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Garden Gate:  Blueberries  |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 12:26:49 PM
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I just bought a blueberry bush/tree and also a blackberry vine. They had buds on them when I got them & just realized the blueberry tag said it needs to be pollinated. Well since we have kept it in the house since it is still too cold, the leaves are now starting to sprout on both plants. I am wondering, how do I do about pollinating it myself as I am sure my neighbors do not have either of these plants? Can't wait to plant them, but want to be sure what to do once they start getting blooms.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
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lilpunkin
True Blue Farmgirl
368 Posts
Texas
USA
368 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 1:30:00 PM
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Hey Kel! You got a blueberry bush? YUM! And Blackberries are the best and make wonderful cobblers, YUMMY!!! I think you can pollinate them yourself with a QTip. You rub it on one flower and then rub it on another. But I dont know if you have to have 2 plants or not. You could call Ma and ask her, she would love it. Also, she has tons of blackberry vines if you wanted some.
Life isn't measured by how many breaths you take, but by how many moments take your breath away. |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 4:00:52 PM
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Yep. I could ask her. I didnt even think about that. I am not sure she has done such a thing though since she has so many Blackberry plants that she wouldnt need to. I want our plants to actually grow this year. I think the blackberries will grow fine. They seem to grow in any condition. I will have to find a place for my blueberry since the sun killed the one we got last year. Too much sun or just plain heat! Wasn't sure which part was which on the flower to rub on the other. I don't really see too many bees, so I'm not sure if they will do the work either. I don't think either will get fruit on it this year because they are too small, but to know for next year would be good.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 5:19:46 PM
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Blueberries do have to be pollinated and the best way is with another plant. For better pollination use a different variety. They need lots of water, they need sun and cool, moist acid soil. Hope that helps. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 06:46:00 AM
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Kelly -
How old is your blueberry plant? Is it just a sprig so to speak? If so, the first two years you should strip the blossoms and let the plant put the energy into growth and not into berries. Then once the plant is in the ground and is well rooted and has some growth, then every spring (early spring) prune your bush of any winter dead and clean out any small branches in the center, then you will have nice big berries every year. Yes, you need at least two plants to pollinate. Blueberries have a root system kinda like a rhododendron, just below the surface and spread out. They like to be moist but not soaked, so put some type of mulch around it like sawdust. They like full sun.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 08:09:35 AM
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Kelly- I have one blueberry bush that lives in my front yard. And every year it produces a ton of blueberries. I must be reaping the benefits of someone else's happy pollinators! I just wish I knew where the other bushes are! I did exactly what Ann suggests- I did not let it produce berries until the third year. And it seems to have worked like a charm!
Karin |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 10:05:13 AM
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I just split a plant that my dad gave me into three plants! Two for me and one for the birds! I can't wait to see how it does this summer! It put out a lot of new growth as soon as I got it into the ground. I'm planning to prune it in the next month or so.
Rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 1:06:56 PM
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Thanks for the tips. I will have to go out & get another plant. I did water mine last year to keep it moist & in the sun, but I think the cool soil is what I didnt have that probably killed it. Just too hot for it where it was planted. I may have to plant in the sun & maybe put up some type of screen to block some of the heat. Or plant in a bigger pot so I can move the location of it until it is well rooted. All of the leaves are starting to open. it is a young plant. Still in the pot. It is pretty big, but very gangly with several branches. The branches are probably about 2ft long.
Anne you said to strip the blossoms so that it won't produce fruit correct?
I never thought about my dog wanting to eat them.  He does like fruit though. I will also have to worry about the birds & ants. Maybe I will have to buy a few more plants if I will ever get to have any! I look forward to making some muffins with them. You all have been so helpful!
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 11:55:05 AM
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Kelly -
Yes strip the blossoms so no fruit forms, at least for the first two years.
You'll have a healthy bush that way.
Anne
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2007 : 1:00:53 PM
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Thanks Anne. I am loving how all of the leaves are opening now. It kind of looks like little blossoms that hang down. It is kind of a stringy plant with a main trunk & lots of small branches coming off of it. So far only a few of the leaves have opened. Now the blackberry on the other hand, has lots of leaves. thanks again!
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Feb 02 2007 : 06:16:28 AM
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OK I looked at the plant again & there are only about 6 leaves & the rest of the buds on there are blossoms. I didnt know what they would look like so I thought they were leaf buds. I guess I will have a naked plant except for the 6 leaves 
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Feb 03 2007 : 12:26:47 PM
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Anne or any one
Do you propagate your blueberries?
So far I have not had much in the way of luck getting mine to give birth to offspring.
Got a any tried and true tips?  |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2007 : 10:47:26 PM
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My dad gave me a plant last summer that had a HUGE root ball, and I broke it up before I planted it, so that I had three plants. So far, they are all doing fine. I don't know if this is the way to get more plants or not, but it worked. Now to see how they do for fruit in the next few years...
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2007 : 06:47:17 AM
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Ellen -
I have never propagated a bush before, but it sounds like Rachel is got the right idea by splitting a larger bush in half or thirds. I think that would work.
Me, I like different varieties, so having different bushes that produce at different times is the way I go. I only have two right now, but want to get a third variety that produces late in August/Early Septemeber.
When my parents had the blueberry farm, we had varieties that started right around the 4th of July and went almost to October.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Garden Gate: Blueberries |
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Blueberries
