Q- I want to transplant my established blackberry plants because they are now getting too much shade, and I want to plant them more in the sun. Can I transplant them this fall? Also, should I prune off the side limbs from my canes after fruiting? I usually after fruiting just prune all my canes down to about 3-4 feet, this includes cutting back all side shoots. I also cut to the ground the dead canes. My plants have been in the ground for about 5 years, and I really had only 1 good year of yield!! I feel maybe I am not pruning them correct, and they also need more sun. So, if I transplant this fall, will I have fruit next summer in 2005? NAnd can I purchase plants from you right now to plant this fall? Thanks!!
A- We have discussed trasnplanting several times. Please review the discussion board. We do not sell in the fall because success rates are so low. The suggestion I would give is to transplant the plants that recieve the least sun (1/2) and keep the other half to fruit next year. Or keep the planting, plant new plants in a better location and transplant the old planting in the fall of '05.
A2- Trying to fix this problem leaves me with no easy solutions. If you try to transplant so that your chances of survival are best, you will have to cut the canes back so far that you'll get little fruit next year. If you try to transplant the majority of the plant your chances of losing the plant are pretty good. If you dig a large root ball and baby the plant thru the fall it might make it. But, the plant might start to regrow when it should be going dormant and getting ready for a long winter. If you tried this in the spring it might be less risky. I know this is not the anwser you are looking for, but it is the only way I feel you'll be the most successful and have the least risk of loosing your planting.
Q- I had a blackberry yield of 2 qts only this year. Can I transplant my new canes this fall to another location that gets more sun? My trees are shading the berry patch and I don't get as many blackberries as I used to get. And if I transplant them, will I have berries next year? Thanks! I live in Ohio.
A- I do not recommend transplanting old plants into a new location for several reasons. The chance the present planting is diseased or has virus is great. By transplanting you can move the disease or virus with the plants and have poor success in establishment or infect other plantings.
I would recommend that you consider planting some of our thornless varieties that are sure to be disease and virus free. Only 5 plants can fill up 20 feet of row.
If you decide to transplant, cut the canes back to 6-8 inches and proceed. This planting will produce a limited amount of fruit in '05 because the fruiting buds develope on this years growth. This would be another reason to leave you current planting alone to fruit next year and plant new plants in your new spot.
Please see the following link to our planting guide for best success.
http://www.noursefarms.com/planting_guide/index.html
