When I asked about how much a grape vine grows in a year (weather or not it will need support in the first year), I also mentioned I was getting several kinds of friut bearing plants (1 self-fertile sweet cherry dwarf tree, 1 seedless concord grape vine, 1 seedless white grape vine (marquis), 1 black currant bush, 1 white currant bush, & 6 black raspberry canes (allen)). Well I got the plants (federal express truck) the very next day. Now I seem to have buds on everything except the seedless concord grape & the white currant (for now at least). I'm hopeing some warmer weather will come soon & that these 2 plants are only lagging behind the others (they still seem to be green in the stems).

Does anyone know at what age these plants will start bearing fruit? (I truely don't expect anything for at least a couple of years.) The sweet cherry is supposed to be 1 year when I bought it. At what age will it start bearing fruit (at least give me a few guesses, please)? In fact I think everything is supposed to be 1 year old. I would like comments on all plants mentioned if possible (please, please, pretty please), even some guesses.

Thanks for your help

animalfarms (central IN)

P.S. The temp here lately has been in the upper 60's during the day, & in the 50's at night (and rainy). I'm also in zone 5 for those that don't know this area.

-- animalfarms (jwlewis@indy.net), June 02, 2001

Answers

Response to How long until it bears fruit?

Hello, I have had grape vines with a few grapes on them at three years of age. My raspberries bloomed and had a few berries the second year and my cherry tree is over 7 foot tall (age unknown, have had it two years but it was already 6ft. tall when it was planted)it hasn't bloomed yet. I haven't grown any currents but am thinking of planting one. Which do you like the best--red,black or whites ones? What is the taste like? How will you use them (Dried, jelly/jams etc.)? Good luck Debbie

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), June 02, 2001.

Response to How long until it bears fruit?

I haven't eaten any currents before (you will have a hard time finding anyone that sells the fresh fruit (like almost never)). If you want to grow them, check for state restrictions, as some states have bands on them for disease (can't have currants & white pine together & gooseberries have the same restrictions as currants). You can use them for anything you would use any other fruit for (ie.. pies, cobblers, jams/jellies, dried they are called raisins as grapes are, & fresh eating, as well as anything else you can think of).

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jwlewis@indy.net), June 02, 2001.

Response to How long until it bears fruit?

This is just a broad guess, but I've planted lots of fruit trees and a few vines. Most things will take a couple of years to bear a few fruit, the third year they will do much better. We planted grape vines, I'm guessing 3 years ago, they were showing their first few fruits when we moved.

-- mary, in colorado (marylgarcia@aol.com), June 02, 2001.

Response to How long until it bears fruit?

Really, for the long-term health of your trees and vines, you should strip any fruit that develops before three or four years of age. Let the plants put their effort toward growing a good root system, trunk and branches before they waste energy on a handful of fruit. You will have a better survival rate for your trees and vines should you have a hard freeze, drought, wind, or too much rain.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), June 02, 2001.

Response to How long until it bears fruit?

Laura mentioned an important fact.You should stip your tress of fruit the first 2 or 3 years they fruit.So if you wait 2 years to get fruit then you pick off all the fruits the first year and second year ,that will make it the 5th year after planting you'll get to eat some fruit.It's tempting to let them stay on cause it takes so long to fruit , but the first few years it fruits ,the fruits are not good anyway.

-- SM Steve (a12goat@cs.com), June 02, 2001.

I estimate that it would be about three years. I planted apples, peaches, cherries, raspberries and grapes last year. Out of all that I have two apples and one peach on a tree. The cherry trees had blossoms but I see no cherries. If your looking for a fast fruit try strawberries. I plant some this year and they had blossoms on them. I pinched them off to help make the plants stronger. Next year I should have strawberries. The plants are also sending out runners already.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), June 04, 2001.