GROWING BERRIES AND SMALL FRUITS

ON CAPE COD

A “BERRYLICIOUS” SUBJECT!

Nov. 2013

WHAT WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT

Selecting• Good

Varieties for Cape

Planting HarvestingMaintaining• Pruning• Mulching/

Winter Care

Nov. 2013

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 3

SHOULD I TAKE NOTES?

Nov. 2013

COMMON CROPS ON CAPE COD

Nov. 2013

OTHER “BERRY GOOD” IDEAS

• Other Edible Berries/Small Fruits

• Berries for Habitat

• Berries for Birds

• Berries to Attract Pollinators

Nov. 2013

HOW TO SELECT

• Types of Strawberries• June (Spring) Bearing (mid, early and late)• Crops 2/3 Week Period, Many Runners

• Everbearing• Crops in Spring, Summer, Fall; Few Runners

• Day Neutral• Crop Throughout Growing Season• May Be Harder To Manage for Continuous Productivity

Everbearing and Day Neutral are Especially Good for Containers

Nov. 2013

STRAWBERRY PYRAMID KIT

- June Bearers, Top 2 Levels

- Ever Bearers, Bottom Level

- Flags to Scare Away Birds?

Nov. 2013

HOW TO SELECT

• Extension Agencies Are Often Recommending for Farmers• Overview of Strawberry Varieties -- U Vermonthttp://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryvarieties.html

• Consider• Good Location in Full Sun• Sandy Loam, Good Drainage, Plenty of Organic Matter, pH 5.5 – 6.5

• Don’t Plant Where Certain Vegetables Have Grown• Variety, Flavor, Freezing Quality, Yield

Nov. 2013

WAYS TO PLANT

http://strawberryplants.org/2010/05/growing-strawberries/Nov. 2013

PLANTING DEPTH IS IMPORTANT

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg5625.htmlNov. 2013

HARVESTING

• First Year – Follow Instructions for Variety• That Will Involve Removing All or Most Blossoms

• Then, ENJOY!

Nov. 2013

ONE DAY’S HARVEST

Nov. 2013

ENJOY FRESH OR FROZEN

Nov. 2013

END OF SEASON

Nov. 2013

‘RENOVATE’ THE BED EACH YEARCUT BACK PLANTS, ALL RUNNERS, MULCH

2 Weeks LaterNov. 2013

BLUEBERRIES GROW WELL IN THE

SANDY, ACIDIC SOIL OF CAPE COD

www.farmfresh.org

Nov. 2013

HOW TO SELECT FROM MANY VARIETIES

• At Least 2 Varieties for Cross Pollination, Season Extension• Examples of Recommended High-Bush Varieties• Early—Bluejay, Bluecrop, Blueray, Nelson• Mid-Season - Berkely, Bluecrop, Blueray, Nelson• Late – Coville, Herbert, Jersey, Lateblue• Also Consider – Yield, Berry Size, Hardiness, Growth Habit,

Vigor, Disease Resistance

17Nov. 2013

BAREROOT OR CONTAINER GROWN?

www.knollacresblueberries.com forums2.gardenweb.comNov. 2013

PROTECT FROM BIRDS!

Nov. 2013

Photos Courtesy Mary Ann Buss

AFTER 3 / 4 YEARS PRUNING ESSENTIAL

“Twiggy”

OTHERWISE BECOME BIENNIAL Nov. 2013

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1430.html

Nov. 2013

PRUNING

• Late Winter While Plants Dormant• Remove Winter Damage• Remove Older Shoots• Remove 2 or 3 Oldest Shoots at Ground• For Largest Fruit Size, Cut Fruiting Shoots To 4-5 Buds• Heavier Pruning = Shorter Ripening Season• Lighter = Longer Ripening Season

Nov. 2013

BlueberriesAt The Demo Garden

(Falmouth, Fairgrounds)Get Some of Both Pruning

Very Productive, Old Wood

Photo Courtesy Bob BrancaleNov. 2013

Freeze to Enjoy Year-Round

Dry?

Nov. 2013

HOW TO SELECT THE LOCATIONHTTP://WWW.BLUEBERRY.ORG/GARDENING.HTM

• Full Sun or Nearly So• Soil pH of 4.09 to 5• Excellent Drainage• Cross Pollination

Nov. 2013

Raspberries

Are Also Popular

On Cape Cod

Nov. 2013

Photo Courtesy Cheryl Ikasalo

RASPBERRY VARIETIES

• By Color• Red (Gold), Purple, Black• Growth Habit• Erect (Red); Arching (Black) • Summer Bearing – One Crop Early Summer• Fall Bearing – Small Crop Spring, Larger Crop Fall

Nov. 2013

THESE VARIETIES

ARE RECOMMENDED

FOR OHIO

Nov. 2013

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1421.html

See Alsohttp://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1108.html

PLANTING

• Early Spring• Soil, Neutral to Slightly Acidic• Red Raspberries Are Generally Planted In Rows• 3’ apart; rows at least 6’ apart• Black Raspberries – 4’ Apart• Tips Will Root if Not Supported

Nov. 2013

A TYPICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1108.html

Nov. 2013

MY BERRY ROW

Nov. 2013

RON USES

STURDY POSTS,

4” SQUARE WIRE

Nov. 2013

32

Photo Courtest Ron Morissette

CHERYL’S ROW

WITH

STURDY POSTS

Nov. 2013Photo Courtesy Cheryl Ikasalo

STRUCTURE OF A RASPBERRY BUSH

Nov. 2013

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1421.html

First Year Cane

Second Year Fruiting Cane

PRUNING DEPENDS ON TYPE OF RASPBERRY

• Summer Bearing• After Harvest Complete, Cut All Floricanes to Ground

• Remove, Dispose (Do Not Compost)• Leave 4 or 5 Primocanes

• Or Leave Until Spring to See Winter Damage• In Spring May Cut These Canes to Just Above Support

• Fall Bearing• For Fall-Only, Cut All Canes to Ground in Late Winter• For Spring + Fall, Follow Instructions for Summer Bearing• Black – Pinch Back for Branching, Remove Bearing Canes After

HarvestNov. 2013

RASPBERRIES HAVE SHALLOW ROOTS

• Cultivate Carefully

•Mulch is Desirable

Nov. 2013

THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE

TO A

VARIETY OF DISEASES

Nov. 2013

ANTHRACNOSE, BLIGHT BOTH FUNGAL DISEASES

Nov. 2013

http://ipm.illinois.edu/fruits/diseases/spur_blight/http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1152.html

TO CONTROL FUNGAL DISEASES, POWDERY MILDEW

• Buy Disease-Resistant Varieties• Good Sun, Air Circulation• Remove and Destroy Canes That Have Finished Bearing• Keep Area Clear of Weeds, Especially Wild Raspberries

• Can Apply Sulpher and Copper-Based Fungicides, According to Directions

Nov. 2013

TREATMENT OF VIRAL DISEASES

• Seems No Remedy for Home Gardeners

• Destroy Plants, Replant in Different Location

Nov. 2013

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg1152.html

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 41Nov. 2013

Pruned and Mulched

Lots of Growth

Hope Springs Eternal!

PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE, ENJOY THE RESULTS!

Nov. 2013

Harvest From Cheryl’s

Raspberry Patch

One Day in July

BLACKBERRIES ARE

“ROBUST”

GROWERS, BEARERS

Nov. 2013Photo Courtesy Ron Morissette

BLACKBERRIES ARE

AGGRESSIVE!

Nov. 2013

BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

• Thorny Erect

• Thornless Semi-Erect

• Trailing (Both Thorny and Thornless)

Nov. 2013

ONE CROP, TWO CROPS

Nov. 2013

http://noursefarms.com/ Whatley, MA

One Crop on Floricanes

June/July Crop on FloricanesPrimocanes Bear Mid Summer to Fall

THORNS, NO THORNS

Nov. 2013

Photo Courtesy Ron Morissette

PLANTING BLACKBERRIES

• Plant in Early Spring• Full Sun; Slightly Acidic Soil, 5.5 – 7 pH• Upright – 3’ Apart; Rows 8’ Apart• Trailing – 5-8’ Apart; Rows 6-10’ Apart• Fertilize With Balanced Fertilizer in Spring• Roots Also Shallow• Cultivate Carefully, Mulch Well

Nov. 2013

SUPPORTING BLACKBERRIES

Nov. 2013

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/762.html#Erect

http://sacredhabitats.com/2013/02/24/grow-blackberry-patch/

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 50

C. L. FORNARI’S DOYLE THORNLESS BLACKBERRYWITH EXTENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM

Nov. 2013

FOR BERRIES IN GENERAL

Nov. 2013

BEWARE OF FRIENDSBEARING DISEASED

BERRY PLANTS

REMOVE WILD PLANTS500-600’ IF POSSIBLE

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘BIG 4’

• Choose Disease-Resistant Varieties That Are Right for Cape Cod• Strawberries and Blueberries Have Their Own Requirements• Raspberries and Blackberries Have Similar Requirements• Different Varieties of Each Berry Require Different Care• Select Reputable Nurseries, Mail Order Houses• Follow Their Directions• Use Specific Web Searches To Add to Your Store of Knowledge• Lots of Good Videos; Always Consider Source (.org, .edu)

Nov. 2013

SOME MORE EXOTIC BERRIESNOURSE FARM OFFERINGS

Nov. 2013

Pink Champagne Currant(native) Samdal Elderberry

native

Invicta Gooseberry(native)

STILL MORE EXOTIC BERRIESMILLER NURSERIES OFFERINGS (RECENTLY SOLD TO STARK BROS.)

Nov. 2013

Aronia (Black Chokecherry)native

Hardy Kiwi

SeaberryGoji Berry

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 55

GRAPES GROW WELL PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE

Nov. 2013

Do You Have

Experience?

Advice?

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 56

SOME SMALL FRUITS LIKE FIGS ARE MARGINAL

Nov. 2013

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/fig.html

My Brown Turkey Fig In November

OTHER WAYS TO USE BERRIES

IN THE HOME LANDSCAPE

Nov. 2013

FOOD FOR BIRDSSEE HTTP://WWW.WILDFLOWER.ORG/ FOR A NATIVE PLANT DATABASE

Nov. 2013

American Beautyberry

Winterberry at C.L.’sOrange front, Red, back

Arrowwood Viburnumhttp://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/v/vibden/vibden1.html

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 59Nov. 2013

C.L.’s Privet and

Pokeberry/Pokeweed

Poisonous Weed?

ATTRACT POLLINATORSSEE HTTP://WWW.POLLINATOR.ORG/

Nov. 2013

Mountain Ash (Rowan)www.Wikipedia.og

Serviceberryhttp://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/

WILDLIFE HABITAT

Nov. 2013

Holly In Orleans parking lot

Smooth Sumac http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=RHGL#

Avoid Poison Sumac

Hawthornehttp://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/hawthorn.php

‘EDIBLE’ HEDGE

Nov. 2013

Rosa Rugosa HedgeCommunity of Jesus, Orleans

A Few Other Possibilities

QuincePawpawGoji Berryand Many, Many More!

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 63

BERRIES, SMALL FRUITS

PROVIDE A LOT OF PLEASURE

AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

FOR MINIMAL INVESTMENT OF TIME, EFFORT

Nov. 2013

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener 64

THANK YOU!

Nov. 2013