[Market-farming] Blackberry Problem
TxBeeFarmer
TxBeeFarmer at HotPop.com
Thu May 29 16:29:09 EDT 2008
The plants look very healthy. I agree, it looks like a lack of pollination,
but that doesn't make sense. I'm a beekeeper and the hives are about 50
yards away. I have noticed the bees turn up their noses at the berry
blooms. Perhaps there are other more savory blooms nearby - although I
doubt it.
TxBeeFarmer (Mark)
West Texas Zone 7b
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak at inil.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Blackberry Problem
> Do the plants still look healthy despite the fruit failure? If so, you may
> be lacking pollenizers (bees). If the flowers are not properly pollinated,
> they will look fine briefly, then abort. The fungal diseases noted in the
> Texas A&M publication are foliar and cane diseases. They shouldn't affect
> the flowers. The primary bloom fungal disease on most small fruits is grey
> mold (Botrytis). While it could be grey mold, it would probably only
> affect
> the crop in rainy weather, it would not ruin the whole crop, and it would
> probably be worse on one variety than the others. You would also see grey
> fuzzy fungal growth on the fruit, like you see on berries in supermarkets
> at
> times.
>
> My guess is you aren't having bees visit the flowers. It should be busier
> than rush hour with bees pollinating at flowering.
>
> Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
> University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
> www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "TxBeeFarmer" <TxBeeFarmer at HotPop.com>
> To: "Market Farming" <market-farming at lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 7:40 AM
> Subject: [Market-farming] Blackberry Problem
>
>
>> I've brought this up before, but never really found an answer. Maybe
>> someone will know this time.
>>
>> I have three kinds of thornless blackberries. They grow great and look
>> great, but no berries, or at least very few. They bloom in great
>> numbers,
>> but after the blooms, what look like immature berries, just dry up and
>> never
>> mature. What could be happening?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> TxBeeFarmer (Mark)
>> West Texas Zone 7b
>>
>>
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>
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>
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