WInter Caneberry Checklist

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.

This checklist is very general, but should help get you to think about what types of activities occur at various times of the year.

Check the items listed below off as they get done.

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 occurs in the flower buds (flowers continue to develop)

·                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: cronos/blackberry/chill_model

·                Developmental stages at this time of year as mentioned in the IPM guide http://www.smallfruits.org/assets/documents/ipm-guides/Caneberry-Spray-Guide.pdf

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 (6-8 ft 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.

·                Some growers are having success with biodegradable mulch to suppress the weeds the year of the planting

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 2020 plantings and order now. Smaller quantities of plants can be order in early 2019 for spring 2020 planting

·                A commercial small fruit nursery lists at 

• www.raspberryblackberry.com/ for-growers/
• https:// blogs.cornell.edu/berrynurseries/

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

For more detailed information, check the Southern Region Integrated Bramble Management Guide and the Southeast Regional Bramble Production Guide online version: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeast-regional-caneberry-production-guide

Or PDF version: http://www.smallfruits.org/assets/documents/ipm-guides/2016/AG-697_2016SoutheasternCaneberryProduction_Press.pdf

Attend grower meetings

North Carolina Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Association. Feb 15, 2019. 

Meeting will be held at the Cleveland County Extension Auditorium, 130 S. Post Rd; Shelby, NC 28152. Please arrive in time to set up prior to the start of the meeting. Contact Daniel Shires for more information. (704) 482-4365

12th Annual NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting

Twelfth Annual NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting

Friday February 15, 2019

Cleveland County Extension Office Auditorium

Shelby, NC 28152

Agenda:

8:45-9:00            Registration

9:00-9:05            Opening Remarks and Welcome, Ethan Lineberger NCCBRGA President

9:05-9:35             Blackberry Research Update, Karen Blaebow NCCE

9:35-9:45              New “App” Technologies , Heather Webb Faith Farms 

9:45-10:00            New Insecticide Update, Mike Cunnane FMC Agriculture Solutions

10:00-10:15         National Berry Crops Initiative, Debbie Wechsler

10:15-10:45         Weed Control Update, Wayne Mitchem NCSU

10:45-11:00          Break

11:00-11:30         Update on H2A Changes, Lee Wicker NC Grower’s Association

11:30-12:00          “Seasonal Changes in Leaf Nutrients in Single and Double Cropped Primacane Fruiting                  Systems, Dr. Gina Fernandez NCSU

12:00-1:00         Lunch and Vendor Visits     

1:00-1:45           NCCBRGA Business Meeting

1:45-2:15          H2A Housing Construction, Grower Panel Discussion Brent Brown, Wayne Mitchem and        Jeff Crotts

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

http://www.raspberryblackberry.com/2019-north-american-raspberry-blackberry-conference/

Key Resources:

Southern Region Integrated Bramble Management Guide:

http://www.smallfruits.org/assets/documents/ipm-guides/Caneberry-Spray-Guide.pdf

Southeast Regional Caneberry Production Guide:

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeast-regional-caneberry-production-guide

Blackberry and Raspberry Grower Information Portal:

http://rubus.ces.ncsu.edu

Social Media links:

Twitter: @NCTeamRubus  

Facebook : Team Rubus   

Blogs: http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/