It was cold out there, but no evidence of damage to the floral buds.

Ouachita bud sliced open lengthwise after one night of 10 F, Feb 19, 2015. No damage evident.

Ouachita buds, from same field on second night, when temps were 10 again. No damage evident.

Last week, we had record low temperatures in parts of North Carolina. At a farm in western NC, near Shelby, a grower cut samples after two consecutive nights of cold temperatures. He brought me Ouachita because its buds were a bit more swollen than Navaho.

We saw this last year, the center of the Navaho bud is blackened. So, you need to look closely.

Navaho bud showing blackened center, this is damaged.

It's going to be cold out there!

Field of 'Nantahala' red raspberry in western NC.

Much of the eastern part of the US has had a cold and in some parts, snowy winter of 2014-15. The upcoming nights in North Carolina are predicted to be cold, and in some places records are at risk of being broken. I'll be visiting fields in western NC over the next few days both before and after the cold temperatures and will keep you posted on what we have seen. 

Please search this blog for more information on cold damage. 

here are some links from the past:

http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/search?q=cold+damage

http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/search?q=winter+injury

http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/search?q=bud+damage

NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting

You are invited to attend the Eighth annual NCCBRGA meeting. As always we have an interesting and educational program scheduled. The meeting will be held in the Cleveland County Extension Auditorium at 130 S. Post Rd. Shelby, NC 28152.  In order to plan for the meal you will need to RSVP by March 6th by calling 704-482-4365. If you have any questions, need directions or if you would like to sponsor the meeting, feel free to call. There will be a $12 registration fee for the meeting. We will also be collecting, 2015 NCCBRGA annual membership dues. Make sure to thank and visit our numerous sponsors, which will be set in the back of the auditorium!

Below is a copy of the agenda.

Eight Annual NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Cleveland County Extension Office Auditorium

Shelby, NC 28152

Agenda:

8:45-9:00            Registration

9:00-9:05            Opening Remarks and Welcome. Daniel Shires, NC Cooperative Extension

9:05-10:00          Ins and Outs of H2A Worker Program, Dan Bremer AgWorksInc

10:00-10:15        Break

10:15-11:15        “Making the Grade” Blackberry Fruit Quality and Grading, NCDA&CS

11:15-12:00        Legislative Update for your Farm, Debbie Hamrick NC Farm Bureau

12:00-1:00          Lunch and Vendor Visits

1:00-1:20            Impacts of Herbicide Strip Width, Wayne Mitchem NCSU

1:20-1:50            Blackberry Pesticide Updates, Andy Rollins Clemson Extension

1:50-2:15            Blackberry Bloom to Ripe Study, Daniel Shires NCCE

2:15-3:00            New Blackberry Varieties for Replant Considerations, Gina Fernandez, NCSU

3:00                    Adjourn

Rubus Throw Back Thursday - a day late

NC State University Libraries maintains a collection of rare and unique digital images. While looking through the archives for some images of blackberry production in the state,  (I wanted them to help promote the upcoming Rubus and Ribes Symposium)  I only found raspberries. 

So, I only have raspberry fruit and production images to share here. Maybe some of you know someone, who used to know someone that may have grown these berries?  

Want to see more? go to https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/ 

Crates of picked raspberries

Raspberry planting in Catawba [County], July 1935, by H. R. Niswonger; Raspberry planting of C. F. Sietz, Catawba [County] and crates of raspberries ready for the market. Planting one year old and 1st year picking. Over 100 crates (24 1/2 pints) were picked from this 1/2 acre planting.

J. F. Pressley's latham red raspberry planting, July, 1935

Mr. and Mrs. Pressley and son being instructed in method of filling the half pint cup with raspberries for the market. Planting one year old and first picking

On acre red raspberry field, grown by D. R. Moore, 1934 

This field will represent a little better than the average growth and care given by the farmers who are cooperating in the 400 acre commercial raspberry project. Plants set in January 1934. Cultural practice consists of fert. with manure chicken droppings, nitrate of soda and clean cultivation

 One of the acre red raspberry fields in Burke County, 1934

Part of the 400 acre commercial project. Plant set in January 1934. This growth made by constant cultivation and fertilization with nitrate of soda and stable manure