A BERRY FOR EVERY CLIMATE

Apart from row covers and plastic-covered houses, how can gardeners produce the best possible crop? If applied the first year, mulches can make a real difference. A recent study found that straw worked very well. So did plastic mulch.

Want to double the yield of your raspberry plants? Trellis them, or provide windbreaks if you garden in a wind-prone area. A study conducted in Ontario, Canada at the University of Guelph found that trellising increased the yield significantly.

For 'Regency,' this method produced 189% more, while for 'Boyne,' it was 68% more. Similar results were achieved when artificial windbreaks were used. During this project, the researchers used T-shaped fence posts, and tied the canes onto wire between the posts.

Regarding some of the newer raspberry varieties, two were released by the Geneva Experiment Station in New York.

Fruits of 'Prelude' ripen a week earlier than the other standard early-season cultivars. This can be treated as a fall-bearing variety. Its yield during the autumn is somewhat less than that of 'Heritage.'

As a late-maturing variety, 'Encore' extends the raspberry season into August. It has above average yield. The attractive fruits are firm, and have a good flavor.

Both of these new varieties are hardy to zone 5.

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