1. IMPORTANT - NEW & EXISTING MEMBERS

    E-MAIL SERVER ISSUES

    We are currently experiencing issues with our outgoing email server, therefore EXISTING members will not be getting any alert emails, and NEW/PROSPECTIVE members will not receive the email they need to confirm their account. This matter has been escalated, however the technician responsible is currently on annual leave.For assistance, in the first instance, please PM any/all of the admin team (if you can), alternatively please send an email to:

    [email protected]

    We will endeavour to help as quickly as we can.
    Dismiss Notice

Soft fruits

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Sep 5, 2014.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2012
    Messages:
    26,409
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Public Transport
    Location:
    At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
    Ratings:
    +49,472
    I have taken a bit of a shine to making my own jams and preserves and am now considering getting some soft fruit plants to grow my own.

    I have a raspberry plant that I was gifted earlier this year (still need to get it planted out), but that is about it - so, I was wondering about some blackberries, tayberries (are these as nice as the descriptions sound?), and maybe a blueberry tree or three.

    How many plants of each type would be needed for a good haul of fruits, any suggested varieties, and when best to buy?

    As always, all other opinions/advice/banter greatly appreciated.
     
    Fat Controller, Sep 5, 2014
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. Jungle Jane

    Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2010
    Messages:
    2,070
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Local Nutcase
    Location:
    South Essex
    Ratings:
    +3,225
    How big an area do you have plant?
     
    • Like Like x 1
      Jungle Jane, Sep 6, 2014
      #2 Quote in Conversation
    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

      Joined:
      May 5, 2012
      Messages:
      26,409
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Public Transport
      Location:
      At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
      Ratings:
      +49,472
      Not huge, but I am thinking of working the size of the area that I give over to fruits as a variable (bearing in mind that I have some fairly huge containers also) based on how many plants will be needed to give a reasonable harvest. Initially, I am looking at an area of 4 to 5 m x 1.5 to 2 m

      I am also thinking of getting rid of my strawberries (barely a fruit from them this year) so will be freeing up a couple of large containers that could be used for something else - maybe blueberries in ericaceous compost?
       
      • Like Like x 2
        Fat Controller, Sep 6, 2014
        #3 Quote in Conversation
      • Jungle Jane

        Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

        Joined:
        Dec 12, 2010
        Messages:
        2,070
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Local Nutcase
        Location:
        South Essex
        Ratings:
        +3,225
        That seems like quite a decent size. Your one raspberry cane you were gifted will quickly throw up suckers possibly this year and spread. I bought 2 plants from a bootsale a few years back and they have quickly filled the area they were given (1.5m x 0.5m) and have provided me with over 3 kgs of fruit this year alone.

        I too grow my blueberry bush in a large container, but remember to place a saucer underneath the pot as they like their soil to be damp as well as acidic.

        Blackberries you could train over an arch or fence to save space, or simply buy an upright form. I have an upright form called "Long Ruben" which will apparently reach 2m high and 1.5m wide.

        I don't think you will have enough room to grow blackcurrants as these require a lot more room (which is why I got myself an allotment), although red currents you can train into cordons and train up walls and fences.

        Also (and other members may disagree, so I'm going on my own experience here) I find strawberries are much more productive when planted in the ground than in pots.
         
        • Agree Agree x 3
        • Like Like x 1
          Jungle Jane, Sep 7, 2014
          #4 Quote in Conversation
        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

          Joined:
          May 5, 2012
          Messages:
          26,409
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Public Transport
          Location:
          At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
          Ratings:
          +49,472
          Thank you :)

          I think its going to be raspberries from the existing plant, blueberries from containered bushes [the containers take nigh on 150 litres of compost, so hopefully that should keep the moisture levels up], blackberries from an upright variety and maybe some gooseberries, and move the strawberries into the ground (probably in front of the blackberries).

          Any suppliers that are good (preferably online) or am I as well going with the likes of Crocus?
           
          Fat Controller, Sep 7, 2014
          #5 Quote in Conversation
        • Jungle Jane

          Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

          Joined:
          Dec 12, 2010
          Messages:
          2,070
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Local Nutcase
          Location:
          South Essex
          Ratings:
          +3,225
          I've heard good things about ashridge trees. Their prices are quite reasonable and I shall be buying my fruit bushes there when/if my boat comes in
           
          • Like Like x 1
            Jungle Jane, Sep 7, 2014
            #6 Quote in Conversation
          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

            Joined:
            Jan 8, 2008
            Messages:
            17,778
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Here
            Ratings:
            +19,595
            Of all my soft fruits, the bushes that yield highest per bush would be the red currants.
             
            • Like Like x 2
              clueless1, Sep 7, 2014
              #7 Quote in Conversation
            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

              Joined:
              May 5, 2012
              Messages:
              26,409
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Public Transport
              Location:
              At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
              Ratings:
              +49,472
              I don't think I have ever even tasted a red currant :redface:
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
                Fat Controller, Sep 7, 2014
                #8 Quote in Conversation
              • clueless1

                clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

                Joined:
                Jan 8, 2008
                Messages:
                17,778
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Here
                Ratings:
                +19,595
                They're yummy. They don't seem to have that fragrant floral undertone that black currants have, but they are sweeter and on my bushes, seem to produce more. They are prettier too (in my opinion), with the leaves a slightly more vivid green and the berries look like glossy beads of red glass.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Agree Agree x 1
                  clueless1, Sep 7, 2014
                  #9 Quote in Conversation
                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  May 5, 2012
                  Messages:
                  26,409
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Public Transport
                  Location:
                  At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                  Ratings:
                  +49,472
                  I'll take a look at them before I order - thanks :)

                  What about gooseberries - they seem to have fallen out of favour for some reason? Are they troublesome?
                   
                  Fat Controller, Sep 7, 2014
                  #10 Quote in Conversation
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Nov 24, 2011
                  Messages:
                  11,381
                  Location:
                  Oxfordshire
                  Ratings:
                  +23,089
                  Per square metre I reckon that it's hard to beat blackcurrant.
                  Plums at the back maybe?
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                    longk, Sep 7, 2014
                    #11 Quote in Conversation
                  • longk

                    longk Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Nov 24, 2011
                    Messages:
                    11,381
                    Location:
                    Oxfordshire
                    Ratings:
                    +23,089
                    Caterpillars take the foliage and then birds swoop the second that the fruit is ripe (at least they do here).
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                      longk, Sep 7, 2014
                      #12 Quote in Conversation
                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      May 5, 2012
                      Messages:
                      26,409
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Public Transport
                      Location:
                      At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                      Ratings:
                      +49,472
                      I tend to keep mine up front........... :biggrin:

                      I like blackcurrant (who doesn't?), or at least I like most blackcurrant things; oddly, I am not a fan of blackcurrant jam though, no idea why...

                      I have a feeling we will be majoring on blueberries, given their versatility (cakes, muffins, smoothies) even from frozen.
                       
                      Fat Controller, Sep 7, 2014
                      #13 Quote in Conversation
                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      May 5, 2012
                      Messages:
                      26,409
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Public Transport
                      Location:
                      At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                      Ratings:
                      +49,472
                      Ah, more trouble than they are worth then.
                       
                      Fat Controller, Sep 7, 2014
                      #14 Quote in Conversation
                    • clueless1

                      clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

                      Joined:
                      Jan 8, 2008
                      Messages:
                      17,778
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Here
                      Ratings:
                      +19,595
                      Goosegog sawfly caterpillars totally annihilate them if you don't spot them in time. Still worth having though. Of all the berries, I think its hard to beat the goosegog for flavour and versatility.
                       
                      • Agree Agree x 1
                        clueless1, Sep 7, 2014
                        #15 Quote in Conversation
                      Page 1 of 5
                      Loading...
                      Similar Threads - Soft fruits
                      1. AndyS

                        Caterpillars on Soft Fruits

                        AndyS, Aug 11, 2013, in forum: Wildlife Corner
                        Replies:
                        5
                        Views:
                        1,057
                        AndyS
                        Aug 11, 2013
                      2. keepitlive

                        Transplanting soft fruits

                        keepitlive, Nov 5, 2010, in forum: Edible Gardening
                        Replies:
                        3
                        Views:
                        897
                        keepitlive
                        Nov 5, 2010
                      3. NoviceGardener2023

                        New Garden Shed and Soft Ground

                        NoviceGardener2023, Sep 3, 2023, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                        Replies:
                        18
                        Views:
                        949
                        NoviceGardener2023
                        Sep 4, 2023
                      4. Drahcir

                        A soft cylinder of... ???

                        Drahcir, Jul 18, 2023, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
                        Replies:
                        9
                        Views:
                        550
                        shiney
                        Jul 18, 2023
                      5. ricky101

                        MicroSoft 365 ?

                        ricky101, Mar 9, 2023, in forum: Computer Corner
                        Replies:
                        14
                        Views:
                        1,918
                        Clueless 1 v2
                        Mar 10, 2023

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Accept Learn More...
                        Dismiss Notice