Fruit bushes

[Monica1969]

I am really struggling to get my blackcurrant bush to fruit, it's in a raised bed along with a blackberry and raspberry bush but the raspberry one has taken over and I wondered if this is why I'm not getting a blackcurrant crop.
Have I planted the three bushes too close to each other? (Approximately one foot apart) could it be the soil? However my raspberries have had a decent crop......

[rustylady]

Your fruit is much too close together.

Blackcurrants grow into big bushes, and need about two to three feet clear around them.

Blackberries grow long canes, and are better trained along wires.

[Monica1969]

Thanks, I think I will just buy another blackcurrant one as I'm guessing the roots will be all tangled together now.

[rustylady]

That seems a bit extreme Monica. What are you going to do with the one you already have?

[Monica1969]

I don't know to be honest, if there is no way of moving it I guess I will just have to leave it. I'm quite a novice really. When I had my greenhouse I successfully grew lots of veg, unfortunately I don't have one at this house, this is why I opted for fruit this summer.

[KarlB924]

Wait until November or so, then dig up the blackcurrant. You can probably loosen the soil around it to get rid of blackberry roots. Then just either pop it in the ground somewhere else or into a large pot (45cm across or bigger).

Bear in mind also that blackcurrants grow fruit on the previous year's growth; I bought mine early 2012 and they fruited for the first time this year.

[Monica1969]

Thanks Karl, I will do that :-)

[KarlB924]

No problem Blackberry and Raspberry can be bullies in the garden. I don't have much space and I'd rather use it for veg than lose it all to marauding fruit canes, so I grow all my fruit in large pots

[FB.]

I don't know to be honest, if there is no way of moving it I guess I will just have to leave it. I'm quite a novice really. When I had my greenhouse I successfully grew lots of veg, unfortunately I don't have one at this house, this is why I opted for fruit this summer.

Blackcurrants are one of the least fussy about being moved, as long as it is done during winter while they have no leaves.
Currants also root easily from cuttings taken when the leaves are yellow and falling. Currants are vigorous plants that grow quickly (often growing more quickly than proper fruit trees such as apples or pears).

[Monica1969]

Thank you all, I won't give up on the little guy now, I will move him come winter. Karl, you are right about 'the bullies' the raspberries especially. I did strawberries in hanging baskets and they were successful :-)
Can't wait to get a greenhouse though, miss growing toms, I love em.