If you plant fruit bushes, they recommend spacing them out 5 or 6 feet apart, but I was wondering if this applies to container fruit? I'm assuming that if they're planted "in the wild", then competition for soil nutrients and space is an issue. Presumably if they're in containers, this is no longer a problem, therefore they can be kept closer together under netting, and moved apart when needed as they grow? :-\ Or do they hate each so much, they'd stress each other out? :(
I'm a complete ignoramus as far as fruit goes, and was thinking of keeping 6 or 7 containerised fruit bushes under a fruit cage measuring 6ft X 4ft, so any help appreciated, especially if I'm being indescribably cruel to them! ;D
Dave
Dave - do you want fruit?
Seriously, if you want a lot of fruit, you have to give things some space! But, what fruit do you want to grow - there are ways around the challenge...
Yep, I want Fruit... :-[ ;D
So presumably, if they're crowded, they won't fruit well. Space is not really a problem, just a question of building cages and me being lazy. Wanting to make a single super duper fruit cage in 90 mins as opposed to making 5 or 6 taking 30 mins each! ;D
Well, if you really want a lot, build a big fruit cage.
But, I did spend a little time thinking and here is what you could try, would probably be ok:
In a cage 6ft x 4 ft you could grow permanent fruit such as:
In the central area, planted centrally
1 blackcurrant OR
1 jostaberry
Along one long (6ft) side:
1 blackberry, OR
1 loganberry, tayberry or similar
planted centrally and trained along it.
Along one short (4ft) side
2 to 3 cordon gooseberries OR
2 to 3 cordon redcurrants
Best of luck, whatever you decide. :)
You will notice I haven't included strawberries, these have to be moved every 3 years, so are better grown on the allotment in beds with low level protection if you need it.
Thanks Jenny M, I've already already got a Redcurrant, Blackcurrant, 2 Gooseberries, 3 Raspberry canes in a staked container and a Blueberry, and I've been advised to get a companion for the Blueberry.
I had thought of having to the south of my shed area, until it was pointed out it would be a little crowded, hence my question. Due to what you've said, it's probably better if I establish my fruit area this year to the North of the shed where I've got a spare space measuring 8ft by 20ft, instead of leaving it until next year.
I've got an annoying habit of having the vision thing without thinking out the practicalities of the flippin' thing in question! ;D Ah well I've plenty of pine timber, fence stain and fruit netting... ;) I just need a date with warm weather, warm beer and a cordless drill! ;D
Dave
I have a fruit cage of a similar area 8 x 20 ft.
In it I have a blackcurrant, a redcurrant, a gooseberry, a row of raspberries, a blackberry, a loganberry, a tayberry and another unidentified one like a loganberry.
So - good luck and go for it!
and don't forget that if they're too close together, when they really get growing, they'll shade each other out and you end up with small and sour/bitter fruit
You might not need to put raspberries in -the birds leave mine alone, unlike the loganberries and tayberries.
Jeremy
Yes I find that too. Especially the autumn fruiting ones.
Whitecurrants are also left alone by birds probably because theyre white.
Mine are heavy croppers and taste grape like