Published 2023-03-28
Abstract
Subtropical climates in Florida extend the vegetative growth period of blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) by inducing early initiation of primocanes and delaying the onset of dormancy. Excessive primocane growth makes cane management laborious and time-consuming, while negatively affecting light interception, disease management, and
nutrient partition. This study aimed to develop optimum cane management practices for blackberries grown under Florida’s climatic conditions. We conducted a field trial in Balm, FL in the 2017–2018 season to evaluate three pruning methods using three floricane-fruiting erect-type cultivars, ‘Natchez’, ‘Navaho’, and ‘Ouachita’. Tested cane management practices were: 1) summer pruning and tipping (Summer PT)—prune to five primocanes per plant in
August and tip canes when they reach the top wire; 2) summer pruning without tipping (Summer P)—prune to five primocanes per plant in August, and train canes to grow downward when they reach the top wire; 3) winter pruning and tipping (Winter PT)—allow all primocanes to grow before dormancy, and prune to five primocanes per plant and tip them in late-February. Neither yield variables (fruit number, average size, and marketable yield) nor fruit quality (°Brix) were affected by cane management practices. Winter PT was not practical because of increased difficulties to manage vigorously-developed canes. Training canes to grow downward for Summer P was more labor-intensive than tipping and tying laterals for Summer PT. Therefore, we recommend Summer PT as the optimum cane management practice for blackberry production in Florida.