Record Texas Blackberry Harvest... Hmm? Siru..Hasiya?..AK??? KLVUK? Pick one!

Scara said:
They weren't wild bushes. They were a few small ones growing in the backyard so that wasn't as big a worry, but it did mean fewer berries. Still, that family wasn't likely ever to harvest even what they had. Interesting that it's not drought hardy, as it's in a drought prone area. Then again, it was in the backyard and they had a sprinkler system. I miss Texas all of a sudden.
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The thornless blackberry plants can handle drought just fine, as in survive. I said they are not as drought hardy as the native blackberries.

This mostly translates into a lower growth rate & berry production during drought... vs ...the native blackberries.

Native BBs will still produce, even in drought conditions. The berries will be small & not as numerous, but they'll produce...
Where as the thornless BBs will tend to not even flower during a drought.

I think thornless BBs are just genetically weak. I had a few thornless vines growing at my place, but they only grew half as fast as the natives.
During the wet season, the natives grow like kudzu.
The thornless BBs eventually got choked out by the natives.
The same is true for thornless roses & thornless raspberries. They are not as hardy as the thorned species. This seems to be a common theme for the Rosaceae Family as a whole.

Note: I'm using the term native to distinguish the original species from the newer thornless cultivars, b/c blackberries are really a naturalized species in the US.

Rubus armeniacus... also known as the Himalayan Blackberry, (HA! :D so appropriate for this forum), is native to Armenia & Northern Iran, & widely naturalized in almost all temperate climates. This species of blackberry is so aggressive & well naturalized, it's considered an invasive species in the US... hence ndog's pics
 
They are invasive alright! Even the grass gets choked out by them. Himalayan Blackberry:thumbup: I have noticed that once you get a patch that produces mass quantities it will not do well the next year but next to it where the new growth stuff is produces like crazy. Supposedly after a cane produces its best to cut it and also its good to cut the new cane once it gets three or four feet long so it will spread out and make more berries. More berries is not what I need now so I dont worry about that. They dont like growing in the shade. I do plan to replant some in a certain area in rows so I can cultivate some and just learn from them but thats obviously not high on my priority list. Thanks for all the good info 00:thumbup:
 
ndoghouse said:
I have noticed that once you get a patch that produces mass quantities it will not do well the next year but next to it where the new growth stuff is produces like crazy. Supposedly after a cane produces its best to cut it and also its good to cut the new cane once it gets three or four feet long so it will spread out and make more berries.
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This is b/c blackberry canes are biannual, but they have a perennial root system. The canes flower on the 2nd year.

If you want to make BB rows, it wouldn't take much time to do. Just mow paths through a BB patch & call it done. :D

If you try to do anything fancy, like making boarders or planting beds, you will get quickly overwhelmed once those plants get established. Believe me I've tried this. Once my BB plants got going.... they GOT going.

It only took 3 years for them to become a huge, tangled, uncontrollable mass. Ever try to contain bamboo? Yeah... it's like that at 3x speed.
That creeping rhizomeous root system sprawls everywhere. Plus... any canes that touch the ground, root into new plants & spread that way too; like the runners on strawberries.
So I just regularly cut pathways through the patch now instead of trying to grow them in rows. Too much upkeep for the latter.

I pitty the fool, who tries to grow blackberries in rows. :cool:
 
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We have several BB's here in the PNW. These are about eight feet tall and fairly thorny, and produce large seedy berries; they are not native blackberries and are invasive. The native blackberries are the best for pies and jam as the berries are firmer and have smaller or less seed, and are similar looking to what ndoghouse posted. I'll take some photos in July when they ripen. We have several other berry species here in the great greenhouse of the NW.



I think I need a good knife.....



 
00Turok said:
This is b/c blackberry canes are biannual, but they have a perennial root system. The canes flower on the 2nd year.

If you want to make BB rows, it wouldn't take much time to do. Just mow paths through a BB patch & call it done. :D

If you try to do anything fancy, like making boarders or planting beds, you will get quickly overwhelmed once those plants get established. Believe me I've tried this. Once my BB plants got going.... they GOT going.

It only took 3 years for them to become a huge, tangled, uncontrollable mass. Ever try to contain bamboo? Yeah... it's like that at 3x speed.
That creeping rhizomeous root system sprawls everywhere. Plus... any canes that touch the ground, root into new plants & spread that way too; like the runners on strawberries.
So I just regularly cut pathways through the patch now instead of trying to grow them in rows. Too much upkeep for the latter.

I pitty the fool, who tries to grow blackberries in rows. :cool:
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Man you got this nailed brother! I think your on to something. I got so many dang berries that just having a path to get to them is a good thing. I love that approach! The canes that bore the fruit this year are already dried up and dead so the new canes are growing now for the next years crop. They will be dormant this winter but in the spring they will flower for new berries. No need to mess with them since they are giving me more than I can deal with.
I just finished transfering the wine off the lees (Yeast layer) and pulp etc and looks like I got about 10.5 gallons plus of wine off these babies. I tasted it tonight and no off flavors. I measured again today after removing all the solid seeds and yeast stuff and i got 14.5% alcohol by volume. Just to verify my measurements I drank a big glass of it and i aint lying:D
Gunstock: Those look prolific as mine but look like a different species. More broadleaf but the berries look the same. Thats some sweet knives too. I like the one with the thin waist! very nice! Those look a bit more friendly to pick. They arent as thick to get too but if they get to 8 feet tall then I guess they might could cause you some problems without a good blade. Thanks for them cool pics. I sure want to make me a trip to that area for some camping and exploring.
 
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Gunstock, you could have taken that picture in the spare lot behind me neighbors house that looks so much like the mangled mess out there. And I live in the middle of a city. Tells you how invasive BB's really are, they grow berserk in a city lot surrounded by concrete and houses. We have to weed-wack the fence line to keep em from growing over the fence and infesting our yard.

NDog, yeah the problem with the ones I have up here is the height. They grow right over our fences. Plus is they grow into a tree limb they use that as a bridge to grow over into new spaces dropping down the seeds to start new canes. really hard to pick berries when the bush is way over your head.
 
Gunstockjack, could you tell me a little bit about the blades in the picture?

Left one looks like an E-nep? But I'm more curious about the 2nd one. Thanks.
 
Moonw said:
Gunstockjack, could you tell me a little bit about the blades in the picture?

Left one looks like an E-nep? But I'm more curious about the 2nd one. Thanks.
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Yeah. Second that. The Khuk shaped one caught my eye at first but looking at that chopper zero edge maple(?) handled one again...Im really liking that one! Very cool!

Shavru: Thats why I carry that 25" Siru. Them long canes are hazardous! Sometimes i have to stick the tip of it in the ground and woller me out a place to stand. Ill be crotch level in them while picking. If I ever see a copperhead in there and need to bolt id be in trouble. I think id just have to get bit or whack its head off. Im really surprised I havent seen more snakes but the Redtail hawks must be keeping them at bay. My dogo caught him another rabbit yesterday:thumbup:
 
The blackberries we commonly see up around here, same neighborhood as gunstock and shavru aren't near as good as them big plump ones kamidog is pickin. They are pretty good but smaller, not much to em and not nearly as sweet.

Your mention of a copperhead just plumb took all the desire I might of had to pick berries with ya down yonder. I never much liked picking berries no how.
I'd be happy to stand watch for ya with me trusted side by side scattergun, just be sure to jump for all your worth when I shout snake, wet myself, shoot and roll away rapidly all at the same time. We call that multi tasking in the snake guarding business.
 
Bawanna said:
The blackberries we commonly see up around here, same neighborhood as gunstock and shavru aren't near as good as them big plump ones kamidog is pickin. They are pretty good but smaller, not much to em and not nearly as sweet.[/QUOTE

You're right Bawanna, but I know where there are huge patches of the native blackberries usually ready in July sometime. They are by far the best BBs found in the state, but are hard to find anymore.
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Thanks for your comments guys, and here are some picts of the knives in question. From the top; a whatzit tool from SE Asia, any guesses? Next is a 17.5 inch Chainpura by Purna weighing in at 23.4 oz. Beneath the Khuk is a Bark River 'Little Creek' in CPM3V thrown in for comparison. Next is an name unknown fighter from Thailand at 18 in. and 13 oz.; I'd appreciate any comments on this knife as well. Then we have my favorite oldie, a WWII bring back from the Philipines brought home by my dad. He called it a bolo knife and used it for years camping and general chopping stuff. When he finally gave it to me it was held together by black electrical tape and was in rough shape with busted handle and missing keeper. The sheath is wood but in rough shape as well. I restored it as best as I could and it is a great user at 19 inches and 16.7 oz. I have been looking for a similar knife for years but cannot find anything like it. At the bottom is my Bark River Brush Knife, a fine knife if a little heavy and not nearly as well balanced as the Khuk.









They are all fairly heavy knives, but the Khukuri is the broadest across the spine, even though the BR is slightly heavier.



Hope you all enjoyed the picture show! :)
 
That WWII Bolo bring back knocks me plumb out of the chair. That's sweet as can be.

That whatzit tool scares the heck out of me, for some reason it screams cannibals and me boiling in a big ole pot.

I can't help none with history or origins, that Thailand fighter is way cool but I don't know nothing about it.

I'm a misplaced transitioning gun guy that feels fortunate the folks here let me hang out with em.
 
Hehe, Bawanna, I think it actually is what is called a "reaping hook" Now in this day and age Reaping hooks are thought to be bladed, sort of like a Hasiya (sickle) but in pre-industrial England they had rounded ones sort of like that.
reapinghook_zpsuzal4pjd.jpg
 
So they gonna reap some wheat or something, add a little fiber to the bawanna stew?
 
Shavru said:
Hehe, Bawanna, I think it actually is what is called a "reaping hook" Now in this day and age Reaping hooks are thought to be bladed, sort of like a Hasiya (sickle) but in pre-industrial England they had rounded ones sort of like that.
reapinghook_zpsuzal4pjd.jpg
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Nope, not a reaping hook. HINT: The tool in question's purpose is for encouraging unwilling workers in Thailand. (non-human workers)
 
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! Nice job Philllll. It is an elephant goad used by a Mahout for directing his mount; called an ankus.
 
Well since you say you've been looking for a similar knife, although not sure if it fits the bill to a 'T', I would recommend you to check out the Thai Aranyik Eneps. To me it looks like a machete on steroids, what the E-nep is in fact. One with a deep belly.

It doesn't really evoke a traditional bolo, but you might want to check a source for those at http://filipinobolos.com/ .

Disclaimer: I didn't get one yet, but they seem to be serious users and I intend to.
 
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