Brambles (blackberries
and raspberries) are a minor commercial crop in Indiana.
There are only about 100 acres of commercial production,
but these crops are popular in the home fruit planting.
Blackberries are relatively cold tender, with injury likely
if winter temperatures are lower than -10°F. Consequently,
they are primarily grown in the southern 1/2 of the state.
Thorny blackberries are generally a little more cold hardy
than thornless types. Blackberries tolerate hot, dry conditions
fairly well.
There are a number of new varieties of
blackberries that have excellent fruit size and quality.
A new type of blackberry, primocane fruiting, have been
introduced recently and make production in colder areas
feasible.
Raspberries (both black
and red) are more cold hardy than blackberries and are
grown throughout the state. Unlike blackberries, raspberries
perform best in cool sites. Raspberries (particularly
reds) have a fairly short chilling requirement and often
break dormancy prior to the last frost free date. Consequently,
late winter and early spring damage can occur if cold
temperatures occur after plant growth begins. This problem
seems to be more common in the southern part of the
state where spring warm-up occurs early. Damage usually
shows up after a period of hot, dry conditions.
Below you will find
information on production of blackberries and raspberries
in Indiana. |
Department
of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
