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Fruit Transplants

kawalsh13kawalsh13 Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
I recently planted transplants, blueberries & raspberries, I got from Home Depot.  I am super excited as I LOVE fruit!  I have attached a picture of each.  Will I be able to get  fruit from them this year?  I know there are some already growing but sometimes you have to wait.   Anything I need to do for these to make sure they produce plenty of fruit?

I also got a blackberry and grape plants.  Those have no berries on them so far.  Probably same age as these, any tips or information on those? 


Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,274
    The fruit are already on them.  If you keep them watered and in a sunny spot, soon you will have ripe fruit. You may need to protect from birds, I always lost all the blueberries to blackbirds.
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    looking good but they are very young. The rule of thumb is that blueberries will reach their full height and maturity after 5 years. Since yours is so small I would add a year to that.

    As you can see it is producing fruit. Again the rule of thumb is to remove all fruit in first 2 years to promote the plant growing leaves and roots. If you don't, add another 2 years to your 6 years.

    Tbh I have only trimmed the fruit on my blueberries a bit in the first years - they are doing fine - but after several years I don't feel they have finished growing yet.

    I added a couple of blueberries to my collection this year, they look about the same as yours but I am keeping them in a pot in a warm sheltered location for their first year.

    You will want to watch out for wind damage but then also cold damage in winter. The way yours are planted in grass, I have my doubts they will survive their first winter like that. The raspberry will no problem they are hardy but the blueberry will be fragile and seeing how much energy it is diverting to fruit production I can see now it is not focussing on getting strong for its first winter.

    They will be fine for now but in order for blueberries to thrive they need a lot of root space. Then they need ericaceaous soil to keep acidity low.

    Your little 12 inch hole will not cut it long term. Blueberries will eventually produce kg of fruit but only if you do the prep first.

    Blueberries live for 40 years and are a slow going long project, not a dig a small hole , pop it in and wish them luck scenario I'm afraid.

    They are one of the easiest fruits but you will need to dig a massive hole first. The bigger the better, aim for 2 foot deep by 2 foot across. Fill that with manure, ericaous soil and the old soil, then pop in your plant.

    The grape is not an easy plant - it is nowhere near as easy as a raspberry. In fact I would recommend doing quite a bit of research on growing grapes in a uk climate, especially pruning which is necessary for grapes. Again they are a slow project - you should be cutting all grapes for first 2 years - the grape will just not be able to sustain the grapes otherwise.


  • kawalsh13kawalsh13 Posts: 5
    So I have to pick all the fruit from it and not getting anything from it this year?  What about the raspberries?
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    i would not pick any of the fruit - it is already so well developed so won't make much difference. You might as well get to taste them this year.

    I would just worry about getting them through the winter this year. Like said the raspberry will be fine.

  • kawalsh13kawalsh13 Posts: 5
    So once they are ripe, I can pick them and partake in delicious blueberry goodness?  I am confused. Lol.  There were comments to pick then not to pick.  Sorry to be a pest! 
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,274
    Leave them to ripen this year, they are already well developed. Taking them off now benefits no one.  The plant has already put a lot of energy into the fruit.
  • kawalsh13kawalsh13 Posts: 5
    Thanks!!
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    hi kawalsh, hope you enjoy the few fruit you will get this year.

    I wanted to give you some reading for your blueberry. I found a really good article pointing out how rewarding and fairly easy blueberries are but also how important the initial preparation of the plant site is.

    http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/fruit-and-nuts/berries/agronomic-factors-affecting-blueberry-fruit-quality-in-northern-highbush-blueberries


  • kawalsh13kawalsh13 Posts: 5
    Thank you so much!
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