This checklist was originally developed for blackberry
growers in North Carolina. 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: Link to SRSFC Caneberry
IPM and Production Guides.
This list is intended as a general guide. However, it can be
used to guide you to think about what types of activities occur at various
times of the year. Check the items off as they get done. 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 floral differentiation is
occurring in the flower buds (i.e. they are forming flowers)
- Low chilling cultivars can
break bud in January after adequate winter chilling. See previous blog post for more information.
Developmental stages at this time of year as mentioned in
the 2021
Southeast Regional Caneberries Integrated Management 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.
- Pruning and training videos can
be found at:
- Make trellis repairs after
plants have defoliated but before pruning and training.
- If you have a Rotating Arm
Trellis, lay the canes to the ground. If you are in a colder region, have
row covers available for protection from cold temperatures.
- Erect types
- Prune out the spent floricanes
- Cut lateral branches back to 12-18”
- Tie or weave canes to lower
and upper wires
- Thin canes to 4-8 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 2022
Southeast Regional Caneberries Integrated Management Guide
for recommendations.
- 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 2022
Southeast Regional Caneberries Integrated Management Guide
for recommendations.
·
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
Winter
injury from cold
·
Injury from cold temperatures can
occur to the canes and buds throughout the winter. Most often the damage occurs
in the spring after the winter chilling hours have accumulated.
·
Review types of injury that can
occur to the canes and buds. One site for cold injury information is the Team
Rubus Blog.
Planting
- Take soil tests to determine
fertility needs for spring plantings.
- There are new raspberry and
blackberry cultivars available each year. If you have not tried them or it
is not known 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 2023 plantings and order now. Smaller quantities of
plants can be ordered in early 2022 for spring planting.
- Nursery lists can be found at:
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
North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association is hybrid
this year. For more information check here their link.
Here is a brief summary of the meeting.
This virtual conference February 21-24, 2022.
A special seven-session virtual short course,
“Getting Started in Raspberries & Blackberries,” will be offered. It starts
Jan 31. See link above.
North Carolina Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry
Association will be holding a meeting on Feb 4, 2022.
Contact Daniel_Shires@ncsu.edu
or Karen_Blaedow@ncsu.edu
Please check with
your local Extension service to learn of meetings in your state.
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