Moving soft fruits

[happyhippy]

Hi all,a mate of mine has just got himself an allotment which is fab.In his rented property he has a strawberry patch,a redcurrant bush,and raspberry canes.He is moving house next week and wants to take all his fruit to his allotment.Everything has just finished fruiting (well almost finished)so can he dig them all up and shift them to the allotment?He doesn't particularly want to pot any of these to replant next year.Thanks in advance.

[GeorgeSalt]

There's little difference (as far as the plant is concerned) between digging up and potting versus digging up and moving. So I'd say go for it, certainly if the alternative is losing the plants. He needs to get a large a root ball as possible, and water them very well for the rest of the summer in their new home.

[happyhippy]

Thankyou!Is it ok to move them (especially the redcurrant bush)when it still has some fruit on?

[boboff]

It's always okay, the fruit will fall off as will allot of the leaves, but if you keep it watered, then chances are it will want to live.

Might be an idea to take cutting before you move them as well, as that will reduce a bit of the stress on the roots.

Best time is when it's dormant, but as you haven't go that time, do your best by keeping as much root undisturbed, and then water well and constantly, and expect them to look rubbish for the rest of the year, and not fruit next year, that way what ever you get will be a bonus!

[diggernotdreamer]

I have moved my poor fruit bushes around, like musical fruit bushes, from garden to allotment, from allotment to pots and plastic bags, left them in the bags for months, moved them to Ireland, neglected them some more, finally stuck them in and in spite of my best efforts to kill them, the blackcurrants are so heavy with fruit the branches have keeled over

[boboff]

Serendipitous!