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I'm hoping (allotment God's willing) to be getting my plot sometime between now and next April, so now my thoughts have turned to what I'm going to grow in the garden next year when veg has migrated to the plot...

I'm thinking a few fruit bushes would be a good idea, things like rasberries, blueberries, blackcurrents etc. But I don't know if they're something I should be thinking about planting now to give them a good start next year, or if I should spare them the winter frosts and plant them in the spring.. Or if it even matters which way...

Perhaps I'm being silly and you can't even buy the bushes this time of year now I come to think about it... ah well... no harm in asking... ;)

Thanks! :)

hi cuke
now is the perfect time to plant fruit bushes, while they're dormant, and they should be on sale in the cheap shops, too ;) try Poundland, Pound Stretcher, Aldi, Lidl, etc. most do fruit bushes for about a pound â€" I bought raspberries, gooseberries, black and redcurrants last year, and a few more this year, and they've all done really well so quality doesn't seem to be an issue.
fingers crossed for your plot ;D

Now is the ideal time but I would go to a reputable soft fruit grower to make sure you get certified virus fee stock. Once you get things like bigbud in blackcurrants you have permanent problems.

Am replacing my raspberries this year as they have been growing on the plot for over 17 years.  Have ordered new ones from http://www.blackmoor.co.uk/index.php
as they were recommended to me and the prices are excellent.  Delivery isn't until November so you would be fine now.

Wicker, which variety have you chosen?

Thanks for the web link, their prices look very reasonable  :)

And those 'leg' trees look very interesting. Anyone tried them yet?

QuoteWicker, which variety have you chosen?

10 x     Asparagus Gijnlim (10 Crowns)     Â£8.00
10 x    Strawberry Symphony - Runners    Â£5.00
1 x    Raspberry Glen Ample - 10 Canes    Â£9.00
1 x    Rhubarb Collection - 1 Champagne, 1 Victoria    Â£5.00

I ordered a few other things too - at those prices I had to ;)

I planted myfruit this spring and even though everyone said no crop the first year I got loads of raspberries! And they say it is better when planted in autumn! my goosegogs were quiet though, a good rpuning and maybe they will come right next season.
Go for it!!! fruit bushes by mail order are great, mine took off straight away.

Quote from: antipodes on October 19, 2007, 11:23:39
... my goosegogs were quiet though, a good rpuning and maybe they will come right next season. ...

#

Be careful not to prune too much off your gooseberries - they fruit on second year & older wood so the stems that have grown this year will be the ones that fruit next year. Just tip them, take about a quarter of the new growth off.

I got something through the door from Lidl on Friday, and like norfolklass said they have fruit bushes at 99p each from next Saturday...

Anyone have any experience of the kind of plants Lidl sell? Is it worth the saving when it comes to cropping etc?

I've bought the 99p varieties from Lidl, Poundstretcher, Wilkos, Woolies, etc, and never had a problem. The odd one has remained a dead stick, but that's very much the exception rather than the rule. Depends on your purse and your enthusiasm, really!

keep an eye out at your local tesco or other big s/mkt , there stocks have display until dates on so if you go in on that day you may get a bargain; I had a pear tree for £2.50 and had a brilliant crop this year

Most of my fruits have come from other allotment holders who have given me plants when they give up.

This includes redcurrant, rasp, loganberry, blackberry, tayberry.

I only bought a boysenberry (ken muir) and the gooseberry and redcurrant i had bought came from wollies and a cranberry from ebay.

I plan on picking up another Gooseberry Plant, RedCurrant Plant, Cranberry Plant, and 3 Blueberry Plants this year.

Up to now all my fruit plants are in 2 temp beds and i have now built purpose built beds for them all and i just need to get enough soil to fill them before i can plant them all up. Of the above list only they loganberry is now permiantly planted. I have a couple of wonderful rambeling roses i am going to plant with some of my climbers as well.

Saying nothing,but I think I have tamed the bind weed. :-X

Awaiting currant bushes,goose gogs and Raspberries-and even a maiden apricot to train on my West facing wall

http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/gooseberries.shtml

Is a good supplier.

I have never seen fruit bushes for sale at woolworths.

Quote from: Cuke on October 18, 2007, 13:51:52things like rasberries, blueberries, blackcurrents etc.

Go for it!

Remember that blueberries,  bilberries,  cranberries like really acid soil.
Perhaps best in pots of ericaceous compost.

lidl sell out fast of fruit bushess so early bird gets the best.
I got 3 from poundland three years ago and this year being second season cropping the two bushes were hanging with fruit ( one bush went to bush heaven) so well worth it.
I do use my nail to scratch the stems to make sure they are alive naughty I know but I want them alive to start with.

Davholla,

QuoteI have never seen fruit bushes for sale at woolworths

Jan - Feb time is when they get them in, filling the shelves after Christmas and the sales. By end Feb they're on sale and...

... oh, don't worry, we'll let you know. Just watch the Bargains Galore page.

;D

Quote from: bedrockdave on October 22, 2007, 20:15:39
keep an eye out at your local tesco or other big s/mkt , there stocks have display until dates on so if you go in on that day you may get a bargain; I had a pear tree for £2.50 and had a brilliant crop this year

Also Woolworths; good bargains at the end of the season in fact they're not too expensive most of the time.

I think we have missed out the obvious - get cuttings from somebody else. About now or maybe it was a bit earlier, plotholders will be doing pruning. Branches of soft fruits pruned off will generally grow into new bushes - gooseberry and blackcurrant are exceptionally easy. Granted it will take a year extra before they fruit but it's free.

Loganberry, thronless balckberry and Tayberry may have set up a growing stem on a tip that has touched the ground. Planted now these will produce in two years' time.