Question:
I want to plant some thornless blackberries and would appreciate advice on which varieties are best suited for this area. I’m particularly interested in thornless varieties. Additionally, any planting suggestions would be appreciated.Answer:
- I’d consider growing Thornless Black Satin and Thornless Boysenberry along with thorny varieties, Marion, Ollie, Boysenberry, and Evergreen Blackberry.
- The main difference between thornless and thorny varieties is their berry production; thorny varieties typically yield a larger crop. Therefore, if you prioritize quantity, choosing a thorny variety and investing in industrial-strength gloves for handling them is best.
- Blackberries grow aggressively, producing shoots both above and below ground. To manage blackberries and raspberries effectively, it is essential to tie them to a trellis structure, as a fence won't contain the plants within your property line.
- An ideal planting area or raised bed would be about four feet wide, allowing access to the vines from all sides. It should be at least four feet from the property line to keep the underground stem.
- Each year, you should prune off the fruiting canes and replace them with new growth that has developed at the base of the plants.
- Remember that blackberries only produce fruit during the second year of growth.
- When planting, incorporate plenty of organic matter, such as redwood soil conditioner or homemade compost.
- For many smaller yards, planting traditional berry varieties may not be practical. However, there is a great alternative: Baby Cakes Blackberry.
- This is a dwarf, thornless variety with a compact growth habit, reaching a height of three to four feet, so staking is unnecessary.
- Baby Cakes are ideal for container gardening, producing large berries that ripen in summer, with the potential for two crops yearly.
Question:
Why do grapefruits fall off the tree before they are ripe? I know you can spray apple trees to hold the fruit, but I'm unsure how to do this with grapefruit.Answer:
- As far as I know, there isn't a specific spray for citrus trees that prevents fruit drop. Premature fruit drop often indicates that the trees are experiencing water stress between waterings.
- Since grapefruits are mostly water, the trees tend to drop their fruit first when they become water-stressed.
- Advanced signs of water stress include wilting and brown leaves and branches.
- To help prevent this, irrigating citrus trees twice a week from April through October is important.
- Additionally, provide extra watering when temperatures reach ninety degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- I recommend creating a water basin around each tree extending to the drip line to ensure the roots receive adequate moisture.
- The basin should be four to six inches high.
- Keep in mind that it takes two growing seasons for grapefruits to ripen fully, so it's common for the tree to have both flowers and maturing fruits simultaneously.