black lab farm happenings elsewhere update...heavy pictures.

[majorcatfish]

Nice pics, Major. That is one happy looking Kiwi vine. Is it a large kiwi? My MIL has a monstrous (seriously larger than a bus) kiwi that looks quite a bit different, but it is the little thumb-sized fruits.

That is odd that you haven't any blackberry blossoms. Mine are blooming now, as are the wild ones too, and they are pretty thick with bloom. Did you have a late frost or freeze get them perhaps?

last year they ranged from small to the size of a large goose egg..we are hoping for another good harvest this fall.

we really never did have a winter here no frost or freeze while they were coming out of hibernation, from early spring till now we have been 10-20 cooler than years before.hopfully with this warmer weather they will start popping..

 

[majorcatfish]

major, are those kiwis from your plants? That's a lot of them. Are they tart like most kiwis? I like the taste of them but don't like the tartness. I've always wondered if a homegrown kiwi is sweet or at least sweeter than from a store.

Mary

mary homegrown kiwis hands down beat those from the store they are picked while still green<tart>.
we will let them stay on the vines and pick them just before the first frost. late nov and then put them in a cool spot in the house and leave some out to ripen, once ripe they taste just like strawberries and bananas all rolled into one.

and yes all of those were from last year.

the history of kiwis is very interesting reading.

 

[majorcatfish]

Holy kiwi!!! Those look fabulous! I envy zone 7... I would love to have kiwis growing here. There are a few that say zone 4, but I never hear any survival stories. Hope you have as wonderful a harvest this year...

thank you..it took 3 attempts and 11 years to get this far... they were slated to be removed, but as long as they produce they can stay.

 

[majorcatfish]

well after a slow start the blackberries they are looking a bit small but very full, they were pollinated very well.
and have already trimmed the primocanes back.



i call dibs on this one


of course the kiwi...... still too early to tell what the count will be.

 

[bj taylor]

that kind of fruit production just blows me away! truly incredible

 

[journey11]

Wow, they are loaded! Oh the pies you will soon get to enjoy...

 

[baymule]

Hey! Send some to Texas! (and I'll send you a crawfish starter kit!)

 

[lesa]

Sometimes the one thing gardeners need is some patience! Everything looks wonderful... my berry bushes are really loaded this year, too. Enjoy!

 

[MontyJ]

I have wanted to plant "domestic" blackberries but have been afraid too. The wild ones on the back of the property had rust for years. I was afraid it would spread to the new plants. I know rust is systemic and there is no cure, but here is an interesting thing I noticed. In 2011 the county came through the back of the property and installed the city sewer. They bulldozed all of the wild berries. Last year they actually came back and looked pretty good. This year, they were covered in blooms and are making berries, but no sign of rust??? I don't understand how that's possible since the rust fungus lives in the roots as well as the rest of the plant. I haven't stomped over the hill to check closely yet, but usually it's pretty obvious.

Your blackberries look awesome! Do you have much trouble with disease?

 

[majorcatfish]

I have wanted to plant "domestic" blackberries but have been afraid too. The wild ones on the back of the property had rust for years. I was afraid it would spread to the new plants. I know rust is systemic and there is no cure, but here is an interesting thing I noticed. In 2011 the county came through the back of the property and installed the city sewer. They bulldozed all of the wild berries. Last year they actually came back and looked pretty good. This year, they were covered in blooms and are making berries, but no sign of rust??? I don't understand how that's possible since the rust fungus lives in the roots as well as the rest of the plant. I haven't stomped over the hill to check closely yet, but usually it's pretty obvious.

Your blackberries look awesome! Do you have much trouble with disease?

on the wild berries have not seen orange rust in years, but most of the wildones are gone..
the only problem i have seen are crown borers.
edit;;; and double blossom
otherwise not a lick of problems..