| Blackberries, Blackberries, Blackberries |
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When I was a little girl, one of my summer pleasures was picking wild blackberries. We would wade into briar patches higher than our heads. For every berry that went into our jars, 2 went into our mouths. If we filled the jars, mama would make pie for us, but eating them raw was even better.
Last year we picked about 33 gallons of blackberries, about 24 bushels of apples and about 3/4 bushel of English Walnuts. I expect less this year because of the bunny trouble (blackberries) and lack of pollinator for the Cortland apple tree.
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| Bad Bunnies! |
Blackberry yield for 2010 will be limited to about 1/4 of the usual amount. During one of our snowstorms this year, we had drifts that were up above the bunny fences. The rabbits took advantage of the access and gnawed away the bark on the blackberry canes. Only one section was spared. Otherwise, this year's canes are all dead. The way blackberries work though, they should put up new canes this year and have more berries next year. If we have another snowy winter, I will have to pay attention to the drifts and see if I can thwart the bunnies.
My blackberries are mostly Chester Thornless and grow big and fat--good for a pie or just to eat raw. Click here to see a preview of blackberry picking.
Blackberry Picking
If you want to pick berries, please Email or call me.
I'm not a great blogger. I often forget or get too busy, but will try to give an update periodically here and on my facebook page on the picking status.
Facebook.com
Click here for Blackberry Recipes |
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| Blueberries are ripening |
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| Blueberry Guard |
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I am trying a new tactic this year. Instead of bird mesh, I will try a hawk kite flying over my berry patch. I hope it works! Click on the picture to see a video of my new Guard Hawk! |
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| Plums! |
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From a fruit grower's perspective, spring was perfect this year. Once winter was over, it was over--no hard freezes after the fruit trees bloomed. All the fruit trees were covered with blooms. The plum tree was especially pretty this year. I have never gotten a big yield from it so far. I'm not sure if it is lack of a close pollinator or that the buds froze in previous years. It got sprayed this year, so maybe we will have some kind of crop. |
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| Serviceberries |
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This year we took out our "Yellow Delicious" apple tree. Last year it was overloaded and also sustained storm damage. For a replacement we wanted a non-apple tree that would fit in the same space. Crabapples were an obvious idea, but they can pollinate apple trees and we are trying to discourage the remaining apple tree. We decided on a Serviceberry mainly because of its size and shape.
It also is supposed to have berries similar in size, appearance and taste to blueberries, but according to everything we have heard or read, the birds get most of them. It was completely loaded with blooms and I think that it is self-polinating, so it will be interesting to see what it yields. |
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The serviceberries are starting to ripen so I sampled them. They are sweet, but don't have a distinct blueberry taste. Strangely, they seem to me to have a bit of an almond overtone. |
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| For the Birds - Mulberry Trees! |
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We have a couple of mulberry trees that sprung up in the front yard to supply mulberries for the birds. They look like blackberries, but are rather tasteless so the birds can have them. |
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