Small Fruits
Selected Readings and Content
UMaine Extension Bulletins
- Growing Highbush Blueberries, Bulletin #2253
- Growing Raspberries and Blackberries, Bulletin #2066
- Growing Strawberries, Bulletin #2067
- Growing Rhubarb, Bulletin #2514
- Home Garden Lowbush Blueberry Planting Guide
- Raspberry and Blackberry Varieties for Maine, Bulletin #2172
- Strawberry Varieties for Maine, Bulletin #2184
UMaine Extension Videos
- Different Varieties of Raspberries, Part 1
- Different Varieties of Raspberries, Part 2
- Getting Strawberry Plants Ready for Winter
- Growing Grapes: Caring for Young Grape Vines
- Growing Grapes: Four Arm Kniffin System
- Growing Grapes: Umbrella Kniffin System
- How Do I Grow Strawberries in the Off-Season?
- How Do I Prune Raspberries?
- How to Grow Raspberries
- How to Grow Strawberries: Planting A Strawberry Bed
- How to Grow Strawberries: Renovating an Old Strawberry Bed
- How to Plant Raspberries
- How to Prune a Blueberry Bush
- Planting Blueberries
- Site Selection: How to Grow Blueberries
Additional Resources
- Growing Grapes in Wisconsin (select the yellow “view PDF” button to download a free copy)
- Highbush Blueberries FAQ | Planting Highbush Blueberries Check List | Growing Highbush Blueberry Record Sheet
- Planting Rhubarb Check List | Growing Rhubarb Record Sheet
- Grape Growing Powerpoint 2013 from Highmoor Farm
Master Gardener Volunteer Training
Core competencies
At the end of these sessions you will be able to articulate and explain:
- The critical components of a suitable site for growing small fruits
- Fundamentals of growing strawberries; proper planting, early care, winter production and renovation strawberry beds; characteristics of recommended varieties
- Fundamentals of growing raspberries and blackberries; proper planting, early care, trellising and pruning of brambles; characteristics of recommended varieties
- Fundamentals of growing highbush blueberries; special soil needs, proper planting, early care and pruning; characteristics of recommended varieties
- Types of pruning cuts (heading and thinning) and how plants respond
- Why currants and gooseberries (Ribes family) are illegal to import and grow in parts of Maine
Practical Skills Gained and Strengthened
- How to select and prepare a proper site for specific small fruit species
- How and when to renovate a strawberry bed
- How to trellis and prune brambles
- How and when to prune highbush blueberries
- Selecting, using and caring for appropriate tools for pruning small fruit