CHOOSE THE RIGHT BRAMBLE FOR YOUR OPERATION

Choosing the right bramble (raspberry and blackberry) plant type can shape your season, labor needs, and profitability. Whether you’re starting a new field, expanding a U-pick, or fine-tuning your harvest window, your plant format matters. At Nourse Farms, we offer three options—bare-root, plug, and long cane—each with unique advantages. Here’s how they compare.

Bare-Root Brambles

Pros:

Cost-Efficient: Most cost-effective—ideal for large plantings or tight budgets.
Broad Variety Availability: Broad range of floricane and primocane.
Long-Term Investment: Best for in-ground systems yielding over multiple seasons.

Cons:

Slower to Establish: Needs a full season (or more) to produce marketable fruit.
Higher Early Labor Needs: Cane management, weed control, and pest pressure start immediately.
Weather Sensitive: Establishment depends on early soil and weather.

Bare-root brambles suit experienced growers building perennial systems with lower upfront cost.

Plug Brambles

Pros:

Easier Planting: Simple transplanting and minimal root disturbance.
Strong Early Growth: Well-developed roots speed establishment.
Flexible Timing: More transplanting options, especially in tunnels or staggered fields.

Cons:

Moderate Cost: Priced between bare-root and long cane.
Needs Immediate Care: Plugs need immediate water and nutrients; delays risk poor establishment.

Plug brambles are best for growers wanting faster establishment, including those using high tunnels.

Long Cane Brambles

Pros:

Fast to Fruit: Ready to produce within 90 days—ideal for quick returns.
Uniform and Predictable: Consistent size and vigor aid harvest planning.
Labor Savings: Less weeding, spraying, and pruning early on.
Efficient Space Use: Densely planted in tunnels or substrate systems for high yield per square foot.

Cons:

Higher Initial Cost: Reflects advanced development and production.
Shorter Lifecycle: Suited for annual or biennial models, not long-term fields.

Long cane brambles are best for growers needing quick turnaround, precise timing, or labor efficiency—especially in tunnels, U-pick farms, or retail-focused operations.

Choosing Yours

Each format has strengths depending on your goals, labor, and timeline. Bare-root supports long-term, cost-effective growth. Plugs offer quicker establishment and flexibility. Long canes deliver fast fruit and uniformity.

Need help deciding? Our team is ready to match you with the best plant type for your farm. Give us a call at 1-877-NFBERRY (632-3779).