Berries harvested from Battery Roof-top Garden on June 29, 2010
The Battery Rooftop Garden includes three varieties of blueberries (two mid- and one late-season bearing), one variety of blackberry, and two varieties of raspberry. The spread-sheet below shows information about the varieties selected. Future posts will include photographs and tasting notes.
| Plant | Type | Height | Soil | Culture | Pruning | Fruit | Harvest time | Other |
| Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Chandler’ | Hybrid northern high bush blueberry | 5-6’ | -Soil ph must be below 5.5, but 4.5 to 5.0 is optimal-Soil high in organic matter, on sandy side-Sand/peat mix works well | -All hardy in zone 5 (Bluecrop to Z4)-Like 3” of mulch-Needs very wet well drained soil, so perhaps drip both below and above?
-Full sun |
-Do not prune first 3 years-Prune late winter, removing twiggy growth, leaving main stems | v. large fruit | Mid- to late-season | Bearing plants 3-4 years, so buy size larger than 3 gallon (usually 2-3 year) |
| Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Darrow’ | Hybrid northern high bush blueberry | Shorter than Chandler, probably 4-6’ | Large, nickel size fruit, sweet robust flavor | Late season | ||||
| Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’ | Hybrid northern high bush blueberry | Upright, 4-6’ | Medium/large fruit, flavorful | Mid-season | ||||
| Rubus Canadensis ‘Ouachito’ | Blackberry | 3-4’ with pruning (prune tips when 48”) – needs trellising/staking | -pH 5.5-6.5, regular mix should be fine-organic and moist soil-well-drained soil a necessity
-may need 2” water per week when bearing |
– | -Canes biennial, bear on 2 year old canes-After harvest prune fruiting canes to ground-Late winter, remove damaged canes and thin
-Summer, tip new, non-fruit bearing, canes |
Late June/early July | U of Arkansas breeding program; pronounced WAH-shi-tah | |
| Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline’ | European raspberryEver/fall | 3-4’ with upright form – may not need staking, but still may be desirable | -full sun, hardy to Z4, but may need protection from winter wind | -Large | Far bearing, starting in late August | Vigorous, Very productive | ||
| Rubus idaeus ‘Heritage’ | Summer/continuous bearing red European raspberry | 5-6’, thornless | -Train 1 year old cane on trellis | -Small fruit | -June July-Repeat fruiting in Sept. | |||
| Vitis labrusca ‘Reliance’ (north side) | Seedless, heavy fruiting, red grape | |||||||
| Vitis labrusca ‘Mars’ (south) | Seedless, very cold hardy, deep blue |
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