As I haven't got an allotment yet, I have to make do with my very small garden. I love raspberries, and I thought I would give a go to planting some in containers and train them against a sunny wall. I don't know anybody who has grown them in this way... Should I expect total and utter failure, or do you think I have some chance to harvest a few berries in summer? My varieties are Glen Cova and Autumn Bliss.

I don't think they will do very well. The spread like weeds in soil and have deep roots. Also the fruit will suffer if they dry out, which they probably will!
Good luck though if you try.
:)

cris71, your message makes me think you're on the allotment waiting list - am I right? And if so, for which site and how long have you been waiting for? May be off topic, but I agree with neeeeeeeeek, raspberries are better in soil, although I'm not sure if your varieties might do well in containers.

Hi, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately containers are my only chance, so I'll see what happens and keep you posted.

Zweena, I am on the waiting list for the allotments on Harris Road (Hillsborough), but the people on the list have been waiting for over a year, so I wonder if I shouldn't get on some other site's waiting list. It's so frustrating, because so many of the allotments on Harris Road are unkempt and clearly not used, yet none are available. I am seriously considering squatting one... I have also been to the available sites on the Rivelin Valley and Hagg House, but they are so unbelievable overgrown I am a bit daunted by the sheer amount of work ahead. My husband is particularly "scared" about the whole thing. Also, you can't even tell what allotment you are viewing!

Have you tried Hagg Lane ones Cris71? We were on the waiting list for just under 6 months and there are about 200 sites in total, so I would guess some are free (and some certainly look free from where we are).

Zweena, that's an idea. What state are they in, are they as badly overgrown as the ones in the Hagg House site? And as "lonely"? If not, it might be an idea, as the area is quite local to Hillsborough, were I live.

You can indeed grow raspberries in containers! My brother grew some this year in medium-sized troughs, and they fruited. You do have to water them a lot though, and the yeild won't be as big as soil-grown. Have a go!

Zweena, that's an idea. What state are they in, are they as badly overgrown as the ones in the Hagg House site? And as "lonely"? If not, it might be an idea, as the area is quite local to Hillsborough, were I live.

The hagg lane ones are good - they start at stephen hill road and extend all the way across to hagg lane. We're at the hagg lane end, and it's much quieter than stephen hill, but nowhere near as 'lonely' as Hagg House; there are allotmenteers on all sides of us. Our site was very overgrown (for progression, see www.flickr.com/photos/bramford-hale) but, with help from friends, we managed to clear a lot in a short space. We looked at Hagg House as well, but too many trees and we were worried about the isolation at the time.

Let me know how you get on!

Zweena, that's an idea. What state are they in, are they as badly overgrown as the ones in the Hagg House site? And as "lonely"? If not, it might be an idea, as the area is quite local to Hillsborough, were I live.

It is true that the hagg house ones are quite badly overgown, but there are more and more people taking plots up and where we are near the bottom of the hill is becomming quite clear and fairly busy at the weekend.

I considered putting my name on the waiting list for Hagg hill, but was quite keen to get on with it and knowing that we have a few months to clear it out in preperation for next spring, thought I would give hagg house a go.

With a little help from the family and some encouragement from friendly fellow allotmenters, we have managed to clear our plot (mostly) in about 3/4 weekends work.

We live in the Malin Bridge end of Hillsborough, so the location is ideal for us too!

Whatever you decide, good luck :thumbsup:

Dan
No. 43 - Hagg House

p.s. on the actual thread topic: I have raspberries growing in the ground, but have no idea if they would do well in containers, sorry. However, a quick search on google gave some promising results which would suggest that it is possible.

Continuing the campaign to 'big up' the Hagg House site... :lol:

Since taking on a plot at the beginning of September, the neighbouring plots to the left right, front and back have been taken. It is quiet down there at the moment, but remember it's November not the most hospitable of months for spending hours on end down there. Despite that there are quite a few people around at weekends these days.

Yep they're a lot of work, but that's true of any allotment you're going to get - you don't tend to get a nicely cultivated ones off the waiting list. But there are now quite a few of us in a similar situation of starting out to encourage one another along. Not convinced? Pop down at the weekend and find a fellow Hagg House envangalist :lol:

It's also worth remembering that a quick walk down the Rivelin Valley (about 15 mins) and you're at the cafe in Rivelin park!