Sorry another Raspberry question and a couple of supplementary questions

[Greenleaves]

Raspberries

I have been reading about soft fruits.....never bothered with them before except strawberries. Yesterday I planted 12 Glen Ample in their new bed complete with the framework suggested, todays question is about the depth of mulch and what to use. I am hoping its bark as I have an endless supply of that.

Plum (Victoria)

I have order a Victoria plum on St Julien, after planting when would you expect fruit....year 2?

Black Currant (unknown)

I took some cuttings from a bush in my MiL garden and all appear to have taken. At what distance should I plant them and how long before they fruit?

[Bigmallly]

Raspberriesaspberries

I have been reading about soft fruits.....never bothered with them before except strawberries. Yesterday I planted 12 Glen Ample in their new bed complete with the framework suggested, todays question is about the depth of mulch and what to use. I am hoping its bark as I have an endless supply of that.

I love Raspberriesaspberries.......................

I would think you should be fine mulching with bark as long as you don't dig it in.

I would expect the Plum tree to bear fruit in the 2nd year.

I've not grown Blackcurrants but would guess at 2-3ft apart.

[WendyC]

Blackcurrants can get quite big. How big was the parent plant?
Ken Muir planting guide suggests a distance of 5' but says you can plant at 2'6" to increase fruiting in the first four years. I guess then you could remove alternate bushes and allow them to grow on. This might be possible for you if you have plenty of rooted cuttings.

[Alison]

As said black currants get pretty big, if only 2-3' then you won't be able to get around it to harvest. Mine are 5' apart in one direction and 6' in the other. Wouldn't really want them any closer.

[Greenleaves]

Thank you all

[Two_Sheds]

Black Currant ... At what distance should I plant them and how long before they fruit?

about 5 ft apart (you think they'll never get that big, but they do). Prune them into a goblet shape. Mine have fruited every year except when I go a bit mad with the pruning