Spacing for fruit bushes?

[Curlykale]

Hi all

I am planning on planting fruit bushes in a raised bed and eventually building a fruit cage around the whole bed. I have 2 each of blackcurrants, goosegogs, redcurrants, whitecurrants and may also try a couple of other varieties.

Can anyone advise on how big the bed should be and how far apart the bushes should be planted? I don't know how wide the bushes will grow but will obviously need to get around them to pick the fruit.

Thanks in advance!

[Snadger]

It's usually recommended at 4 foot apart but if you have the room I would stretch it to 5 foot!

[Nicos]

What sort of shape of bed?
long and narrow or rectangular???


I'd go for 5 feet apart too- you will be cutting them all back a bit each year, but you want to make it a bit more difficult for sawfly and greenfly from spreading.
I made a bed at the side of my lottie..(bit of a mistake to be honest)
I thought the chicken wire fencing would save me a bit of money when it came to caging up- but as I only had access from my side, it was really tricky to get to to weed.I'd planted 4 feet apart and 2 ft from the fence- far too close.
A word of warning...make sure the currant bushes are securely labelled as they look very similar and need different types of pruning!
Are you building a netting cage? My next door lottie neighbour did that and had to rip off the plastic netting when his blueberry bushes grew too big and through the netting....just be aware of that!

[Alison]

At the plot mine are 4' one way and 5' the other and at the moment look like they've got tonnes of space but from bitter experience of planting too close together at home I am more than aware that I need the extra space.

[Curlykale]

Crikey - I'm glad I asked - I had no idea they would take up so much space. I may have to re-think the cage idea - sounds like the size I need would be expensive! Unless anyone has any ideas/tips for cheap caging??

I had planned to build the bed along one side of my lottie so it also forms part of the boundary, but I am on the edge of the site so only have a path next to my plot so won't have a problem with access from both sides.

Thanks for your advice/warnings/tips guys - much appreciated. :-)

[Hans Mum]

i dont have any of my fruit in cages, instead i use old net curtains (charity shops, car boot, etc) and fix those over before the fruit ripens, works for me

[Snadger]

Crikey - I'm glad I asked - I had no idea they would take up so much space. I may have to re-think the cage idea - sounds like the size I need would be expensive! Unless anyone has any ideas/tips for cheap caging??

I had planned to build the bed along one side of my lottie so it also forms part of the boundary, but I am on the edge of the site so only have a path next to my plot so won't have a problem with access from both sides.

Thanks for your advice/warnings/tips guys - much appreciated. :-)

You can cordon grow whitecurrants,redcurrants and gooseberries set only one foot apart and trained on a fence or canes!

[Curlykale]

i dont have any of my fruit in cages, instead i use old net curtains (charity shops, car boot, etc) and fix those over before the fruit ripens, works for me

Great tip Hans Mum - many thanks!

Thanks to everyone for your advice

[Seamus]

i would keep them 4 to 5 feet apart in a 4 ft wide bed, with plenty of compost you will have a good plant and hopefully a good harvest to follow !!