Growing Small Fruit In Duluth

Planning the planting Size of fruit planting Space Size of family (10 blueberry plants/family) Experience of grower ( start small)

Planning Fruit plot location Soil type ( blueberries need acid soil) Drainage Sun Water availability

Planning Kinds of fruit to plant What does the family like? Hardiness yield

Planning Getting the plants Local nurseries Soil and Water Conservation district tree sale Duluth Community Gardens fruit sale 722-4583 www.duluthcommunitygarden.org Mail order: FEDCO trees, St Lawrence Transplant from wild

Soil and site preparation Soil test (Extension 733-2870) GSC 320 W 2nd St Room 111 ( county) www.extension.umn.edu fruit info sheet Answer line 1-800-854-1678 (fruit processing) Site history Plan out irrigation Fertilizer timing.

Planting Timing – Plant in spring Care of stock- keep roots damp Planting holes- depends on the plant Root pruning of woody plants- cut off broken roots Watering-1 inch/week

Seasonal care Mulch Weed control – keep grass away train to get the best fruit (Trellis or prune) Animal pest control Insect and disease control – inspect frequently

Vole control Shoot and eat Get Cats Trap Keep grass mowed Feed them bubble gum Rodentrol

Deer OUTSIDE the fence

Slant Fence A design from New Zealand

Insect pests Fruit worm Wasps Bird damage Insect pests can be generalists or specific to the crop

Common Diseases Botrytis – grey Mold anthracnose Colletotrichum acutatum 

Shrub Cherries for Duluth Prunus tomentosa Nanking cherry Hansen Bush cherry Native cherries sand,

Raspberries Fall Bearing Summer-bearing Latham Boyne Nordic Festival Amber ( yellow) Fall Bearing Avoid most of these unless you don’t care about total yield Autumn Bliss (best) Fallgold (yellow)

Raspberry specifics Plant Raspberries 2-2.5 feet apart in the rows with rows 7-8 feet apart Prune to 3-5 canes/crown the second year Understand the life cycle of a cane Fall vs. summer fruiting Can be trellised Diseases : anthracnose and virus

Blueberries Minnesota ½-high Wild – can be transplanted Avoid highbush Northblue Northsky Chippewa Polaris St.Cloud Wild – can be transplanted Avoid highbush

Blueberry specifics Plant 3 feet apart 10 plants will feed a family of 4 Must have acid soil ( pH 4.5-5) 5X15 raised bed filled with peat and sand Mulch with compost and pine needles Prune out stems 4 year old and older Water 1 inch/week

Strawberries June Bearing Ever-bearing Honeoye Sparkle Trumpeter Veestar Ever-bearing Ft. Laramie Ogallala Tribute

Strawberry specifics Plant as early as possible Planting depth critical Plants 18-24”apart in rows and 3-4’ between rows Mulch – straw works well

Strawberry growing Life cycle Renovation

Seeded Grapes Beta (black) Valiant (black) Edelweiss (white) Swenson Red (Red) Marquette (wine grape) Wild grapes Seedless don’t work well here

Grape specifics Plant in a warm place/ full sun Plant bare root plants in spring 6-8 feet apart Prune to 10 buds per “arm” after its established 2-3 horizontal wires to support vine

Juneberries Honeywood Northline, Pembina Regent Smokey Theissen Wild

Juneberry specifics Depending on the variety these can be 4-12 feet tall Space them according to their form The taller forms are being used as landscape shrubs Soil pH 5-6.5 Full sun in Northern MN

Gooseberry Pixwell Poorman Welcome Gooseberries set singly from the stem.

Black currants Consort Antonina’s

Red Currant Red Lake MN 71

Gooseberry specifics Well adapted to Northern MN Soil pH 5.5-7 Roots are shallow so they will need water on dry sites Ribes should be planted at least an inch deeper than they were at the nursery Plant 3-6 feet apart Mature plants: 9-12 canes after pruning

Harvest and storing Harvest at peak ripeness Keeping the harvest Remove field heat – refrigerate Store cold 40F Keeping the harvest Freeze, can, dry, Juice, jam, jelly Answer line 1-800-854-1678 (fruit processing)