Blackberry and raspberry plants are self-fertile or self-pollinating.
Although they don't need a pollinator, planting another variety nearby will
increase their fruit production. Erect plants should be planted 3 to 5 feet
apart in full sun in soil with a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5. Keep the root
collar or crown (where the root mass begins) no more than ½ inch below the
ground's surface. Trailing varieties need spacing of 8 to 10 feet between
plants and will need to be trellised. Our plants typically bear fruit in 2
to 3 years, after which they generally yield 2 to 4 quarts per plant.
Our erect or upright blackberry plants are the Apache (which is probably the
sweetest in flavor), Arapaho and Ouachita while our erect or upright
raspberry plants are Anne, Heritage (an ever bearing) and Nova Summer Red.
The Triple Crown and Cumberland are trailing varieties.
Without knowing which plant variety has been planted, it is often difficult
to tell raspberry and blackberry plants apart until harvest time. When ripe,
raspberries come off with the core remaining on the plant. This leaves a
hole in the top of the berry making it hollow and quite perishable. This is
why raspberries are pricey at the market.
Don't plant raspberry, blackberry or strawberry plants where potatoes,
tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, or other berry plants (including other
strawberry, raspberry or blackberry) have grown in the past 3 years. Fungus
disease and insect pests may still be in the soil in those areas.
Here is a quick link to our planting and care information for blackberry and
raspberry plants as well as links to recipes for the fruits, including wines
and jellies:
https://www.greenwoodnursery.com/planting-blackberry-and-raspberry-plants
A fun fact on muscadines is that all varieties bloom at the same time even
though they may bear fruit at different times. So, when you see them noted
on their description pages as early or late season, that means the time of
growing season that their fruit will be ready for harvest. Typical harvest
times often begin as early as late August (for early) through October (for
late).
Muscadines are either female or self-fertile. Female vines must be planted
within 50 feet of a self-fertile muscadine vine to bear fruit. The more
pollinators you have nearby the more fruit the female plants will yield,
although one self-fertile muscadine vine will pollinated up to 3 female
vines.
Quick info on the muscadines is:
• Black Beauty-female-late season-black berry
• Darlene-female-early season-bronze berry
• Ison-self-fertile-early to mid season-black berry
• Tara-self-fertile-early to mid season-bronze berry
• Late Fry-self-fertile-late season-bronze berry
Regardless of which self-fertile pollinator you choose, it will not affect
the color or other characteristics of the fruit from the female plant.
Muscadines, as with most fruiting plants, require full sun and a pH level of
6.0 to 6.5. Space muscadines 15 'apart with 10' rows for home gardens.
Muscadines will need to be grown on trellises. Sawdust, cottonseed mote or
peat moss will either slow down growth, damage or kill the plants. Do not
use manure of any kind around young muscadine plants.
Typical yields for female plants are 60 lbs. per vine with the self-fertile
varieties producing 80 lbs. per vine. Our plants should begin bearing fruit
in 2 to 3 years.
When reading the plant descriptions, you will see the term dry stem scar on
these plants. This refers to the plant varieties that are used in commercial
production. It means that the berries of these varieties do not tear or
separate easily from the cluster giving them excellent holding or storing
quality.
For complete growing muscadine instructions along with links to jelly, wine and other
recipes for muscadines, click here:
https://www.greenwoodnursery.com/muscadine-cultivation
You can still book your lavender plants for spring shipping as they will begin going out the first week in March. Here is our video on Tips for Growing Lavender:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenwoodNursery
I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to email me on the videos.
The most frequent comment is about my garden cats. About 6 rescued kitties
make their home in my garden (and yes they have been fixed!). Two of them
are quite friendly and very outspoken as you can hear. I think they are
offering suggestions to the camera operator. What do you think?
When checking out the Lavender Tips video, be sure to view our other one as
well which will offer you the basics on planting container grown trees,
shrubs and perennials. It's so simple!
http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenwoodNursery
