Blackberry plant

[uulwyn]

Hi all,

I have a blackberry plant in a 60cm pot, but i have started to notice the leaves on the bottom are going yellow and some have black spots on? Is this normal, is it lack of water that is causing this? I dont think its rust as there is no substance on the leaves. It is just some of the older bottom leaves changing colour. I have tested the soil and it is dry, so i am planning on watering it, but with all the rain we have been having lately i would of thought it had plenty.

Please help

Steve

[rustylady]

Blackberries will never be totally happy in a pot. Having said that, yellowing of lower leaves is normal, and blackberries (and raspberries, currants etc) will all lose their leaves through autumn and winter. They will produce new leaves and fruit next year.

[uulwyn]

Thankyou for your reply, when you read over the internet all these diseases that it can have you start to panick. I was thinking should i spray the plant with something to help prevent diseases, and also i have noticed that some of the leaves on the plant are still green but the smaller ones have gone into a tight curl, is this anything to worry about?

Thanks a million, hopefully you can set my mind at ease.

[Nicos]

There may be greenfly etc inside the tightly curled ones.
Gently unfurl them and have a look. A gentle rub with your thumb should squash them. Check every few days to keep on top of them until the frosts do their job!

(It's almost impossible to spray inside those leaves)

[uulwyn]

Thanks Nico, but i meant should i spray the plant, or just wait until next year, as like you said let the frosts do there job!

[Nicos]

If we have a mild winter- the aphids ( if that's what you've got) will pass on viruses.

If you're organic- you could try and spray with soapy water to kill off the aphids.

I'd use copper sulphate spray if the stem has blotches on it.
if it's the leaves- then just collect and burn. Then spray in the spring.

Fruit is something I',m learning about too....so I'd be interested to see what other peeps wold do.

As an after thought.......don't you cut back last years fruiting stems anyway?????

[BarleySugar]

The stems that grew this year will be next year's fruiting ones, and yes, once they have fruited they get cut out. That way, you should always have some replacements coming on, like summer fruiting raspberries.

[Nicos]

Here you go...blackberry pests...

Blackberry pest and disease with pictures, identification and treatment - page 4.

[uulwyn]

Hi,

The plant is only young and hasnt fruited yet. I am currently running it up an archway and it has 3 main stems coming from it all with leaves on. It has slowed down dramitcally recently as it was growing around 3/4inches every 2weeks and it has pushed out a sucker also which has stopped growing but will be tied back once it is long enough to attach to the archway(bend it back onitself). I would attach pictures if i new how to show you in more detail. I will buy a sprayer to spray with soapy water at the weekend, as this should kill any avids.