Growing raspberries/blackberries in Los Angeles???
bigbadgardener
13 years ago
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bejay9_10
13 years agolarry_gene
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Planting Raspberries....I'm a newbie
Comments (5)I have seen all the plants you mention co-existing in close, but not crowded, proximity in community gardens year after year with no problem. In our yard we have peppers, tomatoes, and sometimes potatoes near the caneberries. No problem. Growing peppers in planters: Is that pots or actual planter structures that begin at ground level and are quite deep? Planting peppers in pots will require a lot more diligence than in-ground planting. I'm not an expert on airborne plant diseases but have never seen tomato blight affect nearby blackberries, etc....See MoreBaba raspberry help
Comments (3)Gardenspots: I have been growing Baba in Northern Virginia for pretty close to 15 years. I don't know about the guru part though. Baba behaves exactly the same way as any other "everbearing" red raspberry. New canes grow up in spring (primocanes), and by late summer and into fall produce their major crop. If, at the end of the season, you choose not to cut the canes down to the ground and allow them to over-winter, they become "floricanes" the next season, and will set a small, earlier-season crop. The canes that are bearing a small crop for you now -- the ones that you planted -- are floricanes that grew up last season. Once they have fruited, their cycle is complete, and they should be cut down right to the ground. The future of your berries lies in the new primocanes that are growing up and that will bear later in the season with a much heavier crop. Many people (myself included), choose to skip the early crop entirely since the crop is so small and the old canes tend to get in the way. So I cut all of the canes down to the ground over the winter and begin afresh every season. Whether you try to get an additional early crop from the floricanes is your option. But do not prune the new canes that are growing up, since they bear most heavily on the ends, and they normally do not need it. If they become heavily laden with berries they may tend to fall over when 4-feet tall or so, but you can simply string a wire down the center of the patch and provide them with some support. It may be worth your while to do this if your primocanes are very vigorous. The principal advantage of Baba, and the basis for its original patent (now expired) is its resistance to heat. But it is also a productive berry of excellent quality. You mention that heat is a problem in your part of the country, but don't mention where that part is. I assume California. This berry was originally found as a chance seedling near Los Angeles, and is well adapted to that climate. But is also does well in mine, which is quite different. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA...See Moreblueberries,raspberries,blackberries or green grapes
Comments (6)What about redcurrants? These will do well in a pot culture and can also be grown as cordons - a very versatile and tasty currant. Blueberries are another possibility but it must be kept wet - really wet, and prefereably not with tap water either (complete lime haters, ph 4.5). I may try them again with a seep hose directly from one of my water butts but if watering is not a problem, they are also very good plants as well as being quite stunningly ornamental. Yep, there are smaller, more upright blackberries, as well as loads of hybrids between blackberries and raspberries but I think it would be almost impossible to grow raspberries or most blackberries in pots because the cane renewal requires several new canes being produced every season and they tend not to grow close enough to the original crown. Finally, vines can, and are, very successfully grown in pots - the trick is in the pruning - it is OK to grow them as a really tight standard with a minimal framework. Again, they are also good on any training system. They are vigorous so you have to be firm, but definately more doable than the berries. Oh yeah, blackcurrants are also brilliant in pots - especially the smaller (but very prolific varieties like Ben Sarek). I am mad for fruit and grow as much as I can at my allotment....See Moreanyone growing blackberries in so.calif?
Comments (11)I'm growing boysens - from some old canes that were found in my yard - which have done well for the past 2 years, and I expanded the bed this year. Just planted some thornless blackberries - which look very healthy, and appear to be holding their own - but just first year. The baba raspberry that I planted last year, has spread over a 3 x 5 ft. space, and growing nicely. I had berries on those rascals the first year after planting - so hopefully, they will be productive. One Heritage planted did not make it. I'm looking forward especially to the boysens - as these have been nursed along for a couple of years, and now have a sizable bed to give me plenty for the freezer. If the jaybirds don't decide they like them. They didn't touch them last year- I felt it was because they are quite sour when red (er green) but become dark purple when ripe. Bejay...See Moreglenn_russell
13 years agoBrian
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13 years agoBrian
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