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Best soil for Blackberries

Sheila 5Sheila 5 Posts: 51
in Fruit & veg
I had to give up my allotment, February last year, the area had been cultivated for over seventy years by other holders. I brought cuttings of my Ruben Blackberry from the allotment  to my garden. The garden I had for about ten years and whose soil I have battled with inc buried sheet  glass, and garden pool with all electrics and lots of builders' debris etc. I have planted the cuttings along a NNW facing fence and have used compost and well rotter horse manure. They are barely alive - any suggestions please? 

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Given how their seedlings  germinate absolutely anywhere in my garden, I don't think they are that particular regarding soil!
    Were they rooted cuttings or not?
    If yes, then they have had a shock and will be concentrating on establishing a good root system. If not, then you are expecting a lot from them, planted in a cool location at this, still early, time of year. Probably a case of wait and see, unless you want to dig up a couple of unrooted ones and see what a bit of warmth and tlc can do.
    You only need one to make it. My blackberries and tay berries send out loads of new shoots every summer, which are happy to root where ever they touch the ground and I could have any number of new plants if I chose to let them :)
  • Sheila 5Sheila 5 Posts: 51
    Thanks Buttercupdays will persist!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think they're probably ok too.
    I reckon they're putting down a good root system that's able to support all the stems that will appear.
    I was thinking about getting a Reuben - how do you rate the taste?
    As you probably know it's a primocane variety which makes pruning a lot easier, and from what I've read it's not a huge bush.
    I have a Waldo on a west facing fence that is doing well and was considering a Reuben to go over the adjacent fence panel

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Sheila 5Sheila 5 Posts: 51
    Thanks for that Pete. Ruben are a fairly large early fruiting berry. They produce a lot once they get going. Excellent flavour. The main problem I've had is after the first month of fruiting the berries don't rippen and just die off. Could be something I'm doing wrong but I do like the variety.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Thanks Sheila
    I think I'll probably 'invest' in a Reuben :)
    The only thing I can think of why some of your berries die off - could it be a lack of water?
    Maybe in their new home they'll behave with you around more ;)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Sheila 5Sheila 5 Posts: 51
    Thank you Pete, they better behave,  nothing quite like a blackberry and apple pie!
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