Next question, for same neighbors. They planted a thornless blackberry
sucker, variety unknown, from a neighbor who had them sprawling in his yard.
Planted in full sun, the bush does not sucker vigorously, just sends up a
couple of new canes in the area of the planting hole. They've had it 2 or 3
years.
We talked about how wild bramble fruits grow at the edges of woods and they
wondered if they should move their bush. My inclination was to say yes, but
then I remembered how cultivated (highbush) blueberries prefer full sun,
even though wild (lowbush) blueberries grow in the woods. That made me
wonder if cultivated blackberries might behave in a comparable manner.
It's also possible that this variety grows and suckers more slowly than the
wild brambles, and that the neighbors will have to wait a few years before
their bush catches up to the friend's canes from which the sucker was taken.
Pat
Thornless blackberries do not sucker nearly as vigorously as the wild thorny
kind. I have had mine quite a few years and only occasionally will they show up
in a neighboring bed. they are supposed to just send up canes from the same
plant. They do need sun. they could probably root some by pegging down, or be
patient and there will be more, eventually. maybe far enough away to dig up and
put where wanted.
susan
Patricia Ruggiero wrote:
Susan wrote:
> Thornless blackberries do not sucker nearly as vigorously as the
> wild thorny
> kind.
I've done a bit of research in the interim and found a catalog description
of three varieties, all of which don't sucker vigorously. The neighbors
don't know the name of theirs, but your experience suggests that the name
doesn't matter. Now I guessing that when they saw a lot of canes or bushes
in their friend's yard, it wasn't from suckering but probably that the
friend had planted quite a few bushes to begin with. Friend wasn't being
very generous in giving them only one cane!
The catalog also says to plant in full sun.
I'm going to pass on your comments to them and suggest if they want lots
more blackberries they either 1) pick them in the woods; or 2) buy more
canes to plant in their garden.
Pat
There are 3 kinds of thornless b'berries as far as I know and maybe more. I'm
not even sure if they are actually blackberries and not maybe some kind of
cultured boysenberry? or some kind of western blackberry. They are only sweet
when very ripe and beginning to soften, and will fall off into your hand. The
are Chester and Navaho, which I have and Arapaho, which is like the Navaho.
supposedly they are trellised differently, but I do mine the same. They make
great wine!!
susan
Patricia Ruggiero wrote:
