When I saw this plant at the nursery the other day, my little eyes lit up, and all I could think of was yes, this is it, I have the letter Y.
And pretty much that's all I thought of.
It was only when I arrived home clutching my fabulous new purchase did I realise I had absolutely no idea when it came to this plant. It doesn't look even remotely like anything else I have here.
On the tag it talks about the plant trailing, about tying it onto a frame and how they are closely related to roses. And there was something in there about canes. What on earth are canes?
The worst part though was the being fastidious in the manner which you prune your youngberry. Apparently only excellent pruning practices lead to fruit.
The only thing I actually understood was that youngberries are particularly suited to a tropical climate. That much I can do.
I can so see this plant not working on so many levels.
23 comments:
Mmmm, youngberries. One of my favourite pies is youngberry and with pink sugar sprinkled on top. Good luck, hope you gets lots of fruit.
Canes are the thin 'caney' things that you grow berries on...like a bit of a trellis to let them grow on...I use 'cane' stakes sometimes...that is going to be a beautiful looking climber Ali, even if it dosnt fruit...!!!
Judith I hope I get even one! Suzanne, are the canes part of the plant? The tag said something about cutting the old ones off and leaving on the new ones as that's where the next year's fruit will grow. I should really have the tag here beside me, but I left it on the plant and am chicken to go out there at night!
I had to google "youngberry" as I have never seen this plant before. Good luck with growing some youngberry fruit!
I was going to ramble about what I thought pruning the canes meant but didn't want to take responsibility for killing your plant! I hope it grows well, mmm summer berries.
Sounds like you have a great experiment going on... the leaves are lovely.
Ali; I wish I were a Horticultural Marketing Manager. I'd change the name of all my plants just to please you!
"Yes, madam, you're lucky, I do still have one of the Xylophagus "Yankee Zebra" left in stock. And its SUCH a good specimen too"
Canes are the "stems" of this type of plant (the rubus family). The plant in the photograph only has one cane. In the coming season, if all goes well, you'll get berries on the cane you have now, and new canes will emerge from the ground. At the end of the season, you simply remove the cane that had the fruit, by pruning it back to the ground.
You never know...it might be your favorite plant one day. I like your blog! This is my first visit.
I had to google it too. I thought it might be related to the weatherman from channel 9, but no - it's related to the raspberry instead.
Looks great - it won't take long to get established. Just keep an eye on it in case it loves our Qld weather too much!
Re - bananas..... I should have left a comment on your blog but I left it on mine lol. The general signs are scratches on the bananas from the bats. This shows that have been checking them out. You usually hear them around at night too - particually if there aren't many bananas trees in your suburb. Also in my opinion anyway - the plant usually has a bit of a 'lean to' from the heavy weight of the banana bunch. Hope this helps - cheers Wendy
Hi Ali, gorgeous garden! Loving your blog, as well. You shouldn´t have too many problems getting the youngberry established....rather, keeping it under control!
Thanks Daffodil, I'd love for the youngberry to go wild! Although right now just one or two berries would keep me happy :)
Wendy my bananas have had scratches from the bats from when they were teeny tiny, the bats were after the nectar from the flowers. No bites into the bananas so far though.
Missy is that who he is?! His name kept coming up when I was googling... I wonder how he'd go in the garden.
Hi Amy, thank you for your lovely comments and thanks for joining Mud Pie :)
Anonymous - which one is the one cane? The main branch??
Mark, you are a simply fabulous gardener and blogger, and now you are revealing yourself to be quite witty as well. That lovely wife of yours is one lucky lady.
Kat please ramble, I've really got no idea and it wasn't an expensive plant... if I got upset at everything that I kill here I'd be ready to jump off my roof.
Carolyn it is pretty, I hope the fruit is nice too!
And Vrtlarica ana, I had to google it too... never heard of it before let along tasted one... I hope they're good!
Ooh then I agree with anon. Yes the main branch, new ones will grow up from the rootstock, as the plant matures I guess they increase in number. I've never grown berries but they always seemed so cool cos you get to ruthlessly hack away at them when it's pruning time. /ramble.
Hi Ali,
I must admit to never having heard of a youngberry. Whatever they are, yours looks very healthy indeed and I am looking forward to seeing how it goes. Take care.
So Kat you are saying that new canes will come from the ground and after the part we can see now has finished fruiting (ha!) I cut that off?
I can't wait to hack ruthlessly... that and chop down a banana tree, I am really looking forward to that.
Gary, I hadn't either and am also looking forward to seeing what happens.
Aren't all berries, 'young' berries before they are old berries?
Hazel... that's a terrible pun!
Yes and yes. But I think you have to be nicer to them and not prune too heavily for the first few years of their life as well.
I shall now take out liability insurance in case the poor plant carks it and you come after me with a pruning saw!
Wow, exciting time...I do hope they grow for you, I can remember how excited I was when I grew and ate my very first raspberry!!! Can't wait to see it fruiting! :)
Ooh I love your photos. That close up is ace.
Hi just reading your post on youngberry I have just been out in the garden ripping one back in to shape. I live in a temperate climate and the youngberry is only 2 y/o it fruits profusly and takes a lot to keep the plant from taking over the garden. i recon you will get your youngberry pie this summer after all
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