Fruit Bushes - plant now?

[posie]

I've just bought raspberry, tayberry, blueberry and blackberry bushes today, they say they can be planted in October - but we're expecting a cold snap next week so I'm wondering if I should delay planting til it's over as I don't want the roots to be damaged by frost - or am I mollycoddling them?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

[posie]

[Tee Gee]

Get them in asap!!

The soil is still warm and that is the most important part at the moment.

Because of the high winds forecast I would ensure that they are well supported to stop the root system being loosened as that is the last thing you want at this stage.

I like to dig a hole of sufficient size to take the root system ( this can be a trench if you are setting a row of plants) then I heel them in with my boots and top up the hole/trench to the normal level.

Then I really give the area a thorough soaking.

What this does is the water carries particles of soiil between the fibrous roots and give them better stability and more of the roots are in contact with soil as opposed to air pockets.

[growmore]

I would plant them now. Most fruit bush suppliers send their stuff out in Nov for planting straight into the ground .

[posie]

Thanks TeeGee and growmore - that's another job to add to the list for Monday!

[RSJK]

If we are in for a cold snap, frosts etc would it not be a bad idea to lay of with the watering as this would make the soil  prone to freezing.

[posie]

Thanks for that, the soil is drenched anyhow so I don't think it'll need much water lol

Just as an aside - I only have one cane of each, should I maybe get more?  I didn't grow any fruit this year apart from some rather useless alpine strawberries so haven't a clue what I'm doing with planting/spacing etc.  :)

[Tee Gee]

If you are planning on leaving your raspberries in a permanent spot it might be worth considering this;

Erect 75x75mm(3"x3") treated softwood posts at approx. 3m centres (10ft) along either side of the row (i.e. 500mm (18") between rows).

Staple four lines of 10-12 gauge wire horizontally to the posts.

Place the lowest line approx 600mm (24") from ground level then place successive lines at 300mm (12") spacings above the first(lowest)

This method will enclose the row of canes! an alternative method would be to use a single line of posts/wires and tie the canes into these

This system will cater for both fruiting wood and new un-fruiting wood each year, both of which have to be catered for.

[jennym]

Just a thought posie, you need to have acidic soil for your bluberries to do well. When I planted mine I dug a deep pit and filled it with ericaceous compost, and since then have mulched with rotted horse muck, pine needles, leaves etc and they're doing really well.
You could really do with more than one cane of raspberry, as you won't get a very big crop from one. Also if you could get another blueberry, this will help with the pollination.
The blackberry and tayberry will be alright on their own - you could do with a post and wire system for these too, and I'd say they need to be a minimum of 8 ft apart. In a similar way as Tee Gee has said, but you want 6ft posts, and dont need the very low wires for these.

[posie]

Thanks for the added info guys.  TeeGee you got any pics I could look at, I always feel better when I can visualise what I'm doing lol  :)

[Tee Gee]

TeeGee you got any pics I could look at

Sorry I don't but I managed to crib this out of an old book I have.

This is the single row system i.i. one row of posts & wires;



I hope this gives you a better idea of what I meant.

[posie]

Thanks TeeGee, I figured that's what it was like, but I'm hopeless at building stuff from instructions, I like a good piccie lol :)