We have had a problem with blackberry rosette disease. To interrupt the disease cycle, we will not be allowing the blackberry plants to produce this year. We hope that will make for increased production in future years.

Happy Vernal Equinox to all. Spring just started at 6:21 A.M. But we’ve been listening to the spring peepers since Saturday a week ago. We finished pruning the blueberries on Monday. I think it will be a good blueberry year. We are now working on pruning the blackberries. They had a lot of disease last year, so I have doubts of how well they will do. Then we go on to pruning raspberries. We will take a break from pruning and divide the rhubarb. Tomato and pepper plants are looking healthy in the greenhouse. It’s also about time to take the mulch off the strawberries. We keep busy!

Saturday in Princeton and Peoria we plan to bring a good quantity of blackberries. There will be discounts for larger blackberry purchases. We also still have a fair amount of blueberries and an increasing amount of red raspberries. Very few muskmelon; we are between plantings. I will try to pick some of our plums in the morning before going to Princeton. We have a big supply of tomatoes: heirlooms, small varieties, and regular types. Also at markets we will probably have popcorn, garlic, cucumbers, green and yellow beans, onions, and herbs. And in Princeton we will have plenty of Plow Creek Bakery goodies.

There are now a fair number of ripe blackberries. Come during blueberry u-pick hours to the blueberry tent. A couple of determined pickers could pick them all in a few hours, so you might not be sure someone hasn’t picked them ahead of you - but the blueberry picking is great. Cost is $2.50 a pint. There are also a lesser quantity of red raspberries to pick. Again come to the blueberry tent during blueberry u-pick hours. Cost is $3.00 a pint.

Today we will have blackberries, red and black raspberries, fresh garlic, green beans, popcorn, zucchini, green onions, herbs, cucumbers, and Plow Creek Bakery goodies.

We had a great blueberry season, but they are almost all picked. U-Pick is now closed for the season, although we may be bringing a few to market the next few times. Thank you to all our loyal customers. We expect to be open for red raspberry u-pick in about 2 weeks.

It is now clear that last winter’s minus 24 degrees hurt the blackberries. A majority of the floricanes, the ones that should have given us berries, died. We still have a number of blooming canes, but we expect a greatly reduced blackberry harvest this year.

It won’t be a fantastic blackberry year, but they are fairly plentiful now, and they are big and delicious. We plan to be open for picking Wednesday and Saturday. You may pick the declining blueberries on the same trip.

Today in Princeton and LaSalle markets we will bring our first few blackberries of the season. We will also have a fair number of raspberries and lots of blueberries. We will have new potatoes, peas, green beans, garlic, onions, herbs and a variety of other fresh garden veggies. Also plenty of Plow Creek Bakery goodies.

This being the 3rd Tuesday, there are special events at the Princeton market — a cooking demonstration, hot food, and more.

I found my first couple ripe blackberries today. Lots of red ones that will ripen soon. I expect that we can bring our first blackberries to market in about a week and be open for picking shortly later. But if you come to pick blueberries, we can let you look for a few blackberries; just don’t expect much yet.

A Tuesday morning field survey indicated that the blackberries are entering peak harvest. Experienced pickers should be able to take 8 or more pints per hour, with a total of 40-50 pints available for each U-Pick session.

Blackberry U-Pick will be open Wednesday 4PM-8PM and Thursday 7AM-5PM. The U-Pick price is $2.50/pint or $2.00/pint for 10 or more.