SMALL FRUITS FOR LEWIS COUNTY Gary Gorremans Lewis County Master Gardener
WESTERN WASHINGTON Coastal maritime climate Mild, wet winters Wet springs Micro-climates
SITE SELECTION Water availability (July - Sept) Competing vegetation Accommodations
SMALL FRUITS Blueberries Strawberries Raspberries Blackberries Grapes Miscellaneous
TOPICS Selecting varieties for successful production Site requirements Fall preparation for spring plantings
SITE SELECTION / PREPARATION Applicability Location Soil characteristics Soil testing
PLANTING Old adage: $5 hole for a $1 plant. Plant high enough to allow for soil settling If clay soil, break up sides of hole with garden fork to promote root growth and avoid root girdling Shovel creates smooth edges creating a bowl effect and restricting root growth Garden fork creates rough surface allowing roots to penetrate
BLUEBERRY TYPES Low bush Rabbit eye Half high High bush Bluecrop
BLUEBERRY HIGH BUSH Winter hardy Not drought tolerant Productive Commercial & home gardens
BLUEBERRIES Sunny, open air site Soil ph 4.0-5.0 Soil preferences
BLUEBERRIES Self-fertile 4-5 years old before bearing well Plant 2-4 cultivars
MUMMY BERRY DISEASE Fungal disease of blueberry
BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS Name Ripening MB resist. Spartan Early * Duke Blueray Early Mid Bluecrop Mid * Berkeley Mid
BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS Name Ripening MB resist. Dixi mid-late Jersey mid-late * Coville mid-late
STRAWBERRIES Well suited to Wash. climates ph: 6.0 6.5 Well drained soil Avoid planting sites where tomatoes or potatoes were grown
STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS June bearing Initiates flower buds Aug Sept.
STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS Varieties Hood Benton Shuksan Rainier Puget Summer Shuksan strawberries
STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS Everbearing Day neutral Varieties Seascape Tri-star Tri-star
STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS Flower and fruit from June Oct Production declines late summer
RASPBERRIES Canes Primocanes Floricanes
RASPBERRIES Well suited to WW climate Self-fertile Prefer well drained, fertile loam 24 deep Sun ph 6.0 6.5
RASPBERRIES Avoid site where potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, strawberries or other caneberries have been grown within past 3 years Avoid wet, waterlogged soils Select certified disease free plants
RASPBERRIES Install trellis system before planting wire
Summer bearing RASPBERRY CULTIVARS Varieties Meeker * Chilliwack ** Cascade Bounty ** Cascade Delight ** Cascade Dawn **
RASPBERRY CULTIVARS Everbearing Varieties Heritage * Summit * Autumn Bliss Polka Heritage
BLACKBERRIES Types Trailing Erect: Soil tolerance Planting restrictions Trellis Black Satin blackberry
BLACKBERRIES Trailing Varieties Marionberry Black Satin Silvan Marionberry
BLACKBERRIES Erect Varieties Cherokee Cheyenne Shawnee Chester Thornless (semierect) Variety unknown
BLACKBERRIES Install trellis system before planting
GRAPES Types Characteristics Site selection Site Prep Varieties
GRAPE TYPES European American Hybrids
GRAPE CHARACTERISTICS European Wine Upright growth Short internodes Larger diameter fruiting canes Chardonnay
GRAPE CHARACTERISTICS American Table & juice Trailing growth Longer Internodes Smaller diameter fruiting canes Neptune
GRAPE CHARACTERISTICS American hybrid Table & juice Trailing / upright growth Longer internodes Smaller diameter fruiting canes Buffalo
GRAPES SITE SELECTION South slopes Early frost Orientation Drainage Shallow soils Air circulation
GRAPES SITE SELECTION Site determines cultivar Temperature limiting factor Accumulated heat units Growing degree day
GRAPES SITE PREPARATION Soil testing Vegetation removal
GRAPES: PLANTING Prune to two buds String or stake to top wire Can plant through black plastic
GRAPE TRELLIS Single curtain Appropriate for American hybrids
TABLE GRAPE VARIETIES White Interlaken * Himrod * Lakemont Neptune Remaily Golden Muscat (s) White / Red Reliance * Aurora * Remaily
TABLE GRAPE VARIETIES Red Canadice * Saturn Vanessa Suffolk Red * Blue Black Buffalo * Mars * Jupiter Lynden Blue (s)
GRAPES Plants Self-rooted Grafted Propagation Planting
MISCELLANEOUS Lingonberry Evergreen Preserves & syrup High bush cranberry Preserves Currants Jam & syrup Aronia Juice & jam
MISCELLANEOUS Boysenberry Preserves & pies Loganberry Fresh or frozen Tayberry Fresh Loganberry
SMALL FRUITS Presented by the Lewis County Master Gardener program. WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance should be reported to your local WSU Extension office.