In AY production, the primocanes and floricanes are cut from the plant in October of the fruiting year. Relatively few trailing blackberry growers suppress primocanes in AY or EY production, due mainly to the lack of a very effective chemical primocane suppressant. Trailing blackberries are harvested by hand or machine about every 4 to 5 days. Fruit are usually harvested in the early morning as it releases more easily at this time. The most important production problem and the one that limits the range of production of trailing blackberry is the relative lack of cold hardiness.
Botrytis fruit rot and u.v.
Although root weevils, nematodes, and phytophthora root rot have been found in blackberry fields, these are usually not a problem unless the field has a large amount of pest pressure. Marion' is by far the leading cultivar of choice in new plantings. However, inconsistency of yield, through mainly crop loss to cold injury in some years, is a major problem that adversely affects marketing. Presently we are studying the use of higher density plantings in combination with primocane suppression at various dates in EY and AY production systems. The intended market for most of this acreage is fresh.