Soft fruit questions for Jon

[MrsKP]

Hi there Jon

OK first off, I bought two fruit bushes ealier this year from that well known nursery "Instore".  Like a fool, I forgot to label them when potting them up.  No fruit this year, (wasn't expecting any in the first year tbh) so still can't tell which is which.  Any idea ?

They are only identified on the packing by Blackcurrant & Redcurrant, no varieties specificied.  They were both potted in multipurpose compost in 14" dia x 12" pots.  So what am I expected to do with them now ?  Just leave them as they are, feed them ?  The aftercare instructions given are identical for both and they should both grow to 5'.   Are the pots big enough ? do I need partners for them ?  which brings me onto my next question.

I bought a Blueberry Chandler and have read that I need a buddy for it.  Now I've learned somewhere else that I don't.  It's in a similar size pot to the other two although I used ericaceous compost and have only used rain water.

All three bushes have put on a fair bit of growth this year, but I'd really like some fruit one day so want to learn what to do for the best.

I live on the west coast of scotland, so we're talking windy and rainy (although this week has been very mild and really sunny on some days).

Any suggestions gratefully received. ;D

MrsKP

[MrsKP]

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you've got the space, plant them out about six feet apart; they make big bushes in time. The top one's the redcurrant. A mulch of grass cuttings or anything else organic is good.

[Jon Munday]

MrsKp
The top picture is the Redcurrant and the bottom the Black. Its impossible to tell you what the variety is just by looking at them. If you contact who they came from they should be able to tell you the varieties they supplied.
I can tell certain varieties of trees by their growth habit but soft fruit is very difficult.
As far as any pruning is concerned the Redcurrant (and Gooseberries) should be treated like a bush fruit. The fruits will come on the frame work of the plant and not from the individual shoots like a Summer fruiting Raspberry or Blackcurrant.

Redcurrants, Whitecurrants and Gooseberries

The bushes have a short stem or ‘leg’ therefore remove any suckers from the root system. If planting is taking place from November â€" March prune immediately, shortening the leading shoots by about half their length. This will encourage the formation of a number of branch leaders. The branch leaders will be shortened by about a third the following winter this process being repeated every winter thereafter. Fruiting is encouraged by ‘spur’ pruning the newly produced young lateral growths or side shoots to 2 inches during July. Summer planted plants may be summer pruned although the branch leaders must not be pruned until the following winter.

Blackberries, Loganberries and Tayberries
If planting takes place between November-March cut the shoots back to 9 inches immediately. From spring onwards tie the young shoots in as they grow, these will crop the following year. If summer planting takes place the young shoots produced may also be tied in, however if the shoots are weak cut them back the following winter and start again. Subsequent pruning is similar to raspberries. Canes which have fruited are completely cut out after fruiting.

Raspberries
Cut the canes down to 9 inches above soil after planting. This 9 inch stub may be removed when the new shoots appear from beneath the soil. The young canes are later tied in 4 inches apart to a fence system for cropping the following year. There will be no crop during the first year except in the case of the Autumn-fruiting varieties which do crop the same year as the cane is produced. With all the varieties the canes which have fruited are cut down to ground level immediately after fruiting.

As for the Blueberry I do not know that variety so can not tell you if it is self fertile as some Blueberries are but one thing for sure is that all varieties will benefit from another variety for cross pollination. I had a Bluecrop at home for quite a few years and although it cropped ok on its own it wasn't until i put some other varieties with it that all 3 now crop very heavily.

Happy Growing
Jon

[MrsKP]

Thanks both.  Due to lack of open ground, I was hoping to leave them in the pots (until I get the lottie at least) and I'll get a wee friend for my blueberry anyway.

Any particular suggestions to cope with my climate Jon ?

And I'm writing the labels out now !

;D

[Jon Munday]

Lots of fruit particulary soft fruit is grown in Scotland. Try as best as you can to shelter the plants from the wind as much as you possibly. Avoid planting in any watter logged soil.
Jon

[MrsKP]

Hard to avoid the wind especially as I live at the top of the hill in Hillington !!! lol.

Thanks for your responses though Jon.  I'm busy browsing just now.

[Jon Munday]

Enjoy your browsing
Jon