The certified organic blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) market has continued to expand in the last two decades, including in Oregon. The development of an industry-public research coalition has fostered expansion. In 2015, a survey consisting of on-site, in-person interviews with certified and transitional organic growers in Oregon found the majority of...
As blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) production has increased in recent decades, a new interest has developed in the cultivation of blueberry in soilless substrate containers. Historically, blueberry has been propagated and grown in soilless substrate at nurseries, but nursery production is short in duration and plants are small relative to a...
Drought and mandatory water restrictions are limiting the availability of irrigation water in many important blueberry growing regions and new strategies are needed to maintain yield and fruit quality with less water. Three potential options for reducing water use, including deficit irrigation, irrigation cut-offs, and crop thinning, were evaluated for...
There is limited information available on production of trailing blackberry, particularly certified organic plantings, which are of interest to growers as there is increased consumer demand and a price premium over conventionally-produced fruit. Various production strategies were evaluated for their effect on yield, biomass production, carbon (C), and nutrient concentrations...
The impact of fertilizer source and cultivar on growth, fruit quality, and yield was evaluated in organic blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) from 2011-2013 in three studies. In all studies, plants were drip irrigated, and weeds were managed using a woven polypropylene, permeable landscape fabric (weed mat). At a...
The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine how organic matter (incorporated vs. surface mulch) and nitrogen fertilization rate impact northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plant biomass, carbon accumulation, plant losses and allocation, and mycorrhizal infection in mature plants, and 2) determine the magnitude of carbon fluxes (carbon...
The study was conducted in an organic trailing blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus, Watson) planting established at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, OR on 26 May 2010. Three weed management systems were compared for 'Marion' and 'Black Diamond': 1) non-weeded; 2) hand-hoed two to three times...
In spring of 1993 and 1994, mature 'Marion' (Rubus sp.) plants were pruned to 0, 4, 8, and 12 floricanes. An additional treatment of 0 floricanes with early (30 cm) primocane pruning was included. Primocane growth was measured from emergence in April until growth cessation at the end of October....
A 0.4 ha planting of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was established in Oct. 2006 to evaluate the effects of cultivar (Duke and Liberty), planting method (flat versus raised beds), weed management (sawdust mulch and hand-weed control; compost plus sawdust mulch with acetic acid, flaming, and hand-weeding used as needed; and...