Getting Started Growing Berries. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 1

Transcription

1 Getting Started Growing Berries 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 1

2 Today s Talk 1. Vision & Goal Provides Business Direction 2. Assets Enable Many Opportunities 3. Business is Diverse/Flexible to Grow/Adapt 4. Selecting a Farm Produce 5. Getting Started 6. Future Work 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 2

3 1. Vision & Goal Provides Business Direction Vision: Restore and enjoy the history and features of the Lampe Homestead property for our family and the community Goal:Develop a farm business that will sustain the homestead property and provide owners with field work for exercise and enjoyment 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 3

4 2. Assets Enable Many Land & Buildings Opportunities Shop Barn House Field Garden Shed Creamery 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 4

5 2. Assets Enable Many Equipment Opportunities 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 5

6 2. Assets Enable Many Family Opportunities 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 6

7 3. Business is Diverse/Flexible to Grow/Adapt Farm Produce Weddings & Events 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 7

8 4. Selecting a Farm Produce Concerns Needs Knowledge/Experience Cost to install/maintain/harvest/market Risks: weather & pests (insects/squirrels/birds/??) Labor Financial return to support farm costs Minimize financial risk by planting crops that allow us to review success and adapt Fun and rewarding 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 8

9 Main Crop Selected Blackberries & Raspberries Concerns addressed by: Research Networking Learn as you go plan Detailed record keeping Needs addressed by: Evaluating results from others in different climates Applying results to Northern Nevada Maintaining focus on having fun and enjoying the farm Time to test our selected main crop! 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 9

10 5. Getting Started Year 1 Prepare the Field Planting Selection of Berry Varieties to Evaluate Watering/Fertilizing Inspection/Record Keeping Harvesting Budgeting 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 10

11 Field Preparation & Planting April 26 Field Leveling May 10 Snow May 21 Planting May 17 Field Ready Approximately 1 acre field prepared by leveling (for future flood irrigation), drip system installed (emitters at 1 ), and rows mulched with mix of compost/cedar chips/coffee bean shells/sulfur. 300 Berry Plants in Rows It snowed 3 days later several inches! 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 11

12 Berry Selection 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 12

13 Raspberry & Blackberry Field July 2 Overview Sep 9 Seven Rows 300 Berry Plants (l to r) 1. Chester Blackberry : 25 tissue culture plants at 4 oc 2. Triple Crown Blackberry: 25 nursery matured plants at 4 oc 3. Bristol Raspberry: 50 tissue culture plants at 2 oc 4. Jewel Black Raspberry: 50 tissue culture plants at 2 oc 5. Encore Raspberry: 50 bare root plants at 2 oc 6. Nova Raspberry: 50 bare root plants at 2 oc 7. Polana Raspberry: 50 bare root plants at 2 oc 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 13

14 Raspberry & Blackberry Plant Watering & Fertilization Week of August 4 opened up plastic around all plants to approximately 1 deep by 2 wide to expose 2 3 emitters per plant and allow new canes to emerge. Added additional wire hoops to hold down drip line around each plant. Fertilized and cultivated around each plant with ¼ cup Organic Fertilizer: Acid Mix by Down to Earth Distributers. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 14

15 2010 Season Weather Temperature: Max and Min F Temperature: Avg F Reference: Record of Climatological 9/11/2010 Observations, Coop ID Jacobs Family Berry Farm 15

16 2010 Season Growth Inspection & Record Keeping Field Inspection every 1 2 weeks Photos Measure plant growth Look for insects, evidence of pests Check for proper watering Look for flowering, budding Look for ripening of fruit Record results Access database Calendar 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 16

17 2010 Season Growth Blackberry: Chester June 6 June 13 July 2 Aug 4 Sep 9 Tissue Culture plant growth in 16 weeks No insects or apparent problems. No flowers or fruit. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 17

18 2010 Season Growth Blackberry: Triple Crown June 6 June 13 July 2 Aug 4 Sep 9 Nursery matured growth in 16 weeks No insects or apparent problems Flowering in 12 weeks and fruit by week 16 (only 3 fully ripe). 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 18

19 2010 Season Growth Raspberry: Bristol June 13 July 2 July 27 Aug 4 Sep 9 Tissue Culture plant growth in 16 weeks No insects or apparent problems. No flowers or fruit. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 19

20 2010 Season Growth Raspberry: Jewel June 13 July 2 July 27 Aug 4 Sep 9 Tissue Culture plant growth in 16 weeks No insects or apparent problems. No flowers or fruit. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 20

21 2010 Season Growth Raspberry: Nova June 13 July 2 July 27 Aug 4 Sep 9 Bare root growth in 16 weeks No apparent problems, but found holes in canes and sent to Nev Dept of Ag. Predatory wasp. Good news! Flowers and fruit on planted cane stock Mature fruit has strong berry flavor and color. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 21

22 2010 Season Growth Raspberry: Encore June 13 July 2 July 27 Aug 4 Sep 9 Bare root growth in 16 weeks No apparent problems, but found holes in canes and sent to Nev Dept of Ag. Predatory wasp. Good news! Flowers and fruit forming on planted cane stock. Fruit is mature and continues for harvesting. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 22

23 2010 Season Growth Raspberry: Polana July 2 July 27 Aug 7 Sep 9 Bare root growth in 16 weeks No apparent problems, but found holes in canes and sent to Nev Dept of Ag. Predatory wasp. Good news! Flowers and fruit forming on planted cane stock Fruit is mature and continues for harvesting. 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 23

24 Pests: What Did We Learn? Birds: None observed Squirrels: One observed, no damage Deer: Three observed, no damage Insects: Predatory wasps & grasshoppers, no damage 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 24

25 Our Local Pest Predators Barn Owls 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 25

26 Other Crops & Marketing: What Did We Learn? Growing corn, pumpkins, & flowers don t pay well Marketing approaches need improving Kept busy with field work Family enjoyed bonding Learned field work in the sun all summer was good for the body and doable 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 26

27 Raspberries: 2010 Season Growth Harvesting Total to Date about 2 quarts Flavor Powerful Varieties Encore, Nova, Polana Blackberries: Total to Date 3 berries Flavor not quite ready Varieties Triple Crown 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 27

28 6. Future Work Berries Preparing for winter (pruning & protecting canes) Selecting more plants Marketing plan Trellising Other Field Crops & Property Layout Investigate permaculture design to expand yield and sustainability Weddings/Events Testing the business 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 28

29 Some Useful Resources Web Links NARBA UC Davis Integrated Pest Management University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute Nevada Department of Agriculture Cornell Univ Cornell Fruit (Berries) Cornell Univ Berry Diagnostic Tool berries.com/commission.cfm Oregon R&B Commission raspberries North Carolina B&R Growers Info Portal Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network raspberry.org/ Washington Red Raspberry Commission Documents Growing R&B in the Inland Northwest 1.pdf LARS Trellis Design for R&B, Herbert Stiles html New Mexico State Univ Comml Everbearing Red Rasp html New Mexico State Univ Blackberry Production in NM 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 29

30 More Resources 9/11/2010 Jacobs Family Berry Farm 30

31 Jack Jacobs Centerville Lane Gardnerville, Nevada Thanks for listening. We hope to see you next year for berries.and more Jacobs Family Berry Farm Membership/Certification: North American Raspberry & Blackberry Assn NevadaGrown 9/11/2010 Nevada Producers Certificate