Ripshots outdoor Blackberry thread

Ripshot

Active Member
First, a little background into the choice of location.

Two years ago I moved to a new home that didnt have any real secure locations close enough to the house that I could keep a few, large plants. This spring, I found a decent spot that had good cover but not as optimal sun as I would like, but is about the only spot I could grow close to home.

Ive grown in many spots over the years. Last year, I grew one plant in a bucket outdoors in my backyard and I was suprised on how well it did. being able to feed and water it daily really produces.

So I decided to plant in this semi shady spot and hope for the best.

In March I germinated 6 Blackberry seeds bought from Vancouver Island Seed company. I started them indoors, under a florescent shop light for the first two weeks. Then they went into my cold frame outside with the rest of my vegtables. Sorry I dont have any pics of them at that stage.

In may I moved them to my location. This time, I didnt add any nutrients too the soil, partly because im tired of slugging big bags and bales to my grows and I have to walk through some really open areas that are visible from the road to get there.

All I mixed in to the holes was what I had left lying around, perlite and vermiculite. While the sun in this location is not optimal, the soil is nice and rich. This is kind of an experiment to see how well these plants can do in the native soil with plenty of areation from the perlite, and water retention from the vermiculite.

Of course ive been feeding them regularly, with simple Muskie fish emulsion bought from Canadian Tire. We have had good rains this spring so ive been counting that to give them a good blast of plain water and wash away excess nutrients.

Here they are June 20, 2009. There are actually 6 but you can only see 5.




 
Also looking for pictures of any Blackberry plants that been grown outside. Ive searched extensivley over a couple forums but cant find any.

Feel free to offer your opinion or advice about my grow. I am no master grower, but I have a few years under my belt.
 
I had got 10 black velvet from VISC this season. 8 out of 10 germinated. Had grabbed 4 clones off each before flowering for this season. When the ones from seed showed sex in april, ALL MALE. Worst luck I've ever had. It was either the blackberry or the black velvet and i went with the velvet.

Anyway they look great. i prefer to top my girls. Can't wait to see how it looks in october.
 
Nice plants... what I want to know is... what camera did you use... real nice clear close-ups!
I can't see good enough to tell sex that early, even with glasses, but I sure could see those flowers.
 
Its a Cannon sd800 IS. My photo skills are hit and miss. Sometimes I can get good photos, most of the time not.
 
Its a Cannon sd800 IS. My photo skills are hit and miss. Sometimes I can get good photos, most of the time not.
Thanks, I'll have to check it out... have to agree about the hit and miss, I took 5 pix today one clear, 2 so so and 2, what is that? LOL
I harvested 4 of my 6 Pakistan Valley ladies today, I just wanted some final pictures.
:weed:
 
At this point in time Im 99% sure Ive got 3 females, 3 males. I was hoping for 4 females but oh well this is pretty good I think.

Its too early to start hacking down suspected males, so I'll give it a week or so to make a positive identification before I chop them.

I had a spider mite problem a few days ago that did some minor damage. I solved this with Safers end all spray. New growth is still untouched, so Im not worried.





 
Went out to the local nusery today to replenish my fertilizer needs and saw a bottle of stim root for 4 bucks. So I thought about taking 4 clones off the bottom of my females because ive never done my own clones before. I know its late, but maybe I can get them rooted and back outside and add a little more onto my yeild.

So first, I get 4 beer cups and drill a hole in the bottom for drainage.



then, I mix up 60% promix and 40% sea compost as my rooting medium. My logic here is that the compost will give a light dose of nutrients right away.



Out I go to my patch to take a few cuttings with my sterilized pocket knife that i keep razor sharp.



Here you can see the cedar mulch I added to retain moisture. Since it is red (left over from my girlfriends flower beds) ive covered it up with some debris cause im paraniod of low flying theives in planes. Trust me it happens.





Into my cup of water for the short walk home.



Where I prep them and dip them into the rooting powder.




Then they go under the deck where I figure it the most humid spot I have. here they will get plenty of light until they root.



Then, I have an idea. Take 4 bamboo bbq sticks and place them in the cups.



Then wrap the works in regualr plastic wrap, and mist with water as much as possible.



And here they are about 8 hrs later. Not dead yet, thats a good sign.



not sure if these clones will survive or not, like I said ive never cloned anything before. I plan on putting them back into the patch into the spaces where the males were, or maybe ill just pot them up.

Heres one more shot that shows them getting plenty of sun at noon.

 
I will be following this grow. The pictures are perfect and the plants are lovely. It's very enjoyable reading your thread.
 
Update on the clones

Still alive :D look the same as they did yesterday when I placed them in the cups. No wilting or change of appearance at all. Suposed to be hot today 28 degrees but under the deck it is cool and moist. Been keeping them wet with the sprayer.
 
Awsome to hear. If they haven't wilted in the first 48 then they should def make it. Nice work with the bamboo and plastic too. +rep for the outdoor cloning. I've been doing it for years, but indoors under tight conditions. Big UP for sure.:hump::clap:


I wonder how long it'll take em to root?
 
id say longer
as they are from an outdoor plant which have allways been arder to clone for me
and they are a bit smaller then id like
 
Really? I thought I cut them a little big.

You think it will take longer than ten days for them to root?
 
oh I think you mean because they werent cut from a branch with alternating nodes? I just took the lowest branches.
 
id say longer
as they are from an outdoor plant which have allways been arder to clone for me
and they are a bit smaller then id like


the nodes has nothing to tdo with it. wait i'll go get my camera and show you how small i can get my clones. for years i would just trim these suckers off and throw them in the trash. And as for taking them from an outdoor plant it doesnt take any longer to clone
 
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