Blackthorn query...

[big fell!]

Evening chaps, I have recently moved to Scotland and my new place has loadsa land with the house. I always used to help my dad when i was little making sloe gin and i still enjoy doing it. I like collecting the sloes, adding it all together, waiting for it to mature then drinking it! I want to grow some on my own land but i dont want to wait years and years for them to come up with the goods.... Is there anywhere in southwest scotland that would sell mature blackthorns? Or, how well do they transplant? Any thoughts or ideas would be great...

[slack ma girdle]

there will definatley be somewhere nearby where you will be able to help yourself (black thorn is everywhere). Mature trees in pots or bags do not come cheap

[big fell!]

I was thinking that. Seen loads at the side of the road but its a bit dodgy.... Il keep an eye out. Thanks though mate!

[richyrich]

Evening chaps, I have recently moved to Scotland and my new place has loadsa land with the house. I always used to help my dad when i was little making sloe gin and i still enjoy doing it. I like collecting the sloes, adding it all together, waiting for it to mature then drinking it! I want to grow some on my own land but i dont want to wait years and years for them to come up with the goods.... Is there anywhere in southwest scotland that would sell mature blackthorns? Or, how well do they transplant? Any thoughts or ideas would be great...

 

don't plant blackthorns unless you have time to cut down the suckers. i have 100metres in a hedge if you have a jcb. only joking, they are good for bullfinches.

[big fell!]

don't plant blackthorns unless you have time to cut down the suckers. i have 100metres in a hedge if you have a jcb. only joking, they are good for bullfinches.

 

Cheers

[Charlieh]

we move suckers around by digging them out with a front end loader and planting them in a trench for instant hedgerows seems to work ok get about 50% success for very little effort, and will normally produce a small crop of sloes in the first winter, if you have plenty of space and a loader tractor with a bucket just ask around locally as im sure someone will have some you can have,

[big fell!]

I keep hearing the term suckers... Is that a term for self sets or whole new tree's? I have about 3 acres but have plans for pigs and chickens aswell. Back to the good life! Thanks so far guys, you've been very helpful.

[richyrich]

I keep hearing the term suckers... Is that a term for self sets or whole new tree's? I have about 3 acres but have plans for pigs and chickens aswell. Back to the good life! Thanks so far guys, you've been very helpful.

 

suckers are the new shoots that the roots send up. watch out as they can spread a few metres from the parent plant. they can grow really dense and need cutting down every year - unless you want them to take over! nothing much will grow beneath them. they can be a real nuisance!!