Will they ripen?

[tricia]

Reuben blackberry against east-facing fence, planted in February this year. I realised, too late, that I should have pruned back the main stems earlier, but the plant really took off once I did cut some of the stems back. There are now two main stems and about 5 shoots about 70cm which all have flowers on them! I've had a few fruit from the original stems, but will those  in the photos still ripen? I know I have to cut the plant right back in winter
and next year I plan to train the new growth against the fence somehow.

Tricia

[tricia]

[saddad]

If the frosts hold off there is no reason why they shouldn't... 

[laurieuk]

Why do you want to cut them back in the winter? I have grown Rueben for the past 3 years and have ad enormous crops by tying in the new growth in the autumn and fruiting on that wood. I think you can see them on my website.

[tricia]

This is what I was going by LaurieUK:

http://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/blackberry-reuben/classid.2000018100/

and the instructions from T & M where I bought the plant. On re-reading RHS I shall only cut back the very tall stems this winter.

Tricia