Planting Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries in Sacramento
While everyone else is making their weekend pilgrimages to u-pick farms and store bought strawberries You could be growing your own damn fat juicy berries!
Right in your backyard.
And I’m about to show you how.
And we’ve got a small window before Sacramento turns into Satan’s front porch.
(You know… those 105° days where your AC bill looks like a car payment.)
But here’s what most people don’t know:
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries?
They’re basically the bosses of the summer fruit world!
These bad boys can handle Sacramento’s heat…
And still pump out enough fruit to make Raley’s produce section look like amateur hour.
Here’s why you should give a damn about planting your own strawberries:
- No more dropping $6 on sad, store-bought pints
- No more 25-minute drives to Sloughhouse
- No more “sorry, we’re picked out” disappointments
- And definitely no more PG&E holding your summer hostage
Instead?
Drop $30-50 ONE TIME on some plants and soil…
Put in a little sweat equity…
And watch your yard transform into a berry-producing machine.
While your neighbors are out here treating their lawns like exotic pets…
You’ll be pulling fresh blackberries off the vine.
For breakfast.
Like a boss.
And here’s the beautiful part:
These plants don’t care if you’ve got a mansion in East Sac…
Or a sad little concrete patio in Midtown.
They’ll grow anywhere you’ve got sun and attitude.
So grab a shovel…
Because I’m about to show you exactly how to turn your space into a berry paradise.
Sacramento style.
Hot, dry, and scrappy as hell.
But with a payoff that’ll make you wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.
What You Need: The Sac Starter Kit
- Plants: Hit Ace Hardware on Folsom Blvd or Green Acres Nursery in Citrus Heights for starters—runners, bushes, canes, $5–$15 each. March is peak stock season; don’t wait ‘til May when it’s picked over.
- Soil: Sac’s clay is a death sentence—berries need drainage. Mix potting soil with sand or compost from Home Depot—50/50 works. pH 5.5–6.5 is the sweet spot; blueberries and raspberries demand acid, others are chill. Test kits are $10 if you’re anal about it.
- Spot: Full sun, 6–8 hours minimum—south-facing yards, balconies, or that unshaded corner by the AC unit. Pots can shift when the heat’s unholy.
- Gear: 12”+ deep pots for solo plants, raised beds (4’x4’) if you’re balling. Watering can, hose, or drip line—Sac’s drought vibes mean you’re on it. Trellis or stakes for blackberries and raspberries—they sprawl like teenagers. Mulch (straw, bark) keeps roots cool.
Planting Strawberries:
- When: March/April—roots lock in now, fruit by June. Too late, and summer fries ‘em before they ripen.
- How: Space runners 12–18” apart in pots or beds. Dig 4–6” deep, bury roots, keep the crown (leaf base) peeking out—bury that, and it rots. Water ‘til soil’s damp, not a swamp; Sac’s sun dries it in hours.
- Varieties: ‘Sequoia’—big, sweet, heat-loving—or ‘Chandler’—firm, juicy, Sac-proof. The Plant Foundry in Oak Park’s got ‘em.
- Details: They’re shallow-rooted—don’t overwater or you’ll drown ‘em. Expect 1–2 pounds per plant in a good year. Runners spread like gossip—snip ‘em for bigger berries or let ‘em multiply.
- Pro Move: Mulch with straw—keeps soil cool, weeds out, and looks on-brand. Hit ‘em with a 10-10-10 fertilizer monthly—$8 at Ace.
- Payoff: June–July—fresh handfuls or that.
Planting Blueberries:
- When: March—gives roots months to grip before July’s inferno.
- How: Pots or holes twice the root ball—12–18” deep. Mix soil with peat moss, pine needles, or sulfur (50 cents a pound) to drop pH—Sac’s alkaline dirt’s a buzzkill. Space 2–4 feet; water deep once, then steady.
- Varieties: ‘Sunshine Blue’—compact, hot-weather champ—or ‘Misty’—heavy producer. Emigh Hardware stocks ‘em.
- Details: They’re woody shrubs—2–4 feet tall, slow to fruit (year two’s the haul). One bush works, two pollinate better. Acid’s non-negotiable—test it or they’ll sulk.
- Pro Move: Coffee grounds or vinegar (1 tbsp/gallon water) monthly—keeps pH tart. Mulch with pine bark—$5 a bag.
- Payoff: June/July, year two—small batches, big flavor.
Planting Blackberries:
- When: March/April—early start beats the heat wave.
- How: Space 3–5 feet—they’re aggressive. Dig 6–8” deep, loose soil, plant canes upright. Water ‘til settled; trellis or tie to a fence—untamed, they’re a jungle.
- Varieties: ‘Triple Crown’—thornless, huge fruit—or ‘Apache’—sweet, Sac-hardy. Nurseries carry both.
- Details: Canes fruit on year-two growth—prune dead ones post-harvest or it’s chaos. Expect 5–10 pounds per plant once established. Thorns? Optional but brutal—gloves if you’re soft.
- Pro Move: 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring—$8. Mulch heavy; Sac sun cooks roots.
- Payoff: July–August—buckets of dark gold.
Planting Raspberries:
- When: March—early rooting’s clutch.
- How: 2–3 feet apart, 4–6” deep. Same acidic mix as blueberries—peat or pine. Stake or trellis—floppy canes snap in wind. Water steady; they hate drought.
- Varieties: ‘Heritage’—red, everbearing—or ‘Willamette’—early, tough. Grab ‘em local.
- Details: Two types: summer-bearing (June) or everbearing (June + fall). 2–5 pounds per plant—less than blackberries but punchier. Heat’s their kryptonite—shade needed.
- Pro Move: Prune summer canes post-fruit; everbearers get a spring trim. Fish emulsion ($10) boosts ‘em.
- Payoff: June–July, maybe September—tart and fleeting.
Surviving Sacramento’s Climate
- Water: 1–2” weekly—drip lines or morning pours. Sac’s humidity’s a lie; they’ll wilt by noon otherwise.
- Heat: 100°F+ days—shade cloth ($15 at Harbor Freight) or patio cover. Pots scoot indoors when it’s hell. Strawberries and raspberries suffer most—watch ‘em.
- Pests: Birds snatch berries—netting from Harbor Freight or a $10 fake hawk. Aphids and spider mites love Sac dryness—hose ‘em off or soap spray ($5). Squirrels? Trap or curse ‘em.
- Winter: Strawberries die back—mulch and pray. Others tough it—light trim, heavy mulch.
Why It’s Worth the Sweat
You’re not just growing berries—you’re rewriting the rules. No corporate markup, no gas guzzling—just you, dirt, and fruit that tastes like triumph. $50 upfront for years of hauls—beats Sac’s cost-of-living grind. Kids learn where food comes from, dogs guard the stash, and it’s a rebellion against our concrete cage. Pair it with a u-pick trip (see our ) for the ultimate Sac flex.
Start Your Berry Empire, Sac!
March is your green light—plant now, eat later. Strawberries this summer, the rest building steam, all from your own turf. Hit the nursery, dig in, and turn your spot into a berry factory.
Got a pro tip or a haul pic? Tag Us on IG!
Hey if you really don’t want to plant your own, then pick your own! Check out all the details here!
