If you like delicious plump blackberries but hate the thorns you will be happy to know that a thornless blackberry is available.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
These blackberries produce heavy crops of sweet, juicy fruit though the summer months.
Plant in full sun in humus-enriched, well-drained soil and provide a support for them to climb on.
Another soft fruit is the boysenberry which is cross between an European raspberry, a common blackberry and a loganberry.
The fruits are absolutely delicious and freeze well for later use.
Citrus combo
An interesting ornamental citrus specimen is the limequat, a hybrid cross between a cumquat and a key lime.
The fruits have a slightly more bitter taste than limes and are best picked green then allowed to ripen yellow.
Needs a warm, protected position so would be perfect grown in a large container.
Tassie flavours
The leaves and berries of the Tasmanian pepperberrry or mountain pepper add a zing to curries and a spicy flavour to cheeses.
A native shrub growing to about two metres high, it has dark green leaves and attractive red stems.
It favours a compost-enriched soil in a protected, shaded position.
Trimming down
Many deciduous fruit trees, vines and berry plants can be pruned by mid-winter.
After pruning apply a copper spray or lime sulphur.
Leave apricots, cherries and almonds till late summer to avoid the risk of canker.
An application of white oil to all deciduous fruit trees can be helpful in controlling overwintering insect pests.
Set the standard
Weeping standard roses bloom on stems that grew last season so to prune, remove all wood which has borne flowers and tip the new stems to keep in shape.
To control an overgrown bush, prune in July, but in future it is better to cut out the stems which have flowered immediately after the blooms have finished.
Going to pot
Most indoor plants need potting up from time to time regardless of the size or type of container.
If the plant is dry immerse the old pot completely in a tub of warm water as a wet root ball will come out more easily than a dry one.
In addition, warm water penetrates dry potting mix better than cold water.
If there is a tight mass of roots on the outside of the root ball, gently loosen them and break away about ten to 20 per cent of the old potting mix before repotting.
Place the plant in the new container and firm around with new potting mix.
Water thoroughly, allow to drain.