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blackberry yield slow to ripen
Another first for me, this year have cultivated a thornless variety of blackberry and its produced an abundance of berries. However as the weather has turned cold early they seem to have become very slow to ripen up. Only 3 or so every few days. Is it just too early for them? Or is there anything I can do to encourage them to ripen?
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Yes - make the clouds go away. Like us, they need the sun to ripen successfully!
Hi Parthena. Where do you live? Here in Cornwall I have been picking my blackberries for a month now. They have slowed down but none the less I pick lots every two days and unless mold attacks them (as it did last year) I should continue picking for up to another month. My plants are well established, could be the reason.
PS. I also have a stick insect residing in my blackberry plant. They are very common around here. She is fattening up now (they are all female-no males) so is ready to lay eggs.
Hello Mel, I live in the Black Country and I only have a small garden so I've had to keep my bush comparatively contained. Surprised how many berries its produced though, but as I said its my first one so it's all new to me.I was fretting that they wouldn't ripen as happened to a cherry tomato plant I grew a few years ago. That was a particularly bad summer through as I recall. Most of the crop never ripened and those that did were practically inedible.
How fascinating about your stick-insect! Does she eat the blackberries?
Hi Parthena. Give your blackberry a mulch of manure in spring - might help. I have posted a pic. and info. about the Stick Insect. Have a look in new postings.
Thanks Mel. I don't have a greenhouse and the weather up here in the west Midlands now has turned quite cold and blustery. Would it be beneficial perhaps to try to rig up some kind of temporary greenhouse to shield the blackberry bush? Or am I just worrying too much? Maybe it's best to let nature take its course.
You don't need to protect blackberries, they are as tough as old boots - almost! Just give them a little TLC. By the way, Stick Insects only eat a few leaves. The pic was posted on the 22/8th.
PS I was brought up near Brum so I know what your weather can be like. It is sure to be the cold which is slowing them down, but also - the RHS recommend cutting down the canes once they have fruited and new canes will grow in the spring. I can't get to the base of mine as they are growing between two metal fence panels so I just cut them back by half and they love it, producing more fruit every year!
Hi Parthena! Round here in West Yorks the blackberries are only just ripening, and any in the shade will be much later. I'm sure if you're patient they'll ripen eventually, even though it's a bit cool.
Ah thanks all! You can tell I'm a novice can't you!
Had a look Mel at your stick insect photo. Not normally a fan but what a beauty!
Here's a little anecdote you may enjoy:
When my niece and nephew were quite young they acquired two sticks insects from school as 'pets'. My niece wrote a sign on some cardboard which read:
'Do not feed the sticking sexes.'
It's something I'll never forget, bless her. She's well grown up now but I like to remind her of it occasionally!
I bet she loves you for that! Still, we have all probably said or done things that bring colour to our cheeks when reminded.
My blackberries have a little mould on them in places (this wet weather) If last year was anything to go on I wont be picking fruit for very much longer.