BLACK BEAUTIES

Well it’s turning out to be a typical English summer.  Flood warnings have been issued for many parts of the country, Murray’s lost at Wimbledon again and our Russian student keeps asking me where the sun is.  Good question.  I keep telling her it’s all to do with those Mayan prophecies for 2012 but somehow I don’t think she’s buying it …..

Rain may have blighted my son’s cricket season but it hasn’t stopped Mother Nature from doing what she does best, spreading her green mantle over the land.  After only 7 months, the blackberries are finally ripe for the picking.

January 2012 - blackberry bushes planted

First to crop is Loch Maree.  These two plants have virtually trebled in size thanks to all the rain and are dripping in fruits. If only we had a few sunny days there'd be enough berries to fill a decent sized punnet.

July 2012 - Loch Maree bush laden with fruits

The berries look gorgeous too.  Firm, plump and about the size of a two pence piece.  I'm sampling the first few tomorrow with my cornflakes.

Loch Maree blackberries

The Oregon Thorn-less is not far behind, cropping later in the season around August – September time.  Less shrubby than the Loch Maree, this variety has sprawled upwards rather than outwards, sending out long shoots which I’ve had to clip down onto the chicken wire netting which forms the walls of the cane tee-pee supporting the bushes. 

Probably a good idea if you’re thinking of adding a few blackberry plants to your garden to pick 2 varieties that crop at different times then you’ll be able to prolong berry production throughout summer and into early autumn. This way you'll be ready to combine with home grown apples for pie making.  

Take it from me, blackberries have been one of the easiest fruits to grow and a great return on investment, producing fruits in their first year in abundance.  

MORE ABOUT:

Growing blackberries:  http://www.food-skills-for-self-sufficiency.com/growing-blackberries.html