Blackberry Thanks to the Bees

Pond Creek Farm · July 15, 2008, 11:40:31 PM

We have a blackberry bramble we planted a few years ago across the creek from where two of our hives are now located. The blackberries have grown every year but have never done too well by way of fruit production. This year (the first year with our hives) the bramble has exploded. We have more blackberries that we can say grace over. My wife has even suggested we take some and make some wine. I noticed the bees were all over the white flowers a couple of months ago, and I have to think they are responsible for this newfound success. So now they give me honey and blackberries; what a great hobby.

Brian D. Bray · July 16, 2008, 12:06:25 AM

Quote from: Pond Creek Farm on July 15, 2008, 11:40:31 PM
We have a blackberry bramble we planted a few years ago across the creek from where two of our hives are now located. The blackberries have grown every year but have never done too well by way of fruit production. This year (the first year with our hives) the bramble has exploded. We have more blackberries that we can say grace over. My wife has even suggested we take some and make some wine. I noticed the bees were all over the white flowers a couple of months ago, and I have to think they are responsible for this newfound success. So now they give me honey and blackberries; what a great hobby.

Cause and Effect and it's Affect.

jgarzasr · July 16, 2008, 02:42:47 PM

Our previous house that we moved from a couple years ago - we let the bramble grow wild. Right after I started beekeeping - the berry harvest was bountiful. Huge blackberries - and we miss them. On our current property - we only have wild raspberries / black raspberries - but nothing like our last house. I drove by there last year and the new homeowner hacked them all down - probably didn't like the thorns.

However, We made wine from them one year and it was excellent! ..... I plan on trying to plant some canes next year.

Good luck with the wine - and if you have some extra honey - good sweetener for the wine.

Pond Creek Farm · July 16, 2008, 04:58:30 PM

Our plants are Apache and Triple Crown. Big berries with no thorns.

jgarzasr · July 17, 2008, 09:48:29 AM

how many canes did you plant initially to get the harvest you have now. Like I said - the ones we had grew wild - so I never have planted any. But we want to next year - or maybe a fall planting if possible. thanks.

Pond Creek Farm · July 17, 2008, 02:00:55 PM

we ordered four apache and four triple crown. They will not bear the fitst year but will bear every year thereafter. Pruning helps a lot.

KONASDAD · July 18, 2008, 12:46:20 PM

I have same issue w/ standard old apple trees. i moved in the fall, no apples. Next year hundreds. Now 3 yrs of bee stinuklation and appropriate pruning, loads of apples. Rounder, firmer and better looking too. my one rasberry bush produces about 30lbs of juicy red rasberries as well. Hundreds of cucumbers from four vines, sqquash out the butt from a fe plants. I have no feral bees, but my bees make yard explode w/ life!
Bees are nature's fertilizer!!!

Brian D. Bray · July 18, 2008, 11:38:56 PM

Quote from: KONASDAD on July 18, 2008, 12:46:20 PM
I have same issue w/ standard old apple trees. i moved in the fall, no apples. Next year hundreds. Now 3 yrs of bee stinuklation and appropriate pruning, loads of apples. Rounder, firmer and better looking too. my one rasberry bush produces about 30lbs of juicy red rasberries as well. Hundreds of cucumbers from four vines, sqquash out the butt from a fe plants. I have no feral bees, but my bees make yard explode w/ life!
Bees are nature's fertilizer!!!

Actually they're nature's inseminaters.