You will reap the benefits of growing your own fruit whether you are a home grower or a commercial berry farmer – Berries For Africa have the plants for you.
There is a wide selection of more than 50 different cultivars that Berries For Africa grow. For example, we grow and supply 15 different varieties of blackberry plants. Most of the blackberry varieties are thorn less, some of them are slightly spiny and others are very thorny and can additionally be used as a security hedge.
New blackberry varieties
Most of the traditionally older blackberry varieties produce 8 to 12 tons of berries per hectare, but with the more recently developed varieties, 15 to 25 tons per hectare can now be achieved. These newer varieties also produce much sweeter, larger berries with excellent transportability, shelve life and outstanding aromatic profiles. Some of the blackberry varieties can produce fruit on primo-canes (first year’s canes before winter) and also produces a second and third flower and fruit flush after winter. They are vigorous, easy to grow and quick to establish with some varieties starting to produce flowers and fruit within only a few short weeks after planting (planted as hardened off seedlings/plugs).
Growers can adjust the floricane (overwintered canes) fruiting harvesting window, by managing the pruning styles. This gives the grower the advantage to minimize risk during certain seasons such as “closed periods” over the December holidays or to move the harvesting window to a higher demand period where higher prices are usually received; for example, during February to May.
Due to the wide variety selection and the introduction of newer “sub-tropical” varieties that can tolerate high temperatures (40˚C+) and do not require much chilling through winter, growers can now grow blackberry plants commercially in almost any area and climate.
Below is an example of hardened of blackberry seedlings (plugs) that can be transplanted directly into the soil or in pots/grow bags filled with a growing medium.
Berries for Africa is a nursery grower and supplier of various berry plants. Apart from supplying plants of more than 50 different berry cultivars, we also offer turnkey consultation services for your production system. These include soil testing and rectifications, planting, fertilizing, trellising, hydroponic systems, integrated pest and disease management, pruning, harvesting, and last but not least, the marketing of your fruit.
For berry plant orders or more information about our consultation services, contact us at info@berriesforafrica.co.za