blackberry 'Bedford Giant'
blackberry
An excellent choice for reliable summer fruit, this vigorous blackberry produces an early crop of large, juicy berries with a rich, sweet flavour. Blackberry 'Bedford Giant' is a dependable choice that makes good use of a sunny spot against a wall, fence or support, where its long, productive stems can be trained and managed easily.
Pick the fruits as they ripen for eating fresh, or freeze any surplus to enjoy later in the year.
Pick the fruits as they ripen for eating fresh, or freeze any surplus to enjoy later in the year.
How to care for blackberry Bedford Giant:
Bare-root plants should be planted out as soon as they arrive. If this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily (covering their roots with soil) or potted up.
Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, although autumn to spring is ideal. Water them well before and after planting, particularly if planting during drier weather.
Before planting, soak the rootball in a bucket of water for half an hour and make sure to incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole. Remove all weeds and allow 3m (10ft) between each plant and 1.8m (6ft) between rows.
Once planted, shorten the canes to about 23cm (9in). Each spring, mulch well with well-rotted manure. Plants flower on one-year-old wood, so the new canes need to be separated from fruiting ones. After cropping, cut the fruiting canes down to the ground and tie in the new ones that have grown that year.
Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, although autumn to spring is ideal. Water them well before and after planting, particularly if planting during drier weather.
Before planting, soak the rootball in a bucket of water for half an hour and make sure to incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole. Remove all weeds and allow 3m (10ft) between each plant and 1.8m (6ft) between rows.
Once planted, shorten the canes to about 23cm (9in). Each spring, mulch well with well-rotted manure. Plants flower on one-year-old wood, so the new canes need to be separated from fruiting ones. After cropping, cut the fruiting canes down to the ground and tie in the new ones that have grown that year.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
3m
Eventual spread:
3m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This plant is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
