5

Just started gardening with my kids. We bought some dieing plants from H.D. for $3 each and figured we would see if we could save them. So far so good, we have some new growth.

One of the plants, however, has a different set of stalks, leaves, and buds(?) Along with the stalks that look like the other plant. It looks like it is growing out of the center of the growth in old stalks that look to of been cut back.

Is this part of the blackberry plant or something we need to eliminate?

1 in picture of where plant in question is growing out of, 2 is next to the stalk that looks like the other blackberry plant.

We are in the U.S. zone 10.

(1) EDIT FOR ADDITIONAL INFO. Thanks for the replies. We have about 12 other plants we are growing from seeds, they just spouted so the kids are excited.

We brought them back to pretty good health compared to when we bought them. We just recently repotted out of the store pot into these knee high pots I had. (Future build of raised beds so don't have a layout to ground plant them yet.

The are in a mixture of potting soil, our local sandy "dirt", pine needles compost, and maybe some other leftover bags I had. I didn't notice the green beads before. I assume that was in the plant potting mix. Yes I did put rocks in bottom, it has drainage. The soil had dried out to at least a deep as my index finger so we had just watered it before I took pictures.
I was going to pull the growth in question but then I noticed it was growing out of a thick stalk right next to the blackberry. I just wanted to verify before I ripped plants out. Then I found this nice site.

Thank you all for answers, and input.

(2) MY RESULTS Thanks for the suggestions and answers. I figured it was not a blackberry, but wanted to make sure I didn't miss something in my googling. I removed the plant in question. See how it goes. It was in the middle of two B.Berry stalks. Had to separate the potting clump to pull it out of the middle of the two. Hopefully I didn't damage it. We shall see. Fun project for the kids. Including updated pictures.

Cleaned out and separated into two

two separate purchased new growth on other rescue

enter image description here

enter image description here enter image description here

enter image description here

blackberry?

Improve this question
3
  • 1
    Another picture please. looks like more than a blackberry...Did you use garden soil or did you use potting soil? How many plants did you plant? Just one, the blackberry? What type of blackberry, they should at least be able to tell you that much. Looks like you are watering too much, there are fertilizer beads most likely from the nursery? Looks almost like a succulent annual called impatiens. Leave it for now. Cut all seeds off that plant in the top picture. That one may be a weed that came with the garden soil you used. Rescuing plants is sweet, especially at 3 bucks each!
    – stormy
    May 3, 2018 at 3:20
  • I would make sure to try some healthy plants to grow with your kids.. Use only potting soil, no rocks or gravel at the bottom, need a drainage hole, let the soil dry out some before watering again. Do not water unless that pot and soil and plant(s) feel decidedly light (feel the heft now, there is too much water in that soil right now and too few roots to suck it up). If water stays in that soil too long you will find other problems such as fungus and insects...that came in with your shovel full of garden soil. Use only potting soil. Leave an inch from rim to surface of soil for watering.
    – stormy
    May 3, 2018 at 3:28
  • I agree with @stormy : an overall picture would be nice. We just need to upvote you over the initial 2-pictures-max limit.
    – Stephie ♦
    May 3, 2018 at 5:50

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

The “different” plant is a hitchhiker, either from some random seed or already brought in with the blackberry from the nursery.

Without further ado, I recommend you pull it out. It will compete with the blackberry for nutrition and space and the priority should be the wanted plant over the unwanted one.

Once the blackberry is well established and either in the ground or a sufficiently large container, you can think about growing something that stays low (the blackberry will go up) under it, because blackberry deals comparatively well with companion plants. For now, it should get exclusive access to all resources, though.

If the blackberry has been cut back in the nursery, that shouldn’t be an issue, they are pretty resilient and in the future, you will be removing the spent canes, i.e. those in the second year that bore fruit, making room for the new canes. The chances of the blackberry thriving are pretty good.

Improve this answer
2
  • 3
    The hitchhiker looks like probably some kind of amaranth. It might come back invasively every year if you let seeds escape.
    – Brōtsyorfuzthrāx
    May 4, 2018 at 0:37
  • Thank you both, we will be cleaning it out first thing tomorrow.
    – Scot
    May 4, 2018 at 4:48

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.