Buy This Book

The Berry Grower's Companion

Details

by Barbara L. Bowling

308 pages, 6 x 9
full-color photographs, b&w illustrations.
Hardcover

Table of Contents

Preface 9
Acknowledgments 13
Introduction 15
What Are Berry Crops?15
The Philosophy of Perennial Crop Production 16

CHAPTER 1. General Principles 19

Location, Location, Location 19 / Digression: Regarding Cold Hardiness 22 / Soil Fertility: Planning for Hungry Plants 23 / Digression: Regarding Sunlight and Fruit 24 / Choosing a Crop 29 / Selecting Cultivars for Your Region 30 / Acquiring Plants: A Crazy Place to Skimp 30 / Dealing with Dragons and Other Pests 32 / Digression: A Brief History of Pest Control 38 / Establishing a Pest and Pest-Management Philosophy 42 / Digression: On Nature and Food Production 45

CHAPTER 2.Berries in the Landscape 47

Using Berry Plants in the Landscape: Possibilities 47 / Using Berry Plants in the Landscape: Pitfalls 51

CHAPTER 3. Strawberries 57

Historical Background and Other Interesting Facts 58 / Digression: Life, Death, and Fresh Strawberries 59 / Biology of the Plant: Knowing It and Using It to Your Advantage 61 / Cultivar Selection 66 / How to Grow Strawberries: Planting Through Harvest 71 / Digression: Full Sun 73 / Niches in the Landscape 78 / Pests in the Planting 79 / Frequently Asked Questions 89 / Recommended Strawberry Cultivars by Region 90

CHAPTER 4. Brambles 93

Historical Background and Other Interesting Facts 94 / Biology of the Plant: Knowing It and Using It to Your Advantage 96 / Cultivar Selection 102 / How to Grow Brambles: Planting Through Harvest 113 / Niches in the Landscape 122 / Pests in the Planting 124 / Frequently Asked Questions 130 / Recommended Bramble Cultivars by Region 132

CHAPTER 5. Blueberries 137

Historical Background and Other Interesting Facts 138 / Digression: Mycorrhizae 142 / Biology of the Plant: Knowing It and Using It to Your Advantage 143 / Cultivar Selection 146 / How to Grow Highbush Blueberries: Planting Through Harvest 153 / Niches in the Landscape 163 / Pests in the Planting 164 / Frequently Asked Questions 169 / Recommended Blueberry Cultivars by Region 174

CHAPTER 6. Grapes 177

Historical Background and Other Interesting Facts 178 / Digression: What About Raisins? 183 / Biology of the Plant: Knowing It and Using It to Your Advantage 184 / Cultivar Selection 188 / How to Grow Grapes: Planting Through Harvest 198 / Niches in the Landscape 208 / Pests in the Planting 209 / Frequently Asked Questions 216 / Recommended Grape Cultivars by Region 218

CHAPTER 7. Minor Crops 221

Currants and Gooseberries 222 / Digression: Regarding Illegal Plants 223 / Digression: On Scale of Production 229 / Hardy Kiwi 231 / Elderberries 238 / Highbush Cranberry 241 / Digression: About Pesticide Labeling 242 / Amelanchiers 245 / The Most Minor of the Minor Berries 249

APPENDIX: North American Nursery Sources for Berry Plants 251
Glossary 263
References and Other Resources 267
Plant Name Index 273
Subject Index 281
Color plates follow page 144