Green manures are crops like buckwheat, barley, rye and oats that are planted and turned back into the soil. Buckwheat is the all-time favourite. It has an extremely long root system that can penetrate tough ground; it grows very quickly; and it helps to choke out undesirable weedy characters. 

As soon as the buckwheat is about knee high -- before it develops seed pods
--  mow it down, let it dry for a couple of days, then till it back into the soil. It aerates the soil creating a healthy sub-system for worms and the 'good-guy' bugs to do their thing. If you start now, you can likely repeat the process later this summer on the same piece of ground, which will be a bonus for your berry patch.

Sandra Phinney is a free-lance writer living in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. Sandra is an avid gardener and a frequent contributor to Outdoor Nova Scotia.

Delicious in pies, cakes, crepes, jams, sauces, or simply fresh from the vine, raspberries are another one of nature's miracles. There is no greater taste sensation than eating a handful of raspberries plucked straight from the vine.

So, how to grow and care for these delectable delights?

Raspberries do not like to have wet feet so make sure that the site you
select has good drainage and  lots of sun. Raspberry canes will produce
for several years, so it is critical that the soil be in good shape prior to planting. Ideally, the ph should be around 6. If it is low, add lime. You can now start to prepare your soil and improve its fertility by adding compost, animal manures, and rock phosphate. For an extra boost, plant a  green manure [see sidebar].

Now, fast-track to next spring and imagine that it is planting time. If
you are ready to plant a section now -- proceed! Canes can be planted
from early April to the end of June. Choose certified stock. My favourite is K-81-6 which is a huge, flavourful, medium red, hardy berry. Also popular in Atlantic Canada is variety called Festival. It has short canes, bright red fruit and is highly productive. Nova, Boyne, Algonquin and Killarny are other recommended varieties.

After preparing your soil with compost, manure and rock phosphate, decide where the rows will go. Be liberal with space. Lots of air and sunlight will help reduce disease. Plant the bottom of the canes three to four inches deep, in rows eight to ten feet apart, and leave two feet in between each cane. Years ago, I used the popular "hedge-row" system, meaning that each year I allowed shoots to fill in the row up to 20
inches in width. In the spring I thinned, leaving a few inches between each new shoot. More recently, I discovered a better way. Don't allow shoots and suckers to fill in the space within the row. Rather, only keep a few, large, 

healthy shoots close to the base of the original cane and pull out or cut out anything else that grows. If you are brutal in your approach, you will see an amazing difference. Fewer canes mean more air and sunlight, which means healthier plants, higher yields and bigger berries. It really works.

Keep in mind that in an established patch, each year there are canes at
two different stages of growth. Last year's shoots will leaf and produce
berries this year, then the canes will die during the winter. This year's new shoots are not yet mature. They will produce a lot of leaves but they will not bear fruit this season.

Another tip: Most people cut the old fruit bearing canes soon after harvest is over, but it is better to leave the old canes for the winter. They help to 'catch and keep' snow and reduce winter damage.

When spring returns, do the following routine:

• cut off the old canes as close to the ground as possible, and haul them off to a bonfire
• lop a few inches off the tops of each fruit bearing cane
• remove any canes that are injured or winter killed
• weed thoroughly
• add two to three pounds each of compost, manure and rock phosphate per 1000 sq. feet [or 25 pounds of 10-10-10 to cover the same area]
• as new shoots start to appear, remember to prune, prune, prune
• water the raspberry bed thoroughly
• mulch with a generous layer of marsh hay, straw or leaves.

Now, start digging out those raspberry recipes. Contact me for the best-ever raspberry torte!