This year I had amazing flowering but very low production. Most of the fruit that set was deformed or dried on the stem, does anyone know what causes this? There wasn’t a late frost to cause damage this year, and we had a cooler spring than usual. Also I would like to swap varieties at some point, but does anyone know how to completely remove a blackberry? I always think I have removed all the roots only to find runners in the Spring.
1 Like
I have the same problem, I’m finally getting rid all of them are carefully remove all tiny roots, but I plant all of mine in pots for a reason.
1 Like
I may end up doing the same. Removing them is a chore unfortunately, especially in the heat of summer.
I found some more pictures to show the poor formation of the drupelets.
1 Like
Yeah, the heat is bad here too, I work in my garden from 6-8pm and very early in my front yard from 8-9am.
Best way this time of year. I may just have to wait until autumn if I decide to dig them up. Maybe someone else has found a solution to this issue. Not all my berries do this.
1 Like
I grew them in the ground before, very successfully, but I think my family got bored eating them. While I never was that success in growing raspberries, this year it’s the opposite, so we decided to take them out.
Here is a picture of what I have to deal with. One big root mess, I try to save some of the dirt for reuse, but if I’m not careful, I will sprout them again which is what happened 2 years ago. It’s competing with a grapefruit tree.
1 Like
Some of those blackberries didn’t pollinate fully, barely at all. I’m not sure what would cause that. Maybe a virus?
They don’t do well in our intense sun, high heat, and low humidity. Here 50% shade cloth helps but it’s still tough. Everyone’s berries from eastern humid climates always look better.
1 Like
It hasn’t affected all of my berries, but even my triple crown that was a real producer the previous year had the same issue.
I’ve considered moving towards pots, but I hate the increased need for water and nutrients. They dry up so much faster than a tree in a container. I wouldnt even try to reuse soil that berries have been in, odds are you’ll miss a root like what happened to you.
1 Like
Yeah, I’m going over with a fine comb here, even a hairline root, I remove them. I agree anything in pots is not ideal, but I don’t have space here and I don’t want berries that spread either, a good compromise. I’m going to use a hose to wash the good dirt down, it’s too heavy to throw that root ball in my trash can, I have very small trash bin. Anyway, good luck with your decision.
1 Like