Blackberry and Raspberry Seasonal Checklist
Winter 2014-15
Gina Fernandez,
Small Fruit Specialist
North Carolina
State University
This checklist
was originally developed for blackberry growers in North Carolina. Many of the
items apply to raspberry production as well. You may have to adjust your work
activities either earlier or later depending on your location. For more
detailed information, check the Southern Region Integrated Bramble Management
Guide and the Southeast Regional Bramble Production Guide at: http://www.smallfruits.org/SmallFruitsRegGuide/index.htm.
Check the items
off as they get done. This list is very general, but should help get you to
think about what types of activities occur at various times of the year. If you
would like other items to be added to this list, send them to me and I will add
them next time.
WINTER
Plant growth and development
- Plant is not visibly growing during the winter months although many blackberries will retain their leaves through the winter
- Some differentiation is occurring in the flower buds
- Low chilling cultivars can break bud in January after adequate winter chilling. You can monitor chilling hours accumulated in eight states in the eastern US by accessing this site: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/cronos/blackberry/index.php
- Developmental stages at this time of year as mentioned in the PM guide are : 1. Dormant 2. Delayed dormant (swollen bud) to green tip
Pruning and trellising
- Pruning should occur in late winter. However, in some areas winter ice storms can do tremendous damage to plants and trellis systems. If you produce blackberries in one of these areas, pruning can take place early winter to help avoid severe damage
- Make trellis repairs after plants have defoliated but before pruning and training.
- Erect types
- Prune out the spent floricanes
- Tie canes to wires in a fan shape
- Cut lateral branches back to 8-12”
- Thin canes to 6-8 canes/ hill (4 ft spacing)
- Trailing types
- Prune out spent floricanes
- Tie or weave canes to wire so that they do not overlap
- Prune side laterals to 12-18”
- Thin canes to 6-8 hill (6-8ft spacing)
- Primocane fruiting raspberries and blackberries
- Prune (mow) primocane fruiting types to ground level
Weed control
Check the
Southern Regional Bramble integrated Management Guide for recommendations.
www.smallfruits.org
- Many summer weed problems can be best managed in the fall
and winter using preemergent herbicides. Determine what weeds have been or
could be a problem in your area. Check with local extension agent for cultural
or chemical means to control these weeds.
Insect and disease scouting
Check the
Southern Regional Bramble integrated Management Guide for recommendations.
www.smallfruits.org
- Scout fields for insect and disease damage and remove those canes
- Remove wild blackberries and raspberries by the roots if they are within 600 ft of your planting during the winter
Planting
- Take soil tests to determine fertility needs for spring plantings.
- There are some new raspberry and blackberry cultivars available each year. If you have not tried them or it is not know how they will do in your region, it is best to order a small quantity to see how well they will perform in your area
- For larger growers, prepare list of cultivars for 2015 plantings and order now. Smaller quantities of plants can be order in early 2014 for spring 2014 planting
- A commercial small fruit nursery list at http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/nurseries/
Water management
- Make repairs to irrigation system (check pumps, lines, etc)
- Plants generally do not need supplemental water in winter
Marketing and miscellaneous
- Order containers for next season
- Make contacts for selling fruit next season
- Attend grower meetings:
o The 2015 North
American Raspberry & Blackberry Conference will be held in
Fayetteville, Arkansas, on February 24-27, 2015. For more information and an
sneak peek at the program: http://www.raspberryblackberry.com/local.cfm?doc=webdocs/2015Conference
Overview.htm
o Southeast
Regional Conference and Tradeshow, with sessions on blackberry
o January 8-9,
2015, at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center http://www.seregionalconference.com/educational-sessions/
o The North
Carolina Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association
Date not set at printing. For more information contact Daniel_Shires@ncsu.edu
For
more information on growing caneberries see:
http://www.smallfruits.org/
http://rubus.ces.ncsu.edu/
