Allotments 4 All

Whilst I was out walking my dog I had this brainwave (dangerous), and wanted to know what the wise ones on the board would think  ;D - here goes ......

Is it possible to take cuttings of the wild blackberry bushes out in the hedgerows or is it 1) illegal or 2) better to purchase an established, disease free plant from a reputable supplier?

My thoughts were - why pay for something that I might be able to get for free ;D  Also after realising that I would have to wait two years to harvest rhubarb - how long will it take for me to harvest 1) Chandler Blueberries and 2) blackberries  ??? ???

Jitterbug

They're extremely variable, and if you search round and select the best to take cuttings from, or check around for someone who already has a good one, there shouldn't be any problems.

Aha - thanks for that Robert - I think the dog will need a walk early tomorrow morning with me armed with my secateurs..... ;D ;D

Jitterbug

I agree with Rob on the brambles... make sure you like the fruit first... I prefer to do tip cuttings, weigh down a tip into a pot of soil/compost and leave for about a month, cut off from parent and plant where you want it.. best done from a good cultivar...

Thanks from me, Saddad. I had tried cuttings earlier without success. Will womble off tomorrow and try your  method. Glad you asked Jitterbug. ;D

I agree with the 'try before you buy' idea.  The brambles at the side of my allotment are tasteless and bitter, and yet the ones in the hedgerows along the childrens school are huge and delicious!

If you are going to try to get the tip of a blackberry to root, best to choose a new stem that has grown this season. Haven't had any success myself try to root into pots, but have had results when the tip is pegged down into the soil with a bit of wire. I found it took about 3 months to root, but this may have been because it was pegged down in November, they may root more quickly if done now.

Okay - have unbent a metal coathanger (which I eventually found in the attic), for pegging down the chosen limb - and we will be off at first light to hunt down the bush that I picked some really delicious sweet berries off this morning.   ;D  Hope none of the neighbours are up yet!!

Note to self : Will have to also get something bright to tie onto the hedge to remind me where to look for the new plantlet in a couple of months!!

Sigh! the things we will do to get something to grow ::)

Jitterbug

Try looking for existing plantlets first. The shoots grow along the ground, often for some distance, and root where they touch the ground. Once they've got roots, you can just cut them off, take them home, keeping the roots damp, and pot them up.

A very sensible proposition Rob, if you can find the newly rooted tips already then you atre months ahead!
;D

I'd much rather find someone willing to give me a bit of their thornless one, wild brambles are a nightmare of thorns & their suckers come up over a huge area

I disagree MT, I prefer my thorny giants, have tried the thornless ones and only ever been disappointed... each to theire own!
;D

Actually I prefer Boysenberries to the lot of them, much larger & juicier.
I suppose I have the best of both worlds, wild Blackberries grow over the fence at the end of one of my plots, they do taste nice but those bloomin' suckers keep coming up in my Rhubarb patch