Let's prepare the berries for harvest
Technical Recommendation for August
Vera Guerreiro, our technical and sales consultant in the Alentejo Coast area, authors the Recommendation by Hubel Verde for August.
With the experience of someone who closely follows the field, shares with us their suggestion for this stage of the campaign.
Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries… The growth and ripening phase of these small fruits is focused on producing appealing, high-quality fruit. Harvest time is approaching, and it’s essential to ensure fruit with good size, intense color, distinctive flavor, and excellent shelf life. “At this stage, growers want appealing fruit with good size, color, and flavor - and fruit that commands a good price. We also have to ensure a long shelf life and healthy fruit right up until harvest”, explains Vera.
Each crop is unique.
The strategy should be too.
Our agronomists will work with you to develop strategies tailored to the needs
of your farm.
More flavor, color, and firmness with the support of foliar nutrition
To enhance these characteristics, Vera highlights the use of Stamina. “It’s a product that can be applied throughout the entire growing cycle, but at this stage it greatly improves fruit quality—it enhances firmness, increases the °Brix, and boosts color intensity”, she says.
Stamina contains mannitol, which increases tolerance to abiotic stress (such as drought or salinity), and pectin extract, which acts as a natural inducer of the plant’s defenses. To further enhance the results, Vera recommends applying Codafol K35 Acid at the same time: “Potassium is essential at this stage. By applying both together, we achieve better results.”
With extended, daily harvests, it is essential to slow down fruit ripening without compromising quality. “Keep-Green is an excellent ally at this stage. It helps the plant cope with abiotic stress and delays excessive ripening and premature senescence of the fruit”, explains Vera.
This product contains molybdenum and cobalt, two micronutrients that play a role in the ethylene production pathway—the hormone responsible for ripening. As a result, it is possible to better manage the harvest time and keep the fruit in good condition for longer.
Fertirrigation: 3 in 1
When it comes to fertigation, there’s one name that stands out for small fruits: Codasal Premium. According to Vera, “it’s one of the key products for this crop” - and for good reasons:
- It is an essential source of calcium, a fundamental nutrient for the quality and shelf-life of fruits.
- Improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil, promoting a more stable and aerated structure.
- Helps reducing salt excess in irrigation water and soil - a critical factor, even in hydroponic systems: “We reduce the salts in the wet bulb and, thus, the risk of salt stress.”
Clean and healthy fruit: protection starts now
With frequent and prolonged harvests, the use of conventional plant protection products can become a challenge. “At this stage of the growing cycle, we have to use products with zero residue and no safety interval, because fruit is being harvested every day”, Vera emphasizes.
That’s why she recommends two natural solutions:
- Strongbal Mix (Urtica dioica extract), which has both preventive and curative effects. “It acts as a repellent and helps reduce the pest population by altering their feeding habits. It also affects the insects’ respiratory and reproductive systems”, she explains.
- Kisetum K (Equisetum arvense L. extract), which acts by contact on pests with soft cuticles. In addition to its insecticidal action, it has “a very interesting prophylactic effect, particularly in controlling honeydew and sooty mold produced by sucking insects, as well as against stains caused by agrochemical residues.”
Berries: quality that is built until the end
The right nutrition, soil balance, and residue-free protection are crucial for obtaining tasty, firm, and valued fruit in the market.
In the final stage of ripening, every choice matters.
If you need support to apply these recommendations in your crop, talk to us. The Hubel Verde team is available to assist in the field and adjust strategies to your case.
Contact one of our technicians