Raspberry plants are still blooming, as are thornless blackberry plants. Berry ripening seasons this year
should start earlier than average, as shown in the fruit harvest seasons
sidebar at left. All berries are sold pick-your-own only.
Pick-your-own red raspberries should start in 12 to 14 days, by May 22 to 24. Raspberries cost $2.08 per pint + sales tax, pick-your-own. We're still open by appointment through May 31, as the sidebar at left says. That ensures that during the earliest days of raspberry harvest, when a limited number of berries are ripe, that we have enough berries for those who've made appointments to pick each day.
From June 1 to Aug. 31 we're open our summer hours, shown in the sidebar at left. By that time there will be plenty of raspberries to pick, and thornless blackberries will start ripening about June 6 or 8. Thornless blackberries cost $2.55 per quart + sales tax, pick-your-own.
Last year we removed the 'Triple Crown' plants from 2 rows, and all last summer I herbicided the sprouts that
kept growing from the roots, so we could change the variety. About 8 weeks ago I transplanted rooted tip layers of 'Natchez' thornless
blackberry plants into these 2 rows, so we'd have more of this variety, our
customers' favorite. Today I transplanted a few more 'Natchez' plants into these 2 rows, to replace some that had died.
I'm still very busy pruning raspberry and blackberry canes and tying them to the trellis wires, applying herbicides along apple, pear and peach tree rows, and picking asparagus
twice each day. Our workers and I are still thinning the young peaches, and when we finish those, we'll thin the young pears and apples.
We still have harvested asparagus, apples and pecans for sale. Prices are detailed in the previous post. Just phone 620-597-2450 a day in advance, and leave a message on
the answering machine saying your name and the day and
approximate time you're coming to get them.
The
phone rings in the house, and I check for messages when I come
in from working in the orchards or berry plantings. When the weather's nice it's especially important to call a day ahead, as I can't always see the driveway from some parts of the fruit plantings, and when I'm working on a tractor I can't hear vehicles come in if you just drop by.
In the past few days, several people dropped by without me seeing them come in; I only saw the vehicles leaving. If you do drop by, ring the bell on the sales
building, which I can usually hear, unless I'm working on a tractor. When people have left a message letting me know when they're coming, I switch to working where I can see the driveway near that time. Thanks.