There is a big stand of wild black raspberries in a clearing behind our new
home. Only a very few have fruit and it is tiny.

What would be the best way to get them to bear next year? I'm assuming I
should cut back the canes at the end of the year. Is there anything else
that would help?

Also, is there any way to encourage larger fruit or is the smallness because
they are wild.

BTW, these really are black raspberries, which leave the core on the plant
when picked, not blackberries which come away with the core.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.7 .
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm

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Jenny wrote:
There is a big stand of wild black raspberries in a clearing behind our new
home. Only a very few have fruit and it is tiny.

What would be the best way to get them to bear next year? I'm assuming I
should cut back the canes at the end of the year. Is there anything else
that would help?

Also, is there any way to encourage larger fruit or is the smallness because
they are wild.

I have some of those but we call them black caps. Mine are in my yard
near a climbing rose so they get summer water that they wouldn't
otherwise and there are many berries and they are bigger than the
would normally be.

--
Travis in Shoreline Washington

Jenny wrote:
There is a big stand of wild black raspberries in a clearing behind our new
home. Only a very few have fruit and it is tiny.

What would be the best way to get them to bear next year? I'm assuming I
should cut back the canes at the end of the year. Is there anything else
that would help?

Also, is there any way to encourage larger fruit or is the smallness
because
they are wild.

I have some of those but we call them black caps. Mine are in my yard
near a climbing rose so they get summer water that they wouldn't
otherwise and there are many berries and they are bigger than the
would normally be.

--
Travis in Shoreline Washington

After living here for a couple of years one of these just came up. As it is
near some of my roses it gets some water. The berries are always small and
have no flavor.

In article ,
says...
There is a big stand of wild black raspberries in a clearing behind our new
home. Only a very few have fruit and it is tiny.

The tiny ones are tasty, too. Just takes more of them.

What would be the best way to get them to bear next year? I'm assuming I
should cut back the canes at the end of the year. Is there anything else
that would help?

I'm going to guess nutrition is the best thing you can do for
next year's crop, and I'm not an expert in that area. New canes
(first year growth) will not bloom. Second year growth and beyond
is where fruit happens. Which does not mean you should not cut
them back occaisionally, as they get tangled and too heavy to support
themselves. I suppose you could extend the useful size by training
them to an arbor or trellis. Around here, we have a disease (rust)
that kills off the old plants after several years, so they tend to
limit themselves.

Also, is there any way to encourage larger fruit or is the smallness because
they are wild.

Genetics and nutrition are both factors, assuming you are getting
full pollination. Selective breeding takes years, and I haven't
researched what kind of soil the things like, but I have noticed
they like direct sunlight at least part of the day, and this year's
extra rain has made mine go nuts.

My simple-minded method for several years has been to pick the best
looking berries and throw some in likely-looking places to start new
plants, while mowing off anything scraggly or in the way. When
picking, I grab a tupperware bowl and start at one end of the woods
and work my way through. On the way back, I alternate between eating
and scattering. Eat one, throw one, eat one, throw one...

Most years, I have gotten a couple handfuls or maybe a hatful, but
this year my labors are starting to pay off. I've had to break out
a bigger bowl for gathering, I've frozen 4 quarts and have several
more in the 'fridge and still picking and eating. Need rain, they're
starting to taper off...

Try this site. All kinds of info on brambles (rasberrys)
http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/chapter7/chapter7a.htm

Jenny wrote in article
...
There is a big stand of wild black raspberries in a clearing behind our
new
home. Only a very few have fruit and it is tiny.

What would be the best way to get them to bear next year? I'm assuming I
should cut back the canes at the end of the year. Is there anything else
that would help?

Also, is there any way to encourage larger fruit or is the smallness
because
they are wild.

BTW, these really are black raspberries, which leave the core on the
plant
when picked, not blackberries which come away with the core.

-- Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes,
hba1c 5.7 .
Cut the carbs to respond to my email address!

Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes,
strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at
http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/

Looking for help controlling your blood sugar?
Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm