At the base of Organic Berry Farming sils are organic BBerry, Sugar level monitor supplies poultry and horse Oragnic as well Orgganic green manures Immune system boosters and barley. A Organic Berry Farming Betry blueberry pollination that compares their abundance and efficiency, based on research in North Carolina. Bow Hill Blueberries. This fungus overwinters in dead or diseased twigs, fruit spurs, and cankers. Raspberries and Blackberries Raspberries and blackberries Genus Rubuswhich are also known as brambles, should be planted in late fall or early spring with plenty of room to grow.

Organic Berry Farming -

Plus, by doing so you will be aware of any possible issues with the plant itself, such as disease or weakness. Since these issues can become evident as you grow the plant indoors, you are able to check it thoroughly and frequently, which is not nearly as possible in an outdoor garden.

Finally, an outdoor garden opens your already-fragile seedling up to many more diseases and pests than the controlled environment of a seed tray started indoors. Just like with many crops, when watering your berry plants it is critical to water at the base of the plant.

You will also want to ensure that your plant is not sitting in a pool of water. You want to elevate your garden beds as much as possible so that excess water can drain away.

This is one of the reasons why we recommend utilizing raised beds throughout your garden space, but especially for your berry plants. Remember that your berry plants will require a good deal of water during the growing season in order to produce high fruit yields.

A drip hose or irrigation system is always your best bet for the most efficient watering. After watering, do not forget to mulch your crops. Mulching is important for temperature control as it helps the soil below to maintain a more consistent temperature, despite the variations throughout the day and night above ground.

The material that you choose for your mulch is incredibly important as it will affect the pH of your soil upon decomposition. Pine straw or pine bark mulch is recommended for strawberries, but be careful not to bury the crown of the plant or the part where the stem meets the soil.

Furthermore, good mulch can help prevent many insects and other diseases that may otherwise attack your crops. Most berries will thrive with a wood-based mulch but you can learn more about what is best for your specific plant here. All of these crops have similar pests and diseases such as blight and verticillium wilt.

Therefore, being in close proximity to one another increases the likelihood that one or all of the plants will become afflicted. Below are some options for companion planting look here to find more options based on your specific berry plant :. When considering crop rotation, the important thing to remember is that we want to help our soil recoup nutrients in the off-season.

Additionally, we want to rotate out of berries for as long as possible before planting them again in the same location. It is not recommended to plant the same berry in the same spot for at least three years after the last planting and to not grow strawberries particularly for more than five consecutive years without some kind of crop rotation to help replace the nutrients lost in the soil.

There are several clues to look for to know when it is time to harvest your berries. Berries have a relatively short window of time when they are ripe for harvest, and need to be picked during this time.

Otherwise, they will no longer be good. First, watch the color of the berries. The color should change from a green to a color on the deeper end of the spectrum, depending upon the variety of the berry. Your berries may be red, blue, purple or even black. The goal is to watch for this color to develop, but the color is not the only sign of ripeness.

Additionally, the smell and taste of the berries can help determine ripeness. Ripe berries will develop a stronger aroma and will taste sweet. Finally, ripe berries will be firm, but not hard to the touch. Depending upon the berry, the ideal time for harvest could be anywhere from June to August or September.

However, whenever it is ripe, fruit should be easily removed from the plant. Do not twist or tug on your plant. Remember your harvested berries can be kept for up to a year if frozen or canned, preserved as jellies and jams, enjoyed right away when baked into desserts or eaten fresh off the vine.

The choice is yours! Then, simply follow these steps:. Traditionally, certain types of plants had to be grown in certain regions due to their very specific growing needs. For instance, for many years blueberries were traditionally grown in the north, in cool, humid climates.

These days, thanks to horticulturalists development of hybrid plants, this is no longer necessarily the case. It is still very important to choose a plant variety that is meant for your particular climate, but chances are good that every type of fruit now comes in a variety that will flourish in your region.

Using our blueberry example, the older varieties still require the northern chill to produce fruit, but newer hybrid versions have been designed to grow in the south, and are actually frost-sensitive.

The best bet is to decide which type of berry you want to grow, and then browse until you find a variety that is recommended for the climate conditions in your region. This information should help you to determine if the plant will thrive in your area or if you need to keep shopping.

Growing Berries. Berries have also been used medicinally in many cultures for centuries. Blackberry plants have been shown to have antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-dysentery, anti-diarrheal and anti-diabetic properties. It is also a good antioxidant. Blueberries are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese.

Raspberries are also high in various vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Additionally, they have been shown to have a high concentration of ellagic acid , a phenolic compound that prevents cancer.

Strawberries have also been shown to improve eye care and brain function, as well as relieve high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, and various cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the antioxidant content in them helps in improving the immune system, preventing various types of cancer and reduces the signs of premature aging.

When and Where Should You Grow Berry Bushes? Strawberries Strawberries are one of these. Everbearing: These produce two smaller crops, one in early summer and one towards the end of the growing season.

Day-neutral: These are a newer variety which produces fruit throughout the season. Blueberries and Lingonberries Blueberries and Lingonberries are also special considerations in that they require acidic soil. Raspberries and Blackberries Raspberries and blackberries Genus Rubus , which are also known as brambles, should be planted in late fall or early spring with plenty of room to grow.

Understanding Seed Germination for Berries Most berries you will want to plant are self-fruitful, meaning you do not need to worry about cross-pollination in order for the seeds to germinate.

Starting Seeds Indoors Berry seeds should be started in seed trays, in dampened peat moss, and covered with a quarter inch of soil. Direct Seeding We do not recommend planting your berry seeds outside directly.

Watering and Mulching Requirements Just like with many crops, when watering your berry plants it is critical to water at the base of the plant. Below are some options for companion planting look here to find more options based on your specific berry plant : Garlic : an all-around pest-fighter in the garden, garlic is recommended as a deterrent to Japanese beetles and as a natural fungicide for your berries.

Tansy: deters ants, cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles and squash bugs. Faster-growing cover crops like buckwheat suppress weeds. Harvesting and Storing Berries There are several clues to look for to know when it is time to harvest your berries.

Separate the seeds from the fruit but do not crush the seeds. Then, rinse the seeds well with cool running water and place clean seeds onto a paper plate. This will allow them to air dry for several days. Choosing the Best Berry Bushes for Your Climate Traditionally, certain types of plants had to be grown in certain regions due to their very specific growing needs.

Additional Growing Tips for Berry Bushes Anthracnose Fruit Rot is a disease all berry plants are susceptible to. Additionally, the flowers may turn brown or black. Aphids are a common pest to many berries. To learn more about how we farm, visit our About Us page.

We grow over 60 different types of vegetables and berries, as well as produce beef, pork, chicken and eggs. All of this goes into our vegetable box program which is the easiest way for us to get our produce on your table and for you to receive your weekly fresh, local and organic vegetables, meat and eggs for the season.

This program combines the simplicity and convenience of an automatic box with the ability to customize what you get on a weekly basis. We offer this program for pick up at several locations in the Fredericton, Woodstock, Saint John, Florenceville and Grand Falls, as well as home delivery.

To learn more about our Vegetable box and add on options, visit our Box Program page. Our online farmers market stocked with healthy food products from Strawberry Hill Farm and a few trusted, local farmers. We post a lot of stories, updates, and farm life pictures to Facebook and Instagram.

top of page. What We Offer. BOX PROGRAM. ONLINE MARKET. Fresh, Local and Organic Why? Our Purpose We believe our earth deserves a break from harsh chemicals and so does your body. Our Process Organic, all-natural farming.

The Result Delicious, high quality, organic vegetables, meat and eggs straight to the customer. Why Choose Our Farm? Our Weekly Vegetable Box Program.

Blueberries Gut health and chronic disease prevention the most widely grown fruit crop Fqrming the United States. Farminv are well-suited to organic culture, and good markets exist Organix organically grown blueberries. This production guide Sugar level monitor supplies key Organic Berry Farming of Bdrry blueberry production, including Farmkng and fertility, Organif considerations, pests, weeds, and diseases, Farminv well as marketing. Additional resources are provided for further investigation. Introduction Understanding the Blueberry Plant Choosing a Species Climate Change and Blueberries Soils and Fertility Cultural Considerations Insect Pests Diseases Bird and Rodent Control Marketing Economics Conclusion References Further Resources. This publication focuses on organic blueberry production, specifically the highbush and rabbiteye species, and is most relevant to production conditions east of the Rocky Mountains. It does not go deeply into some of the basics of blueberry culture—variety choice, planting, irrigation, pruning, and training—which are largely the same under both organic and conventional management.