Cultivated Blackberry

[JR]

I know its probably me, but I put in a blackberry (loch tay I think) in around october/novemeber last year. I soaked the roots etc and did everything as on the leaflet. I even covered the roots for the winter with plastic to keep the roots warm.

I now have a lovely healthy plant with nice white flowers looking like it is going to produce fruit. My only concern is it is only about 16" inches high. I did thinik it would be trying to take over the elaborate support I made for it by now. Is it early still or normal for year one or should I be concerned?

I think perhaps I might be picking wild ones again this year for my Jam.

Thanks

[ina]

The blackberry I planted three years ago isn't much bigger! Somebody told me they take a long time to get really established - but once they are, beware... I have one in a spot where I don't want it (in my veg bed), planted by my pre-predecessor, and simply can't get rid of it.

[MKG]

Don't get confused between the habits of cultivated blackberries and the rampant wild version (also, don't get confused between the tastes - wild ones, IMO, are much better). One of the aims of the development of cultivated versions was to lose the George Bush ethic of world dominion.

[ina]

One of the aims of the development of cultivated versions was to lose the George Bush ethic of world dominion.

What do you call it then when one keeps coming up, although they've been ripped out again and again?

[JR]

I have had a few people say the wild ones are better. The rear of my plot, behind the shed and the soon to be demolished pigeon lofts has quite a few wild bushes, perhaps I might not hack them down, just control them. I do like blackberry jam

I did a bit of research and it seems year one can be a bit of a lul

Thanks

[ina]

For some strange reason we have hardly any wild ones in the area - loads of raspberries, and even red currants (on a site that had a house on it decades ago). That's why I've been trying to grow some of my own!

[JR]

Update!



Plant is still tiny but a mass of blackberries mainly dark red. One was balck and juicy but it fell off and went in my tummy, very nice.