BLACKBERRIES - SUMMER FERTILIZATION - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

[@BIGALTX]

Here's how I fertilize my blackberries during the summer months. Whether your blackberries are in containers or planted in the ground, it's critical that they are well fed and watered during the hot days of summer. Production may be over, but the plant still needs food to make new canes that will facilitate the production of berries next year. NEXT year's crop depends on THIS year's fertilization. So, check out my fertilization program for my blackberries. alan Check out my Website. I've written dozens of articles pertaining to all areas of homesteading and self sufficiency. Here's the link: homesteadadvisor.com/ homesteadadvisor.com/

[@andielliott7721]

My 20 some blackberry plants are in the ground and I mulch well with leaf mold and grass clippings and they are thriving very well. Getting ready to plant another 50 feet of blackberries.

[@BIGALTX]

That is awesome!

[@RESlusher]

I've got three "slightly" raised beds with drip irrigation lines. I bought the Hoss Tools fertilizer injector and tied it in. Every two or three weeks I go in and put some more fertilizer in the tank. So simple even I can't mess it up.

[@BIGALTX]

Foolproof... I like it!

[@amsohn1]

Thanks Alan, great info... this is our first time growing Blackberries in containers so very helpful. Blessings 🌞

[@BIGALTX]

Glad it was helpful, G!

[@MsGrannyfrog]

I love your Bible quote.

[@BIGALTX]

Thanks so much. And thanks for watching!

[@TheCajunHomestead]

Great info. Your Poncas look way better than mine.

[@BIGALTX]

Wow, thanks Some of them aren't doing much of anything :(

[@articmars1]

If your trying organic have you thought about using worm castings? I have come to see them as more of a nutrient converter than a fertilizer. If my understanding of them is correct they convert the nutrients into a more usable form quicker than nature. And allows the plant to access them more thoroughly and efficiently.

[@BIGALTX]

Worm castings are great... but dang... they are expensive!

[@articmars1]

@@BIGALTX how much are they in your area? I usually sell mine between $2.00 to $2.50 a lb. Which equate to approximately a quart. But i do not feed them paper. Its strictly bio mass like unsprayed grass and leaves from the woods across the street from me and organic garden waste. And they are triple sifted down from 1/8 to 1/12 so its pure castings. No peat moss just compost is used for the bedding. I am just starting and in the process of getting an analysis done on microbe and fungus counts. Not sure if that is considered expensive or not. Lol. People in my area arent very familiar with them so i am trying to stay reasonable on the price.

[@BIGALTX]

@@articmars1 Not sure... I've only priced them online

[@craigklein9920]

Thanks for the videos...lots of great information. I am not far from you in Texas and also growing some blackberries in wicking tubs. How often are you irrigating in summer and how much water are you applying?

[@BIGALTX]

Every day. Some days I let it run for an hour (2 gallons) M/W/F I let it run for 1.5 hours (3 gallons) I'm probably over watering, but I have a well and it's not costing me much.

[@johnbeverage6506]

I have been using wicking containers to grow all my vegetables for years now or since I came across Leon, and through his channel I have met many fellow gardeners including Arms Homestead and yourself Texas Prepper2 and many more thanks to the internet. This year has been the most successful garden I have grown at an age of 71. You have inspired me to raise my favorite fruit the Blackberry which I have a couple Prime Ark Freedoms that are doing great. Now I’m adding citrus to my garden growing my favorite Lemons and limes with other varieties to add down the road. Anyone say Kumquats. I know this is long winded, my question is, all the experts advise against self watering containers for citrus. Even here in Pensacola 9a region they worry of “wet feet” and say don’t do it. I’ve talked with the nurseries in my area, they agree with that sentiment. But I’ve always liked the freedom that wicking tubs give a person if you have to leave for a few days to visit family or friends and not worry your plants are dying of thirst. My boat sits in the backyard and says “what about me”. Time to go fish. I guess I answered my own question. Thanks for all the information you put out Alan to help us gardener’s.

[@hardstylzz5024]

Got a 3 foot kumquat for like 6 years now been in a 20 gal galvanized metal pot these little citrus 🍊 do well in pots probably have over 50 fruits on that one small tree, here's tip I redo the soil every year because the soil get compact so after fruiting I replaced it with fresh compost.

[@BIGALTX]

Interesting...

[@BIGALTX]

This was my 2020 oranges in WTs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKTWfoqGnLKreK8 They did great. Now... I did almost kill it because last winter was so dry and I didn't water it like I should. It survived my neglect, but I had to prune a lot of dead branches off. It's not fruiting this year, but again, it's my fault, I think

[@kingtool5799]

I wouldn't worry about salt build up....a good watering will wash away any concentration buildup....in fact, that is one of the problems of water soluble fertilizers is that they wash away quickly with rain, watering.

[@BIGALTX]

Thanks for the info!!!

[@robertmcmeel5456]

Thanks for the information on fertilizing the blackberry plants. I have 11 of the Prime Ark Freedom plants that were hit very hard from hurricane Ida last year, but they have come back really well this year. One questions that I have is in regard to trimming the canes. I have some real nice canes up and coming up, that I have topped to make the laterals come out. I am getting some canes which I call skinny canes, not as large as the others, should I leave those little canes? Or should I remove them? You have really helped me out with these plants in the past. Thanks for your videos.

[@BIGALTX]

I've found the small ones that really never get big will seldom give many berries. So most times I cut them off.

[@robertmcmeel5456]

@@BIGALTX Thanks for the information. I will give it a try.

[@Gokywildcats11]

Nice bible verse

[@BIGALTX]

Glad you think so!

[@brandispotsandplants]

I put my blackberries in too small of containers this year so I did not get a good harvest but they are still putting out new growth for next year. I am in AZ in zone 9b do you have advice on when/how I could transplant them? worst case scenario I have to buy new transplants next year but i'd like to try to save them if possible

[@BIGALTX]

I would transplant when the weather is colder (not sure about your zone) Here, that would be Nov/Dec

[@Lvaladez114]

Mine in the container look great I use fish emulsion and Espoma I have moved and covered everything this heat is burning the leaves on some of my fruit trees and my black and white currants I planted this spring. I've decided to not worry about my flowers if they survive I'll be surprised. Hydrangeas butterfly bush lambs ears raspies and so much more are in very sad shape. 😔

[@BIGALTX]

I feel you... it's tough out there 😧

[@DV-ol7vt]

Water soluble or the slower soluble cheaper synthetic fertilizer? Have you seen any differences with the blackberries plants/production? That water soluble fertilizer ain’t cheap especially in todays market.

[@BIGALTX]

I almost always use this fertilizer from HOSS : hosstools.com/product/20-20-20-garden-fertilizer/ But trying a little organic this summer. I'll probably follow it in a month with some of the 20-20-20 LEARN MORE ABOUT HOSS TOOLS HERE: bit.ly/homesteadadvisor

[@DV-ol7vt]

@@BIGALTX Yep! Like I said, that water soluble fertilizer ain’t cheap. Hoss 10lbs 20-20-20 is $50.00 plus shipping. What about a 10-10-10 or whatever from Tractor Supply, Homedepo, Lowes, that is around $24.00 for 40lbs. Have you ever used any of those with good results?

[@BIGALTX]

@@DV-ol7vt Sure, I buy 13-13-13 and 10-20-10 granular every year from my local feed store.

[@richardince6298]

I’m in north Texas. What varieties would be best for me?

[@BIGALTX]

I like the Prime Ark Freedom, but if you get down close to 0 degrees F.. they don't do well. Quachita berries did great at the cold temps in Feb 2021

[@jerryfuqua3781]

Is it ok to put wood chips around blackberries or should you just use compost?

[@BIGALTX]

Mine have always LOVED wood chips, but compost has more nutrition value. Wood chips for weed suppression. Compost (or fert) for feeding

[@brokenarrow2835]

I had planted 20 new plants I rooted last fall ,ran drip line, wondering how they will hold up this winter. You think I should put hay around them ?

[@cindyjohnson5242]

No! Look up Grazon poisoning.

[@Lvaladez114]

I hear we will have a mini ice age this winter. I would definitely mulch heavy.

[@BIGALTX]

If you know where the hay comes from. Otherwise use wood chips if you can get some

[@BIGALTX]

That COULD be a problem... thanks for the tip

[@TejasBaby1963]

I don’t know how you’ve managed to keep yours alive? I’m in central Texas. Everything I planted has been fried by the heat, sun and aphids. My only blackberry bush has just succumbed as well. I have watered everything religiously in this heat to prevent everything from drying out.

[@DV-ol7vt]

Another year of this and central Texas will be a desert. I can’t even count the above 100 degree days and I don’t remember when it rained last. I mowed one time in March/April and haven’t mowed since and I have acreage that I mow and sometimes bail and no livestock.

[@BIGALTX]

Well, I do water every day. My blackberries seem to thrive in the heat... Tomatoes, peppers, squash... all those are toast

[@BIGALTX]

I hear you... it's tough. The La Nina weather pattern is going away later this year...hopefully, that will change things

[@jeffkimble8857]

@@BIGALTX I’m curious to know if the Ponca will be prone to white drupes. Here in Charlotte NC, we can be hot and dry like you are in Tx. My Kiowa grew well but had a lot of white drupes when it got above 90°. I’ve gotten rid of the Kiowa, Ouchita, and Natchez and have planted Ponca and Freedom…so next year I will see I guess. Appreciate the videos!

[@TejasBaby1963]

@@BIGALTX I water everyday too, sometimes I had to water twice. Maybe I got a lazy blackberry bush lol.

[@fazerErefazerFF]

Good video friend 🌿👌, leaving the 👍 and a friendship 🌸, let's connect 🤝🔁👈🎁

[@BIGALTX]

Thanks for the 👍

[@hardstylzz5024]

Man gotta bury my triple 13 deeper my chicken love to dig and scratch around the blackberry bushes worried if they might eat it. Might change over to an organic type or use liquid.

[@DV-ol7vt]

You might get bigger eggs.

[@BIGALTX]

Hahaha!

[@BIGALTX]

Haha, I don't think they will eat it. I don't let my chickens in the garden while it's growing as a rule. I hate all the damage they can do scratching!

[@cindyjohnson5242]

I'm near San Antonio. No rain yet. I had 2 wicking tubs with tomatos which were perfect 2 days ago. One in the sun, one in the shade. Today, both were completely wilted. Not dry, still damp. The 2 tubs are about 10 feet apart. I have another tub with tomatos and it's fine. It semi shaded. They are all different varieties. Any idea what would do that ?

[@cldtt]

June bug Grubs can do that.

[@cindyjohnson5242]

@@cldtt thank Chris. It's all fresh soil this year. Also, I got rid of most my June bugs before I planted the plants. I shine a light on a light colored dish pan filled 3/4 full of soapy water. I've done this 2 years now. A huge reduction in night bugs. Chickens and ducks clean out the pan every morning.

[@BIGALTX]

I don't know. All my 'maters are toast :(

[@josephmcgee8450]

How about cow fertilizer

[@BIGALTX]

I've been thinking about doing that, or chicken manure...

[@TorahFirma]

How do you keep animals out of your garden if you use organic fertilizers? I got a Hoss fertilizer injector and I love it, but every time I have used organic water soluble fertilizer in it, some animal comes in and chews up my drip tape irrigation. I switched to a synthetic fertilizer and didn't have the problem. My garden is fenced in, but something still managed to climb in and chew up my tape each time. It's SOO irritating and starting to cost me money and time replacing drip tape! :/

[@BIGALTX]

Maybe because I'm in containers and not the ground. I did have a rabbit chew through a drip line the other day :(

[@blackfam972]

I feel like your wasteing good money on fertilizer. Just piss in your watering bucket a few times and then top it off with water and feed them with that. You're literally pissing away the best fertilizer you can buy. The average NPK is 11:2:4.

[@BIGALTX]

Hahaha... you may be right... and I may try that... thanks!

[@blackfam972]

@@BIGALTX that's what I'm feeding mine. I've had really good results feeding zucchini and summer squash, tomatoes, egg plant and ocra.