Raspberries in pote

 Has anyone grown raspberries in pots?  On GQT last week they said they
do better in pots, if watered well, with trials going on.
Circumstances are forcing me to give up my allotment at the end of
this year.  I wondered if it would be worth digging up a few canes and
potting them in a big tub.
Any advice?  My garden is so small and crowded already!


Pam in Bristol

 On Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:45:54 +0100, Pam Moore


I've been growing raspberries in 30 litre tubs (5 canes to a tub
growing up a wigwam) for a couple of years. They crop at least as well
as those in the ground. OK, a bit more effort is needed - watering
twice a week at least with a high potash feed mixed in with the water.
OTOH, a lot easier to net against birds than a row of canes.

Next year the remaining ground growers will be lifted and replanted in
more tubs so I should have 4 tubs each of 5 canes -more than enough
fruit for the two of us.

I grow a lot of plants in  these large tubs - tree lilies at 6 to a
tub for example. The tubs are easily moved into position at the right
time of year and then moved back to a "holding area" behind the
shrubbery when past flowering/fruiting. Really maximises use of the
garden space.

I'm also experimenting with a couple of "patio apple trees" in tubs.
Planted last year so now in their first fruiting season and  I  caught
the OH munching an apple on Sunday. Apples ready to eat in July's a
first for me!

Cheers
Jake
==============================================
Gardening at the dry end (east) of Swansea Bay
in between reading anything by JRR Tolkien.

www.rivendell.org.uk

 

Jake, I want to plant a mini apple tree this autumn. Can you tell me what
yours is please. Thanks.

Pete C

 wrote:


I have two apples - a "malus gala redspur" and a "malus yellowspur"
which are fruiting this year. The yellowspur is the one now
surprisingly at picking stage and (I've had one today) is what I'd
describe as "sweetish with a bite". I have also planted this year,
again in a tub, a dwarf Braeburn apple tree. I'll see whether this
fruits next year but somehow I suspect it might be the year after
before it crops decently.

Remember the crunch issue is not so much the apple variety but the
rootstock on which it is grown. Plus, if planting only one tree, you
need to make sure it's self fertile.

AFAIK, the trees will be ok in the tubs for about 5 years with the
first fruiting year counting as 1 - after that they will need to go in
the ground.

Cheers
Jake
==============================================
Gardening at the dry end (east) of Swansea Bay
in between reading anything by JRR Tolkien.

www.rivendell.org.uk