Berries

[Dak]

LOL, heirloomtomaguy! That was one of the first things I did, I made an olallieberry pie. Hmm, maybe time to make another one....

[drew51]

Dak,

I really cannot answer your question. They may be hardy enough in your area to put them on the trellis. It can't hurt to leave them on the ground. You could put some on the trellis and some on the ground to see what happens. I will leave mine on the ground. Pile leaves over them, and put them on the trellis in the spring.
Even though I lost a lot of berries, I still will harvest at least 30 pounds of raspberries, so I'm good! I'm confident protecting blackberries will work. I protected some last year, and all those canes are still alive. I'm going to get a blackberry harvest, just not a big one.

[Dak]

Drew,

That makes sense. Last year I let them trail on the ground until they started thinking about leafing out, think I'll just do that again. Frost didn't come until December, but when it hit, we suddenly had lows of 14. Berries were fine on the ground, think I'll do the same this year.

30 pounds of berries, that's amazing! How many plants do you have? I have one 60 foot row.

[drew51]

Originally Posted by Dak

Drew,

That makes sense. Last year I let them trail on the ground until they started thinking about leafing out, think I'll just do that again. Frost didn't come until December, but when it hit, we suddenly had lows of 14. Berries were fine on the ground, think I'll do the same this year.

30 pounds of berries, that's amazing! How many plants do you have? I have one 60 foot row.

I have 3 patches, but it only is about 45 feet. I take summer and fall crops from the fall bearing types. 60 feet! I would like that! Not sure how many plants I have, they all run into one another, or are starting to. I have
Prelude
Taylor
Rosanna
Encore
Jewell
Allen
Niwot
Honey Queen
Kiwi Gold
Fall Gold
Cascade Gold
Double Gold
Caroline
Crimson Night
Himbo Top
Royality
Polka


Each plant produces around 300 berries. 2 crops a year. Maybe more? Allen black raspberry is an amazing producer, so is Fall Gold.
I also forage wild reds and blacks. I'm trying to grow a Yellow Cap from seed. All of my yellows are from reds, but this one is from a black. A wild black.

Here's a photo of my raised beds, one patch, taken today.

Close up of the Allen Black raspberry flower/fruit heads.

[rags57078]

I'm thinking I need to head to Drew's place and help thin those beds a little

[drew51]

Originally Posted by rags57078

I'm thinking I need to head to Drew's place and help thin those beds a little

I took out about 50 canes, and a few more this morning, yes, these plants are crazy fast growing! I asked my extension service "Can i thin early?" And yes, once 18 inches tall, so I have been thinning to 4 inches, will thin to 6 inches when they go dormant. Once the summer crop is gone, and I remove those canes, it should be easier to thin. I'm going to thin harder this next fall, way too many canes!
With fall bearing if you take a summer crop on them, they form laterals. Here is Double Gold, 4 canes only (center taller section). The laterals go left, right, and upwards! These are forming fruit now.

[rags57078]

right now I only have blacks , one came from a buddy in MN and one from a guy I work with , Neither guy knew what kind they was Ha Ha . I found some wild black caps this spring that I want to get a couple starts from . I have 2 extra 20 ft beds incase I get more this spring

[Dak]

Drew, I enjoy seeing pictures of your berries, I love seeing other peoples gardens. I initially planted 6 feet apart, but of course, being berries, they're slowly filling in, I love how dense yours are!

I have to say, so far my favorite berry has to be the olallieberry, so sweet! Great that your climate accommodates for both raspberries & blackberries, from what I've read, raspberries would not be happy here in all this heat.

[heirloomtomaguy]

Hey dak are you any where near pismo beach or arroyo grande on the central coast. Reason i ask is there is a great little berry stand around there that sells enormous ollaliberries when they are in season and they are cheap.

[Dak]

No, I'm in the north county. With the best tasting olallieberries for miles! (if I do say so myself)

[drew51]

Dak,

I have heard that bababerry (A raspberry) works well in partial shade in your area. the heat does not bother it. Willis Orchards has a not so good reputation, but they are the only online nursery to sell it. You may find it local.

I'm growing Ground cherries this year, interesting plant. One fruit was actually ripe today, I would describe the taste was like a tomato, except the sweetest tomato I ever tasted. First it tastes sweet with a tomatoey aftertaste.

[Dak]

Drew, thanks for that lead. I'd like to give bababerries a try, I'll ask my local nursery if they can order some for me next fall, maybe the Dave Wilson Nursery will carry them. It would be nice to extend my picking season into the fall.