Market Farming

[Willie McKemie <mf AT austinfarm.org>]

On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 06:32:19PM -0600, TxBeeFarmer wrote:
> I'm considering a couple of rows an acre long each.  Thought I might go for
> one or two of the thornless varieties, Arapaho and Navaho.  I've heard some
> good things about another thornless variety called Triple Crown, but not
> sure how it would do in west Texas.
> 
> How much yield do you get per plant the year after you mow compared to when
> you don't.

I don't believe you've told us exactly where your are or what chilling 
you expect.

Around here (600 hr), all the thorny berries far out produce all the 
thornless ones.  Rosoborough, Brazos, Shawnee, Kiowa, and Chickasaw all 
produce fairly well for me.  You might want to try any/all of the 
thorny Arkansas berries and maybe Womack.  Rosoborough and Brazos are 
early, Kiowa and Chickasaw are several weeks later, and Shawnee has up 
to a six week harvest interval.  Berries are easier to sell if you 
spread them out.

->I<- wouldn't plant all thornless.

Very good production is about 1 gallon per foot of row.  More normal is 
1 gallon in 2-4 feet.  Root cuttings are generally spaced about 18" and 
plants 24"-36"; a few years after establishment, you won't be able to 
identify original plants.  Mowed berries will produce about 1/2 the 
amount of un-mowed berries, assuming you mow as early as possible and 
have good growth afterwards.

Last year, I got about 2000 gallons off of about 6000' of row, about 
half had been mowed.

-- 
Willie, ONWARD!  Through the fog!
http://counter.li.org Linux registered user #228836 since 1995
Linux system uptime  204 days  7 hours 52 minutes