Blueberries

caascher2 · March 2, 2007

Anyone have blueberries? How well do they produce for you? I am thinking of planting an early, mid and late season variety. I know they like acidic soil, but do they need full sun?
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
Carol

JohnnyRock · March 7, 2007

I bought a dozen 3-year plants from Finches Blueberry Nursery (www.danfinch.com). Varieties I got were Climax, Delite, Woodard, and Tifblue, chosen based on what King's Orchard (www.kingsorchard.com) uses and what I've read. I planted a few weeks back and so far, so good. They're budding like crazy!

Big_Red · March 8, 2007

Last year I set out 4 plants; Blueray, Bluecrop, Northland and Elliot. I dug large holes and planted them in a mixture of half peat and half compost then mulched with oak leaves and sawdust. So far, they're doing great.

N B Gray · March 9, 2007

Has anyone tired to root start blueberry cuttings?

Big_Red · March 9, 2007

N B Gray, nope, but I'm going to try it when the weather warms a little and I get a chance to set up a rooting bed.

Spatzbear · March 10, 2007

I haven't tried it myself yet, but read/heard that it's a lot easier than starting them from seed.

I have tried seeds a few times before - with zero success. Soon I'll take cuttings and try to propagate them this way.

Concerning pollination - they are insect pollinated - so make sure you got some busy bees around them.

Tormato · March 22, 2007

I had a 50% success rate last year (8 of 16) with some wild highbush cuttings. This was done outside, no controlled climate. I heard it's 50-90% successful if you know what you're doing. I guess I barely know what I'm doing.

I'd now like to try some known cultivars. If anyone would like to offer any, please PM me.

Gary

flowerpower · March 23, 2007

There are alot of lowbush blues growing wild. They are in full sun, very acidic, soggy soil. The biggest patches are on the edge of the wetland. I was picking them in the wetland until I noticed that a bear was also interested in them. He left quite the pile of evidence.

I'd be really interested in taking cuttings so I put some in another area. Should I be taking softwood cuttings when they start leafing out? Any advice appreciated.

Tormato · March 23, 2007

Flowerpower,

Before they leaf out, is when to get the cuttings. With lowbushes, I'm thinking that transplanting the whole plant might work.

I can't do that with the wild highbushes. They're 14' tall with 3"+ trunks/ main stems.

Only one bear? The lowbushes around here that get sun, grow at the top edge of a 500' cliff. The highbushes are on the edge of a swamp. That's when the beavers don't flood it, otherwise the plants are in the swamp. Some on small islands out in the swamp. Rattlesnake/copperhead den between the cliff and swamp. Moose in the swamp in summer. Coyotes, bears, snapping turtles. Ticks everywhere. Blizzard of skeeters as soon as it clouds in. A mile to the nearest road. The shortcut is through rocks, mud, thorns, and brush. I haven't stepped on a yellow jacket's nest, or found poison ivy, yet.

Gary

Tormato · March 26, 2007

Flowerpower,

What we'll go through to get those little blue jewels!

The porcupines, coons (and also skunks) I rarely see, because they're mostly nocturnal. Be careful if you see one in the daytime. It could mean rabies.

I forgot about the most dangerous animals, the only ones that keep me away. The Beer & Bullets Bipedals.

Your jogging BF became a sprinter, that day?

Gary

caascher2 · March 26, 2007

Dgriff...your blueberries survived the winter? Did you mulch them really well? Have you gotten any blueberries yet? I read they won't really give us any blueberries for about 3 years. Which part of Va Beach are you from? I am near Kempsville.
Carol

dgriff · March 27, 2007

Down by Pungo. They budded and flowered last year but I picked off the flowers to encourge root growth and will do the same this year. There are blueberry and blackberry farms down here (pick your own) so I know they can survive.

Youngneg · May 7, 2008

Hello
I`m new to blueberries,but gonna try to grow them in half whiskey barrells semi northland ,northsky and northblue. I know about the acid soil 4.5 to 5.2 ph.I`ve read an artical on soil for bb`s 40% coir- 40% peat moss- 20 % perlite....what do you think...should i add manure or hummus, organic potting soil...bark....and i heard pick the buds off the first year...these bushes are 3 years old......
Thanks

mresseguie · May 8, 2008

Youngneg,

Starting out with your 40%-40%-20% mixture is pretty good. Personally, I'd toss in some leaf mold (fresh compost if you lack leaf mold) and a couple scoops of worm castings to liven things up a bit (microbes, bacteria, nematodes, etc.). Always maintain approximately 2" of mulch to protect the roots. Keep an eye on the acidity through the years.

Whiskey barrel sides should be lined with plastic, Tyvek, or something similar to aid in retention of water.

I have blueberries in the ground, in a 20 gallon pot, and in a whiskey barrel. The plants in the ground do the best. The whiskey barrel plant almost died last year. I'm still unsure of the reason-likely a combination of getting too dry in August and my mixing in <far> too many coffee grounds to begin with. (Too many uncomposted grounds lead to poor root development.)

Someone else mentioned it already, but make darned sure you pinch off all the blossoms this year. I know. It pained me the first time too, but it really does promote stronger, healthier root systems, and you'll get better yields in the following years. Just think of it as an ornamental this year.

I've probably forgotten a couple varieties, but these are what I have:

Bluecrop, Blueray, Earliblue, Duke, Berkley, Chandler, Spartan(?), and 7 rescues (unknowns) last month for $21(!).

Good luck, and have fun!

Michael in OR.

flowerpower · March 25, 2007

Tormato, I am basically dealing with the same terrain. There are alot of plants on the little islands, I probably could get a few out with the roots. I will take cuttings too though.

I am lucky enough not to have Moose probs yet. They have just moved into the area in the past yr. There are coyote, snappers, porcupines, coons and bear in there. Bear was legal to hunt here last season and it hasn't been in yrs.Last fall my BF was jogging about a mile away on a seasonal rd and he saw a mama bear with her 2 cubs.

March 2, 2007	#1
caascher2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Va. Beach, VA Posts: 178	Blueberries Anyone have blueberries? How well do they produce for you? I am thinking of planting an early, mid and late season variety. I know they like acidic soil, but do they need full sun? Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Carol

May 7, 2008	#13
Youngneg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pa Posts: 4	blueberries in containers Hello I`m new to blueberries,but gonna try to grow them in half whiskey barrells semi northland ,northsky and northblue. I know about the acid soil 4.5 to 5.2 ph.I`ve read an artical on soil for bb`s 40% coir- 40% peat moss- 20 % perlite....what do you think...should i add manure or hummus, organic potting soil...bark....and i heard pick the buds off the first year...these bushes are 3 years old...... Thanks

May 8, 2008	#14
mresseguie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 159	Youngneg, Starting out with your 40%-40%-20% mixture is pretty good. Personally, I'd toss in some leaf mold (fresh compost if you lack leaf mold) and a couple scoops of worm castings to liven things up a bit (microbes, bacteria, nematodes, etc.). Always maintain approximately 2" of mulch to protect the roots. Keep an eye on the acidity through the years. Whiskey barrel sides should be lined with plastic, Tyvek, or something similar to aid in retention of water. I have blueberries in the ground, in a 20 gallon pot, and in a whiskey barrel. The plants in the ground do the best. The whiskey barrel plant almost died last year. I'm still unsure of the reason-likely a combination of getting too dry in August and my mixing in <far> too many coffee grounds to begin with. (Too many uncomposted grounds lead to poor root development.) Someone else mentioned it already, but make darned sure you pinch off all the blossoms this year. I know. It pained me the first time too, but it really does promote stronger, healthier root systems, and you'll get better yields in the following years. Just think of it as an ornamental this year. I've probably forgotten a couple varieties, but these are what I have: Bluecrop, Blueray, Earliblue, Duke, Berkley, Chandler, Spartan(?), and 7 rescues (unknowns) last month for $21(!). Good luck, and have fun! Michael in OR. __________________ Learning to speak tomato! Got compost?

March 7, 2007	#2
JohnnyRock Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 71	I bought a dozen 3-year plants from Finches Blueberry Nursery (www.danfinch.com). Varieties I got were Climax, Delite, Woodard, and Tifblue, chosen based on what King's Orchard (www.kingsorchard.com) uses and what I've read. I planted a few weeks back and so far, so good. They're budding like crazy!

March 8, 2007	#3
Big_Red Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bethelridge, KY Posts: 57	Last year I set out 4 plants; Blueray, Bluecrop, Northland and Elliot. I dug large holes and planted them in a mixture of half peat and half compost then mulched with oak leaves and sawdust. So far, they're doing great.

March 9, 2007	#4
N B Gray Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: norwalk OH Posts: 7	Has anyone tired to root start blueberry cuttings?

March 10, 2007	#6
Spatzbear Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Adelaide Hills, Australia Posts: 349	I haven't tried it myself yet, but read/heard that it's a lot easier than starting them from seed. I have tried seeds a few times before - with zero success. Soon I'll take cuttings and try to propagate them this way. Concerning pollination - they are insect pollinated - so make sure you got some busy bees around them.

March 22, 2007	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,968	I had a 50% success rate last year (8 of 16) with some wild highbush cuttings. This was done outside, no controlled climate. I heard it's 50-90% successful if you know what you're doing. I guess I barely know what I'm doing. I'd now like to try some known cultivars. If anyone would like to offer any, please PM me. Gary

March 23, 2007	#8
flowerpower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY Z5 Posts: 94	There are alot of lowbush blues growing wild. They are in full sun, very acidic, soggy soil. The biggest patches are on the edge of the wetland. I was picking them in the wetland until I noticed that a bear was also interested in them. He left quite the pile of evidence. I'd be really interested in taking cuttings so I put some in another area. Should I be taking softwood cuttings when they start leafing out? Any advice appreciated.

March 26, 2007	#10
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,968	Flowerpower, What we'll go through to get those little blue jewels! The porcupines, coons (and also skunks) I rarely see, because they're mostly nocturnal. Be careful if you see one in the daytime. It could mean rabies. I forgot about the most dangerous animals, the only ones that keep me away. The Beer & Bullets Bipedals. Your jogging BF became a sprinter, that day? Gary

March 27, 2007	#12
dgriff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 26	Down by Pungo. They budded and flowered last year but I picked off the flowers to encourge root growth and will do the same this year. There are blueberry and blackberry farms down here (pick your own) so I know they can survive.

March 25, 2007	#15
flowerpower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY Z5 Posts: 94	Tormato, I am basically dealing with the same terrain. There are alot of plants on the little islands, I probably could get a few out with the roots. I will take cuttings too though. I am lucky enough not to have Moose probs yet. They have just moved into the area in the past yr. There are coyote, snappers, porcupines, coons and bear in there. Bear was legal to hunt here last season and it hasn't been in yrs.Last fall my BF was jogging about a mile away on a seasonal rd and he saw a mama bear with her 2 cubs.