Topic: Figs and raspberry canes

[Borlotti]

Had a few figs on the tree this year, not many and the birds had a couple.  It has got loads of small figs on it, do I take them off as think it is too late for them to ripen.  I have had different advice on this.
Also I know this may send silly but my raspberry canes have spread everywhere and they weren't that good this year. I have cut them back but loads of grass and weeds between the canes, can I use weed killer, don't mind if I lose a few of the canes but if they survive dont want to poison myself, but also dont fancy all that weeding.  I have only used weed killer on the paths, but nothing seems to have grown very well this year as I haven't done enough weeding, or maybe it was lack of rain.
My conference pears are still hard, when do I know when to pick them, or do I wait for the birds to have a few pecks.
Thanks in advance.

[Bill Door]

Hi Borlotti.

Figs, I had a fig tree and use to take off the figs that were bigger than my small finger nail.  The rest will probably drop off anyway.

Pears, I had one of those as well and found out that it was best to take them off hard and let them ripen indoors on a window sill.

Raspberries, well I think you have found out why everyone is so willing to give the canes away.  I had them for two tears and then decided to dig them out.  That took two years of getting close to my long handled fork.  I still had them outside my garden fence where they produced the best berries and the local kids loved them.  Rather than weed killer how about a wood chip mulch?  As deep as you like.

Best of luck

Bill

[laurieuk]

We all do our gardening different so I am not being critical just putting my way forward. I never remove any figs if there are  too many or the wrong time of year the plant will shed what it cannot carry. I would not pick conference pear yet but would do as suggested in  a couple of weeks or so. Never would I use weed killer of any sort amongst my raspberry canes. Any surplus cane can be forked out carefully as you prune which in turn should remove most of the weed.