Blue Berry and Blackcurrant tree=]

[shaunbrook]

Hey guys I'm new to all this growing thing so i have bought myself a blackcurrant tree and a blueberry tree today. They were from homebase and i looked for the ones that followed my dads advice on selecting a good tree when i was younger When i got home i put them in a sunny place in the garden and gave them a good watering.

Any advice on pruning, Type of pot and size, climate and harvest times would be awesome. Pictures to follow hopefully=]

Shaun

[chris]

Hi Shaun,

Check this thread out for your blueberries - it covers pretty much everything: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...uide_6408.html

Blackberry wise, if you're growing in pots, then the largest possible will be better - I do feel that they'd be better in the open ground though (cut down each year). I prepared the ground well by digging in a lot of home made compost, chicken manure - lining the trench I'd dug with soaked newspaper. As you have done, the sunniest spot will produce sweeter tasting fruit

Climate wise, where are you based? You can add your location in you profile if you wish - as advice given for Scotland won't be the same as for Devon (different frost dates, etc). Blackberries are abundant everywhere though - you can't really go wrong with them

[shaunbrook]

Awesome thankyou as i rent i don't want to be digging in new trees. I live in cambridge so its usally good weather give or take the odd rainy british summer days. Its a Blackcurrent tree not blackberries. I wondered if there was a special treatment=]

[Two_Sheds]

Just to let you know ~ they aren't trees Don't go expecting something like you'd get apples on.

They are shrubs, fairly low growing ones too, usually wider than they are tall

[chris]

Sorry misread, 9pm s a late night for me

Currants are quite straight forward to grow.. But not sure again on performance in a pot. They fruit on the current years growth so are pruned to encourage new fruiting in the following year.

RHS Link on blackcurrants: Blackcurrants / RHS Gardening

The downside of growing in containers is that you will have to keep on top of watering... Especially in hit weather. Some protection from frost around the roots may be something to consider too, although my blueberries in terracotta pots have survived unprotected outside fine (over winter I turn the sauces the pots stand in upside down so they're not sat in water all over winter).

[shaunbrook]

That helps alot thanks Chris. I was going to leave a 2" gap at the top of the soil and pot lip and place bark on there to keep in moisture and protect from frost. Would it help if i placed Pine Needles as BlueBerries like acidic soil rather than ph 6 soil like most veg plants?????

Wasn't sure how high they would grow thats why i was going to confine to pots to stunt growth so to speak=]

[chris]

You could leave 4" at the top of the pot, as then you could put a 2" mulch as you planned but also have another 2" to flood with water - the last thing you'd want us your compost flowing out all over the edge. I've not mulched my pots, but do leave an inch or two to flood with water.

[shaunbrook]

Yea that makes alot of sense thanks=] Ill give it a go and post pictures so you can judge my handy work haha