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Fruit Mess

• Message 1. 

  Posted by annaw1 (U14287763) on Monday, 26th July 2010

  The previous owner of my allotment planted some raspberries, a gooseberry and a blackcurrant but they seem to be a bit close together and there are a few rogue brambles in there too!
  
  How can I sort out this mess? How far apart should these fruit bushes be planted? I have a bramble patch at the bottom of the plot that I'm planning to dig up - want to re-site the gooseberry there. When is the best time to move it?
  
  Is it worth untangling it all or should I start again? They are in an area where I was planning to grow veg.
  
  Any advice gratefully received.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010

  Hi,
  first things first, Its "now" your space, your paradise to be so do what you feel you want this space tobe, As Alan titchmarsh say's dont be scared to chuck out what you dont want and donr carry other peoples idea's along with you.
  
  I my self ( As ive said many times) would start afresh and take all the credit for my results and allotment "not the results of the last owner"
  
  Start by doing your prep work first, and before you plant anything get to know your site, ie the good and the not so good parts of the allotment,
  sun or shaded spots, drainage area's, windy spots
  and of cause the soil ie whats it like, lime or acid, high or low P.H reading (ie is the soil ready for planting next years crop)
  
  when and if you do your prep ? you'll know now what you've to get sorted for the following months.
  
  I myself go by the three "P's"
  1. plan
  2. prep
  3. plant.
  
  Hope this helps.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010

  However, anything for free is a bonus....
  
  Definitely move them if they're in the wrong place but I'd personaly wait till they're dormant in winter to move them.
  
  Don't throw them out though. Any fruit bushes are quite expensive and unless they're showing signs of disease (if they're growing that vigourously I imagine the'll be fine) then save them all for a new spot and replant them wherever you wish.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010

  Yes, I'd try not to move before November if possible.
  
  Also I think raspberries with other fruiting bushes close a bad idea as raspberries tend to run along and take up any available space, so they would be what I'd be moving - into a patch which is clearly their own, though not where blackberries once were if I had a choice. If that is not an option then you need to keep a good 4 foot clear between them and the blackcurrant.
  
  Distance between blackcurrant and gooseberry? About 4 foot if you are pruning them back each year. This could also be why they are looking crowded at the moment.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by annaw1 (U14287763) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010

  Thank you for your replies. I think I will try and keep them and re-site them, especially as the raspberries were delicious. Didn't have masses of gooseberries but maybe it is a young plant? Will yield go up year by year?
  
  Also, the blackcurrant is looking really poorly - yellow leaves with brown speckly bits (although it does have some fruits) - what could be causing this? Would I need more than one blackcurrant bush to get a decent crop?

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010

  The problems you're having with low yield are probably simply down to everything needing a good prune and feed!
  
  If you're going to move them, I'd prune back both the gooseberry and Currant hard to stems of about a foot long and prune out dead wood or any congested branches completely. Read up on pruning as I'm no expert but with the roots being moved, the less top growth they have to sustain in the first year the better. They fruit on year old wood so in 2012 you should see a much better crop. Put some fish, blood and bone and a sprinkling of wood ash in the hole with them and mulch with poop or compost too.
  
  Raspberries just need cut to about a foot high and moved, again the first couple of years won't be as spectacular on the cropping front as they settle into their new homes but after thet the blooming things will be popping up everywhere!
  
  They might still continue to pop up from small pieces of root where you moved them from too. Their powers of regeneration are spectacular!
  
  It's well worth the effort in the end though

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Rob (U14386013) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010

  Fruits like raspberry like a good prune, so if I were in your shoes, I would wait till October or November then prune back hard to tidy things up and clear the mess away. You'll then have a more clear idea about how many plants you have. Then I'd set about moving and sorting them to their new positions.
  
  They might be affected a little and you may even loose a couple but in the long run you'll have a tidy organised area of vigorous plants that you can nurture in your own way.
  
  Ultimately, you're very lucky to have been left some plants, As a previous poster said, they can be very expensive to buy.
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010

  I cant see for the life of me how some members are saying the fruit bush, ie the currant family are very expensive to buy?
  
  All the fruits grow on new wood "hence you can take cuttings now and then plant them in your selected place, but to buy in the garden centre's etc they are very cheap for a plant that produces year after year and as ive said "cuttings from this fruit family are so simple to take.
  This is why i did say clear the complete plot ie hire a rotovator and get rid of all the old stuff and sort the fencing out, compost area out shed (if you've not got one already) your water storage and liquid feed tub out, and raised beds if your going to have such beds,
  
  Do this now while the weather will let you and get your ground worked, worry about planting etc once you know what your site is all about.
  
  Its like moving into a new home, you 'll find out more about the new home once you've lived in it a short while, the allotment plot is very much the same.
  
  for all you know at the minute you may be digging up old tesco trolly's and a few skip loads of rubble for all you know?
  Give yourself a chance and dont be carried away with whats been left behind.
  
  

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