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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tricia on September 23, 2015, 15:42:41

Title: Will they ripen?
Post by: tricia on September 23, 2015, 15:42:41
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

Title: Re: Will they ripen?
Post by: saddad on September 24, 2015, 10:52:50
If the frosts hold off there is no reason why they shouldn't...  :wave:
Title: Re: Will they ripen?
Post by: laurieuk on September 24, 2015, 20:46:06
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.
Title: Re: Will they ripen?
Post by: tricia on September 25, 2015, 15:03:10
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