June 2004
Well,
I got this plant kind of by accident. A close friend runs
the Botanical Gardens at UC Riverside, and on a trip to one
of their plant sales about 2 years ago, after I had made
all my purchases, he found this runt of plant in the back
of a shed that was too small for them to sell. So he sked
me if I wanted to have it and I said sure. Now it's been
on my back patio for a couple of years, and this year, is
bearing the most fruit ever.
Last
year I cut it way back just to get rid of all dead-looking
stuff, and it came back this year with full force. Just remember.
Raspberries are biennials. They make fruit on second year
canes. After producing fruit, these second year canes will
die and should be pruned out. Allow new suckers to grow each
year for next year's crop. It's also a good idea to kindof
well, ignore this plant a little. Too much care can actually
kill it. They love poor soil, can take a little under-watering,
although not during the fruiting process, but--remember--these
berries do well the wild, so they can stand a little
Black
raspberries taste very different from the red, but yet, not
quite like a blackberry. But it is absolutely delicious.
Sweet as candy. So this year I smushed up one in the front
to see if I could coax out a volunteer for another plant.
We'll see how that develops...
PyolaTM
and Soap-Shield®
Save on this Special Spray Combo
Gardeners should have these two products on hand right from
the start of the season -- Pyola to control insect pests and
Soap-Shield to fight disease. Like the moldy mildew and fungus
that can attack tomato plants under very moist environmental
conditions. Buy combo and pay $5.95 less than if purchased
separately!
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