Berry Plants at Green Thumb Nursery: Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, and More

Berries make an excellent addition to any yard, and Green Thumb Nursery offers a beautiful selection of berry plants at all five of our Southern California stores. One of the best parts of growing your own fruit is that you can choose berries that ripen at different times of the year. That way, you can have fresh berries almost year round. Keep reading as we go through the berry plants you can buy at our nurseries, the varieties we recommend, and the best time to plant each one.

Berry Plants You Can Buy at Green Thumb Nursery

Here is a quick look at the berry plants we stock, the varieties our garden experts reach for, and when each one should go in the ground in Southern California.

Berry	Varieties to ask for	When to plant	When you pick	Good to know
Strawberries	Chandler, Sequoia, Albion, Quinault, Eversweet	Mid October to early November	Late winter through fall, depending on type	The easiest berry for beginners; great in pots and beds
Blueberries	Southern highbush: Misty, O’Neal, Sunshine Blue, Southmoon, Jubilee	Fall through early spring	Roughly April through July	Need acidic soil; happiest in containers here
Raspberries	Low-chill and everbearing types (ask in store)	Bare root, December through February	Summer, plus a fall crop on everbearing types	Best near the coast; give inland plants afternoon shade
Blackberries and vining berries	Thornless blackberries, boysenberry, loganberry	Bare root, December through February	Summer	Trailing types need a fence, trellis, or run

Planting windows compiled from UC IPM and Oregon State University Extension.

The Three Types of Strawberry Plants

There are three types of strawberries and many cultivars of each kind, and the type you buy determines when you pick fruit. UC IPM breaks them down this way:

• June-bearing strawberries: One big crop per year. These are short-day plants that form their flower buds during the short days of fall, which is why fall-planted June-bearers in Southern California often start ripening in late winter and spring, well before June.
• Everbearing strawberries: Smaller crops, but they produce longer, typically a spring flush and a fall flush. Many modern everbearing varieties actually behave like day-neutral plants, according to University of Georgia Extension.
• Day-neutral strawberries: Not sensitive to day length at all. They flower and fruit steadily whenever temperatures stay roughly between 40 and 90 degrees F, per Oregon State Extension. In coastal Southern California that can mean picking from spring deep into fall.

Strawberry Varieties Worth Asking For

• Quinault: Everbearing. Large fruit that holds up well in preserves or eaten straight off the plant.
• Sequoia: A California classic bred for mild-winter climates. It is a June-bearing type, but plants set out in fall here ripen their crop in spring, months ahead of the name on the label.
• Eversweet: Everbearing, with beautifully bright, cone-shaped berries from May to the end of fall. Perfect for eating or preserves.
• Chandler: A University of California introduction with large, glossy fruit that sets early; it appears on the UC list of public strawberry cultivars grown commercially in the state. Wonderful for eating fresh.
• Albion: Day-neutral, also UC bred. Firm, sweet berries that keep coming from spring into fall, which makes it the pick if you want a steady supply rather than one big harvest.

When to Plant Strawberries in Southern California

Plant strawberries in the fall here. UC IPM’s planting-date table for the South Coast puts short-day (June-bearing) varieties in the ground between October 10 and November 1, and day-neutral varieties between October 10 and 25. That makes mid October through early November the best moment of the whole year to pick up plants: fall-planted strawberries build roots through winter and produce far more fruit than spring-planted ones.

Strawberries are perennials that thrive in soil with a lot of organic material and a pH around 6.0, making it a tad acidic. Keep in mind that a strawberry planting stays productive for only about three to five years before yields decline, according to Oregon State Extension, so plan on refreshing your patch with new transplants every few falls. A good choice for strawberries in pots is E.B. Stone Recipe 420, which is organic and full of the nutrients strawberries love. For in-ground planting, work in E.B. Stone Soil Booster before you plant, or use Kellogg GroMulch for strawberry beds. Be sure to check out all three soil products the next time you are in our nursery.

Blueberry Plants for Southern California: Southern Highbush Varieties

Every blueberry we recommend for Southern California is a southern highbush type. These were bred for mild winters and need only a fraction of the chill hours that northern highbush blueberries require, which is why UC ANR’s Southern California program singles them out for our area. Most mature at about 4 to 6 feet. They are also partially self-fertile, but Clemson Extension notes you will pick larger and earlier berries if you plant two or more different varieties together.

• Misty: Medium to large fruit, generally ready starting in late spring. Likes full sun.
• O’Neal: Large, sweet fruit, generally ready in May and June. Plant in full sun.
• Southmoon: Gorgeous large fruit, early producing, best in well-drained acidic soil.
• Sunshine Blue: A semi-dwarf plant around 3 feet tall that needs only about 150 chill hours, and it tolerates higher soil pH better than most blueberries, per the UC Master Gardeners. Perfect for pots and smaller yards.
• Jubilee: Medium fruit size, loves full sun and loamy soil.

Blueberries are acid-loving plants. The soil needs a pH of about 4.5 to 5.5 for them to thrive, according to Oregon State Extension. That is why it is easier to manage soil requirements year to year if you plant in containers: start with a quality acid potting mix, the kind made for azaleas and camellias. If you need to lower the pH in pots or in the ground, use a soil sulfur product; ask our garden experts and they will point you to the right bag. E.B. Stone also makes a Fruit, Berry and Vine food for proper nutrition. For planting and care details, see our full post on growing blueberries.

Raspberry and Blackberry Plants (Cane Berries)

Raspberries and blackberries grow on canes that rise from perennial roots, and the pruning rule depends on which type you buy. Summer-bearing (floricane) types fruit on second-year canes, so you remove only the canes that have already fruited. Everbearing (primocane) types fruit on brand-new canes, which can simply be cut back after the harvest. University of Minnesota Extension explains it well: the roots and crown are perennial, but each cane lives only two summers. A well-tended planting keeps producing for 5 to 15 years, per Oregon State Extension, so do not let anyone tell you a raspberry patch is short-lived.

Most raspberries prefer our cooler coastal areas, since intense dry heat can scald the fruit; inland gardeners should choose low-chill varieties and give plants some afternoon shade. Raspberries do best when the soil is rich in organics but also sandy and fast draining. E.B. Stone Recipe 420 potting soil is a good option, as is FoxFarm Ocean Forest.

The vining berries include blackberries, marionberry, loganberries, and others. Marionberry is actually a trailing blackberry, and boysenberry and loganberry are raspberry and blackberry hybrids grown the same way, per Oregon State Extension. Some varieties, like the thornless blackberry ‘Columbia Star’, have no thorns at all, making them much easier to manage. If you are planning a berry patch in your yard, the vining berries need support: trail them along a fence or create a run for them. For planting, watering, and pruning details, see our full guide to growing berries in Southern California.

Can You Grow Berries in Pots?

Yes, and for some berries pots are actually the better choice here. Strawberries are a natural in containers and strawberry jars, and day-neutral varieties like Albion are the best type for pots. Blueberries are easier in containers than in the ground in Southern California because you control the acidity. Raspberries and blackberries will fruit in large containers too: Oregon State Extension recommends a 20 to 30 gallon container at least 2 feet deep, with everbearing raspberries the best fit since all their canes can be cut to the base each winter.

When to Shop for Berry Plants at Our Nurseries

Strawberry plants arrive in force each fall, right when they should go in the ground. Bare-root raspberries, blackberries, and other cane berries show up from December through February, and bare-root season is the least expensive way to start a berry patch. Container blueberries are available through much of the year. For month-by-month ideas, see our guide to 12 months of fruit in Southern California.

We invite you to stop by any of our five Southern California locations. Keep in mind that our inventory changes daily, and it is best to call ahead if you want a particular plant or product. We are happy to check in-stock items for you. Each location has many garden experts available to chat about your project, plant selection, or the how-to options for making your berry patch successful.

Buying Berry Plants: FAQs

What are everbearing strawberries?

Everbearing strawberries produce two to three smaller crops from spring into fall instead of one big harvest. Varieties like Quinault and Eversweet are everbearers, and University of Georgia Extension notes that many modern everbearing varieties behave like day-neutral plants, fruiting whenever temperatures are moderate. They are a great choice if you want berries over a long season.

What is the difference between June-bearing and day-neutral strawberries?

June-bearing strawberries produce one large crop per year, while day-neutral strawberries ignore day length and fruit steadily whenever temperatures stay roughly between 40 and 90 degrees F, per Oregon State Extension. In Southern California, fall-planted June-bearers ripen from late winter into spring, and day-neutrals like Albion keep producing from spring into fall.

When should you plant strawberries in Southern California?

Plant strawberries in mid October through early November in Southern California. UC IPM’s planting calendar lists October 10 to November 1 for June-bearing varieties on the South Coast and October 10 to 25 for day-neutrals. Fall planting lets the plants build roots through winter and produce a much bigger crop than spring-planted ones.

Can you grow blueberries in Southern California?

Yes. Choose southern highbush varieties such as Misty, O’Neal, Sunshine Blue, Southmoon, and Jubilee, which were bred for mild winters and need very little winter chill, per UC ANR. Give them acidic soil with a pH around 4.5 to 5.5, or grow them in containers with an acid potting mix, which is the easiest route in our area.

Can I grow raspberries in a container?

Yes, raspberries grow well in large containers. Oregon State Extension recommends a 20 to 30 gallon pot at least 2 feet deep with fast-draining, organic-rich potting soil, and everbearing (primocane) varieties are the best type for pots. Container growing is also a smart way to keep raspberries from spreading where you do not want them.

When is bare-root berry season?

Bare-root season at Southern California nurseries runs roughly December through February, when dormant raspberries, blackberries, and other cane berries arrive without pots or soil. Bare-root plants cost less than container plants and establish quickly when planted while still dormant.

Where can you buy berry plants near you?

Local garden centers are the best source for berry plants because they stock varieties suited to your climate and carry them at the right planting time. In Southern California, Green Thumb Nursery carries strawberries, southern highbush blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries at five locations, with garden experts on hand to help you choose.

Updated October 2026 by the Green Thumb Nursery team.

Sources:

• UC IPM: Strawberries, Time to Plant
• UC IPM: Growing Strawberries in the Home Garden
• UC IPM: Public Strawberry Cultivars Grown in California
• UC ANR: Blueberries in Southern California
• UC Master Gardeners: Blueberry Varieties
• Oregon State Extension: Growing Strawberries in Your Home Garden
• Oregon State Extension: Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden
• Oregon State Extension: Growing Raspberries in Your Home Garden
• Oregon State Extension: Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden
• Clemson Extension: Blueberry
• University of Georgia Extension: Strawberry Types

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