US: Berries can be profitable Texas crop
"Berries are a great crop in Texas," said Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension horticulture program specialist. "They can be grown for fun or for commercial purposes."
Nesbitt was addressing a 100 strong audience at the recent Texas Fruit and Nut Orchard Conference that took place in Bryan.
Blackberries do well in Texas generally, as wild form grow in the state, ensuring that they are perfectly equipped to deal with conditions there. Nesbitt pointed out that several commercial forms had been developed and could be cultivated with relatively little trouble.
He also pointed out that location was important and that berries gorw best in sandy soils and USDA hardiness zones 7, 8 or 9.
One of the biggest costs associated with berry cultivation - responsible for 70% of involved expenses - is labour. Berries must be picked when ripe as, once plucked from the plant, they do not continue to ripen. This necessitates paying for labour throughout the harvest season.
A way around this is to offer "pick your own" facilities. A pint basket may sell for $2.50-$4.95 each.
However, the biggest issue, he said, is the soil.
"It must have the right soil, an acidic soil with 4.0-5.0 pH," Nesbitt said. "And that can be a challenge."
Rabbiteye blueberries, he said, were a good plant to grow in Eastern Texas, whereas the blackberries do better in Southern parts of the state.
Rabbiteye blueberries, native to the southeastern U.S., grow best in East Texas, he said.
"Most rabbiteye blueberries need cross-pollination for good fruit set, so two varieties that bloom around the same time should be planted," he added. "The harvest season can extend from late May to August, depending on the number of varieties planted."
Source: today.agrilife.org
