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.