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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Hyacinth on July 03, 2006, 17:41:29

Title: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: Hyacinth on July 03, 2006, 17:41:29
Anyone else experiencing bumper crops of redcurrants/blackcurrants and gooseberries? The bushes have only had rainfall water ::) My bushes have been so laden that branches have snapped off with the weight of the fruit. All harvested now.

And had my first few raspberries to eat just now - loads to come :)
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 03, 2006, 18:27:34
I'm in the process of getting rid og my currants and replacing the with gooseberries, as the girls won't touch them (Uurgh! Is that raisins? Well it looks like raisins! I am not going to eat that.) The redcurrant was covered with berries, and now has several branches broken off by visiting pigeons. I haven't checked the blackcurrants.
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: jennym on July 03, 2006, 18:29:08
Yes - mine have been pretty good so far this year - and tayberries - well, absolutely fantastic, the stems are full of huge berries. I too, haven't watered the established fruit bushes.
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: flossie on July 03, 2006, 18:45:05
Yes - laden
takes ages picking them - don't get much else done - but I really enjoy it
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: spacehopper on July 04, 2006, 10:01:58
Yep, same here. Blackcurrent bush branches are struggling to cope with the weight of all the fruit.

I've also noticed that the bramble bushes are covered in flowers.
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 04, 2006, 12:42:32
Which is a good sign from my point of view. Bramble is my main honey source, and the great thing about it is that it's very deep-rooted, so it continues to produce through all but the worst of droughts, when other plants fail.
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: adrianhumph on July 04, 2006, 15:38:33
hi all,  :D
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on July 04, 2006, 12:42:32
. Bramble is my main honey source,
Robert , please expand on this statement , I think i know what you mean , but  ???
                                                       Adrian.
Title: Re: A good year for soft fruit?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 04, 2006, 18:56:19
It's a reliable nectar producer, and there's masses around, so in most summers the majority of the necar that ends up in my honey jars comes from bramble. Last year it was probably pretty pure; in a wetter summer there's often quite a bit of privet in there, which gives a darker and tastier honey.