Gardeners’ queries

Press, 18 July 1980, Page 5

Gardeners’ queries

•I Iwra recently a wired tom# thornless blackberries end would like to know the ’> Ideal situetion for them. Also, whet the best way is to sup. port them —H.$. (Chch). . Although some fruit will tolerate «, reasonable amount of shade, the sunny aspect should be chosen every time if passible, because it hastens yipeninx.. improved Savour and generally has a beneficial, effect un the fruiting, stock; blackberries are no exception to this advice. These brambles are tolerant of heavy soils and will put up with wet condi-' tions so long as drainage is pot impeded. Various training systems can be applied and it is verv strongly recommended .that support for the purpose is erected at the time of planting, and not left until > -

there is an urgent need for it Ono of the easiest methods of . training is by means of the fan system, whereby each individual eane is tied to the support in a fan shape. The modified fan follows the training system generally applied to grapes in the home garden, and is less demanding of attention to the tying o? the Individual canes. Wo would , like" to grow. a plum tree or two .In our bit of a garden, but they say that you need two special.ones if they are to have fruit.' is this right? Could you give the names of-good ones fa srow which don't arow more than about nine feet, tall?- Would they need pruning?—"Plum Duff" (Chch). y y , Many European .< plums are

■ aelf-fertfle, that Is they are capable of setting fruit without the need of cross pollination. There are also a few Japanese plums which will set fruit alone, but in most cases , . the presence of a suitable cross pollinator will enhance fruit set, whether there is a need for not. There really is not a small-growing plum tree available at present as there are no dwarfing rootstocks available, as with apples. 1 ■ Choice of variety is really, a ■ ; 1 personal matter, but one could do worse than choosp I from such plums as Burbank. Black Doris, George Wilson (Omega), > Shira, and Early Rivers. It ii - now. possible to get dual- ; grafted , plums which . does away with the need to plant two trees.