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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Zone 4/3 Blackberries; flavor

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  • From: Maria Schumann <mariaschu@vtlink.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Zone 4/3 Blackberries; flavor
  • Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:56:52 -0500

Our neighbors (in northern Vermont, zone 3) have the most fantastic blackberry patch-- huge sweet berries; prolific bushes with wicked thorns-- sounds like what you have come across, Sherlock. This year was especially great but even last year with all the rain there was enough for many people to pick gallons of berries (and some happy bears, too). I have not yet tried transplanting any-- they said other people have tried and it hasn't worked, they thought maybe there was something special about their soil (they don't fertilize their berry plants or give them any special care).

Maria

On Nov 30, 2010, at 3:41 PM, tanis cuff wrote:


Blackberries in south-central WI, where buying zone 5 stuff is a gamble, some very nice wild blackberries exist but don't fruit every year. I note John B's comment about roadsides. I think if snowdrifts cover the canes (in road ditch, fencerow, etc.) this is a mulch which protects them from extreme cold, drying, and the occasional dormancy breaking warm spell. We don't get this much snow every winter. Soil makes a difference, or perhaps the ones struggling in sand are just a thornier & smaller fruited species. And rain-- we had 5" above normal this summer, and brambles grew VERY well!

The wild blackberries are usually sweeter (sweet & musky-smokey), than the wild black raspberries (more zippy sweet-tart). I like them both; I don't notice much difference in flavor of either, clone to next clone. More flavor dif in both from less ripe to more ripe.


________________________________

From: john.p.bunker@gmail.com
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:55:34 -0500
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Zone 4/3 Blackberries

Hello all,

Interesting discussion. Most - perhaps all -commercial
blackberries are not hardy enough to fruit regularly in zone 4 as far
as I can tell. Over the years we have discovered a small number of old
large-fruited cultivated varieties in central and even northern Maine.
When the blackberries are in bloom, study the roadsides and you will
be rewarded from time to time. This past season was a banner year up
this way. We find them on abandoned farm sites and as heirlooms on old
family farms. They usually no longer have a varietal name, although
most probably did so long ago. We trial them around amongst ourselves
and offer them in the catalog from time to time. While easy to
propagate in small quantities from root pieces, blackberries are not
super easy to propagate in large quantities without resorting to TC. We
have worked with Tim Nourse (Nourse Farms) in the past in that regard
and may do so again this year with one that we like very much. Check
out our catalog now and then if interested, or contact me off-list.

Best regards,
John Bunker
Fedco
trees@fedcoseeds.com
www.fedcoseeds.com
PO Box 520
Waterville ME 04903
207-873-7333
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