When you grow fruit there is always that time between flowering and fruit setting when the gardener is left wondering whether bushes and trees will perform or not.
On the plot we have lots of types of fruit so the chances are that some will reward us with a crop and others won't.
In the case of one type of plant we don't expect fruit at all. We have two kiwis - one male and one female. The female is definitely a trier - each year she flowers. She's a bit late this year but is loaded with flower buds.
Her efforts at love, however will be unrequited as the male is just not interested and refuses point blank to even produce one flower! The trouble is if we buy another male it is likely to take ages for him to mature enough to flower. So we are condemned to a kiwiless future. Still the leaves are lovely!
Another disappointment is our Japanese Wineberry which has been planted for about three years and just doesn't seem to want to get going!
It's still a weedy specimen so has anyone any advice on how to kick start it into growth?
The summer raspberries are a great disappointment. I really lavished a lot of tender loving care on them last year. I tied all the canes neatly and I've mulched with straw and was anticipating an even better harvest than last year when we enjoyed lots of lovely berries. This year though the canes still look very sorry for themselves. They are not quite dead but only some are making any effort to produce leaf let alone flower buds. In a last ditch effort I have fed them but what's gone wrong?
The autumn raspberries are growing away really well so we'll just have to wait for a delayed raspberry treat.
Luckily other bushes and trees are being more productive but I'll save that story for later!
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I think you'll still have more than enough fruit from your other trees and bushes, you grow so much. It's a shame about the kiwi, it would be lovely to see that produce fruit.
ReplyDeleteIt would be lovely to get kiwis but unless that male performs I guess it will never happen.
DeleteSummer raspberries have fruits on second-year canes( but I guess you already know that). First there is a bit too much of them so I don't know if they are getting enough food. I have a 10 meter fence with raspberries and there is max 10 or 15 canes. Second summer raspberries should be "shortened", decide how high you want them to be and cut everything over that. I would advise you that you leave them 10cm over that wire where you tied them and cut the rest. That will trigger the cane to grow side branches. If you leave them to grow as high as they like they will grow up and not have branches with leaves. Also they will break under the weight if you let them grow so high. With wineberry it's the same thing as with raspberries or blackberries. Try cutting only dried canes, leave the rest. Maybe this will help. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are last year's canes Leanan and there are around two dozen plants along that stretch of fence so each plant hasn't many canes growing from it maybe three at the most. Maybe I should have shortened them but what is puzzling me is that they did really well last year and had probably more canes than these left. I'll try having shorter canes next year as if I cut the tops off this year I'll have no fruit at all. I did bend over the tops last year so maybe that helped them produce sideshoots. I fed them at the weekend so maybe this will help and they were given a dressing of fish, blood and bone before I mulched with the straw.
DeleteAs for the wineberry - every year I cut off the old growth - just like I do for the blackberries that are rampant but new growth is always so spindly and short. The bits that look dry in the photo are this year's growth. It just doesn't get going.
By the way meant to add - thanks for the suggestions.
Deleteyou're welcome :) maybe they are just a little lazy and they will start a bit later :)
DeleteSue; re the Kiwis - can't you bring in a "stud" plant? I mean a small one in a pot that will produce just a few flowers to pollinate the female one. Maybe if that were to happen it would stimulate a jealous reaction in the mature male which might then produce some flowers of its own? Maybe...
ReplyDeleteA stud kiwi is an intriguing suggestion, Mark but a doubt a little kiwi would produce flowers. The female had been planted for quite a few years and was quite big before she did. It's annoying in one way as they were sold as a pair!! And they say pandas are difficult!
DeleteFunny how different fruits perform each year isn't it. Last year I had no raspberries at all - this year looks like it's going to be a great harvest - perhaps sometimes the plants just need a fallow year.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely the case with some plants Elaine!
DeleteOh what a shame about the kiwi, still you will still have a spledid harvest by the looks of things.xxxx
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame Snowbird and I'm disappointed with the raspberries too!
DeleteI'm liking the concept of a stud Kiwi, I think Mark has a new business idea! Shame though, kiwis would be lovely. I am curiously comforted by the fact that even such an experienced grower as you has non fruiting issues occasionally. Maybe the cold Spring has something to do with it, I can only suggest a good feed with seaweed and crossed fingers...
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, sorry for not commenting as much, I am having real problems keeping up with all the posts, particularly from more frequent bloggers, but I do still pop by frequently!
If Mark comes up with a stud kiwi then Ill be his first client, Janet
DeleteNo need to apologise.