Raised beds for blueberry bushes

[z_willus_d]

Hi Tormato. Thanks for the insight. I really don't understand the mechanics of the "chill hours" concept. I have visions of setting blocks of ice beneath each plant to reach a certain requisite number of hours. I mixed my peat with all the other soil components, so it's part of the top-layer with the rest. I'll do my best to increase the # of inches of mulch, though it should just mean more watering (less efficient) if I have the less than optimal 4", right.

It's sounding like I might want to just preemptively swap in the correct varities for my locale. I'm waiting to hear back from Hartman's on whether they ship to CA. If they do, I'll probably make a large order with them for Southern Highbush plants.

Naysen

[z_willus_d]

And not one minute after submitting my post, I got this from Hartmans:


Good Afternoon,

Yes, we can ship our Southern blueberry plants to your area.

Thank you.

So, I guess I need suggestions on the best southern highbush varieties.

They have:
SharpBlue
Misty
Revellie
Legacy
Climax
Brightwell
Biloxi

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Naysen

[John3]

I google using these words - Brightwell chill hours
and came up with
Requires 350 - 400 chill hours.
Try google for the others
I also googled the words - Sacramento, CA chill hours
try that and here's one that might help
http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/chillcalc/index.cfm

Originally Posted by z_willus_d

And not one minute after submitting my post, I got this from Hartmans:


Good Afternoon,

Yes, we can ship our Southern blueberry plants to your area.

Thank you.

So, I guess I need suggestions on the best southern highbush varieties.

They have:
SharpBlue
Misty
Revellie
Legacy
Climax
Brightwell
Biloxi

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Naysen

[z_willus_d]

Thanks for the link John to the UCD site John. It looks like my area in Sacramento gets around 1k chilling hours on average, which honestly seems rather high (especially based on this current Winter season). Based on that, it would seem as if one could grow Northern Highbush varieties successfully here in Northern CA, as they only require 800 chill hours to set blossoms. That is per the following link:
http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/ga...ueberry-plants

--naysen

[John3]

naysen
Just a few notes
The average chill hours are your ball park figures.
You said this winter for you was very warm. I would find the chill hours starting with this warm winter you said you went through then go back 10 years and find out what the chill hours for each of the years. You may find dips into 700 chills (as an example) and the plant may not flower and no flowers no fruit.

Another thing to consider is your heat and moisture levels.
for example:
Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei), native to the Southeastern United States, are the tallest of the blueberry bushes, reaching up to 10-feet in height. Because of their thick skins, rabbiteye blueberries are able to withstand southern heat in zones seven through nine.

[rnewste]

Naysen,

You seem to be flailing around in trying to find the right type of Blueberry plants for the Sacramento area. Over the years, I have found consulting the experts at your local Master Gardener's Association for these type of questions yields proven results.

Here is the link to growing Blueberry plants in the Sacramento area with specific Variety recommendations:

http://ucanr.org/sites/sacmg/files/138069.pdf

Raybo

[z_willus_d]

Good advice John.

Ray, yes, of course I'm flailing about -- it's what I do best.

Perhaps I'm relatively young or just new to gardening, but I've never known what to do with the common advice to seek out the help of "your local Master Gardener..." Where are these masters? How does one contact them. I think I'm just too much of the web 2.0 generation that I fall inept when it comes to the old time ways.

In any event, your link was exactly what I needed. It has all the information I could ask for, and it's tailored for my spot here.

Thank you so much for sharing and attenuating the flailing.
-naysen

[rnewste]

Naysen,

Here is the link to the Sacramento Master Gardener's Association:

http://ucanr.org/sites/sacmg/

Raybo

[rwsacto]

Naysen,

Another reference for you.

http://farmerfredrant.blogspot.com/2...ontainers.html

Rick

[z_willus_d]

Thanks Rick, that will be helpful since I plan to grow in containers as well as in ground. Now I need to find a farm supply store that has those feed troughs for a good price.
-naysen

[brismith70]

Dave Wilson Nursery has videos on growing low chill blueberries. Check their website out.

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by z_willus_d

And not one minute after submitting my post, I got this from Hartmans:


Good Afternoon,

Yes, we can ship our Southern blueberry plants to your area.

Thank you.

So, I guess I need suggestions on the best southern highbush varieties.

They have:
SharpBlue
Misty
Revellie
Legacy
Climax
Brightwell
Biloxi

Any recommendations?

Thanks, Naysen

Naysen,

O'Neal is often said to be the best for flavor of the southern varieties.

Tormato