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Keeping bare root soft fruit
I've been thinking of ordering some soft fruit plants from J
Parkers: http://www.jparkers.co.uk/ All their stock is sent bare root. I know it's very late in the year to do this, but they say they'll ship until end of April. However, their delivery times are fairly lax ('28 days'). Since I can't know when they'll arrive, I can't guarantee to have time to plant them straightaway (even in pots). Given that the weather is warming up, is there some way I can keep them (for a week or a fortnight, perhaps) without them suffering? For example, I know they're activated by soaking them in a bucket of water. Could I leave them in that bucket for an extended period? Or I have a spare (working) fridge: if they were put in the fridge would they go dormant for the period (as if there's been a cold snap) or would that be too much of a shock? Would the humidity in the fridge cause issues for mould? Any other suggestions (other than 'buy from someone else')? Thanks Theo |
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#3
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
On 25 Mar 2011 14:36:43 +0000 (GMT), Theo Markettos
wrote: I've been thinking of ordering some soft fruit plants from J Parkers: http://www.jparkers.co.uk/ All their stock is sent bare root. I know it's very late in the year to do this, but they say they'll ship until end of April. However, their delivery times are fairly lax ('28 days'). Since I can't know when they'll arrive, I can't guarantee to have time to plant them straightaway (even in pots). Given that the weather is warming up, is there some way I can keep them (for a week or a fortnight, perhaps) without them suffering? Just hack a hole in a convenient spot, and temporarily plant them all in it, covering gently but firmly. See "heeling in" at, e.g.: http://www.ehow.com/how_2272122_heel...ot-plants.html Getting very late, though. They shouldn't really have started into growth when you plant them finally, and two apple trees I had from Parker's during the winter are now bursting their buds. For example, I know they're activated by soaking them in a bucket of water. Could I leave them in that bucket for an extended period? Or I have a spare (working) fridge: if they were put in the fridge would they go dormant for the period (as if there's been a cold snap) or would that be too much of a shock? Would the humidity in the fridge cause issues for mould? The bucket is an absolute "no": an hour in water would be about the safe maximum. I think you're right to be worried about the conditions in a domestic fridge: no air circulation, and that's something plants can't stand. Any other suggestions (other than 'buy from someone else')? Pity about that. I'd have suggested going to a nursery, or maybe a garden centre, as soon as you have a day free: that way, you could plant them as soon as you got home. Thanks Theo |
#4
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
Mike Lyle wrote:
Just hack a hole in a convenient spot, and temporarily plant them all in it, covering gently but firmly. See "heeling in" at, e.g.: http://www.ehow.com/how_2272122_heel...ot-plants.html Getting very late, though. They shouldn't really have started into growth when you plant them finally, and two apple trees I had from Parker's during the winter are now bursting their buds. Thanks. In the end I had a look around and found what I wanted wasn't vastly more expensive at Blackmoor (being a place I've visited and trust). When I went to checkout it said delivery was a tenner, but I went back a screen to check something then went forward again and a 'free delivery' option appeared. Also using the discount code 'facebook' got another 10% off. Which reduced the price to about the same as Parker's for a few fewer plants. Ordered on Sunday, dispatched on Tuesday (last day this year for bare root), received this morning, now in the ground. Which is a good thing, because the blackcurrants were already sprouting. Should I be doing winter pruning on newly-planted fruit bushes, or is it too late when they're sprouting? Pity about that. I'd have suggested going to a nursery, or maybe a garden centre, as soon as you have a day free: that way, you could plant them as soon as you got home. I had a look at our local (within walking distance), but it's something of a 'leisure destination' place - all patio furniture and coffee shop. The selection of fruit wasn't too bad (almost no raspberries left though), but prices were about 3x Parker's. Theo |
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
On 31 Mar 2011 20:24:45 +0100 (BST), Theo Markettos
wrote: Mike Lyle wrote: Just hack a hole in a convenient spot, and temporarily plant them all in it, covering gently but firmly. See "heeling in" at, e.g.: http://www.ehow.com/how_2272122_heel...ot-plants.html Getting very late, though. They shouldn't really have started into growth when you plant them finally, and two apple trees I had from Parker's during the winter are now bursting their buds. Thanks. In the end I had a look around and found what I wanted wasn't vastly more expensive at Blackmoor (being a place I've visited and trust). When I went to checkout it said delivery was a tenner, but I went back a screen to check something then went forward again and a 'free delivery' option appeared. Also using the discount code 'facebook' got another 10% off. Which reduced the price to about the same as Parker's for a few fewer plants. Ordered on Sunday, dispatched on Tuesday (last day this year for bare root), received this morning, now in the ground. Which is a good thing, because the blackcurrants were already sprouting. Should I be doing winter pruning on newly-planted fruit bushes, or is it too late when they're sprouting? Oh, gosh! I'm scared to take responsibility for this decision, so don't blame me... I don't really know, but intuition tells me to prune red and white currants and gooseberries lightly right away, but to leave black currants alone till next winter. As long as your new plants are allowed to produce a good root system in their first years, it probably doesn't matter *too* much. [...] -- Mike. |
#6
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
On Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:00:48 +0100, Mike Lyle
Should I be doing winter pruning on newly-planted fruit bushes, or is it too late when they're sprouting? Blackcurrant should be hard pruned, so that the framework builds up this year, fruit next year. |
#7
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
Mike Lyle wrote:
Oh, gosh! I'm scared to take responsibility for this decision, so don't blame me... I don't really know, but intuition tells me to prune red and white currants and gooseberries lightly right away, but to leave black currants alone till next winter. As long as your new plants are allowed to produce a good root system in their first years, it probably doesn't matter *too* much. The only problem I would have with that is that I've found blackcurrants will fruit no matter what you do to them, and red and white currants will only fruit if they feel like it. I'd be very nervous of pruning anything at this time of year. But then, I'm notoriously light handed with the seceturs around here. Speaking of which, I have a suspicion Nick may have masacred our summer crop of raspberries by hacking them down at the same time as his late chop on the autumn fruiting ones (which was /very/ late this year!). I thin kin the past they have forgiven him cos he's hacked them back all at the same time, but a lot earlier. Ho hum, will have to see how it goes. Always get too many raspberries and strawberries anyhow. |
#8
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Keeping bare root soft fruit
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