How to pamper berry bushes?

[Anew2013]

Hello there!

I just managed to procure my own little berry garden type deal. I have a blackberry (thornless), a raspberry(very thorny ), A blue berry sprout, and a small fig...with figs already on it I thought those guys didn't get their figs till they were older? Oh, and I also have a rhubarb bulb that needs a little spoiling too I can't plant for a few days since there will be two more days of late night frosts before spring becomes official :bun So any tips on keeping healthy while still indoors and in pots would be a bonus

Please and thank you

OH! I'm zone 9 and plan on using horse manure and bunny poop as fertilizer...though I am unsure how to approach that subject...do I just sprinkle it on top once planted or do I need to mix it in with the soil before planting...or what

 

[so lucky]

As you have figured out by now, just because the calender says it's spring, doesn't mean it's safe to plant, yet. I'd say hold off on the fig till you see people planting tomatoes around you. The blueberries and brambles probably can be planted now if they don't have leaves yet. I must say I am not an expert on any of these, and never saw a fig tree, but I get the feeling they wouldn't be hardy in my zone 6, so that is why I cautioned you to wait a while. I'm sure others on the forum have some actual experience in this.............

 

[MontyJ]

The berries and rhubarb can be planted now, even if they have leaves. I light frost shouldn't hurt them. Even it did knock the leaves off, they will just rebud. Throw a little mulch over the rhubarb. Mine tried to come up last week and got froze hard. It will be back. I don't know about the fig tree.
If the horse manure is not composted, you will need to compost it first, before using it. I don't have rabbits, but I understand their droppings can be used immediately.

Welcome to TEG!

 

[Smart Red]

I get the feeling they wouldn't be hardy in my zone 6, so that is why I cautioned you to wait a while. I'm sure others on the forum have some actual experience in this.............

The Turkey Fig is actually hardy in zone 7. It can be raised in zone 6 if planted in a sheltered spot. There are directions for overwintering Turkey Fig trees planted outside in zone 5. Some day I hope to try making it work.

 

[Anew2013]

The berries and rhubarb can be planted now, even if they have leaves. I light frost shouldn't hurt them. Even it did knock the leaves off, they will just rebud. Throw a little mulch over the rhubarb. Mine tried to come up last week and got froze hard. It will be back. I don't know about the fig tree.
If the horse manure is not composted, you will need to compost it first, before using it. I don't have rabbits, but I understand their droppings can be used immediately.

Welcome to TEG!

How long does it take for horse manure to compost..and does it need any special treatment of does sitting out in a field for month count?

 

[MontyJ]

How long it will take depends on many factors. How much bedding (straw, swdust, pine shavings, etc...) is in it, is it turned and aerated properly, is the moisture content correct, etc... The best rule of thumb is: if it looks like horse poop, it's horse poop. If it looks like dirt, it's compost. If you can tell me what it looks like, I can tell you what to do to get it cooking fast. If it came from a stable, it probably has a lot of bedding in it and will take some work to get it going. If there is a lot of bedding, do not mix it into the soil. It will rob all the nitrogen away from your plants.

 

[Anew2013]

How long it will take depends on many factors. How much bedding (straw, swdust, pine shavings, etc...) is in it, is it turned and aerated properly, is the moisture content correct, etc... The best rule of thumb is: if it looks like horse poop, it's horse poop. If it looks like dirt, it's compost. If you can tell me what it looks like, I can tell you what to do to get it cooking fast. If it came from a stable, it probably has a lot of bedding in it and will take some work to get it going. If there is a lot of bedding, do not mix it into the soil. It will rob all the nitrogen away from your plants.

It probably still looks like poop :/ , I haven't been out to look at it but a few of my neighbors have horses and I know they wouldn't mind if I went out there and shoveled some. In one field any manure there would be a couple months old, the other field would have stuff that was still pretty fresh. I might just go ahead with just the bunny poo for planting these plants since it can be used now but I'd love some tips on how to compost stuff. That would be awesome (since it's out in a field there wouldn't be any bedding )

 

[MontyJ]

If you are scooping it right out of the field, get ready for a lot of work. You will need a pile about 3 feet high for a good composting operation. That's a lot of poop to scoop. On the brighter side, horse manure has the correct C:N ratio for composting, right out of the horses butt. All you will have to do is build a pile large enough, again about 3 feet high. Let it heat up for about a week, then turn it completely. Let it heat up again, and repeat. Make sure it stays moist, but not wet. Squeezing a handfull should produce moisture, but not be dripping. In about 4-6 weeks, you should have compost.

 

[Anew2013]

If you are scooping it right out of the field, get ready for a lot of work. You will need a pile about 3 feet high for a good composting operation. That's a lot of poop to scoop. On the brighter side, horse manure has the correct C:N ratio for composting, right out of the horses butt. All you will have to do is build a pile large enough, again about 3 feet high. Let it heat up for about a week, then turn it completely. Let it heat up again, and repeat. Make sure it stays moist, but not wet. Squeezing a handfull should produce moisture, but not be dripping. In about 4-6 weeks, you should have compost.

You will need a pile about 3 feet high

a pile about 3 feet high

3 feet high




That's a lot of horse manure....Golly...I'm gonna need a wheel borrow...and a big shovel...and...super powers...yep, that's what I need, super compost creating super powers...it's the only way. LOL

Okay okay, seriously now, Thank you for the info, I'm going to see what I can do about procuring that wheel barrow and shovel...I don't know about the super powers though, I may have to find some kind of radioactive compost heap to get those


So do I need to cover it or anything? Do I need to put it in some kind of container? Sorry, I really am a newby here

 

[897tgigvib]

Anew, all of those are good to plant right now. For any late frosts this first year in the ground, only the fig and blueberry might need a bit of cover.

Blackberries and Raspberries are easily tough enough for any frosts you'l ever get. They won't even notice it. I'm a zone colder than you, and mine are enjoying the weather. For some reason, frosts seem to be done right here, but all around me out of the lake basin it is still frosting. Might be the lake itself. It stayed moderately deep this winter.