Tween likes to run back and forth in the backyard. He got really aggrevated with the thorns tearing at him in the Fall, so he broke them all off. When I discovered this, I was furious. He got it with both barrels. I really love blackberries, especially homegrown and pesticide/herbicide free. Sweet. Juicy. Black fingers and stained faces. Pure heaven.
I accepted that we wouldn't have blackberries. And since we need to move as soon as we sell this house, I didn't replant this year. I also didn't pull up the roots to compost; too lazy, I guess.
This past weekend, Hubby and I were weeding the backyard when he exclaimed, "Look at the blackberries!" I walked over, leaned in, and started to pull weeds (one track mind). Prick. Thorn into my finger. As I more carefully pulled the bindweed, I saw what my more-observant husband saw: the blackberry plant there had come back. We examined all 6, and 5 of them were leafing! I pulled away weeds from all 5, and we placed tires around each to make sure the dogs (and yes, the Tween) leaves them alone.
Pic to the above right: one of our resurrected blackberry plants in its protective tire home.
Each of the 5 blackberry plants have at least 10 leaves on them. Perhaps we'll have blackberries before we leave! If not, they might have to be dug up and transported to our new home.
Hmmm... blackberries.
3 comments:
Blackberries and raspberries don't fruit on the same canes as last year. They grow new canes. Last year's canes that fruited will die and be brittle and new canes will grow that will have fruit on it. Next year those canes will die & new canes will bear fruit.
Thanks! Since I'd never grown blackberries, I wasn't sure. Here's hoping we'll get fruit this year!
p.s. Should we trim off the old and brittle canes every fall?
Vikki
Hi Vikki - You're welcome. Trim off the new canes in the spring when the new growth is greening up. I generally do it at the same time I am weeding and mulching. It's what I did yesterday LOL.
Post a Comment