Some of our best summer memories come with juice-stained hands and berry baskets that never quite made it back to the house full. There’s something timeless and joyful about growing berries at home—whether it’s a little patch beside the porch or a row of canes along the fence. At our greenhouse, we’ve been watching the berry plants stretch toward the sun, and we can’t help but feel excited for the season ahead.

In our family, the first ripe strawberry always sparks a bit of a contest. One of the boys will spot it, still blushing pink at the edge, and come running with it pinched between dusty fingers, grinning ear to ear. That tiny fruit marks the beginning of something special—a season of shared harvests, warm evenings, and bowls of berries disappearing faster than we can rinse them.

If you’ve been dreaming of growing your own berries, now is the perfect time to start. Here are just a few of the hardy, delicious varieties we carry, all chosen to thrive right here in Kittitas County—where long, sunny days and cool, dry evenings create ideal conditions for flavor-packed fruit:

• Strawberries: We carry both Seascape (an everbearing variety for berries all season long) and Allstar (June-bearing with a big, early summer harvest). Perfect for containers, garden beds, or letting your kids sneak a snack from the vine.
• Raspberries: Try Fall Gold—a golden raspberry that’s sweet and mild—or Heritage, a reliable favorite that produces twice per season. They’re beautiful, productive, and a treat right off the cane.
• Pixwell Gooseberry: Tart and tangy, these small green fruits are perfect for pies, jams, or just eating fresh if you like a little zing. Very hardy and well-suited to our climate.
• Polar Jewel Honeyberry: A unique one! These dark, cylindrical fruits have a flavor somewhere between a blueberry and a huckleberry. Incredibly cold-hardy and a wonderful conversation starter in any garden.
• Blueberries: We grow Bluecrop and Razz—both midseason varieties with excellent flavor. Blueberries love acidic soil, so a little soil prep goes a long way.
• Red Currants: Beautiful to look at and even better in jams or jellies. Their translucent berries seem to glow in the sunlight.
• Serviceberries (Saskatoons): These are a Northwest treasure. Sweet, nutritious, and ideal for pies or snacking.
• Grapes: From seedless table grapes like Candice and Niagara, to juicing or winemaking varieties like Concord and Pinot Noir, we’ve got options for every kind of grower.

The wonderful thing about berries is that they ask so little and give so much. A bit of sun, some water, and a bit of room to grow—and they’ll reward you for years to come. Many of these varieties are perennial, coming back stronger each season, rooting your garden in memory and tradition.

Here in Ellensburg, gardening is more than a hobby—it’s a connection to the land and to one another. Our valley is full of generational knowledge, from old-timers who still make currant jam the way their grandmother did, to young families planting their first strawberries together. There’s something special about putting down roots in a place like this—where the soil is familiar and the seasons are steady companions.

There’s also something deeply grounding about the act of harvesting. It slows you down, pulls you into the moment. One hand gently lifts the branch, the other tugs free the fruit. It’s quiet work, but meaningful—whether you’re gathering for a pie, freezing for the winter, or eating straight from the plant under the sun. Kids especially seem to find a kind of magic in it. And honestly? So do we.

If you’re new to berries, start small. A single grapevine climbing a trellis or a pair of blueberry bushes tucked into your landscape can bring beauty and bounty. Raised beds or repurposed troughs can make excellent berry gardens. Even just a couple strawberry plants in a hanging basket can bring sweetness to your space. And if you’ve already got a patch going, now’s the time to think about expanding or refreshing your varieties to extend your harvest and explore new flavors.

And don’t worry if you’ve never grown fruit before—we’re here to help. Whether it’s how to build a berry patch, improve your soil, or plan for a staggered harvest, we love walking through those decisions with our customers. Every yard is a little different, but there’s always a way to make it fruitful.

So, what’s your berry story? Was it your grandmother’s raspberry jam? Picking currants along the back fence? Maybe it’s time to plant something that brings those memories back—or to create new ones with your own family.

Swing by the greenhouse this week—we’d love to show you what’s growing, share a few tips, and help you bring a little more sweetness into your summer.