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By Tom Stanley, Extension Agent
Seminar On Berry Production
Raspberries and blackberries are among the fresh crops for which there is a growing body of research and new appreciation. The health benefits of blackberries and raspberries lie in their high nutrient density and antioxidant content. Post-harvest handling can be tricky as they are much more tender than other fruit crops like strawberries or blueberries. Therefore, blackberries and raspberries benefit from short supply chains that minimize the travel and handling between farm and consumer.
Whether you want to grow these bramble crops for your own use or you want to explore selling them for profit, a seminar on Tuesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. will provide an overview of growing blackberries and raspberries. Variety selection, soil fertility establishment, cultural techniques, and pest management will be covered.
Grace Monger, Extension agent for horticulture headquartered in Nelson County, will lead the seminar. Cost to attend is $25 per person, $30 per couple, and registrants can contact Tom Stanley to discuss pricing for family groups that wish to attend. Fees cover materials and supper that will be served at 6 p.m. The seminar will be held at the community building of Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church, 73 Sam Houston Way, Lexington. Fees will be collected at the door and payment is by cash or check (no credit or debit cards accepted). Checks should be payable to “Treasurer VA Tech” and there is a $50 fee on any returned checks.
Participants must pre-register by noon on Monday, March 18, by calling the Rockbridge Extension office at (540) 463-4734 or e-mail [email protected].
If you wish to establish some new high yielding varieties of blackberries or raspberries, one prerequisite is removal of existing wild bramble canes. Wild canes harbor disease and pests that are detrimental to high yielding varieties. Ideally, there should be no wild bramble canes within 600 feet of an improved plantation. Late winter conditions afford good visibility and relatively little biomass to overcome in order to mow down or otherwise chop down wild bramble canes. Repeated mowing should eventually destroy the brambles although a single basal application of an herbicide like Surmount™ or Remedy™ mixed with 2,4-D will greatly expedite control.
