Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries!!!! The secrets I've learned that have TRIPLED my harvest

Maximize your berry harvest. Just a few simple steps can make the difference between a few small bowls or gallons of berries. Here's what I do to ensure a year's worth of berries.

[@lindamarcella6849]

Great video! Not a lot of chatting and straight to the point. I will watch again and again until I get it!! Thanks so much!!

[@MorganHillFarms]

You are so very welcome!

[@cactusray3368]

I really like your system of trellising blackberries. I've never considered using cattle panel tunnels for brambles, but now I'm inspired to give it a try.

[@MorganHillFarms]

It’s worked really well for us! Glad it gave you some ideas!

[@teamshoemaker]

I appreciate how concise this was there are some other videos that I've watched before and it was 10 or 15 minutes when they could have just given you one sentence and an explanation and been done with it so I appreciate this 😅

[@MorganHillFarms]

So glad it was helpful!

[@mariannerogers8003]

Thanks for the info! We have a radically overgrown blackberry bush. It was huge but when I start taking out the dead it shrank down to 1/3 it’s size. I have numerous cuts and scratches but I won!

[@MorganHillFarms]

They can be treacherous, especially if they are a wild variety! Glad to hear that you were the victor in that war!!!

[@mariamartinez-rr5ss]

I love how well you explain every detail. Thanks for the information.

[@MorganHillFarms]

You are so welcome!

[@karenhitchens3563]

Thank you for sharing your tips, very useful! Happy homesteading!

[@MorganHillFarms]

Thank you! You too!

[@loranelizabeth9148]

Thanks for the tips! And you are right- berries ARE the BEST!!

[@MorganHillFarms]

Yes they are! If I could only grow one kind of plant, it would be berries!

[@gwenmangelson]

fall gold are my favorites

[@ladybugsarah6671]

I'm in love with them now too, since I planted them. yum

[@MorganHillFarms]

I have 2 June Gold raspberries and they are delicious but have never been great producers for me:( Do you have any tips for gold varieties?

[@combatveteran738]

I missed lots of information due to the wind noise, but I did enjoy the video, great information

[@MorganHillFarms]

I am so sorry about the wind. This season especially can be tricky here with high winds. Im glad you were still able to glean some information. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out! Im happy to help:)

[@combatveteran738]

@@MorganHillFarms Thank you Still a lot of good info

[@HomesteadPreparedNewsletter]

Those are some great tips! We'll include your video link in our newsletter in a couple weeks.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@HomesteadPreparedNewsletter]

@@MorganHillFarms ... you're welcome. Our pleasure.

[@klomax7089]

Awesome video thanks! ❤

[@MorganHillFarms]

You are so welcome!

[@MickyBellRoberts]

Thank you so much for posting this video, I just planted my first Raspberry plant. I thought they are vines like grapes.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brandynash1409]

Thank you!!!

[@MorganHillFarms]

You're welcome!

[@keithzewiey6154]

Great job explaining!!

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Ryantryin219]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience

[@MorganHillFarms]

You’re welcome!

[@SteveSmith-km8kd]

Very informative thank you

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnanderson3405]

Awesome video. Very informative and well thought out. 😊

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad it helped!

[@DCSuperShine]

great video, awesome info...

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NateSmith-en3qn]

Great information here, very berrylicious!

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad you think so!

[@rocdajacable]

That was an awesome tower

[@MorganHillFarms]

Thank you!

[@debralarosa353]

Informative on strawberries Ty

[@MorganHillFarms]

You're welcome!

[@jeffwilliams707]

Huge help getting ready to garden black and raspberries this year!

[@MorganHillFarms]

Yay! Glad it helped!

[@kennethwilson8633]

Nice tips

[@MorganHillFarms]

Glad you liked it

[@user-mk7df1xo8o]

Thanks!

[@MorganHillFarms]

You're welcome! So glad you enjoyed it.

[@joannc147]

Thank you! Very thorough presentation on the berries 👍🏻. I’ve been wondering how long the strawberry plants last - ah, finally, an answer! I planted strawberries in my Greenstalk last year (away from chicken reach 🐓) and they grew well. The baby plants cascade out in the fall and are easy to detach. I did nothing at all to care for them during the winter and every plant survived well. Raspberries are THE most delicious fruit! I am fighting the urge to increase my number of plants this tear. I had some lovely blackberries that performed well the first year…..then the canes started to spread out - more small plants and produced less. They are now in too much shade produced my a neighbor’s tree 😢.

[@MorganHillFarms]

That is wonderful to hear that the strawberries did so well in the Greenstalks. And the fact that the runners are easy to deal with is. a huge plus! I'm no help with the raspberries! I say definitely expand and get more. They are delicious and so easy to freeze for use over the winter months!

[@lucypozdina9422]

THANK YOU for your videos!! Your videos are so informative and to the point! I’ve learned so much from your videos! Speaking of berries- do you have blueberries? If so, could you talk about their soil and if you fertilize or amend it yearly?

[@MorganHillFarms]

We do have blueberries. They were one of the first plants we put in at this property! They like a very acidic pH. Around 4.5 which is much more acidic than even our red clay here in SC. We use sulfur every year (we pull back the mulch, and add about a cup to the base of each plant and work that into the soil). It can take a few months for the sulfur to begin changing the pH. I also use Epsom acid loving fertilizer for azaleas. I put one cup at the base of each plant.....it fertilizes and feeds. (All of this is done now in Feb or March) If your blueberries start to turn any other color than green, it most likely means the soil is not the right pH and they cannot pull the nutrients that they need from it. We also fertilize twice with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season (think 10-10-10). Do this right before flowering and right before fruiting. If you are good with pH and fertilizer, you'll have a great blueberry year. Hope that helps!

[@ForestToFarm]

We have ever bearing raspberries. I keep those second year canes mostly because my grandson loves to eat them fresh every day. He holds the containers and ends up eating them faster than I can pick them 😂. My biggest problem is the canes that pop up in my rows. I just can’t cut them out knowing they will produce that fall crop ha ha. Terry

[@MorganHillFarms]

I know what you mean. The struggle is real! I have such a hard time killing extra plants that have germinated to close together etc. I’m getting better though:)

[@shandastitchinginidaho]

Good afternoon! I just found you and love your channel! Subscribed, and I also have a question. Real quick, can you tell me how far apart you would recommend planting your blackberries from your raspberries?

[@MorganHillFarms]

My raspberries are about 20 feet from my blackberries. There is a rule of thumb for black raspberries that they shouldn't be planted anywhere close to your regular raspberries because of disease. I'm not sure there is anything saying that there is a certain distance that blackberries and raspberries should be from each other. Hope this helps.

[@neoncatfish4038]

What state, or at least growing zone you're in? So people will know, if they can use the same plants you are using. Are look for different varieties. Very useful information, great video! Y'all be safe!

[@MorganHillFarms]

We are in upstate SC, zone 8a. We used to be 7b a year ago:)

[@neoncatfish4038]

@@MorganHillFarms Thank you! I'm on the Texas Gulf Coast, zone 9a, but if they're changing I guess it could be 9B now.

[@bobphillips9309]

Question. I planted some Everbearing Black Raspberry starts from my refrigerator last April of 2023. It is now March 10th, 2024. I ended up with a few canes growing (maybe 3' and no berries), but very few last year. I covered the base with leaves in the fall. Would you cut them back considering it's spring or just let them continue on? Should I expect berries this year? Suggestions appreciated.

[@joannc147]

Bob, excuse me for randomly butting in here with a comment. Blackberries typically bear fruit on Second Year Canes. Don’t cut everything back! Now is the time to prune - you want to eliminate those canes that bore last year. They should look dead and are pretty easy to ID. I recommend you research various state Extension services for detail on pruning. Good luck!

[@bobphillips9309]

Thank you! @@joannc147

[@MorganHillFarms]

I wouldn’t cut them back. I would wait and see if you get a summer harvest. It could be that since they were newly planted, they took their energy to really root in and subsequently didn’t produce well in regard to bearing fruit.

[@bobphillips9309]

Thank you @@MorganHillFarms

[@laniemccann4142]

I love all berries ❤when we move in Pensacola FL. any idea that I can plant it? Please 🙏 let me know 👍

[@MorganHillFarms]

Yes you can! I am pretty sure that blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries all grow from zones 3-10.

[@laniemccann4142]

@@MorganHillFarms thanks 🙏

[@billsmith2593]

Are you pruning the canes during dormancy?

[@MorganHillFarms]

In late winter, about 3 -4 weeks before spring while they are dormant for the raspberries. The plant will retain carbohydrates and sugars from the canes back into the root system during the fall and winter so it is best to prune right before spring. The black berries can be pruned after they produce their harvest or in early winter.

[@jameswilliamson288]

I grafted a elderberry and blueberry. blelders ❤

[@MorganHillFarms]

Really? That is awesome! Maybe someday Ill attempt that:)

[@jameswilliamson288]

@@MorganHillFarms I also found that chaga tea in my plant feed will deter insect pests and diseases. feed the plant also infuse a mild solution of h2O to spray also

[@dustyflats3832]

Strawberries won’t overwinter well in colder growing areas. I had a great system we designed, but it required taking the boxes and sinking them in the ground every year.

[@MorganHillFarms]

That sounds like a lot of work. What if you heavily mulched them with leaves and straw and completely covered them? Would that help?

[@BOVANATOR]

Is there any way I could get the dimensions of your cattle panel Raspberry Trellis arch system? I might have just enough room in my backyard for that setup, TIA!!

[@MorganHillFarms]

We used 4 cattle panels and they end up taking up 16 liner feet. They are probably about 7' tall at the highest point of the arch and there is about 3.5' between the beds as you are walking down the path under the arches.

[@krismatthieu8767]

I didn’t hear you mention if they were thornless varieties. Where did you buy yours from ?

[@MorganHillFarms]

I purchased my raspberries from Stark Bros. They have thorns but they are not like the thorns of the wild ones. My blackberries are thornless and I picked them up at Lowes.

[@Mel-vu9ss]

Hi there. I was watching your videos last night and I can’t remember which one you mentioned moles/voles (here?) in but I literally found tunnels in my garden this morning. What do you do for them? Assuming you’ve had issues. Thanks.

[@MorganHillFarms]

It was in the "How to Build a homestead Garden" videos. So I have not dealt with them in my garden but I have heard of people using cayenne pepper or coffee grounds to deter them. There are poisons that are marketed to this, but with them being in your garden that you eat out of, I'd stay away from those. Sorry I'm not more help!

[@Mel-vu9ss]

@@MorganHillFarms Hi. You’re plenty helpful. I will try the grounds and pepper. I don’t use poisons in my garden. Thanks so much.

[@MK-ti2oo]

Hardware cloth under your beds. That's seriously the only thing that works. You can trap them to a point but that's a battle. Pocket gophers, moles and voles are my arch nemesis, only hardware cloth to exclude them completely works.

[@Mel-vu9ss]

@@MK-ti2oo thank you. Unfortunately that’s not an option for us at this point. We can’t afford to hire that out and the job would he too large for my husband and I at our stage in life.

[@joannc147]

Mel - I’m in North Carolina and yup, I got moles and voles. I ignore the moles as they are the meat-eaters that much on insect larvae (bye bye Japanese beetles). It was illegal to kill these here until recently! Voles, on the othe hand, are demon spawn. They utilize mole tunnels when possible. They also thrive in the leaf mulch I have everywhere. Ways to combat? A terrier…free range chickens (really!)….and deterring them with daffodil bulbs or anything in the allium family. They don’t like stinky and, oddly enough, daffodil bulbs are toxic to voles. Another deterrent is Permatil (an exploded small rock material with jagged edges) or possibly small, jagged pebbles - lots of them several inches deep in a “moat” around your garden. The “poison” recommended for voles is a blood thinner (yes, like humans take by prescription). Voles who get cut on jagged rock will then, presumably, bleed to death. Oh - it’s a jungle out there! 😱. Note that hardware cloth, tho effective, will rust out and therefore fail in time. Enjoy your garden and gird your loins to prepare for battle! 🤣

[@maryjokruer6127]

What exactly are you putting your baby strawberry plants in? I've never seen that type of vertical planter before?

[@MorganHillFarms]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/emrVqKV3eNSDgZI They are called Greenstalk planters and they are awesome. Here is a video explaining a little about them!

[@jenniferwalters579]

Hi! How do I know if the blackberry or raspberry plants is everbearing plants as you said? I’m shopping online and trying to watch my $$ too. Zone 6b/7a here . Thanks for your recommendation! It sounds like like you are a fan of growing both red raspberries and blackberries so you have extended season so to speak.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Here is a list of everbearing raspberry plants. Golden Raspberry Fall Gold raspberries Gold Heritage Everbearing Raspberry plant Autumn Bliss Boyne Brandywine Bristol Caroline Caroline raspberries Cascade Delight Latham Anne Everbearing yellow Raspberry Encore raspberries Jewel Joan J Meeker june bearing raspberry Willamette Raspberry Yes! When the blackberries are ending, the raspberries are starting in.

[@jenniferwalters579]

@@MorganHillFarms wow that’s quite a list! Ok great thank you.

[@jenniferwalters579]

@@MorganHillFarms fantastic! You are such a dear! You’ve gone about and beyond. THANKYOU!

[@jenniferwalters579]

@@MorganHillFarms are all blackberries overbearing?. I got Triple Crown as well as Caroline raspberries :)

[@tanillecramer3915]

What are the best strawberries to plant in a pot? Junebearing or everbearing? And what kind? I am in zone 8b. I’m a beginner and am trying to do as much research as possible

[@MorganHillFarms]

I would say June bearing just because strawberries begin to decrease production as the weather gets hot. 8B Im certain has very warm summers. Also containers are more likely to heat up than an in ground planting, so the sooner the harvest, the better your results will be:)

[@tanillecramer3915]

@@MorganHillFarms thank you so much ma’am. Is there a certain type of junebearing that is best?

[@xkitchick]

Can you plant those raspberry cuttings that are green?

[@MorganHillFarms]

You will want to wait until the plant starts growing the new canes in the spring. You can cut a few of those and then put them in moist soil and create new raspberry plants. The ones that I pruned would be in their second year and after that, they die so you wouldn't be successful propagating those 2 year old canes. Hope this helps.

[@tomcollick8111]

Can the live cutback canes be replanted to gain more plants?

[@MorganHillFarms]

You won't want to propagate the canes you are cutting off when you are pruning. These would be 2nd year canes and they will want to die off after this season. Wait until the new canes (primo canes) emerge from the ground and are about 3-4 feet in length with nice green leaves. You can cut these at the base, stick them in moist soil, and they most like will form roots and you'll have new raspberry plants:)

[@MikeDawson1]

do you find much difference in taste between Caroline and Heritage?

[@MorganHillFarms]

No. I honestly cannot tell a difference.

[@jeremyhale2225]

Can I move 2 year old berry bushes? I need to relocate because of deer.

[@MorganHillFarms]

I would imagine you could as long as you make sure to try and not disturb the roots too much. Raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are pretty aggressive so more than likely you will be just fine. Blueberries are a bit more finicky!

[@EastRiverHomestead]

Was wondering about the blackberries. Mine look like a science project. Is it too late to prune?

[@MorganHillFarms]

No. I would do it now! Anything you take off will help the plant to send more resources to the canes that are left. You still have time😊

[@kellewirt4170]

What planting zone are you in?

[@MorganHillFarms]

We were 7b, but have just been updated a few months ago to 8a.

[@hawima]

How many of each berry do you plant for a family?

[@MorganHillFarms]

I have 22 blackberries, 16 raspberry, and somewhere around 70 strawberry plants. ( The strawberry plants don't give us quite enough for a years supply so we are thinking about doing a separate strawberry patch with a few hundred plants ). We are a family of 6.

[@ladybugsarah6671]

What about fertilizing tiips?

[@MorganHillFarms]

For my raspberries and blackberries, I usually just top the soil with about 2-3 inches of compost each year. They are native here and do well in the clay soil that is beneath the raised bed and that has been sufficient for them to be great producers! I also top my strawberry bed with a few inches of compost, but if I find they look a bit yellow, I will fertilize with a fish emulsion as needed.

[@Ohiochic123]

We have a wild blackberry "hedge" that is about 65' long, 20' thick and 10' high. Horrible stickers that literally grab you if you get close. Any suggestions how to fix this so we can finally get to the blackberries, without being shredded?

[@MorganHillFarms]

I have no suggestions for you:( I know what that is like. We have wild raspberries and you literally cannot get out of those if they stick in your clothing!

[@MickyBellRoberts]

I just subscribed to stay connected.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Thank you:) I so appreciate that!

[@jeberblack949]

What growing zone are you in?

[@MorganHillFarms]

We were in 7b but they updated our zone to 8a. I still stick with 7b though.

[@jeberblack949]

@@MorganHillFarms Just curious because of the berries. We are in 7a/6b because of our altitude. Thank you for the feedback.

[@donnalovintexas8760]

What zone are you growing in? I'm not sure raspberries will grow well in zone 8. I do want blackberries, strawberries and blueberries.

[@MorganHillFarms]

I am in 8a. We were in 7b, but this year they updated our zone. Raspberries can grow in zones 3 all the way to 10!

[@belindahopkins7875]

Why would a blackberry stock rot. Not over watering. 70 degrees here in AZ. Blue berries look good. Grapes look good.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Is this a plant or is it a cutting that you are trying to root? If it is a plant, it could be Verticillium wilt. It happens in hot/ dry weather....although I imagine you aren't too hot just yet in AZ. It's a fungus and you'll first notice the bottoms of your canes being affected. If you bought them at a local nursery or home improvement store, many of them will exchange those plants for up to a year with new healthy ones.

[@michaelascurlock3055]

What size is your blackberry and Raspberry beds? How many plants are in each?

[@MorganHillFarms]

I believe I have 18 raspberries and 20 blackberries. I have two rows of blackberries (10 in each) and 2 rows of raspberries (9 in each)and the bed sizes are 2'x16"

[@michaelascurlock3055]

@@MorganHillFarms thank you so much!!

[@diylife2865]

I would like to see you actually prune the bushes up close

[@MorganHillFarms]

I know that would've been helpful. I was documenting weekend chores when I filmed the pruning and didn't consider that I would do a video on this topic, so I didn't do any real close ups. I know that can be frustrating. I apologize for not including that in the video.

[@Jehoshophat]

So, if I just wanted some berries, with little preservation, over summer and fall I'd leave the canes alone.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Yes! Then at the end of the season, the canes that produced the summer fruit would be dead and you will prune those down to the ground, and leave the new canes or primocanes there. They are the ones that gave you berries right at the top during the fall.

[@davincimen4495]

Dang. I better go hard core prune raspberries right now.

[@MorganHillFarms]

Now is the perfect time! Just cut them down to the ground if you are wanting the massive fall crop. ( Make sure your varieties are everbearing ). Best of luck!

[@joannewolfe5688]

Do you have any problems with your blackberries and raspberries cross-pollinating? They will, you know. Unless separates by quite a distance.

[@MorganHillFarms]

I haven't had that happen! Crossing my fingers that we don't have to worry about that. They are pretty close in proximity in my garden. Have you had that happen?

[@JohnDoe2.01]

Very poor audio!

[@MorganHillFarms]

I apologize. Our spring winds are terrible:(

[@Kathy-ne7es]

I have blueberries 🫐 what should I be doing now in 3-15-24

[@MorganHillFarms]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2jWe2Ruq9mCaZI I just put this video out and it will tell you what to amend your soil with and a fertilization schedule:)