Thursday, November 1, 2018

Fall Caneberry Chores


Many of us in the south are recovering from the wrath of Hurricanes Florence and Michael. In parts of eastern NC, soils were saturated with the storm, and then had additional flooding as the rivers continued to fill with water from the tributaries. There is some information in the blog post on how to dealing with flooded berry fields http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/2018/09/hurricane-florence-2018.html.

In January, the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association will be meeting in Savannah. This is looking to be a great meeting for growers and we expect many folks from the west coast to join us as well. Information on the program and registration is listed below.

Here are things to do for this season....

FALL
Plant growth and development
ü  Primocanes continue to grow but growth rate is slower
ü  Flower buds start to form in leaf axils on summer-fruiting types
ü  Carbohydrates and nutrients in canes begin to move into the roots
ü  Primocane fruiting types begin to flower in late summer/early fall and fruit matures until frost in fall
ü  Primocane leaves senesce late fall
Harvest
ü  Primocane-fruiting raspberry harvest
ü  Primocane-fruiting blackberry harvest
Pruning, trellising and tunnels
ü  Spent floricanes should be removed as soon as possible
ü  Optimal time to prune is after the coldest part of the season is over. However pruning can start in late fall if plantings are large (late winter for smaller plantings).
ü  Start trellis repairs after plants have defoliated
ü  Remove covers on three-season tunnels
Weed management
ü  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 your states agricultural chemical manual and local extension agent for the best-labeled chemicals to control these weeds
Insect and disease scouting
ü  Continue scouting for insects and diseases
ü  Remove damaged canes as soon as possible to lessen the impact of the pest
ü  Check the Southern Regional Bramble integrated Management Guide for recommendations http://www.smallfruits.org
Planting
ü  Growers in warmer areas (e.g. extreme southeastern NC) can plant into early December.  Preparations for winter planting should have already been made. If you have questions about winter planting please contact your local county extension agent
ü  In cooler areas, prepare list of ­cultivars for next spring’s new plantings. Find a commercial small fruit nursery list at https://blogs.cornell.edu/berrynurseries/
Fertilizer
ü  Take soil tests to determine fertility needs for spring plantings.
ü  Non-nitrogenous fertilizers are best applied in the fall to established plantings.
ü  If soil is bare, plant an overwintering cover crop (e.g. rye) to build organic matter and slow soil erosion.
Marketing and miscellaneous
ü  Order containers for next season
ü  Make contacts for selling fruit next season

Make plans to attend Grower meetings! Blackberries and raspberries are part or all of these programs.
  • North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association/ Southeast Regional Conference and Tradeshow, Savannah, GA
    • Sessions on blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry, blueberry, muscadines and more!
    • January 9-12, 2019, at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center

Key Resources:
Southern Region Integrated Bramble Management Guide:

Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide:

Blackberry and Raspberry Grower Information Portal:

Social Media links:
Twitter: @NCTeamRubus  
Facebook : Team Rubus   
Blogs: http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/