Boysenberry - too much for a small garden?

Supercell · 15-03-2013 12:23AM #1

I've a few "Joan J" Raspberry canes and they are great - self standing and gave fruit into December (yes really!!) after the first year planting.

I'd like to try something different like a Boysenberry but am wondering if its a lot of work - fruit only seems to come on second year canes? In a small garden that would be a deal breaker - two years worth of canes takes up a lot of space.

I'd also like a blackberry or something that fruits on first year canes that can be cut down each year (to be contained) to grow again next year, would the "Lough Ness" variety be suitable?

redser7 · 15-03-2013 08:53AM

Hi - both Boysenberry and Blackberry (Tayberry etc etc) grow on 2 year old canes. So when it is first planted you will have to wait 2 years for fruit. But after that it will be every year. You cut back the fruited canes after you harvest and let the new canes grow on for the next year's fruit. They can all grow wild and take up lots of space but if you are growing them seriously for fruit then you will train them and restrict the amount of new canes from each plant. Along horizontal wires is the usual way people train them, and they might keep 5 or 6 good healthy canes for vigour. If you do that you can keep it neat and tidy and productive.
I planted Lough Ness after reading good reviews and this summer will be year 2 so I've great hopes

Boysenberry - too much for a small garden?

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