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Author Topic: Fruit Cage troubles.  (Read 350 times)

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Dantheman

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Fruit Cage troubles.
« on: March 06, 2013, 22:20 »
Hi guys,
I'm having a dilemma on where to place my fruit bushes well Blackcurrant.  My fruit cage is 15.4ft x 7.02.  The spacing for blackcurrants is 5ft right?  i have three bushes and was wondering what would happen if i did plant them closer?  The other option i was thinking about is reducing the amount down to one bush (i have other stuff in the cage too) whether i would be able to plant other stuff next to it or do i still need to keep a 5ft spacing.
thanks.
dig, dig, dig and more digging


angelavdavis

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2013, 22:29 »
If you prepare the bed really well with lots of manure and mulch well every spring I find that mine produce well despite being only 4 foot apart (with strawberries growing underneath).

I am interested to see what other responses you receive on this question.
Read about my allotment exploits at Ecodolly at plots 37 & 39.  Questions, queries and comments are appreciated at Comment on Ecodolly's exploits on plots 37 & 39

surbie100

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2013, 23:10 »
My mum has her 2 redcurrants 2 ft apart, and with 2 gooseberries about 1.5 feet away from them. They are all prolific, despite assiduous neglect and sit on clay soil east-facing. The 2 blackcurrants are 4ft apart, but have a quince and assorted other stuff inbetween. Again, prolific.

Dantheman

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2013, 06:37 »
thanks interesting, will have to see what i can do then, i have raised beds going in, they are too be fill with well rotted manure and i will be mulching them too. 
A list of whats going inside the cage:-
3 x blackcurrents,
3 x redcurrents,
5 x Gooseberries (double cordons)
Raspberries
3 x Cape Gooseberries
3 x blueberries
Strewberries if i can find the sapce.

angelavdavis

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2013, 16:20 »
Hi Dan,

Watch the blueberries - they need acid soil and as you are not far from me, I am guessing your soil is probably similar to mine.  You really need to plant them in large pots of ericaceous compost or make a raised beds especially for them filled with it instead.

If they are autumn raspberries, you will find you won't need to net them as the birds have too much else to eat at that time.  I don't.

Dantheman

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2013, 14:58 »
Thanks guys for you advice has help me loads going to plant the blueberries in pots and have them at home.  :)

calculad

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2013, 15:39 »
I echo the advice about not needing to net late raspberries but definitely early varieties.
I am on south coast too and I guess locally birds might behave differently.
I also have never netted blackcurrants.  Do the birds (pigeons) eat them?
I've not noticed great losses. Always assumed they were too acidic for most birds.
Redcurrants on the other hand are stripped by blackbirds.
HTH
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« Last Edit: March 08, 2013, 15:42 by calculad »

angelavdavis

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Re: Fruit Cage troubles.
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2013, 20:53 »
Thanks guys for you advice has help me loads going to plant the blueberries in pots and have them at home.  :)

Exactly what I do to the honest.  Make sure you cover them though - the birds strip them before they are ripe enough to eat.  Usually a bit of cheap fleece does the job.

I also have never netted blackcurrants.  Do the birds (pigeons) eat them?
I've not noticed great losses. Always assumed they were too acidic for most birds.

I find that if your bushes are established so there is lots of foliage, then the birds don't find them.  However, if your bushes are younger (like mine - they have only been in two years), they get stripped!  No idea though whether this is rodent damage, rather than birds but I now cover the whole bed and have found less losses.
« Last Edit: March 08, 2013, 20:55 by angelavdavis »



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