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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] need advice on farmplan:blueberries/raspberries/blackberries

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] need advice on farmplan:blueberries/raspberries/blackberries
  • Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 07:44:05 -0600

Hi Liz
 
Blueberries can be fairly self-maintaining if the soil pH is stable in an acid (4.5-5.0) condition.  For optimum productivity you might want to put drip irrigation on them. They'll produce more and bigger berries that way. Raspberries and blackberries can have problems with pests but if they produced last year without help, you can probably expect them to continue producing. Just keep your eyes out for pest problems emerging, particularly diseases on the crowns or canes. If you do a good job of pruning and keeping the canes open, that should reduce disease potential. Years ago, a colleague from southern Illinois returned to the family farm in Virginia. His name was Buddy Hill. If he's anywhere near you, talk to him. He knew plenty about those crops and by now must know plenty about growing them in Virginia.
 
Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html
 
 
There are already a number of established blueberry bushes & raspberry & blackberry canes. They produced way more than enough last summer to make me think there's plenty to sell when the bushes are maintained a bit more.  They've had no care for years, just planted and left to grow.  They need pruning, and since they're in the horse pasture not much in the way of fertilization ; )) is needed.  What else do y'all suggest they might need.  I've never done blueberries/raspberries/blackberries before except for personal use.
 
on t o post #2...
 
Liz Pike
Joe Rotenberry
Hillsville VA
 
 
 


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