearing strawberries produce a large, concentrated crop in late spring. Everbearing types produce two smaller crops, one in late spring and one in early fall. The newer day-neutral plants are capable of producing fruit throughout most of the growing season. Strawberries normally yield 5 to 10 pounds of fruit per 10' of row. Currant and gooseberry plants are easy to grow and do best in soils with a pH of 5.5-7.0. Hardy and productive, they provide fruit for jams and desserts. A mature gooseberry or currant can produce up to four quarts of fruit annually. S T R A W B E R R I E S 'Mesabi'TM strawberry, introduced in 1999, is the newest in a long line of U of M introductions, and is already noted for its superior flavor and yield. B L U E B E R R I E S 'Chippewa', a very fruitful U of M blueberry, is named after the Ojibway Indians and the Chippewa National Forest, in the heart of northern Minnesota's blueberry country. C U R R A N T S 'Red Lake' is a very productive currant that reaches four to five feet tall and is grown in many parts of the world. U of M raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries are popular at U-Pick farms in Minnesota and other states. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Blueberries for the Home Landscape, FS-3463 Currants and Gooseberries, FS-1122 Raspberries for the Home Garden, FS-1108 Strawberries for the Home Garden, FO-5625 R A S P B E R R I E S 'Redwing' is a productive, early fall bearing, hardy raspberry Key to Tables Varieties are listed with year of introduction. Bold type indicates these are available from retail nurseries. Regular type indicates heirloom varieties with limited availability.   STRAWBERRIES Mesabi TM* 1999 very sweet, most hardy, melting texture, fine flavor WinonaTM* 1997 June bearing, large fruit, hardy and disease resistant, hints of peach flavor Northland Trumpeter Earlimore Arrowhead Evermore 1982 1960 1958 1946 1945 Burgundy Nokomis Easypicker Deephaven Chaska 1943 1921 1921 1921 1921 Minnesota Minnehaha Duluth 1920 1920 1920 * joint release with USDA-ARS CURRANTS Red Lake 1933 large red fruit, world-wide use Cascade 1942   BLUEBERRIES Polaris 1996 intense aromatic flavor, hardy, early maturing, half-high habit Chippewa 1996 medium-large berries, sweet flavor, most disease resistant St. Cloud 1990 hardy, early maturing, 30-48" tall, 30-40" wide, yields 2-7 lbs./plant Northcountry 1986 medium sized berries, "wild berry flavor", 18-24" tall, 24-36" wide Northblue 1983 large fruit, firm, excellent for cooking Northsky 1983 hardy, half-high habit, compact plant RASPBERRIES Nordic 1987 very good flavor, red fruits ripen in summer, good for freezing Redwing 1986 early fall bearing, hardy, medium sized fruit Latham 1920 productive cultivar with large, red fruits Itasca 1965   Chief 1930   GOOSEBERRIES Welcome 1957 Como 1921 << back to main