Bash Fruits Organic

Bush fruits do not compete well with weeds, so crop rows should be kept weed-free if possible during the growing season. The simplest option is to use geotextile and organic mulches (see above). Crops such as blueberries will appreciate regular applications of bark chippings or compost to help maintain a low soil pH. Crop rows can also be lightly forked or hoed and any perennial weeds removed by hand. Mechanical cultivation may also be possible according to plant type and growing system. Cultivations should be no deeper than 5cm to avoid damaging too many surface-feeding soots. This is particularly important for crops such as blackcurrants, which are relatively shallow rooting.

Many strawberry growers use a thick straw mulch for weed control. This should be laid between the beds once flowering is under way, but before the berries have set. If laid any earlier, there is a risk that it can delay soil warming since covering the soil with straw will delay harvest by a week or two and also has the effect of locking up and delaying the release of nitrogen in the spring. Some growers practice 'deep strawing' of established plants of vigorous varieties in their second or third year. This is achieved by applying the straw in February, while soil temperatures are low, to deliberately delay the crop and extend the season. Straw is very effective at suppressing weeds (both in the crop alleyways and within plant rows in the absence of plastic mulch), although large perennial weeds may need to be removed by hand or by flame weeding. Berries and plants are kept clean since there is less rain-splashed soil and dust to contaminate the fruit and the straw is comfortable for pickers. Using straw as a mulch also has the advantage of encouraging earthworms (which are important for breaking down crop debris lying on the soil surface) and consequently improving soil drainage. One of the disadvantages of using straw is that it must be disposed of at the end of the crop's life. Usually, the only practical solution is to incorporate it, although this can take several passes with machinery and can also cause subsequent nutrient lockup as the straw decays.

Mechanical weed control is possible between the rows where the strawberries are planted in single rows without polythene mulch. This can be achieved through the use of brush weeders, finger weeders and rotary or rolling cultivators.

Easily mulched with organic material to suppress weed development, or simply hand-weeded around the base of the canes. Mulching with manure or compost can aggravate Phytophthora root-rot problems on susceptible raspberry varieties growing on heavy and wet day soils, although improving soil drainage and growing plants on raised beds or ridges will help to alleviate the problem. Geotextile mulches such as woven plastic can be used for weed suppression, but must be slit sufficiently to allow the emergence of young primo canes in spring.