When to plant

• Set out plants about 3 weeks before your average last spring frost.

Cook berries before eating; raw berries, stems, and leaves are toxic.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Dates by zone: 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growing basics

Toxic parts. Raw berries, stems, leaves, and roots are poisonous. Always cook the berries.

Harmful to pets. Leaves, stems, roots, and unripe berries are toxic to cats and dogs.

Sun

Part sun (4–6 hours)

Spacing

6–8 ft

Soil temperature

At least 45°F

Plant family

Other

Harvest per plant

About 12 lb

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Grow it well

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