Certified Naturally Grown Table Grapes, Raspberries, and Blackberry Production with Drip Irrigation

Project Leader: Ryan Morris, Country Roots Farm, Pueblo, CO Technical Advisor: Michael Bartolo, Arkansas Valley Research Center, Rocky Ford, CO Project Year: 2004

photos from: www.images.google.com

Project Summary

Country Roots farm, in Pueblo, is testing the feasibility of growing table grapes, blackberries, and raspberries within the "Certified Naturally Grown" guidelines.

The project methods are as follows:

•  Blackberries: Two varieties of berries will be used, planted in two 300 foot rows. Plant tissue-cultured plants will be used instead of bare-root plants, because they are cultured plants from nuclear stock, eliminating exposure to any soil-borne disease.

•  Raspberries: Fall-bearing types (which minimize the need for trellising) will be planted (2-3 varieties), in one 300 foot row. These berries are harvested when it's cooler, which allows for higher quality fruit.

•  Table Grapes: American Seedless varieties (3-4 types) will be planted to fulfill consumer demands for seedless fruit.

The results from this project will be address production costs, yield and quality of fruit, consumer satisfaction, and overall profitability.

Results

There were three varieties of grapes used: Lakemont, Mars, and Reliance. 25 of each variety were planted in mid-April.

The varieties of the fallbearing raspberries planted were Heritage, Fall Gold, Brandywine, and Caroline. There were 25 of each of the first three varieties planted and 100 of Caroline.

The two varieties of blackberries planted were Triple Crown and Apache. There were 100 of each variety planted.

The plants and vines were immediately sprayed with kelp which is said to minimize stress and decrease the chance of disease. The irrigation water source was a well which delivered water through a two inch lay flat tube. There were three hailstorms in the month of July and most of the plants received minimal to moderate damage. Despite this, at the end of the season, of the table grapes, 23 out of the 25 Lakemont plants remained alive, 19 out of the 25 Mars plants lived, and 22 out of the 25 Reliance plants lived. In the raspberries, 23 Heritage plants survived, 13 of the Fall Gold, 5 of Brandywine, and 86 of Caroline remained. Out of the blackberries, 67 of the Apache remained and 95 of Triple Crown lived.

If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the Specialty Crops Program.