How To Propagate Your Berry Plants
Once you have decided which berry plants to grow for your winter fruit-stock, then the next decision has to be how to go about it!Fortunately this is not rocket science, and growing berries to make Jam’s, Jellies, chutneys and a whole selection of fruit smoothies – not to mention great comfort food like fruit pies etc – is definitely doable for most folks.
So with that said, here is a brief outline of the methods to propagate your berry plants.
Planting Seedlings:
Most varieties prefer well drained, loamy well-composted ground with a good mixture of manure and organic material. Some support is usually required, especially when the fruits develop and the branches will sag with the weight if not tied to something.
Planting against a wall or fence where wires can be strung is ideal, or making a simple frame like the one in the picture will enable two rows to be supported by the one frame-work.
The young plant should be dug into the ground and pruned quite severely to encourage new growth, especially if you are hoping to get new shoots to transplant later.
Layering Fruit Bushes
Layering Berry bushes is a popular way to expand your berry planting. This is done in two different ways as is seen in the following pics.
Pegging the lowest shoot to the ground will result in it growing roots and establishing itself as an individual plant. This is usually ready to cut away and transplant after at least 1 full seasons growth.
Mound Layering as per the picture is a popular way to get a few shoots ready for transplanting at the one time. Simply cut the main shoot down to ground level or 1 inch below, the cover with soil.
The main shoot will grow accompanied by side shoots that will in turn root themselves as per the diagram. These are simply cut away below the roots and transplanted to their new home.
Growing Berries:
Growing Fruit Berries is the latest book by author James Paris, laying out everything you need to know in order to grow your own juicy berries.
Covering aspects such as Organic planting methods and pest control without the need for chemical pesticides or fertilizers, this is an ideal ‘starter kit’ for those interested in growing their own fresh fruit berries.
Companion planting methods are also highlighted as playing a major role in any attempt at Organic growing methods.
Pruning Fruit Berry Bushes
When is the right time to prune fruit bushes such as blackcurrants, redcurrents, blueberries etc, and indeed fruit trees such as apple or plum trees?
Quite apart from the differences in the pruning methods for fruit bushes is the question of when exactly is the best time to set about pruning or cutting back the plant.
For most fruit bushes there are 2 times of the year to consider cutting back – as well as the ongoing ‘maintenance pruning’ that goes on throughout the growing season – and these are the late Autumn and early/late Springtime.
The argument for pruning in the late Autumn, is that by doing it at this time you are avoiding frost damage to the plant through fresh cut, therefore making this less damaging overall for the plant and enabling a quick recovery before winter sets in.
Pruning shrubs and trees in the Spring however, means that they have had over winter to develop a root system designed to cater for the large growth at the end of the season.
If you prune back the plant in the early spring then this enlarged root system has to tend to a smaller plant – meaning a more vigerous Spring growth, leading to more fruit overall.
Some fruit growers indeed leave pruning until late Spring so they can see clearly where the fruit flowers are producing best, then prune accordingly for best results.
If you would like to know more about growing fruit berries, then please check out ‘Growing Berries‘ on Amazon