I did several types of winter prep on these:
1. threw fencing over to weight down the vines and hope for snow cover, saw
limited breakage, but was quickest way to get them down close to ground
2. do nothing...we had 18" of snow cover so the 40F below wasnt a full
trial...this is the vine the voles missed - which is budding out
3. 'broke over' vines mid summer to get them low to ground, some broke part
way but seemed to heal, some potential for this, but it means not having
vines trellised and is labor intensive.
4. weighted down with field fencing and covered with old carpet, voles got
these too.
So far I am very hopeful about these, not just for the winter hardiness, but
for the early fruiting...... Illini, Chester and Triple Crown - when I got
vines to survive - lost most fruit to sept. frosts.
Is there something I could spray vines with that would be unpalatable to
voles over winter?
Del, Z 2/3 solid frost last night
>From: John Bunker <jbunker@gwi.net>
>Reply-To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Maine Blackberries
>Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 07:25:31 -0400
>
>Del, Tom and others,
>
>
>The blackberries that we sent you were propagated by tissue culture. We
are
>also now propagating them by root cuttings. In both cases, what sprouts
>from the roots will always be true to type except I suppose in the rare
case
>of a sport.
>
>My own plants have been in the ground now for 6 years. Although I do
get
>some dieback every year, I have also established I nice patch at this
point.
>This past winter we had a 2 weeks or so of -20 to -25 and no snow cover
at
>all. It may be that one of the worst enemies of black berries in the
north
>is desiccation. Plantings protected from wind seem to do better than
those
>out in the open. Not much I can say about voles (or other) eating the
canes
>back to the ground. (It's good to know the canes are tasty?)
>
>
>Although I have been slow to put together a questionnaire for those who
are
>trialing the plants, I am very interested in your experiences. In any
>event, thanks for the information. I'm happy to answer any other
questions.
>
>John
>
>
>*****
>John Bunker
>Fedco
>P.O. Box 520
>Waterville ME 04903
>
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