Five Points to Prepare: Get Ready for the Season

1. Mulching Raspberry and Blackberry Plants

Effective weed control is essential for good establishment of raspberry and blackberry plantings. Young brambles are sensitive to most pre- and post- emergence herbicides, making applications during the planting year risky. Mulches can be an effective way to reduce weed pressure while also improving cane berry establishment. Mulching during the planting year improves root establishment, increases vegetative growth during the planting year, and increases primocane emergence the year following planting. 

Inexpensive options like rye, oat, or wheat straws effectively suppress weeds and retain soil moisture without hindering new cane emergence, however, it can cause issues with root and crown rot if left on after the planting year, especially in heavy soil. Plastic mulch, also cost-effective, provides excellent weed control and limits soil moisture depletion, but requires drip irrigation due to its water-excluding nature; also excluding new cane emergence. Landscape fabric and woven ground cover, while pricier, offer long-lasting weed suppression and support root establishment but exclude new cane emergence and most precipitation. 

Mulches should be removed from the row at the end
of the planting year to decrease pressure for root and crown rot. Heavier fabric options can be used in drier areas for blackberries and black raspberries but not red raspberry which spreads from its roots. Avoid bark mulch, wood chips, and stone products, which can hold excess moisture and impede cane growth, and mushroom compost which may pose a risk due to high soluble salt content. 

Selecting the right mulch is paramount for successful establishment and growth of raspberry and blackberry plantings. Though mulches can offer effective weed control and support root establishment, careful consideration must be given to factors such as soil type, precipitation, and the specific requirements of each berry variety. By choosing the appropriate mulch, growers can foster a thriving bramble patch that yields bountiful harvests for seasons to come. 

2. Combating Flower Feeding Insects For Fruitful Harvests

In recent years, growers have faced escalating challenges from flower-feeding insects, particularly western flower thrips and tarnished plant bugs. These pests, with a broad host range including grasses and weeds, pose a significant threat to fruit crops. Damage often goes unnoticed until fruit formation, making early detection crucial. Populations can surge rapidly, especially during mass migrations into small fruit fields after the harvest of other host crops or cultivating neighboring fields. To mitigate losses, a proactive program starting early is essential. 

These pests, though distinct in their physical characteristics, life cycles, and preferred host plants, share a common threat to fruit crops through their feeding habits. Western flower thrips, with their minuscule, 1/16- 

inch-long bodies and feathery wings, inflict damage by piercing plant tissues with tiny mouthparts, causing misshapen blossoms and bronzing of fruit near the leaf cap. In contrast, tarnished plant bugs are 1⁄4-inch long. Recognized by their brassy appearance and yellow and black dashes, they target unopened buds, flowers, and young fruit tips, leading to the development of misshapen "cat-faced" berries. 

Both pests require scouting starting from early bloom, by tapping flower clusters into a white cup or paper plate. Initiate control measures if the average thrips per fruit cluster exceeds ten. Tarnished plant bugs necessitate attention if the average nymphs per fruit cluster surpass one. 

Growers facing these challenges must embrace proactive scouting and timely control strategies from early bloom onwards to ensure the resilience of their crops against the distinct yet equally damaging impacts of these flower-feeding insects.

3. Point of Sale Enhancements

Nourse Farms has been selling small fruit through our roadside stand for over 30 years. During this time, we have offered a variety of materials for our berry customers. 

Try any or all of these to enhance your customers' experience. 

RECIPES 

Recipes are very popular with our customers and increases their purchases. Our most popular recipe is our Favorite Fresh Berry Pie, originated by our late co-founder Mary Nourse. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BERRIES 

Highlighting the nutritional benefits of berries will increase sales! In our
Fall 2023 Commercial Newsletter, we included a one-page handout, “The Health Benefits of Berries,” designed so our plant buyers can
print the page or take sections of it to share with fruit customers. You
can find past issues of our Commercial Newsletter here. 

CROP SCHEDULES 

Growing other crops for U-Pick or to sell at the stand? A great way to increase repeat visits is a simple handout (or flyer) that includes a list of your crops and their ripening times. Don’t forget to include your logo, phone number, and website. Note where customers can find you on social media so they can receive updates there, too! 

STICKERS, COLORING BOOKS, AND OTHER TAKEAWAYS
Fun takeaways like stickers, coloring books, magnets, key chains, and bags are a great way to get your name out there! Growers have found that marketing investments pay off not only in customer goodwill but also in more repeat sales. Purchasing in advance for two to three seasons for quantity discounts will save you money! 

Contact us at 413-665-2658 or info@noursefarms.com if you have questions about sourcing point-of-sale materials. 

4. Frost-Proofing Strawberries

Strawberry plants are at high risk for frost and freeze damage in the spring due to their low stature and early flower emergence. Temperatures in fields can often be colder than forecasted. Cold-related damage can cause injury to plants and significantly reduce yields. Given increased spring temperature fluctuations, growers must be prepared to protect their crop or risk losses. Strawberry crops are most susceptible to damage at open blossom, although damage can occur at any stage of development. 

There are several options for frost protection including overhead watering, floating row covers, wind machines, and stack heaters. Overhead irrigation is effective for frost protection when air temperatures are below 32°F and wind speeds are less than 10 MPH. 

A single layer of lightweight row cover, 1oz. typically will provide up to 3o to 4oF of cold protection. Row covers can be applied as a double layer to increase protection. Overhead irrigation can also be combined with row cover which can improve protection when temperatures are low and wind speeds are high. 

Wet bulb temperature is a crucial element in determining the correct time to begin frost protection. This refers to the cooling effect of evaporation at a given humidity. At 100% humidity, ambient temperature and wet bulb temperature are the same but wet bulb decreases as humidity drops. Therefore, start temperatures for irrigation are high at low humidity and low at high humidity. 

For frost protection irrigation should be started before wet bulb temperature reaches the critical temperature and continued until wet bulb temperature exceeds the critical temperature. 

Wet bulb temperature can roughly be calculated by subtracting 1/3 the difference between ambient temperature and dew point from ambient temperature. For example, if ambient temperature is 36°F and dewpoint is 24°F, the wet bulb temperature would be 32°F. 

As strawberry growers navigate the challenges of unpredictable spring temperatures, adopting frost protection methods, including overhead irrigation and row covers, becomes essential, ensuring a safeguard against frost-induced damage and promoting robust yields for a thriving strawberry harvest. 

5. Maximize Bramble Yields with Trellising

A trellis system enhances air circulation and light penetration, improves disease control and picking efficacy, and notably reduces losses and damages caused by cane breakage from wind and crop weight. 

A T-trellis is a single vertical post, with one or two 18”–24” horizontal cross-arms at 3’ and 4.5–5’ above the ground. Wires run through holes near the ends of the cross arms, down the length of the row. Construct a simple T-trellis with a 4 x 4 post and one or two 2 x 4 cross arms. 

V-trellises are similar to T-trellises but have two vertical posts. Posts can be set in the ground vertically on either edge of the row, spaced 18”–24” apart, or from the center of the row and angled outward toward the aisle. The top gap is 18”-24”. Construct a simple V-trellis with two predrilled angle iron posts or U-posts. With the V-trellis growers can change wire heights or add additional levels of wires as needed without the need to add additional cross-arms. Increase stability by attaching the top of the end posts to one another with a cross arm. 

What are the pros and cons of each? A T-trellis is typically made of wood and with only one vertical post, they are generally less expensive to install than a V-trellis. With only one vertical post and one cross arm, the T-trellis can also provide more access for pruning and weeding. With a V-trellis however, growers have increased availability for wire spacing and adding additional wires for better support and adaptability to individual varieties or situations. Also, since they are normally made with metal posts, V-trellises tend to have greater longevity than T-trellises. With either trellis, end posts should be anchored to limit shifting