Preface
PART 1: THE BASICS
1. Why Small Scale, Small Fruits?
- Why small fruit growing? - How and where to start? - Understanding current climate challenges - Small fruits to the rescue - Why micro fruit farming? - Limitations of small fruit growing - Maximize profits by being the workforce- The future of small and micro farming
2. 21st Century Strategic Planning
- Planning it out - How to research - Evaluating agricultural profit forecasts - Understanding your bioregion and regional climate - Choosing cultivars - How many plants?- Pollination
3. Sourcing Plants and Navigating the 21st Century Nursery Scene
- Sourcing plants and plant material - Sources to avoid - Organic or conventional? - Navigating the nursery scene - Quality nurseries
4. Creating Beds
- Creating space for small fruits to thrive - Mechanical tillage - No-till options - Spacing - Managing walkways - Stale bedding - Planting the beds - Planting in rows- Cover cropping
5. Managing Soil Fertility Organically
- Practical considerations - Soluble and insoluble organic fertilizers - Animal-product based fertilizers - Vegan plant-based fertilizers - Mineral fertilizers - Compost and manures - Consider the impacts - Applying organic fertilizers- Unlocking latent soil fertility
6. Planting Successfully
- Handling and inspecting nursery stock - Storing dormant plants - Effectively handling cuttings - Pre-planting preparations - Proper planting practices- Post-planting care
7. Organic Weed Management
- Using permanent grass cover - Mulch - Landscape fabric - Flame weeding - Plant Guilds
8. Tools of the Trade
9. Maintenance, Protection, and Organic Pest Control
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Insect management - Common animal pests - Frost protection
PART 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FRUIT ALLIES
10. Blackberries
- Types of modern blackberries - Site considerations - Cultivation - Fertilizing - Mulch and irrigation - Pests/Diseases/Challenges - Harvest - Marketing- Recommended cultivars
11. Blueberries
- Species - Cultivation - Planting - Weed control - Irrigation - Pruning - Pests/Diseases/Challenges - Cultivars (by region)- Harvesting and marketing
12. Raspberries
- Species - Cultivation - Irrigation - Pruning - Thinning - Trellising - Mulch- Propagation - Pests/Diseases/Challenges - Marketing- Cultivars
13. Strawberries
- Cultivation - Growing Methods - Thinning - Planting - Irrigation - Harvesting - Marketing - Pests/Diseases/Challenges- Cultivars
14. Juneberries
- Cultivation - Best species by region - Irrigation - Pests/Diseases/Challenges - Marketing- Cultivars
15. Muscadine Grapes
- Cultivation - Irrigation - Pollination - Pests and diseases - Marketing- Cultivars
16. Mulberries
- Species of mulberries - Cultivation - Irrigation - Potential for commercial production - Harvesting - Pests/Diseases/Challenges - Marketing- The future of mulberries- Recommended cultivars
17. Gooseberries
- Cultivation - Irrigation - Pests and diseases - Harvesting - Marketing- Recommended cultivars
18. Currants
- Cultivation - Irrigation - Pests and diseases - Harvesting - Marketing- Cultivars
19. Figs
- Cultivation - Cold region (USDA zones 5-7) - Understanding high tunnel fig growing - Warm region (USDA zones 8-10) - Harvesting
- Marketing - Pests and diseases- Cultivars
20. Tomatoes
- Cultivation - Pests and diseases - Irrigation - Marketing- Cultivars
21. Other Small Fruits Worthy of Consideration ...Or Not
- Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) - Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) - Bush and Nanking Cherries
- Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) - Cactus Fruits - Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) - Hardy Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata) - Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) - Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) - Goji (Lycium barbarum) - Hybrid Cane Berries - Rosehips - Seaberry/sea buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides) - Munson Grapes - Che (Maclura tricuspidata) - Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea)
PART 3: HARVESTING, MARKETING, AND THE FUTURE
22. Harvesting and Post-Harvesting
- Harvest efficiency- Protecting, storing, and chilling
23. Market Planning and Strategies
- Direct marketing methods
24. The Future of Small Fruit Growing
- Climate change and fruit growing- Rescuing the genetic pool by selecting your own local cultivars
25. Interviews with Successful Small Fruit Market Growers
26. Conclusion
Appendix: Jivamritam
Notes
Resources
Index
About the Author
About New Society Publishers