posted 4 years ago
After 8 years of picking the same acreage, I'm developing a theory that different varieties produce different size, shape and progression of maturation. I've got uprights at the bottom of the slope (that are definitely not thornless); and they produce plump, round berries all at the same time. The long reclining canes upslope produce thumb-size and shape berries; ripening starting with the terminal berries and taking the whole season to produce.
My impression is the amount of sun is less important than other factors. Some of my brambles are still overgrown with honeysuckle and other aggressives, and the berries are still coming on and good sized underneath all that heavy shade. I carry my pruners with to find them. The slope was much clearer when I bought the property 10 years ago. Lots of young trees have grown up within the fields since then. I'm thinking the blackberries do appreciate living alongside and into the branches. And reaching up to pluck berries is much easier on my back than bending down so much. Now that I'll be there full time, I'm considering managing the trees as pollards, so they don't get too big. And mowing more!
This year the berries are much delayed. We had a hard frost three days in May. I've still got tiny green berries at the top of the slope; and I doubt they will ripen before the cane decides to shut down vascularly, which is beginning to happen. Typically, last week would be the peak picking time, but I've struggled to get a gallon a day. I think peak will be next week and the one after. Very late.
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Greetings from Brambly Ridge