Talking about berries, who better than a berry good person who is not strictly for the berries.

What better way to start than how to avoid general problems, and if you are military you know what I mean. To avoid problems, pay attention to these rules:

Select varieties suited to your area

Improve soil as needed

Plant berries at correct time, observing proper planting procedures and later care

Prune annually

When you plant blackberries or raspberries, do not put than into the same soil you planted solanaceous plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) within the past two years. These plants carry verticillium wilt disease which will stunt or kill berries. Try again, only this time use fresh soil.

The first year do not prune the blackberries. Blackberries are liken unto grapes in that they bear fruit on second year canes. At the start of growth in the second year tie the canes to a trellis, and cut (prune) the canes that are weak, diseased, or dead. After you harvest the crop, cut all of the canes of that bore fruit. Next year, tie to the trellis the new canes that grew during the summer and repeat.

Now blueberries need (they want!) a very acidic soil (pH between 3.5 and 4.5) that is rich inorganic material. To increase soil acidity, mix one pound of soil sulfur per 100 feet of sandy soil or 3 to 4 pounds per 100 feet of loam. Most soils will benefit from the yearly addition of generous amounts of peat moss, composted pine needles, or similar acidic organic material.

If you have questions about these or other kinds of berries, remember it is a long way to Tipaberry, but if you call the U of A Extension Office, either Rob Call, our Horticulture Agent, or his staff of Master Gardeners will be happy to help you. The Cooperative Extension has several "berry" bulletins, free of cost, available to you. Please give us a call!