Blackberries are easy to grow but need management

Transcription

1 1 Eric T. Stafne, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor and Fruit Specialist Mississippi State University Raspberries are not heat tolerant Blackberries are easy to grow but need management Insect pests are biggest problems

2 2 Primocane cane that emerges in spring and usually does not flower or fruit Floricane cane that overwinters and produces flowers and fruit in 2 nd year Torus middle part of berry. Blackberries have included torus. Raspberry fruit, torus removed when harvested. Erect straight up, degree depends on variety Trailing running along the ground Erect Trailing Thorny Thornless Floricane Fruiting (aka Summer Fruiting) Primocane Fruiting (aka Fall Fruiting)

3 3 Primocanes First year growth May bear fruit on certain types Floricanes Second year growth Fruit bearing canes Well drained, loamy soil best ph of is optimal, but will tolerate up to 7.5 Do a soil test before planting Slight slope Aspect facing E, SE, or NE best Must have access to good irrigation water Clear of invasive weeds Pesticides applied previously?

4 4 Feb or Mar ( if plants dormant: root cuttings or bare root ) Spread roots and cover Only 1 cultivar needed 2-3 inches of soil above the roots 2-3 x 8-10 feet spacing Apply 4-6 inches mulch Apply fertilizer according to soil test Split application at bloom and after harvest Fertilize annually and retest in 3 years Rooted cuttings in pot Plant after frost free date in spring Raised beds may be necessary if soil is heavy

5 5 Application rates should be based on initial soil test Apply split application at bloom and after harvest Use N P K in initial year (~20 lbs/acre) Use Ammonium nitrate (or similar) after first year with split application: 30 lbs/acre at bloom, lbs/acre after harvest Add P and K only if soil tests indicate need Broadcast or banded General recommendation for manures: 5 to 15 pounds per 10 feet or row applied in fall. Can be clumpy and hard to apply. Cottonseed meal: Easier to apply, more predictable content: 7.5 lbs per 10 feet of row in mid to late winter. ( )

6 6 Trellis (training system) will be necessary for trailing varieties Trellis may be necessary for all varieties

7 7 Mulching with hardwood mulch will conserve moisture Irrigation is necessary, especially during flowering and fruiting Irrigation up to 8 16 gallons per plant, 3X per week during hot, dry conditions you may not need to irrigate at all some years

8 8 No pruning on first year canes Summer tipping done on new canes at 3.5 ft to encourage lateral growth Major pruning and thinning done in winter Remove all dead and diseased canes Prune laterals to 15 inches long Leave 3 5 canes per linear foot of row Green June Beetle Spotted Wing Drosophila Rednecked Cane Borer Raspberry Crown Borer Stink bugs More

9 Anthracnose Botrytis Phytophthora root rot Crown gall Orange rust Double Blossom (Rosette) 9

10 10 Weeds must be eliminated prior to planting Use of preemergence herbicide will be highly beneficial Glyphosate (RoundUp, etc.) can cause serious injury use sparingly

11 11 A long term/perennial crop Need grass between rows for erosion control and foot traffic. Blackberry roots are very shallow. Blackberries send up suckers that are susceptible to some herbicides. Grass? Annual or Perennial? Sedge? Nutsedge not controlled by grass herbicides Broadleaved? Annual, perennial or biennial?

12 12 Annual.grasses vs. broadleaves Live and die within 1 year Perennial grasses, broadleaves vs. sedges Live more than 1 year Biennial.broad leafed weeds Need two years to complete cycle Prevention before planting Herbicides, or Tillage, or cover crops. Mulches Soaps or vinegars Synthetic herbicides Other? (cultivation, flaming, etc.)

13 13 Organic Straw/Hay Wood Chips Sawdust Synthetic Plastic Woven Polyester Burns weeds down to surface. Needs multiple applications for perennials.

14 14 Classified in several ways Selective versus Non selective Soil applied versus Foliar applied Systemic versus Contact It is important to be sure the product you use is correct for your situation Where can I find this information? Product labels Grower guides Premergence Applied before weed seeds germinate ( Spring/Fall) Apply to weed free planting or when weeds are removed Postemergence Apply when weeds in active growth Most effective when weeds are small

15 15 Harvest in late spring/early summer of second year Full production by 5 th year Harvest in morning and place fruit in shade/cool area Fruit must be fully ripe Harvest daily or every other day Refrigerate immediately after harvest to F 95% Relative humidity Can last several days (variety dependent)

16 16 Cherokee and Comanche 1974 Cheyenne 1977 Shawnee 1983 Choctaw 1989 Kiowa 1996 Chickasaw 1999

17 17 Thorny, erect 1974 Berry size: 5g Yield: 7 9,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 14 SS%: 9.7 Not patented Thorny, erect 1974 Berry size: 6g Yield: 6 8,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 5 SS%: 9.8 Not patented

18 18 Thorny, erect 1977 Berry size: 6g Yield: 6 9,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 10 SS%: 9.7 Not patented Thorny, erect 1983 Berry size: 8g Yield: 8 12,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 8 SS%: 9.3 Patent expired in 2003

19 19 Thorny, erect 1989 Berry size: 5 g Yield: 6 14,000 lb/ac Ripens: 30 May SS%: 8.7 Patent expired in 2009 Thorny, semi erect 1996 Berry size: 12 g Yield: 7 11,500 lb/ac Ripens 12 June SS%: 10 Patented

20 20 Thorny, erect 1999 Berry size: 10 g Yield: 10 11,500 lb/ac Ripens: June 11 SS%: 10 Patented Navaho Arapaho Apache Ouachita Natchez 2007 Osage

21 21 Thornless, erect 1989 Berry size: 5 g Yield: 8 10,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 15 SS%: 12 Patented Thornless, erect 1993 Berry size: 5 g Ripens: June 4 Yield: 4 6,000 lb/ac SS%: 10 Patented

22 22 Thornless, erect 1999 Berry size: 8 10 g Yield: 7 10,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 25 SS%: 11 Patented Thornless, very erect 2003 Berry size 6-7 g Yield: High, 14,500 lb/ac Ripens: June 12 SS%: 11 Patented

23 23 Thornless, erect 2007 Berry size: 8 9 g Yield:10 12,000 lb/ac Ripens: June 3 SS%: 9.5 Patented Thornless, erect 2012 release Berry size medium, 4 6 g Yield comparable to Ouachita and Natchez Ripens: mid early between Natchez and Ouachita SS%: 11.2 Excellent flavor

24 24 Primocane Fruiting Blackberries All brambles have two types of canes: Primocanes or 1 st -year canes Floricanes or 2 nd -year fruiting canes

25 25 All existing commercial blackberries are floricane fruiting: Canes must be overwintered Fruit in June- August depending on location and cultivar Primocane fruiters fruit on current season canes Cane overwintering not required Fruit later in season until frost Mowing a method of pruning May also be referred to as fall fruiting ; everbearing ; etc.

26 26 Thorny, erect 2004 Berry size: 5 g Yield: 10,000 lb/ac (F) SS%: 9.6 Ripens: June 8 (F) Patented and Trademarked Thorny, erect 2004 Berry size: 5 g Yield: 10,000 lb/ac (F) SS%: 8.0 Ripens: June 3 (F) Patented and Trademarked

27 27 Primocane, thorny, erect 2009 Berry size: medium to large, 6g+ for floricanes, 4 5 g for primocanes SS: 10% Yield comparable to Prime Jim Season: Floricane, mid early; Primocane August on Not recommended for commercial production, rather for home garden use and limited commercial trial Fruit quality in postharvest storage not suitable for shipping Poor performance for primocane crop in high heat --Heat in late July to early Sept. greatly reduces fruit set, quality, and yield --Appears that temps of ~85 o F for several consecutive days cause these problems, and even later-season cool temperatures do not bring the fruiting potential back strongly

28 28 Von Erect, Thornless Triple Crown Semi-erect, Thornless Tupi (or Tupy) Trailing, Thorny Raspberries may need partial shade for best growth in Mississippi because of heat in summer Natural or artificial shade during afternoon may reduce heat damage on fall (primocane) fruiting varieties

29 29 Red, erect, summer fruiting: Nova, Reveille, Titan Red, trailing, summer fruiting: Dormanred Red, erect, fall fruiting: Autumn Bliss, Caroline, Heritage, Nantahala Black, erect, summer fruiting: Allen, Blackhawk, Bristol, Jewel, Mac Black, Munger Purple, erect, summer fruiting: Brandywine, Royalty Yellow, erect, fall fruting: Anne, Fall Gold, Kiwi Gold Mississippi Fruit and Nut Blog ( Mississippi Vaccinium Journal ( ex.html) My (best option) My phone number: