[Arid_gardener] Marcia's blackberries

[Genie]

Dear Marcia,

Although we are growing a different variety of blackberry, it is my 
understanding that each cane will produce fruit for
only one year.  In Fall/Winter, we prune off these "spent" canes to 
encourage new growth.  Now that I think about it,
we prune the heck out of our strawberry and blueberry plants too.  They 
always come back, but this year the berries
have been stingy -- probably because of the lack of rain.  Check the 
soil pH... berries seem happiest in an acidic
environment.  Also, don't forget that you can use "Blossom Set" 
(kinetin) on blackberries to encourage fruiting in Spring.

Good Luck and Kindest Regards,  Genie -- in Tucson  

>Message: 4
>Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 12:44:34 -0700
>From: "Marcia" <boahiss at earthlink.net>
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] RE: blackberry plants drying up
>To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
>Message-ID: <E1FiGKS-0007ax-WD at smtpauth08.mail.atl.earthlink.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="windows-1250"
>
>I wonder if someone could shed light on a blackberry problem. I planted a
>patch of Rosborough blackberries last year. This year I am noticing quite a
>lot of the new growth is turning brown and drying up at the tips. The plants
>are under about 50% shade cloth and get plenty of water. Some of the new
>shoots look down right luxuriant and are growing 4' tall or better. Others
>are looking poorly and drying. I am getting fruit that is ripening now, big
>and tasty, but not on all of last year's growth. Could this be from too much
>fertilizer? I fertilized with ammonium sulfate late winter and watered it in
>well. I have not fertilized since.
>Marcia (Tucson)
>
> 
>
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