Week of August 22, 2021

Late August at TAProots Farm means BLACKBERRY picking and eating. We currently grow five varieties, selected for ripening time to extend the season. We first planted many years ago two thornless varieties, Chester and Triple Crown, in rows about eight feet apart, which then grew so vigorously as to overlap with their long canes, creating a tunnel. I call this our “Smurf Machine” as anyone entering the tunnel comes out purple when the berries are ripe. We are extending these rows this year using sprouts from these original bushes. Our second planting included at thorned variety, Illini, which has been very productive for anyone willing to brave the wall of needle-like thorns. Most recent plantings have been another thornless variety, Natchez, and at thorned primocane variety, Prime-Ark, which is cut down each winter, blooms later, and yields berries in the fall. All bushes were pruned back this spring. The bloom was strong and large numbers of berries are ripening over the next few weeks. They will find their way into jams, cobblers, and liquors. Most important is the picking (of the thornless varieties) by children of all ages—a TAProots tradition.