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of wild strawberries. They can thrive in full or partial sun, so they can be tucked into the landscape in many places.
And don't forget the herbs! Herbs are perennial crops that add sparkle to our dishes. Many will attract beneficial insects to the garden. Some, like Good King Henry, produce edible leaves that can be steamed or cooked as spinach.
VINES AND CANES
Grapes require a trellis or pergola to climb over, and need to be pruned hard each winter. Books on viticulture - grape growing - usually have good diagrams showing different methods for pruning the vines. Whether you want grapes for wine making, juice, or fresh eating, try a good wine variety. You can find seedless wine grapes that are perfect for eating fresh. Grocery store table grapes taste bland by comparison. Grow grapes on a trellis over a porch, and you'll have a lovely, shady place to sit in the summer.
Raspberries are so fragile and delicate that it's difficult to ship them to the store. They're easily grown, however, so try a row of raspberries for fresh eating. Red, golden, and black raspberries all have different flavors, and all grow on upright canes that can be easily controlled. Simply pound tall stakes on either end of the row, tie twine to the stakes, and run the twine from one stake to the other on both sides of the canes.
Trailing caneberries such as blackberries, Marionberries, loganberries, and boysenberries require upright trellising to control the canes. Alternately, you can search for varieties that grow on upright canes as raspberries do. Some upright varieties are also thornless.
In areas with mild winters, try hardy kiwi or passion fruit vines. These can be grown on a trellis, pergola, or archway.
SHRUBS
Blueberries, huckleberries, and lingonberries are all acid-loving berry crops that do well in most northern regions. Blueberries can grow into large shrubs up four or five feet tall and about as wide, and produce an abundance of deep blue berries. The leaves of many varieties turn brilliant scarlet in the fall, making them good landscaping plants. Pair them with evergreen huckleberries for a stunning fall display. Huckleberries are a little tricker to grow, but some varieties have been cultivated and are suitable to full sun or part shade in the garden. The tiny berries with their intense flavor are worth the effort. Lingonberries aren't well known in the U.S., but are beloved in northern Europe. The prostrate shrubs bear red berries that make excellent jams and jellies.
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