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Focusing On Flavor
Environmental conditions can affect the size, yield, and taste of brambles.
By Nate Nourse
FLAVOR and production of berries can be associated with environmental conditions before, during, and after harvest. We can distinguish these conditions by those we can and cannot control and the cultural practices growers can perform to relieve or limit the damage.
The majority of the time, flavor is affected by too much or not enough water and/or sunlight. Most growers recognize that flavor can be washed out by too much rain or irrigation, but many have recently learned that inadequate moisture and/or sunlight will reduce flavor. This issue is more noticeable in higher-producing varieties that require more water. Examples include Darselect strawberry and Caroline raspberry, which are larger and juicier if they receive adequate moisture.
This leads us to production. Before and during flower bud development, both overall plant health and adequate moisture are key components. After harvest is an important time to provide moisture. Also, disease and insect control to maintain highly efficient foliage is very important and supported by research. The combination of these conditions will greatly influence flower bud production and subsequently fruit production the following season.
Another factor that can influence both flavor and production is herbicide use. Growers are highly concerned about controlling weeds with the lowest labor cost, but how is herbicide usage affecting plant health? Plants are affected in many ways. First, through a general decline in vigor, due to damage to leaf tissue. Second, by changing metabolic activity because of damage to the roots. And finally, through the inhibition of root and runner development. These negative influences happen to some degree with all herbicides, including those applied to other crops in years prior to planting.
Both research and growers’ results indicate that there are other environmental conditions that alone may seem insignificant, but together make an impact. Is your pH too high or too low? Are imbalances of micronutrients affecting health and production? These seemingly minor factors will affect certain varieties more than others. If you add in factors of too much or too little water, and the effects of other management practices, combined with unfavorable conditions, flavor and yield will be impacted.
Nate Nourse is co-owner of Nourse Farms in South Deerfield, MA. E-mail questions or comments about this article to info@noursefarms.com
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