Raspberries Finally figured it out

[emilybh]

Does anyone grow berries in containers?

I have a raspberry plant about 18 inches tall in one of those Earthboxes and I'm wondering if that is enough room for it.

Last year I had planted 5 blueberry bushes too far away and the birds ate all the berries and also I think the eight 60 foot tall pine trees they were planted in front of sucked up the water I used to try to water them so four of them didn't make it.

I figured if I had them in containers I could move them in to a pop up green house to protect them from the birds when they start to produce.

Now I have two blackberry bushes each in a 10 gallon bucket that are about 18 inches tall. I have another one that is much bigger that I haven't transplanted yet. It is about 3 ft tall and actually has five branches growing off the sides of it and it even has some maroon leaves.

Can someone guide me? I'm in zone 7b/8a

Thanks,

Emily

P.S. I also bought two Kiwi bushes/vines/trees (a male and a female) that I need help with that I will post separately about.

[Retroit]

I grow raspberries and blackberries and get a plentiful supply every year (with the exception of last year because we had a screwed up spring: extensive warmth early on followed by frost. Many other plants got "confused" also).

I never prune them, other than to take out the dead branches or to control their spread. With raspberries, this involves digging up new growth which spreads under ground (but is not excessive). For blackberries, this involves burying the tops of their stems where you want a new bush to grow (otherwise when the top of the stem grows long and bends to the ground, a new bush will form there).

[kinkytoes]

I moved a black raspberry yesterday and the root system wasn't very extensive. So I don't see why you couldn't grow it in a big enough pot as long as the exposure, soil PH etc are adequate. If you don't have luck, there's a new raspberry bred especially for pots. I found it on Monrovia's website. It is called Raspberry Shortcake. Cute name, right?

I know you are going to post another thread, but since I can't really help with the raspberries, I'll talk about my hardy kiwis. I have had two really robust "hardy kiwi" vines for 4 years. I've never gotten any kiwis. I'm going to pull them out this year. There's a local blogger I read, and she had arctic kiwi which never produced any fruit, either.

The only thing I can say about arctic kiwi is you are going to need a BIG, sturdy pergola. The vines are vigorous and get really really long.

[fisheye]

If I do not keep my raspberries under lock and key they will self prune. My deer love my raspberries! I have tried to plant them in multiple locations hoping that the deer would not find them – don't try that! It is frustrating because the deer will prune off every leaf until the plant dies.

The plants that I keep behind the deer fence do great. I will try pruning half a foot off of them this summer.

[hotzcatz]

There is an indestructible raspberry bush in the back yard. I prune it to the ground every year and it still keeps coming back like blazes. It was leveled late last summer and now it's got canes about four or five feet long and there will soon be berries on it, no doubt. I just wish it didn't have the world's most vicious thorns. On the good side, though, it does produce so I keep not mowing it over until after it makes berries. Then I get mad at the stickers and mow it.