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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Blackberry Problem

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  • From: "TxBeeFarmer" <TxBeeFarmer AT HotPop.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Blackberry Problem
  • Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 15:29:09 -0500

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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