Planting & Culture Guide

Planting Instructions: For Best Results
Read through the following guidelines before planting. For best results we suggest you check your plants immediately upon receiving them and read through the following guidelines before planting. If you have any questions or problems throughout the growing season, do not hesitate to call or email us. Weíll be glad to assist you.

1. Check your plants immediately upon receiving them. Contact us right away if you see a problem.
2. It is important to keep roots and packing materials moist, but not soaked, until you plant. When your plants arrive, check the roots for moisture, sprinkle them with water if needed (a plant mister works well for this purpose), close the bag or box, and store in a cool place.
3. If your order contains green or dormant tissue culture plants, see the special instructions provided.
4. Plant as soon as possible after receipt of your plants. Have the site prepared and ready to plant prior to receipt of your plants. If you are not able to plant right away, store your plants in a cool location. DO NOT FREEZE! Small orders can go in the crisper of your refrigerator. Large orders should go into a cooler set at 28° - 32° F. Do not store more than seven days, the sooner you plant the more successful your planting. If local growing conditions change, call to delay your shipment.
5. All plants need adequate soil moisture once planted. Water plants well when you transplant and water them well once more within the week. Continue weekly watering (unless it rains) until your new plants begin growing. You should experience the best plant establishment with this special attention.

Special Note: Our experience indicates that keeping the roots moist is critical for transplanting success. There are products available which absorb many times their weight in water. By dipping your plants into a solution of product and water, the root system will be surrounded with a reservoir of water that will prevent the roots from drying. Nourse Farms carries one such product, 'Viterra Agri-gel,' that we have used for several years with excellent results.

General Growing Information
For the best berry success, start with a sunny, weed-free location. All small fruits, asparagus, and rhubarb grow well in a wide variety of soils, as long as the soil is well-drained. Where there is no natural drainage, it is advisable to plant them on raised beds. Soil pH should be between 6.0-6.8 and organic matter of at least 2-3% for best growth. Blueberries require well-drained soils, and their special soil pH requirements are covered in the blueberry section of this guide. Asparagus also has special pH requirements that are critical for success - please check the section on asparagus for details. It is a good idea to sample your soil before planting to know your soil pH and native fertility. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for information on taking soil samples and for assistance in interpreting test results.

Avoid planting strawberries or raspberries in soils where previous crops have included strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants or peppers. These crops may harbor the soil pathogens Verticillium, Phytophthora and nematodes which may affect your new plants.

It is important to plant as early as possible in the spring. Snow or an occasional frost will not hurt the newly planted plants (except for green tissue culture plants--see tissue culture section). Natural spring rains are the best aid in getting your plants off to the best start. Irrigation, if available, will help with late spring plantings. Fall planting is not recommended for the majority of the Northeast and the Midwest. With any planting method, two factors are critical; depth of planting and soil compression. Plants will fail to flourish if roots are too deep or too shallow and if the soil is not packed firmly around the roots.

Avoid Common Planting Mistakes
Strawberries
—Do not spread the roots when planting; if the roots are all on the top of the soil they will dry out quickly. Roots should be planted straight down.
—Do not put fertilizer in the planting hole. Hold off fertilizing for two weeks after plants are established.

Raspberries
—Do not cut the roots.
—Don't plant too deep.
—Hold off fertilizing for two weeks after plants are established.

Asparagus
—Plant only 6-8 inches deep and cover roots with 2 inches of soil. Leave crowns open to light. Fill in trench as spears grow.

Blueberries
—pH, pH, pH...make sure your pH is low enough—get a soil test.
—Don't use sawdust on top; sawdust absorbs water and plants dry out. Wood chips are fine.

Planting Information | General Growing Information | Strawberries | Raspberries | Asparagus | Rhubarb | Horseradish | Blueberries | Currants | Gooseberries