Small Fruit Culture. Developed by: Gary L. Heilig Extension Horticulture Agent Ingham County MSUE

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1 Small Fruit Culture Developed by: Gary L. Heilig Extension Horticulture Agent Ingham County MSUE

2 Why grow your own? Percentage of America s fruits & vegetables that are imported. Source: Time Magazine Recipe for food Safety April 18, 2011

3 Why grow your own? Percentage of imported food that the FDA examines

4 Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults, 2009 % of Adults Consuming Fruit 2 or More Times per Day 32.1% % 1 MI % US % % of Adults Consuming Vegetables 3 or More Times per Day 23.9% %

5 Fruit Nutrition Comparison Compared 1 cup of raw fruit. Criteria: Protein Vitamins & Minerals: A,C,D,E,K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Folate, B12, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, Betaine, Ca, Fe Mg, P, K, Na, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Fl, Omega 3, Omega 6 and phytosterol levels.

6 Fruit Nutrition Comparison Results: 10 Blackberries 06 Apricots 06 Strawberries 05 Blueberries 04 Tart Cherries 03 Peaches 03 Grapes 01 Sweet Cherries & Pears 00 Plums & Raspberries

7 Strawberry Culture

8 Time for return on investment: Difficulty in growing Cost to establish Expected yields quarts/ 100 rows (day neutrals) Types to plants (summer vs day neutral) Competition for you berries Productive life

9 Plant & Cultivar Selection

10 Ripening season Selecting Plants Size & Flavor Disease resistance (phytophthora & red stele) Tolerance to soils Start with recommended varieties for your area. Always try a few new varieties. Predominant plant type: dormant crowns Plugs Tissue culture plants Be sure to purchased certified virus free stock

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14 Day Neutral Strawberries Will produce fruit during the summer and fall of planting year Berries are smaller First year crop can be as large and second year June bearers. Very labor intensive. Yield of lbs/100 ft of row common. Major challenge: Tarnished Plant Bug

15 Day Neutral Strawberries First year production peaks in August September and can continue til frost. Best cultivar for MI. Tristar (flavor) but Tribute a bit more productive.

16 Site Selection Good soils: -ph light textured soils best Good soil drainage Moderate slope 3-5% -avoid south and west facing slopes High quality water source both for irrigation and frost control

17 Do not grow strawberries in the same spot 5 or more years. Site Preparation: Weeds -priority 1 eliminate perennial weeds -spray 1 year before planting -What about solarization?/ or cultivation 2-3 yrs. in advance) -cover crops

18 Cover crops (Pre Plant Preparation) Establish cover crops 1 year before planting. Advantages: Weed suppression Decrease in nematodes populations Increase of organic matter levels

19 Green manures: i.e. cover crops such as legumes Key point do not plant strawberries immediately after incorporating a green manure

20 Pre-plant cover crops Alfalfa Buckwheat Canola Clovers Fescues Annual field brome Hairy vetch Marigold Japanese Millet Spring oats Annual ryegrass Perennial ryegrass Sudan grass jorkman/covercrops/why.html

21 Soil testing Pre planting Nutrient Sampling methods Sample depth should be Apply before planting: Potassium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium and Boron Management

22 Pre-planting Nutrient Management Legumes and animal manures are a good source of slow release N. Manure problems

23 Pre-planting weed management Important to control perennial weeds 2-3 year before planting especially for organic production Option 1: Round-up the summer then cover crops Option 2: Repeated cultivation Options 3: Black plastic

24 Planting Soak crown roots in water for a least 1 hour Plant as early as the soil can be worked. Planting depth

25 Planting Avoid J rooting If planting in June reduce space between plants. No planting after June accept everbearers on plastic. Apply 2oz /100 ft of row 4 weeks after planting

26 Proper planting depth

27 Day Neutral Strawberries Plant by mid May. If earlier increase spacing. Remove flowers for 2-6 weeks after planting.

28 Growing Systems Hydrostacker

29 Production Systems Matted row Plant spacing Establishment cost Expected yields: lbs /100 ft row Weed control more difficult With this dense planting, pressures from insects and diseases is high. Narrow vs wide rows

30 Plasticulture Spaced row Set plants (high density) late summer. Plants will produce large crowns. Once crop is harvested the next season then everything is removed. Downside: New locations must be found annually (Chandler Sweet Charlie, or Camarosa.) Cultivars for the northeast: Allstar, Honeoye, Jewel, Kent, Latestar, Northeaster and Seneca.

31 Plasticulture Spaced row Best plants: fresh dug or plugs. Spacing 9-12 between plants, double rows with staggered plants. Irrigation

32 Vertical Hydroponic Systems Production area/yield Harvesting Fruit remains clean Risks of growing hydroponically Winter protection Greenhouse culture

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34 Nutrient Management How to evaluate nutrient levels available to plants. ph is the most important factor affecting the uptake of nutrients. Ideal for strawberries is: ideal (see Nutrient availability chart)

35 ph chart for mineral soils

36 June Bearing Strawberries w/o soil test: 1 lb /100 ft row 1 wk before planting days after planting: sidedress with 1 lb/ wks after planting Additional 2-3 lbs/100

37 June Bearing Strawberries Avoid early spring fertilization Following harvest 2-3 lbs/100 ft of row Or NPK based on soil test.

38 Day Neutral Strawberries At planting same as June bearers. Apply ½ lb/100 ft of row early June, July August and early September. May need foliar applications of Boron and Calcium. (weekly)

39 Mulching Wheat straw is most commonly used Oat and barley straw decompose too quickly. Goal: prevent desiccation of crown and hold snow in place. Application time: Usually late November (after several frosts and leaves are flattened)

40 Delaying application until just before the ground freezes results in the highest yields Amount: about 4-5 bales/1000 sq ft (4-5 deep) Remove (to in between rows) early spring (late March to April.) Mulching

41 Water Management Strawberry tissue contain a high percentage of water. (roots 75-90% fruits 88-93%) Continuous supply throughout the fruit period. (relationship to fruit size) Key time plants need moisture: Establishment Fruiting Renovation Runner production and establishment Irrigation is also used to cool berries and frost protection

42 Day Neutral Strawberries Irrigate 15 min/hr in early afternoon when temps are 85F+ (overhead)

43 Systems: Overhead Trickle ( hard plastic lines with headers etc.) Drip hoses (rubber) Things to Consider: Water source & quality Amount needed - example to deliver 1 of water = 62 gallons/100 ft of row Soil type (infiltration rate, water holding capacity, etc) Cost

44 Frost Protection

45 Frost versus freeze Flowers frost sensitivity: immediately before and after they open. Temperatures below 28 F will usually cause injury. 22 F in tight cluster close to crown. Protect by irrigation Protection using barriers

46 Weed Management Primary weed control options: Rotation Cultivation Hand weeding and hoeing Mulching Herbicides Geese Other cultural practices

47 Cultural practices: Weeds with seedheads Mow areas near strawberries Straw quality Weed Management Strawberry rotation - 3 years before replanting. Thoroughly compost manure before spreading it on a berry field.

48 Renovation The purpose Timing Fertilization Irrigation Row thinning to 8-12 Application of broadleaf herbicide before August 1 st Life of planting

49 Strawberry shelf life At 68F you have 1-2 days. (7-10 day shelf 32F + other factors) Other factors include: cultivar, health of plants picking time etc. Ripening after picking (effect on sugar content) Harvesting

50 Time to pick (season & time of day) Picking stage Frequency Chilling Handling and fruit quality Picking rotten berries Harvesting

51 Storage To prevent berry damage use shallow containers Refrigerate with caps immediately Shelf life 2 days longer if treated with fungicides

52 Strawberry Pests Problems

53 Diseases Leaf blight or spot Botrytis (Grey Mold) Angular leaf spot Leaf scorch

54 Disease Management Strategies Conditions for disease development Select resistant cultivars Weed control & other cultural inputs (sanitation, irrigation, renovation, etc.) Weather Field history Preventative treatments Fruit updates from District Fruit Educators

55 Pesticide Application Sprayers Personal Protective Equipment Timing for treatments Cleaning equipment

56 Weather conditions & product longevity Pre-harvest intervals Mixing and loading How to avoid mixing too much Clean-up Sprayer storage

57 Notes on Products Available for Non- Commercial Pest Management Fixed Coppers Examples: tribasic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride sulfate, and cupric hydroxide) Product eg: Soap Shield from Gardens Alive Organic, but check with OMRI for a specific product list Copper can build up in the soil which can have negative effects on earthworm populations.

58 Notes on Products Available for Non- Commercial Pest Management Boardeaux mixture is copper sulfate + hydrated lime Do not combine with Captan or Sevin Lime sulfur solution: is a mixture of calcium polysulfides formed by reacting calcium hydroxide with sulfur Captan Immunox (maximum 4 sprays/ season) Malathion Sevin Neem

59 Fruit Pest Management Guide E-154 Available from MSUE Bookstore

60 Tarnished Plant Bug Untreated fruit up to 90% damage 2 generations a yearfeeding in spring/summer A real problem on day neutrals Adults and nymphs feed on developing flowers and fruit.

61 Tarnished Plant Bug Monitor by shaking flower clusters (30) Spray if insect count exceeds 0.25/ cluster before 10% bloom. Watch til mid to late bloom, treat if.50 nymphs/flower cluster Do not spray during bloom.

62 Slugs Problem after mild winters and wet weather. Mild winters/ow eggs Adults can lay eggs 9-13 mo. lifespan. When they feed

63 Slugs To monitor dig a hole 4 diameter and 6 deep. Cover with asphalt shingle wrapped in aluminum foil. Beer trap (not my favorite) Management: Baiting fall and spring Note: mulches encourage slugs

64 Bird Damage Birds are usually your first visitors They can destroy a significant amount of the early ripening fruit. Amount of damage can vary from place to place. Favorite visitors: robins, cedar waxwings, mockingbirds, seagulls, etc. Management: Audio and visual scare devices, cannons, screamers, computer generated distress calls, and netting

65 Other Insect Pests Sap (picnic) beetle Strawberry Leaf Roller Two-Spotted Spider Mites Aphids Potato Leafhopper Cutworms Strawberry Rootworm Root Weevils White Grubs Clipper Spittle bug

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67 Growing Raspberries & Blackberries In the Home Garden Gary L. Heilig Horticulture Educator MSU Extension Ingham County

68 Bramble Culture Bramble is a term using for both raspberries and blackberries

69 Why Grow Brambles? Grow well in Michigan Freshness/quality Home grown Excellent taste Hardy to about -30F Level of difficulty 2 Nutrition

70 Nutrition Mineral Content Vitamin Content One cup of fresh raspberries contains 1.48 grams of protein, 64 calories and 8 grams dietary fiber. Potassium mg Phosphorus - 36 mg Magnesium - 27 mg Calcium - 31 mg Sodium -1 mg Iron mg Selenium 0.2 mcg Manganese mg Copper mg Zinc mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals. Vitamin A - 41 IU Vitamin B1 (thiamine) mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) mg Niacin mg Folate - 26 mcg Pantothenic Acid mg Vitamin B mg Vitamin C mg Vitamin E mg Vitamin K mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

71 Specifics Generally blackberries are less hardy than raspberries. Black raspberries and blackberries take the longest to reach maximum productivity 3-4 years.

72 Specifics Once established and properly maintained, they can be productive for years. Plant roots are perennial, but the canes live for only 2 years Different growth habits

73 There are two types of blackberries: Erect most are self supporting, have thorny canes and are the most hardy. Blackberry Facts Trailing-varieties need a trellis for support and can be somewhat protected from cold temperatures by covering with a mulch.

74 Blackberry Facts Critical temp. for blackberries -15 F. (erect) 0 F for for most trailing types. There are some varieties that are described as semitrailing. The trailing types produce largest and sweetest fruits. Many blackberry varieties have not been evaluated for growth in Michigan

75 Primocane Floricane

76 Purchasing: Plant Sources Buy plants from nurseries that are certified diseases free. All plant catalogs are not the same in price. Virus free tissue cultured plants. Don t dig up and bring home plants from Uncle Bob. Plant vigor and disease status.

77 Purchasing: Plant Sources Raspberries are generally sold as 1 yr old rooted sucker dug from the field. Black and purples can be tip layered in fall or winter. Tissue cultured plants are grown in a greenhouse then transplanted to the field for 1 year before sale. These are quick to establish an are very vigorous.

78 Varieties/Cultivars Raspberries are classified by fruit color and fruiting habit Black raspberries are also called black caps and are not the same as thing as blackberries

79 Varieties/Cultivars Summer Bearing Red Raspberries: Canby, Latham, and Titan Yellow types: Anne, Fall Gold Goldie, Kiwi Gold

80 Black Raspberries: Logan, Jewel and Lowdon Note: They are less hardy than the reds. Damage starts when the temperature drops below 0 F.

81 Purple Raspberries: Brandywine and Royalty Generally purple raspberries are used for processing into jams and pies. Fall Bearing: ( also called everbearing) Heritage, Redwing, Autumn Bliss, and Caroline (reds) They produce fruit on one year old primocanes, and will produce a second crop on the same cane the following summer.

82 Soil Type ph Sunlight Site & Soil Requirements Soil drainage must be good Verticillium free soil No wild brambles within 400 yards

83 Pre-planting Duties Plants from the garden center What to do if the plants arrive too soon? Heal in or pot?

84 Pre-planting Duties Site Preparation: Test the soil Eliminate perennial weeds Increase the organic matter content

85 Timing: (spring vs fall) Planting Planting depth: ½ deeper than in nursery. (potted plants same as in the pot) Cut bare root red raspberries off at 6 and cut purple and blackberries back to ground level ( to prevent disease and to remove any fruit that might form.

86 Two Planting Systems: Hedgerow system used for most plantings in Michigan. Spacing: 2-3 between plants & 8-10 between rows. Order of vigor: Reds, purple, black Spacing for black 1-11/2. Plants will fill in to make a hedge within 2-4 years Maintain hedge width of 1 ½ to 2 by cultivation. Planting Systems

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89 Two Planting Systems: Hill - Is usually less productive and is better suited to varieties that don t sucker well. Planting Systems In this system canes are limited to 6-10 per hill on stakes. Plantings run in both directions.

90 Typical Trellis Systems Consists of Post spaced 20 ft apart with a 2 foot T-bar on the top. Posts should be 3 below with 3 above ground level. Wire or Monofilament line should be attached to the end of the T-bar.T-bar should be 2 wide. Place canes behind the wires as they reach 2. If managed properly, the incidence of disease will be less with a trellis system.

91 Sample and have soil tested. Testing frequency: every 3-5 years Recommendations without a soil test: Apply 1-2 lbs/100 ft. row using weeks after planting. Fertility

92 Fertility Sidedress 3-4 to side (avoid direct contact with canes) Timing: Early spring before leaf or cane growth. Third and future years increase amount to 5-6 lbs. Rates may need to be adjusted depending on growth.

93 Irrigation Compared to other fruits, brambles use large amounts of water especially if planted on lighter soils. Nearly all of the roots are in the upper 12 of soil which can dry out quickly during hot windy weather.

94 Irrigation Effect of water stress on plants: -Reduces cane height -Reduction in berry size and yield -Increased susceptibility to insects and diseases. Annual requirement 5-12 depending on weather (figure on about 1 /week) 1 inch of water on a 50 X 2 bed = 31 gallons

95 How do I determine how long to run Options: (advantages and disadvantages) Drip or soaker hose Overhead sprinkler Trickle Irrigation Water is delivered via emitters. my irrigation system?

96 Weed Management Why is weed control necessary? Eliminating perennial weeds before planting. If using herbicides, tissue cultured plants are more sensitive than rooted cuttings. (2 to 3 seasons) Mulching and it s limitations.

97 Purpose of pruning: Tools About the Plants -Canes are biennial -1 st year canes called primocanes - 2 nd year canes called floricanes - by the 3 rd year the canes die and usually have diseases. - disposal of pruned material Pruning Brambles

98 Pruning Summer Bearing Raspberries Timing: begin early spring just before growth starts - Prune back new canes to chest height just above a bud. Why? -helps to keep the canes upright while fruiting -Larger and better quality fruit What if the winter has been severe?

99 Also remove short spindly canes. Thin canes to 6-8 per linear foot Summer Pruning After Harvest: - Remove all dead and canes that produced fruit during the current season.

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101 Everbearing Raspberries The canes produce 2 crops Remove old canes during summer after fruiting or Heritage Remove all canes in the fall after fruiting or early spring for fall bearing only. Tip in spring to 4 if plants are growing too tall. Thin canes in row to 6-8 healthy canes per foot.

102 Pruning & Support for Blackberries Erect and trailing blackberries are pruned differently. Erect: -No support is needed unless the canes are very vigorous. -If support is needed or desired, place 2 wires at 3-5 down the length of the hedgerow

103 Pruning & Support for Blackberries Pruning: -No pruning in the planting year -2 nd year (early summer) top canes as they reach 3. -The following spring, shorten the laterals to for the best size and quality fruit and thin as needed. -Remove old canes after fruiting. ASAP

104 Trailing types -Little or pruning in the planting year -As the canes grow move them into the row for easier maintenance. -Tie canes to the wires with twine early spring in the 2 nd season. Choose the healthiest and longest canes to tie to the trellis. Cut off everything else at ground level.

105 Blackberries cont. When tying the canes, loop the twine around all 6 canes and the two wires. Carefully bend 3 canes each way onto the wire supports. Canes from adjacent plants should not overlap on wire more than 2-3 (cut back canes if necessary)

106 Remove all lateral canes within 3 of ground. Above 3 shorten laterals to 2-4. Laterals in a higher position may be tied to the trellis wires. Blackberries cont.

107 Blackberries cont. Some canes will reach 15 or more. If they are not trimmed back, the results will be: -Delayed ripening -Small fruit -Poor growth of new canes.

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109 Types: -insects -diseases -weather Bramble Pest Problems -other (such as wildlife) Additional considerations: Strategies for preventing problems: -cultivar selections -proper cultural conditions & inputs -scouting etc.

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111 Treatment Stages Delayed dormant (bud break) - diseases Prebloom diseases/insects Early bloom diseases Full bloom diseases First cover (petal fall) diseases/insects Pre-harvest diseases/insects Post-harvest diseases/ insects

112 Diseases of Brambles Anthracnose Cane & spur blights Orange rust Late leaf rust Botrytis grey mold Powdery mildew Verticillium wilt Viruses

113 Botrytis Grey Mold Can be a serious problem Infection can take place during bloom, but not show symptoms until the fruit ripens. Disease favored by warm wet weather In 48 hours the disease can completely destroy an infected berry.

114 Management: Botrytis Grey Mold -pick off diseased berries after handling healthy ones. -Try not to bruise fruit while picking. -Start sprays at bloom and continue to preharvest. -Products: Captan

115 Spur & Cane Blights Spur blight only occurs on red & purple raspberries Cane blight attacks both raspberries and blackberries. Spur blight Cane blight is more serious in that lateral shoots can wilt and die. Cane Blight