Rhubarb Rapsberries and Blackberries

[Grumpy Git]

I just stuck my Wilko Raspberry and Blackberry plants in both had leaves and shoots, so I hope they'll survice.  Am I likely to get any berries this year ?

Also I've planted a Rhubarb bulb thing which has a 3inch shoot. I think someone has said that you have to wait a year or so before you can pick rhubarb.

Oh how I'm sooo looking forward to rhubarb crumble and custard mmmmm :P

[Grumpy Git]

[sandersj89]

Raspberries depend on the type, autumn fruiting you will get a crop, summer fruit it is unlikely and what crop you get will be small.

Blackberries, you should again get a crop but a small one for the first year agin.

Rhubarb, leave the leaves on this year to give the new crown a chance to bulk up and settle in. Next year you will have a strong crown that will crop very well.

Plant all with plenty of organic matter and manure and add some bone meal to the bottom of the hole to help them on, all are fairly hungry feeders.

Jerry

[philcooper]

The normal advice is not to let fruit crop in its first year.

So don't pull any rhubarb leaves and cut the canes down to 9" then remove any flowers when they appear.

I saw them in Wilkos and was tempted so I now have 2 x rhubarb varieties and 1 x blackberry (variety unspecified)

My parents have just had to give up their cottage and move to sheltered accommodation so I have plundered their raspberry canes so in a year's time the freezer should be bulging! :)

Phil

[Mrs Ava]

How can you resist the urge not to just pull a stalk or two!  I did I am afraid and they were delish, but only a couple from each crown, which wasn't toooo bad as I have 7 crowns.  This year, rhubarb frenzy!

[loz]

I will try to force my rhubarb this year, as it was put in two seasons ago.

I managed to resist pulling in the first year, although it was difficult, and I fully understand your temptation EJ.

Last year I managed a small amount of stalks, so this year the gloves are off!

Loz

[wivvles]

I just bought 10 raspberry canes (5 summer, 5 autumn) from the Farmer's market (£5.50 the lot).  The chap advised me to plant them and immediately cut them back to the ground - I thought I was supposed to leave the autumn ones but cut back the summer ones?  Any advice gratefully received, but pleasedon't confuse me, I'm a simple chap....

[derbex]

Cut them all. You do summer ones when they've finished fruiting normally (i.e. after the 1st year) and autumn about now. Advice seem to differ as to whether to go right down to the ground or whether to leave a few inches (in the 1st year).

Jeremy

[philcooper]

Wivvles,

As Derbex says, the rules are just for the first year and are the same for other woody shrub things.

If you leave too much top on at this stage, lots of leaf will quickly appear as the buds are primed to do this but the root system won't have the strength to support them. This is also the reason for not letting them fruit in the first year - it gives the root system time to build up before it is stressed - even plants have feelings  ;)

Phil