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Ruebens primocane blackberry not cold hardy?

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  • #1

    Ruebens primocane blackberry not cold hardy?

    I planted some Ruebens Primocane blackberries in March 2012 and they seemed to do well in there first year. They where still in full leaf with some flowers last December until the snow came and the leaves died off. I cut them down to about 4 inches agl in January.
    Now however there is no sign of life from them and I noticed a comment from FB that he had the same variety and his where looking dead also.
    I was wondering what other people had experienced and if anyone else on here has had any success or otherwise with this variety?
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  • #2
    I planted some in march 2010, never had any fruit, first year they grew to 18 inch high by September, then died down in the cold, every year they act like dead till at least June and a tiny shoot grows to about 6 inch long, never any fruit , every year the same , Ive only left them as i cant be bothered digging them up

    Ive never had to chop them down as they die down to a tiny thin dead stick with the cold

    Not exactly a productive plant
    Last edited by starloc; 06-05-2013, 09:39 PM.
    Living off grid and growing my own food in Bulgaria.....

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    • #3
      Originally posted by starloc View Post
      I planted some in march 2010, never had any fruit, first year they grew to 18 inch high by September, then died down in the cold, every year they act like dead till at least June and a tiny shoot grows to about 6 inch long, never any fruit , every year the same , Ive only left them as i cant be bothered digging them up

      Ive never had to chop them down as they die down to a tiny thin dead stick with the cold

      Not exactly a productive plant
      What's the climate like where you're growing your Reuben - especially what are the winters like?

      Also as you note: I find it's quite a weak-grower and not particularly productive, although they're not taking up much space so I'll see how they go if/when the run of unusually cold/wet/snowy winters ends.
      .

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      • #4
        Originally posted by starloc View Post
        , every year they act like dead till at least June and a tiny shoot grows to about 6 inch long,
        After seeing this I'll give them a bit longer before I dig them up to check if they are really dead. It sounds as though they are just late starters (hopefully).
        When I said mine did well in there 1st year I meant they seemed to get established ok. Thinking about it a bit they weren't anywhere near as vigorous as you would expect blackberries to be, but then thats why I bought this variety so I am not complaining.
        They put out a few stems to about 600mm high and produced about 4 berries in there 1st year.
        They seemed confused though as they seemed to grow most and flower most from mid Nov. on when you would expect them to be dying back with the cold.
        Last edited by digon; 10-05-2013, 06:48 AM.

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        • #5
          I too have the same problem with my Reuben's I. They only grow to about 2ft , flower now , when its too late , and die in winter. I don't know what to do with them .


          Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

          It has two chances , up or down.

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          • #6
            I had them planted in the UK but early this year I dug them up and I moved them to Bulgaria and they are still rubbish ,

            Its a very long growing season over there and still no fruit , no stems till May 6 plants 7 very short stems about 18 inch , one flower in June and it fell off

            Maybe this year they will be better with longer growing season and more heat
            In the winter in the garden its about -8C for a month with some nights down to -18C very rarely its colder one night -30C last year, from February its warming up to about 18-20C and after that 28-40C all year , about 25-30 in October in the day

            My views on them is they are a waste of money!

            The pound shop ones give more fruit, ok so its a year wait, but at £1 a pack much better value
            Last edited by starloc; 12-09-2013, 03:22 PM.
            Living off grid and growing my own food in Bulgaria.....

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            • #7
              Shoots from mine eventually re-emerged at the end of July. I'd almost given up hope.
              However this year its only reached about a foot in height and no chance of it fruiting. Very weak growing!
              Attached Files

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              • #8
                Until this topic resurfaced I'd forgotten about mine.
                I think they're still alive but as always very small, weedy and not producing any fruit.

                As they're not taking up much space they can stay. But I wouldn't bother with them again.
                But this year spring came late and we had a short summer - albeit quite pleasant and very dry. Maybe they'll be better another year (he says, in vain hope of a miracle).

                Despite the unremarkable year, my Bedford Giant blackberries* were outstanding: delicious sweet tropical flavours and berries almost as big as a walnut. Far superior to the wild type.

                *
                I think BG might be a hybrid or other genetically peculiar berry.
                .

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                • #9
                  I've got good old Loch Ness. Fruits reliably and over a long time which suits me. Now it's had a drop of rain the berries have really plumped up.
                  What's meant to be special about Reuben?

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                  • #10
                    Its meant to grow large fruit on this years new shoots , not that it seems to , I think there are some other primocane blackberries like this, just not many varietys of them,

                    this one just seems not to fruit at all on any years tiny shoots
                    Living off grid and growing my own food in Bulgaria.....

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                    • #11
                      Mmm, not convinced. I think I'll stick with what I've got!

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