A Soft Fruit Garden

[lindylou16]

Hello. I am in the process of making a small softfruit garden (5 bushes,currants and the like.) They are now in tubs coming into leaf. What i propose oto do is 1. Dig the plot. 2 make 5 large holes fill with compost and plant bushes here. 3 Cover the plot with weed supressant and then gravel. Question would this be OK? Thx

[lindylou16]

Thank you for that, what I wanted to know and some.

[Chipchopper]

Sounds like a good plan Lindylou!
Be prepared to share the fruits of your labor with the birds.
Otherwise net over the bushes to ensure that you get a look in.
Don't expect a bumper crop, in the first year.
Good luck.

[Tilly2]

Don't plant a gooseberry bush. The pain of harvesting them outweighs the pleasure of eating them. :-)

[CluckyChick]

What you propose will be fine in any soil except clay. In clay, the holes you propose would act like buckets, so the compost would get waterlogged and the bushes could rot. Good suggestion in 1st answer of mixing soil and compost up a bit. Personally I use my neighbour's shredded hedge clippings on top as mulch - it keeps the weeds down brilliantly and adds organic matter and nutrients to soil. You might want to google the Ruth Stout method as another option.

[lindylou16]

Thank you all.

[woofgang]

lindylou16, if you like to garden, you might like to visit this thread for advice and a natter. https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question1600584.html