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Growing blackberries on obelisk

rogercoleman192rogercoleman192 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
In a recent "Grow your own" tv programme, Alan Titchmarsh said that you could grow blackberries on an obelisk, ("coming up in later programme") but never did show how. Has anyone tried this & was it successful? What about pruning? I want to grow "Loch Ness thornless for grandchildren 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    *Bump*  :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think it would get complicated.   We've grown blackberries for years but in a fan system because they fruit on last year's new stems.   This makes them easy to manage because all the new stems can be loosely gathered up in a vertical pile and held away from the fruiting stems.   

    Each year, the old fruiting stems are cut down when they've finished and the new ones are then released from their vertical confinement and spread out in a fan to get maximum sunshine.   A good feed in spring to promote flowering and fruiting and then any stems are loosely gathered.

    Works for us but I can't see it on an obelisk.  They'd be too cramped and clammering for light and sun.

     
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    I agree.. black berries go up a few feet, then horizontal for as far as they can until they touch the ground again.  You would spend all summer harassing them plant up the obelisk.  I grow mine along a wire on posts near a fence.. but my parents grow them in a clump in the yard.  If you like the shape of the obelisk, maybe try growing it up three canes in a tripod like a runner bean?  Just keep tying it on and pruning the tips once it reached the top to encourage side shoots.  Or maybe over a garden arch?  That might look quite lovely.  You'll need to keep tying it in, whatever you go for.  
    Utah, USA.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Have a look at blackberry Reuben. That may work on an obelisk.
    It's a small semi-thornless primocane variety
    https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/reuben-blackberry-plants


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    @Obelixx have you got some photos of yours? I'm interested in the tying up then releasing, that's a great idea. It doesn't damage or affect the current year growth? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited July 2020
    Sorry no.  New garden so this is our blackberry plant's first year and its new stems are so very strong and sturdy they are self supporting - so far - so we've concentrated on other jobs.

    It's very simple tho - 3 vertical posts with tensioned wires stretched horizontally between them.  Plant the blackberry near the central posts and fan out the fruiting stems to the wires.   As new stems grow from spring just tie them loosely to the central support so they can move a bit in the breeze but not shade the fruiting stems from the sun.  Once fruiting finishes, cut off the old stems at the base and release the new stems and tie them loosely into the wires.  You want to hold them but not strangle them.

    Trellis panels would work too but I find the wires last for ever whereas wooden trellis rots or breaks depending on how much rain and wind you have.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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