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Garden Gate:  Need blueberry bush advice!  |
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Mollie
True Blue Farmgirl
88 Posts
88 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 3:55:19 PM
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| I am here in the Southeast and the house I am buying has lots of blueberry bushes. We went for the home inspection on Tuesday and the homeowner had tons of blueberries in baskets in her kitchen. She said she is picking all the time, giving to neighbors, friends and letting the birds have some (she didn't offer me any). We move in July 26th. How much longer will the blueberry bushes produce? I've never had blueberry bushes before, what do I need to do with them after they stop producing? I want to insure I get lots of blueberries next year. Do I need to do anything special to the bushes over the winter? Do I prune or fertilize them? I would be grateful for any suggestions. Also, please think of a clever name for my place with "blueberry" in the name. Mollie |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 04:35:49 AM
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Are they high or low bush? I don't do anything with my low bushes other than pull out the weeds and choke cherry seedlings. I live in the blueberry capital of the world. Most of the commercial growers burn their fields bi-annually and spray with herbicides and pesticides annually. I don't get the amount of berries they do but I don't need it either.
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 10:51:38 AM
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I have had blueberry bushes every place I have lived and love them. They are easy care plants. Most of them are self pruning and the twigs just snap out to be replaced by more fresh growth in the spring. I put a few shovels ful of fresh compost on them every spring and keep them weeded. I have bamboo poles set into the ground about 2 feet out from the widest part of the row of bushes and in the spring i drape bird netting over the poles to keep out the robins, steller jays, ceder waxwings (who can clean the bushes of berries in no time at all) crows and Deer. The berries begin ripening in early July and continue through the end of July. You have to pick almost daily but it is easy work with a low stool. I wear a pocketed apron to put the freshly picked berries into until I stand up to move to the next bush. I then put the berries into a flat box lid. You can sell them if you put up a little sign on your driveway. I take orders from a couple of the local restraunts that make fresh pies. I never have used any fungicide or herbicide and still get lots of berries from each plant as long as I keep the birds out and water them well.
How about " A little Peace of Blueberry heaven" for a name?
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2005 : 7:52:43 PM
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Mollie- We don't do anything much to ours either and definitely no spray or chemicals of any kind. We do lose some to the wildlife, but that's part of why we have wildlife! The hardest part will be timing so that there are some left for you.Your biggest problem, like mine will be bud blast from fluctuating freezing and thawing that will diminish flower/fruit production.
As for names... I believe Chubby Checker found his thrill on "Blueberry Hill", there is always "Blueberry Haven", Berrybrook Farm", BerryFine Farm, MerryBerry Farm,.... I think I better stop, delirium is taking over! Best of luck with the new place and keep us up to date!
with a happy heart |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2006 : 08:05:09 AM
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I know this is late, but I just found this topic. For those of you who have blueberry bushes - depending on what part of the country you are in - pruning starts this month (February and goes till the first part of April, again depending where you are). Here in the Northwest, I will start pruning my bushes within the next week or so, weather permitting. You prune to have a healthy bush and to produce large berries. Prune like you would a rose bush, dead branches off, clean up any little stuff in the middle of the bush (no one likes to reach into the center to pick a berry). Blueberries like to be damp, but not soaked. A good layer of mulch or sawdust around the base is good. They have a root base kinda like a rhododendron, spread out and close to the surface. Full sun is good too. If you fertilize, do it in the spring when they first start to bloom. If you have brand new bushes that are very small, strip the blossoms for the first year or so, this way the bush will put into growth and not berries, producing a healthier bush.
Just thought I would pass on some advice - former farmgirl of a blueberry farm 
Anne in Portland, Or
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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julia hayes
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
julia
medical lake
wa
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2006 : 08:36:05 AM
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I have 40 blueberry bushes in the garden and they are low maintenance so far.. This will be their 4th year and last year I had the highest yield ever.. It was glorious. I had to net mine because the birds came through and cleaned me out the year before..I use pine needles as my mulch for them and have about a 4 -5 inch layer of it..the weeds are delightful to pick out because they are so weak. I haven't pruned mine but will inspect them this year for the first time and cut out anything dead and yucky..That's about it.. They are extremely beautiful and delightful plants. You will thoroughly enjoy them!! Congrats! Julia Hayes
being simple to simply be |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2006 : 10:28:02 AM
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Julia -
You will find that after pruning your bushes this year, not only will you have a higher yield but much larger berries. Larger berries are easier to pick then those small pinhead sizes. Don't be afraid to prune either. The Oregon Blueberry Farmer Association always says to prune like they are your neighbor's plants (meaning you would think if I prune hard they won't get berries) which actually is not true, you just have better berries.
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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Garden Gate: Need blueberry bush advice! |
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Need blueberry bush advice!
