If you’ve ever dreamed of harvesting juicy, sun-ripened berries right from your backyard, you’re in luck. Growing berries in San Antonio is not only possible, it’s rewarding and easier than you might think. Thanks to the region’s long growing season and warm climate, gardeners in San Antonio can cultivate delicious strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries nearly year-round. With fall just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your berry patch!
Whether you’re a backyard grower, a container gardener, or a raised-bed enthusiast, this quick-start guide will help you plant and start growing berries that thrive in the South Central Texas climate.
Quick Guide for Growing Berries in San Antonio
Strawberries
- Best time to plant: Fall (September through November).
- Second-best time: Late January to early February (using bare root plants), and then Feb – March with transplants.
- Soil & light: Strawberries need well-draining, slightly acidic, sandy, or sandy loam soil that is high in organic matter (compost). Full sun (6–8 hours daily).
- Water needs: Keep soil consistently moist, not soggy.
- Fertilizer: Use a berry-specific organic fertilizer like Espoma Berry-tone that has nitrogen to promote vigorous plant development and potassium and phosphorus to boost flower and fruit production of strawberries.
- Spacing: There should be a minimum of 12 inches of space between plants.
- Depth: The crown of the plant should be set slightly higher than soil level, never below.
Strawberries love San Antonio’s mild winters and grow best when planted in fall. This is when the Poteet strawberry farmers plant! Give strawberries some mulch protection during unexpected freezes. Mulch also helps protect against weeds and you’ll enjoy sweet berries by early spring.
You can get our complete guide to planting and maintaining strawberries here.
Blueberries
- Best time to plant: Fall (September – November)
- Second-best time: Late winter to early spring (February–March)
- Soil & light: Acidic (4.5 – 5.5 pH), sandy, well-drained soil; full sun
- Water needs: Regular deep, but infrequent, watering; especially in the first year.
- Fertilizer: Espoma Acid-tone helps provide and maintain the soil’s acidity and supports strong root development. Avoid over-fertilizing as it can cause more foliage rather than berry production. Generally a feeding in late winter/early spring and then again mid summer is sufficient.
- Spacing: Space plants no less than 6 feet apart (unless you have limited space and want to make a blueberry “hedge”).
- Depth: Plant even with soil depth of nursery container or a ½ inch to an inch deeper. Dig the hole twice as wide.
Blueberries are a bit finicky about soil pH, craving more acid than our typical San Antonio soil (ideal: 4.5–5.5), but that’s easily managed in containers or raised beds. Growing berries in fall helps establish roots before the growing season begins.
Apply an organic mulch like pine bark that can help acidify soil as it breaks down. Extend a 3” layer of mulch about 2 feet from the crown of the plant. Mulch will help regulate temperature, protect plants through winter (and summer) and help control weeds.
Blackberries
- Best time to plant: Fall (September – November)
- Second-best time: Early spring (February)
- Soil & light: Blackberries like slightly acidic to neutral (6.0 to 7.5), well drained soils that are at least 1 foot deep; full sun.
- Water needs: Moderate but consistent, especially during flowering, fruiting, and through harvest.
- Fertilizer: A balanced, organic fertilizer like Espoma Berry-tone encourages fruiting and healthy canes on blackberries. Split applications annually: in spring when buds start to swell, and in summer after harvesting.
- Spacing: Erect varieties should be spaced 3-6’ apart, semi-erect or trailing blackberries need more room at 12’ apart.
- Depth: Plant blackberries shallowly. When planting from a nursery container, plant at the same soil depth the plant is currently in, or no more than an inch deeper, but dig the hole twice as wide.
Blackberries grow vigorously in San Antonio and can produce large yields with minimal care once established. Trellising your blackberry plants may be needed. This can help keep your shrubs in order and prevent rotting of fruit that would ultimately touch the ground without trellising.
Pruning is essential for blackberry production. It is generally performed in July, after fruiting, to encourage fresh canes for the next season. See more about pruning blackberries here.
Growing Berries in San Antonio: Where?
Strawberries: Best in Raised Beds or Containers
Strawberries are compact and do exceptionally well in raised beds or containers. Raised beds offer better drainage and warmth, helping plants survive the rare frosts. Container gardening also works great for growing berries. Just be sure your pots are deep enough and get plenty of sunlight to offer your strawberries the best environment possible.
Blackberries: Best in the Ground or Large Raised Beds
Blackberries grow fast and can spread quickly. In-ground planting or large raised beds work best. Provide trellises or support structures, especially for semi-erect varieties to keep them tidy and easier to harvest your delicious blackberries.
Blueberries: Best in Containers or Raised Beds
Since blueberries need acidic soil, growing them in containers or raised beds is ideal. This gives you total control over the soil pH, making it easier to maintain optimal conditions. Use peat moss, pine bark, and perlite in your soil mix to mimic their native environment.
Growing Berries in Fall
As the summer heat fades, fall is the ideal time for growing berries in San Antonio. Cooler temperatures mean less transplant shock, and roots have months to establish before spring growth kicks in. Whether you’re growing for fun, flavor, or the joy of picking fresh berries, fall is your window to get started.
Growing berries is a fun and fruitful adventure for gardeners of all experience levels. With the right timing, soil preparation, and care, you can grow a bountiful harvest of strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries right in your own backyard. So grab your gloves, prep your beds, and come browse our selection of berries and get ready, it’s berry season in San Antonio!
Ready to plant your berry garden? Don’t forget to stock up on Espoma Berry-tone and start prepping your containers or raised beds now—fall waits for no one!
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy
