Bard from the Bookshop

I have a thornless blackberry, a couple of self-seeded brambles that may or may not be any good, and two loganberry plants at the #Allotment. I'll need to trail them up something, but I don't have anything existing to do this, and limited DIY skills. What is the simplest and most cost effective way to support them as they grow?

I was thinking tall fence posts and strong string or wire, like for cordoning trees maybe?

Any advice welcome.

#GrowYourOwn

Feb 28, 2024 at 7:09pmWeb
Show threadLionelBFeb 28, 2024

@BardfromtheBookshop

For posts a post borer is a wonderful thing. You can hire them for very little. There is a T shaped handle and the spike is an Archimedes screw. The great thing about them is that they cut a narrow hole. Usually 100mm or 150mm. You can go deep with minimal effort, without disturbing the adjacent ground.

Blackberries will need support poles with *serious* foundations.

Show threadBard from the BookshopFeb 28, 2024
@lionelb that's really good to know. Thanks!
Show threadhicksy2Feb 29, 2024
@lionelb @BardfromtheBookshop I broke a hand auger when I used it, resulting in an emergency trip to Machine Mart to buy a replacement. They are neat tools for making neat holes though.
Show threadBard from the BookshopFeb 29, 2024
@hicksy2 @lionelb thanks for the heads up.
Show threadChaosHofFeb 29, 2024
@BardfromtheBookshop so it helps to fertilize with foliage because it keeps the heat in the biden but i don't know which kind of foliage. i tried to find a paper on scienceOS about this but didn't really find anything. maybe you have more success there?
Show threadhicksy2Feb 29, 2024
@BardfromtheBookshop hammering posts in can be more work than you think, once you've cut them from the coppice. If you hit any hard ground, the tops split. Shortcut I use is to hammer in plastic drainpipes (goes on easier), then screw posts inside them. I'll send a picture of the polytunnel I repaired using this bodge.