| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 1:51:28 PM
I just bought 2 blueberry bushes. Yes, I think I will try this again. I have tried to grow them for years with NO success. So this time the guy told me to use amonium sulfate and broadcast that about 6 feet around the bushes after I plant them. About a pound per bush. And use good compost in the hole. And mulch real deep with pine straw. And water. He said they need about twice as much water as a normal bush.
I got 3 year old plants. They are about 4' tall. A Climax and a Premier. I hope I can keep them alive. If so, I will get some more. But I am tired of wasting money on them. That;s like the only thing I cannot get to live. A friend of mine has lots of blueberry bushes up the road and I pick every year. It is alot easier this way. But I just want my own bushes!
Does anyone else grow them? What is your strategy? I can use all the advice I can get here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 25 2010 : 08:46:05 AM
Well Pooh! I just planted then yesterday. I put lots of composted soil and went back where I have pine trees and shoveled up a few buckets of good soil from there. And got buckets of pine straw for mulch. I sprinkled the AS all around them and watered them in real good. I thiink I can dig some trenches so they won't be flooded there. And they are closer to the water hose. They should be fine I hope.
Thanks for the recipe, Marilyn.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| asnedecor |
Posted - Mar 25 2010 : 06:52:14 AM
Kris -
If the area stays "soggy" or water puddles, it is probably too wet. They like moisture but don't want to be sitting in water.
Anne in Portland, OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
|
| edlund33 |
Posted - Mar 24 2010 : 8:03:05 PM
I just posted my berry crisp recipe in the Kitchen forum so everyone can see it.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 24 2010 : 07:33:01 AM
Marilyn and Anne, thank you so much for all your good information here. I will keep all this and hopefully be successful in growing these bushes this time with all your help. I always need help and I am so glad there are helpful farmgirl sisters to share all they know. So thank you all.
I am going to plant mine today somewhere. I just can't make up my mind where. I know they need full sun. I have a few spots in mind. But I will have to be able to put a fence around them to protect them from goats and cows. And there is one spot in my garden area that gets lots of runoff from rain. It stays pretty moist all the time. Would that be a good spot? Or woug=ld that be too wet?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| asnedecor |
Posted - Mar 24 2010 : 06:59:12 AM
On new bushes, especially small starts you should strip the blossoms the first year. This way the bush puts all of it's energy into growing and not into trying to produce berries. They also have roots that are like rhodendrons - they are shallow and spread out. They like to be mulched with sawdust or similar material and want to be moist but not soaked. Yes, you should have at least two different varieties for pollination, but there is not male and female bushes. After the bushes are established, a few years, then pruning should be done in the early spring when they first start to sprout leaves so that you can see what has died off over the winter. One thing to keep in mind when pruning is to trim and little stems or branches in the middle of the bush to allow good air circulation and also to train the bush to have all berries on the outer branches because no one wants to pick little berries in the middle and get all scratched up. Usually fertilize in the early spring when the buds first start to show.
Anne in Portland, OR (who grew up on a blueberry farm)
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
|
| edlund33 |
Posted - Mar 23 2010 : 3:13:10 PM
The key to pollination with blueberries is to have two or more varieties that bloom at the same time. It does not matter what gender the plants are or if the fruits mature at different times. Only the bloom time is important. You can actually choose varieties that bloom together but mature differently to extend your growing season.
In my prior post I also forgot to mention that blueberries are shallow rooted and do not like to have their roots disturbed once they are established.
I will find my Berry Crisp recipe and post it soon.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 1:34:25 PM
Marilyn, thank you so much for your input here. The only 3 I have ever seen in this area are Climax, Premier and another one I can't think of. These seem to be the most popular for us. That's a good idea to get them from a local nursery, too.
Please share your berry crisp recipe! I love that. With a big ole scoop of homemade ice cream.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 1:30:46 PM
Kay, I have not heard that you need a male and female. Only that you do need at least 2 different kinds of each bush to pollinate. But them I do not know much about blueberries for sure.
Channah, I hope so too! I want so bad to go out in the morning and pick my breakfast.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| KayB |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 10:53:29 AM
My question was about the pollinating thing, too. We got 4 2-year-old blueberry bushes and 4 2-year-old blackberry bushes that we are getting ready to plant out back. Due to our wonderful snow storm on Saturday, it didn't get done this week. I had been told that you need at least 2 bushes of each time due to pollination. I got like 3 different types of each berry. Then over the weekend, my friend's husband kept telling me I needed a male and a female of each type. How the heck do you tell the difference? Can somebody explain what I need for these puppies? We planned to put them around the privacy fence and then get the netting to keep the squirrels and wildlife out. I think the dogs will pretty much leave them alone since they stay away from the fence. Any advice?
KayB
Life's a dance you learn as you go |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 8:37:38 PM
I wish you all the best Kris!!! We have tried over and over again to grow them but with no success. :( I hope yours turn out wonderful!!
Hugs,
Channah
Farmgirl sister #1219
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 3:12:05 PM
I grow lots of blueberries in my garden and have had good luck with them. Most of my plants are a variety named Chippewa. I have a few others for pollination. I planted them 10 years ago in early spring as bare-root plants that were about a foot tall. They are now about 4 feet tall which is nearly full grown for this variety. The Chippewas have large tasty berries - almost like a Mt. Huckleberry - that are great fresh or frozen. The leaves also turn beautiful colors in the fall.
I freeze what doesn't get eaten and use them for pancakes and smoothies. I also have a mixed berry crisp recipe that is a hit with my family.
I agree that the key to growing blueberries is soil Ph (that's what the AS is for), free draining soil with lots of organic matter, and regular water. In my experience it's better to start with small plants and let them "grow into" their space. Small plants have less top growth to support so they can survive transplant shock better than large established plants. This requires patience, but the results almost always outweight the inconvenience.
There are hundreds of blueberry varieties and some do better in particular climates than others due to elevation, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Your local extension agency or master gardener's progam may be able to point you to varieties that are suited to your area. It is also best to purchase plants that have been grown at a nursery in your area so the plants are acclimatized and the soil they are growing in is similar.
I wish all of you good luck with your blueberries this season!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 20 2010 : 07:29:08 AM
Laurie, they sure got the cold winter this time! Nothin' but cold freezing snow and plain ole cold. But I have friends up on Lookout Mt. that have the most beautiful bunch of bushes. And right up the road, too. So hopefully we'll have some good blueberries this year.
Melody, if you are looking at a map of Michigan, we went right up the right side of the map along Lake Heron. Port Sanalac is in the UP but on the right side. I am not good with directions. It's so pretty there. We ate at a little rest. that overlooked the dock and bay with sail boats all over. Just so nice. I do hope to get back up there one day. I have a friend near Detroit I need to go visit.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Montrose Girl |
Posted - Mar 20 2010 : 06:48:54 AM
I'm wondering if the area you are in (deep south) doesn't allow them to have the "winter" they need? I know when we were in Vermont and NH they were everywhere. Huckleberries, which are the rocky mountain equivalant, but with alkaline soils, are the same, they need that winter cold. Just a thought. Laurie
Best Growing |
| melody |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 10:08:30 PM
Kris...Last year on a lark we took a drive up to Grand Marais MI---I think I have a photo on my blog at the very bottom of the blog. It shows my son Elliott running along the shore at Grand Marais---anyway, there is a little town not very far from there called Paradise that hosts an annual Wild Blueberry Festival at the end of August. It is WONDERFUL--they have an arts and crafts, blueberry pie-blueberry buckle, entertainment a Jamboree---did I mention blueberry pie??
I will have to give it another try---bigger plants to begin with?? Maybe that's the ticket.
I am glad to hear that you enjoyed being in Michigan I am not sure where Port Sanalac is...
I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
"The best mirror is an old friend."
- George Herbert
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com
www.longtallsallys.etsy.com
www.andsewitgoes.etsy.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 6:35:00 PM
Melody, I love Michigan. I went there with my husband in his big truck years ago. We went almost to Canada. But my favorite part was Port Sanalac, I think that was the name of it. I want to live there. Or at least rent a cute little cabin on a lake for a month. It was so nice and clean there. I never saw the first piece of trash on the roads. Don't ya'll have the wild blueberries up there? There's got to be some kind of blueberry that would grow up there.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| melody |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 4:50:56 PM
I wish I could get them to grow here in the UP, but I have never had any luck---I can grow lavender like wild fire, but not
blueberries 
I like the idea of sawdust---we have plenty of that here with our wood burning stove.
I just might try again this spring...
"The best mirror is an old friend."
- George Herbert
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com
www.longtallsallys.etsy.com
www.andsewitgoes.etsy.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 1:16:31 PM
Kris:
I can taste those blueberries right now!!!! I'll be on the lookout for a couple of blueberry bushes.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 07:33:27 AM
I think the first year is the hardest. Once they get through that then they don't need as much care. But plenty of water the first year is really important for them to get established. And I don't always water enough. So I am trying to find a better place near water so they can get plenty. I'll have to try the coffee grounds, too, Anna. Thanks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Annab |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 03:49:06 AM
Think I read where coffee grounds add acidity
Am close to purchasing some blueberry plants myself but have been really reluctant for the same reasons
|
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 18 2010 : 5:40:46 PM
Marly, I wish I could. But they don't last long enough around here to do anything with. The grands love them frozen in the winter. They eat them like candy, purple tongues and fingers and all. They LOVE blueberries. And they are so good for them. That's why I keep trying. I think this is the year though. I am going to make it work.
I hope you try to grow some, too. They are great to just walk out and pick a handful throughout the day. I like them better in the evening. They seem to be sweeter after a hot day.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Mar 18 2010 : 3:43:01 PM
Kris, blueberry bushes sound like a winner to me!!!!! Do you make perserves or jams? I may look into planting a couple.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 18 2010 : 07:13:07 AM
Well, I have tried for years and this is the first I have heard of the AS. So I thought I would give it another try. These are 3 year old plants with blueberry bud things on the already. So I was sucked in. I am trying to find a good place to put them near a water source away from hungry goat mouths. They look really good and healthy so far. But they are still in the pots!
I do know they need to have a different kind of blueberry bush to be able to pollinate. So I got the 2 varieties.
Ingrid, have you actually gotten blueberries yet from yours. How old are they?
And Marjorie, do you have other blueberry bushes? Yes, as far as I am concerned, they are tricky. They need acidic soil so that's where the amonium sulfate comes in. Then they need the good acidic type mulch like pine straw. I am no expert. Thia is just what I have been told. I wish you luck with yours. I hope you get lots of wonderful berries soon.
Linda, I hope you do get some more and try it with me. I just love blueberries and want so much to be able to go out in the mornings and grad hand fuls of berries and eat them. They are so good fresh off the bush. When we go pick at my friend's we always eat most of them while we pick them. So we have to pick twice as much that way.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| LBP |
Posted - Mar 18 2010 : 05:13:13 AM
I have never had good luck with blueberries! I may try them again too! |
| AuntieM |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 8:43:02 PM
Oh, this is interesting! We just got our order from Gurney's, including our blueberry bush. It's very small (about 18") but it's getting leaves and so far, looks pretty healthy. I didn't know they were tricky to grow, I'll have to do some research. I LOVE blueberries! |
| Ingrid |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 2:50:34 PM
I put in a couple more plants this year. Now I have four. The guy at the garden place said to make sure the soil is loose, add sawdust and dig it around before planting. So far they haven't died.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
