The Berry Grower

Blake Cothron is an organic farmer, nurseryman, writer, musician, and speaker, with over 20 years' experience in organic agriculture, botany, horticulture, and growing food. He is the co-owner and co-operator of Peaceful Heritage Nursery, a 4-acre USDA Certified Organic research farm, orchard, and edible plant nursery. Author of Pawpaws: The Complete Growing and Marketing Guide, he has also written for Permaculture Design magazine and various online publications. Blake has an educational blog and YouTube channel devoted to fruit growing, and he is an educator with the Organic Association of Kentucky. He divides his time between farming, research, writing, beekeeping, gardening, travel, yoga, meditation, and being a husband and father in beautiful Kentucky.

Preface


PART 1: THE BASICS

1. Why Small Scale, Small Fruits?

— Why small fruit growing? — How and where to start? — Understanding current climate challenges — Small fruits to the rescue — Why micro fruit farming? — Limitations of small fruit growing — Maximize profits by being the workforce— The future of small and micro farming


2. 21st Century Strategic Planning

— Planning it out — How to research — Evaluating agricultural profit forecasts — Understanding your bioregion and regional climate — Choosing cultivars — How many plants?— Pollination


3. Sourcing Plants and Navigating the 21st Century Nursery Scene

— Sourcing plants and plant material — Sources to avoid — Organic or conventional? — Navigating the nursery scene — Quality nurseries


4. Creating Beds

— Creating space for small fruits to thrive — Mechanical tillage — No-till options — Spacing — Managing walkways — Stale bedding — Planting the beds — Planting in rows— Cover cropping


5. Managing Soil Fertility Organically

— Practical considerations — Soluble and insoluble organic fertilizers — Animal-product based fertilizers — Vegan plant-based fertilizers — Mineral fertilizers — Compost and manures — Consider the impacts — Applying organic fertilizers— Unlocking latent soil fertility


6. Planting Successfully

— Handling and inspecting nursery stock — Storing dormant plants — Effectively handling cuttings — Pre-planting preparations — Proper planting practices— Post-planting care


7. Organic Weed Management

— Using permanent grass cover — Mulch — Landscape fabric — Flame weeding — Plant Guilds


8. Tools of the Trade


9. Maintenance, Protection, and Organic Pest Control

— Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — Insect management — Common animal pests — Frost protection




PART 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FRUIT ALLIES

10. Blackberries

— Types of modern blackberries — Site considerations — Cultivation — Fertilizing — Mulch and irrigation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Harvest — Marketing— Recommended cultivars


11. Blueberries

— Species — Cultivation — Planting — Weed control — Irrigation — Pruning — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Cultivars (by region)— Harvesting and marketing


12. Raspberries

— Species — Cultivation — Irrigation — Pruning — Thinning — Trellising — Mulch— Propagation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— Cultivars


13. Strawberries

— Cultivation — Growing Methods — Thinning — Planting — Irrigation — Harvesting — Marketing — Pests/Diseases/Challenges— Cultivars


14. Juneberries

— Cultivation — Best species by region — Irrigation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— Cultivars


15. Muscadine Grapes

— Cultivation — Irrigation — Pollination — Pests and diseases — Marketing— Cultivars


16. Mulberries

— Species of mulberries — Cultivation — Irrigation — Potential for commercial production — Harvesting — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— The future of mulberries— Recommended cultivars


17. Gooseberries

— Cultivation — Irrigation — Pests and diseases — Harvesting — Marketing— Recommended cultivars


18. Currants

— Cultivation — Irrigation — Pests and diseases — Harvesting — Marketing— Cultivars


19. Figs

— Cultivation — Cold region (USDA zones 5–7) — Understanding high tunnel fig growing — Warm region (USDA zones 8–10) — Harvesting

— Marketing — Pests and diseases— Cultivars


20. Tomatoes

— Cultivation — Pests and diseases — Irrigation — Marketing— Cultivars


21. Other Small Fruits Worthy of Consideration ...Or Not

— Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) — Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) — Bush and Nanking Cherries

— Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) — Cactus Fruits — Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) — Hardy Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata) — Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) — Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) — Goji (Lycium barbarum) — Hybrid Cane Berries — Rosehips — Seaberry/sea buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides) — Munson Grapes — Che (Maclura tricuspidata) — Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea)


PART 3: HARVESTING, MARKETING, AND THE FUTURE

22. Harvesting and Post-Harvesting

— Harvest efficiency— Protecting, storing, and chilling


23. Market Planning and Strategies

— Direct marketing methods


24. The Future of Small Fruit Growing

— Climate change and fruit growing— Rescuing the genetic pool by selecting your own local cultivars


25. Interviews with Successful Small Fruit Market Growers


26. Conclusion


Appendix: Jivamritam

Notes

Resources

Index

About the Author

About New Society Publishers