Site Selection and Preparation for Berry Crops Touria Eaton, Ph.D. State Extension Specialist Lincoln University of Missouri eatont@lincolnu.edu
Common Berry Crops Brambles Strawberries Blueberries
Specialty Berry Crops Elderberries Arona Beach Plums Lingonberries Saskatoons
Economic Importance 2008 2010 220,000 lbs 250,000 lbs $ 590 M $ 650 M 2008 2012 1.2 M lbs 2.4 B lbs $ 1.9 B $ 36 B 2008 2009 75,000 lbs 89,000 lbs $ 362 M $ 365 M 2008 2009 23,000 lbs 250,000 lbs $ 28 M $ 31 M
Vitamin C 24% Vitamine K 36% Vitamine E 4% Iron 2% Vitamine A 2% Diatary fiber 14% Consumer demand Vitamin C 149% Vitamine K 4% Iron 3% Calcium 2% Flolate 9% Manganese 29% Vitamin C 54% Vitamine K 12% Vitamine E 5% Iron 6% Diatary fiber 32% Ellagic acid Vitamin C 50% Vitamine K 36% Vitamine E 6% Iron 5% Diatary fiber 31%
Horticultural Considerations Site & Soil Requirements Planting Systems Pruning Systems Insect & Disease Mgt
Site Selection and Preparation
Site & Soil Requirements Most Berries: Soil Site well drained sandy loam ph = 5.5-6.5 SOM > 3% full sun (at least 6 hrs)
Site & Soil Requirements Plant type (Biology) Marketing Strategies
Site Selection and preparation for Strawberries Shallow roots Flower blossoms sensitive to frost Site close to irrigation source
Site Selection and Preparation for Strawberries Pick your own Farm Stand Road Stand CSA Site close to the road
Site Selection and Preparation for Strawberries Variety of soils Field of pepper Well drained Field of Eggplants Slop < 12% Field of Potatoes Field of Sod Field of tomatoes Root feeding grubs Verticillium
Site Selection and Preparation for Strawberries Soil Test Recommendations Soil Fertility Add lime if Add S if ph < 6.0 ph > 6.5 ph of 6.0 to 6.5
Site Selection and Preparation for Strawberries Rye Sudangrass Cover crop for at least a year before planting Control weeds Organic matter
Production Systems for Strawberries June bearing (Short day) Earliglow Jewel Sparkle Produce 2 to 3 weeks in June or July Everbearing (day-neutral, (summer) Seascape Albion Evi 2 Better flavor and higher yielding than everbearing cultivars Produce all summer until first frost
Production Systems for Strawberries June bearing Plant as soon as the soil can be worked (April) Flower blossoms should be removed the first year Runners produced (mid to late summer) Runners that grow in the aisles should be removed 10-10-10: 2lbs/100 feet after planting, late august
Yield of June bearing Strawberries Plants flower in April to May Fruit mature 26 to 30 days after flowering Yield from 500 to 20,000 lbs/acre (average 10,000 lbs/acre)
Renovation This is a process that rejuvenates the plants after harvest is complete. Step 1 mow off the foliage being careful not to damage the crowns. Step 2 narrow the rows and till in the straw between rows Step 3 apply fertilizer Step 4 water regularly until foliage has fully regrown
Renovation Fruiting cycle begins again Fruit size and overall yield decrease with age of the bed Overall yield declines after 2 to 3 years
Floating row covers the fall when daytime T o low 70s OR Straw + row covers in Northern locations
Mulching Apply 2 tons of straw/acre Late Nov. to Late Dec. Mulch should be removed the following March (40 o F at a 4 depth)
Plasticulture Production of June-bearing varieties High capital input High yield
Plasticulture Production of June-bearing varieties Raised beds Plug plants planted in Mid Sept. (Zone 6b and warmer Late Aug. (Zone 6a and colder) Spacing: 12 apart double bed 12 between plants in a raw
Plasticulture Production of June-bearing varieties Renovation
Plasticulture Production of June-bearing varieties Renovation
Production Systems for Strawberries Day-neutral 5-10 Plant as soon as the soil can be worked (April) Flower blossoms should be removed the first year six weeks Runners removed throughout the first season Runners that grow in the aisles should be removed
Fertilizing Strawberries First year: One month after planting and again in late Aug. or Sept. 2# 10-10-10/100 Following years: After harvest and again in late August or Sept. 5# 10-10-10/100
Day-neutral Plants fruit from mid-august through the first frost Warm areas: 3 crops [spring, summer (-), fall crop (++)] Cool areas: consistent production Fertilizer requirement are high. Berry size decreases with years (kept only 2 to 3 years)
Mulching Apply 2 tons of straw/acre, Late Nov. to Late Dec. Mulch should be removed the following March (40 o F at a 4 depth)
Plasticulture Production of Day-Neutral varieties Suitable for cool region Not suitable _ warm summers 1 year planting High capital input High yield
Day-neutral Planting occurs in late spring large-size plugs are used
June-bearing varieties for different Production Systems June-bearing cultivars for matted-row production Earliglow Early Standard cultivar. Great flavor, good disease resistance. Moderately productive; size declines quickly over time. L Amour Early mid Nicely shaped fruit with good size, medium color, and above-average flavor. Honeoye Early mid Large fruit, high yields, perfumy flavor. Better in cooler regions. Quickly loses flavor during hot weather. Darselect Mid Nice size, shape, and flavor. Very susceptible to foliar diseases and fruit anthracnose. Allstar Mid Standard cultivar. Productive. Berries light in color, good size and shape. Susceptible to angular leaf spot. Jewel Mid late Standard cultivar. Productive. Large, firm fruit with good color. June-bearing cultivars for plasticulture production Sweet Charlie Early Low yields. Sweet. Grown primarily for early fruit. Wendy Early Nice size, shape, and flavor. New cultivar, for trial. Camarosa Mid Very firm fruit, but can produce high yields with good management. Chandler Late Standard for this system. Good flavor, high yields, has a long harvest season.. Susceptible to fruit anthracnose.
Day-Neutral varieties for different Production Systems Cultivar Seascape Everest Evie-2 Albion Tribute Tristar Comments The current standard. Sweet, medium-sized fruit with a medium red color. Skin splits when wet. Productive, but dark and soft. Susceptible to fruit anthracnose and verticillium wilt. Light color, soft fruit, average flavor. Huge fruit with great flavor and color, but yields tend to be low and trickle in over the season. Small, tart, firm fruit, but less tart than Tristar. Vigorous. Flavor is good but tart. Firm fruit; size is small in hot weather.
Landscape Value Ornamental Flowers pinks and whites Edible Fruit for humans and wildlife Common use Patch, foundation plantings, borders, islands, containers, pyramids, hanging baskets
Conclusion_Strawberries Strawberry Prices $2.22/lb December $0.74/lb July $2.22/lb conventional $3.22/lb organic
Brambles
Brambles General Information Morphology perennial roots and biennial shoots hardy (with variation) two types of canes - primocanes (1st yr) - floricanes (2nd yr)
Bramble Types Summer-bearing (floricane fruiting) Red/Black/Purple/Yellow Raspberries & Blackberries Fruit on 2nd year canes Need more pruning and trellising Fall-bearing (primocane fruiting) Reds/Yellows &Blackberries Fruit on 1st year canes Need less pruning and trellising
Bramble _ Red Raspberry Well suited for small farms 2 years required for establishment Produce for 6 to 15 years
Bramble _ Red Raspberry Selecting the site Wholesale Cooperatives Local retailers Roadside stand Pick your own operations CSA Processing firms
Bramble _ Red Raspberry Selecting the site Open site 6-8 hours sun light Slope < 12% Avoid Planting 300 of wild blackberry 300 of wild raspberries Areas where Tomato Potato Pepper Eggplant Strawberries Sod
Cover Crops Rye Cover crop for at least a year before planting Sudangrass Control weeds Organic matter
Soil requirement Deep top soil (4 feet roots) Well drained 5% organic matter 5.8-6.5
Plant material Nursery grown rootstock Rootstocks Plant plugs
Planting 30 Early spring planting preferred over fall planting Plant as soon as you can work the soil Hedgerow or hill system Easy Mgt when planted in rows North-South orientation for best fruits
Weed control and moisture conservation Pre-emergent herbicide (Spring) Contact herbicide as needed Cultivation between the rows Cover crop one season to 1 year before planting Mulch
Fertilization Soil Test Recommendations ph _ Soil Fertility Add lime if Add S if ph < 5.5 ph > 6.5 ph of 5.5-6.5
Fertilization First year: 2 applic. of 10-10-10 (1lbl100 ) 10 days after planting 40 days after planting Following years: 2 applic. of 10-10-10 (3lbsl100 ) Spring (March)(bud break) May (after bloom) Leaf Tissue Testing to fine tune or diagnose problems
Trellis Support Trellising affects: Plant growth Competition with suckers Harvesting methods Fruit quantity and quality Disease and insect management
Pruning Steps in Pruning Summer Bearing Varieties: 1) Remove spent floricanes (fall - winter) 2) Thin remaining primocanes to 6 8 apart, weed out spindly or broken canes, keep healthy, robust canes (March) 3) Re-establish 12 18 row width (March or later)
Pruning Steps in Pruning Fall Bearing Red/Yellow Raspberries: 1. Mow all canes to 1 2 from the ground
Higher price for organic and out-ofseason raspberries Conclusion Site can last up to 20 years Price $ 0.80/lb in PYO in rural locations $4.25 half pint clamshell in location near population centers
General Information Morphology - Woody perennial plant Hardy Very shallow root system Roots lack root hairs Need soils w/ high OM Mycorrhizae Requires acidity Blueberries
Blueberries Soil Site Moist well drained sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 5% full sun access to water
Blueberries Types of blueberries Highbush Vaccinium corymbosum Lowbush/Wild Half-high Vaccinium angustifolium hybrid of highbush and lowbush
Site selection Marketing consideration Open site Full sun 6 to 8 hours sunlight/day Access to water
Soil Well drained Sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 5% Planning
Soil Well drained Sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 3% Soil Test Planning Add lime if ph < 4.5! Add S if ph > 5.5 ph of 4.5-5.5
Soil Well drained Sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 3% Soil Test Planning Add S if ph > 5.5 ph of 4.5-5.5
Soil Well drained Sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 3% Soil Test Add OGM Planning Add lime if ph < 4.5! Add S if ph > 5.5 ph of 4.5-5.5
Add OGM Soil
Soil Well drained Sandy loam ph = 4.5-5.5 SOM > 5% Rye Sudangrass Cover crop for at least a year before planting Planning Control weeds Organic matter
*** Plant Material High-bush (Patriot) Half-high (Northland) Rabbit eye (pink lemonade) Southern high-bush (Southern Splendour)
*** Plant Material High-bush (Patriot) High-bush do not require 2 different cultivars for cross pollination. Cross pollination results in higher yield and bigger berries Plant 2 or more varieties for cross pollination Multiple cultivars allow to spread harvest season
*** Plant Material High-bush (Patriot) Plant 2 or more varieties for cross pollination
Planting
Planting
Planting 10 4
Fertilization caution! First year: 4 weeks after planting Ammonium sulfate: 1/2 lb/100 row Following years: At bloom, and at 6 weeks later: Ammonium sulfate: 1/2 lb/100 row 2 oz/bush
Irrigation Maintain irrigation after harvest until late summer Less water is needed in the fall Do not water after the leaves fall off 1 to 2 water/week No Irrigation August September
Conclusion Live and produce for 40 to 50 years Price $ 2.25/lb in PYO $ 6/ quart ($4/lbs) Higher price for organic
Production Systems for Strawberries
Blueberries Roughly 8 years are required for newly established cultivars to reach full productivity Biochar may increase yield of blueberries by about 20 to 40% and reduce establishment time from 8 to 6 years. Biochar is applied ar a rate of 1 ton (2000 lbs) per acre Benefits may last for decades Biochar cost is $800 per ton, you need to an increase in yield by 4.4% to break even over a 3 year period (calculated based on Michigan average value of $6000/acre). An increase of 10% will generate a profitability of $1000/acre In addition tom increased yield, reduced input such as fertilizer and water