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Garden Gate:  Blueberries  |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 8:00:32 PM
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How many of you grow blueberries? Anyone trying the new Pink Lemonade variety? I've only seen it in magazines so far. If you have alkaline soils, what varieties have worked best for you?
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 06:06:51 AM
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hi maryann, i like the bush called saskatoon. it will grow in alkaline soil. not a true blueberrie, it loves my soil. you can get it at gurneys catalog. or maybe its burpee? sorry. anyway it grows here without much work. just a thought happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 06:25:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by sherrye
hi maryann, i like the bush called saskatoon. it will grow in alkaline soil. not a true blueberrie, it loves my soil. you can get it at gurneys catalog. or maybe its burpee? sorry. anyway it grows here without much work. just a thought happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 06:27:06 AM
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Sorry Sherrye,
I hit the wrong button. Is that the saskatoon service berry? Lots of berries? Small and dark blue w/silver tinge? Thanks.
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 07:02:15 AM
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We just ordered six blueberries and have very alkaline soils. We will plant them in buckets and amend the soil. I'm thinking we will bury the buckets, too. They don't grow well in Colorado. We have huckleberry instead but it is hard to get going. A great wild plant, though. This will be an experiment for us. Fingers crossed.
Others have grown them here with a lot of TLC, using the method above.
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
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SherBear
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Sherri
Mukwonago
Wi
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 12:38:52 AM
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I planted a couple of blueberry and blackberry bushes last fall (they were on clearance at the end of the season for $5!) so we'll see how they do here. No berries last year of course, since it was so late in the season, but I'm excited for this year! I kept the tags, but I don't remember what varieties they were offhand. I've seen the Pink Lemonade variety in the magazines too, and have been tempted to try it! It's just so fun and different!
http://sherrileesgarden.blogspot.com/ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 08:10:32 AM
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I saw those Pink Lemonade varieties too and was wondering about them! When you first start a blueberry patch is it hard to get going? I love blueberries and I haven't gotten to test the soil here yet and if it's not good I can always grow in buckets. I am getting into a lot of new projects for this summer and I don't want to get myself in over my head with trying to establish blueberries and cane berries in one year. Any suggestions? I would only want like 3-5 plants to start with. Thanks!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 10:05:47 AM
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If you have alkaline soils, you will need to amend heavily for acid loving blueberries. Some are more tolerant than others. I always recommend a soil test (check around for the best price, starting w/your extension office). Lots of my pals have had great success w/growing blues in pots where they can carefully tend the soil/amend. Your extension office can also tell you what varieties will do best where you live.
Meanwhile, cane berries usually take off like wildfire. I grow Heritage, Fall Gold and Canby to get the most production all through the summer and fall. Even a half dozen cane starts will set you up. And there is nothing like a fresh raspberry. We usually just stand out there and eat them all! I obviously need to plant more.
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1155 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1155 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 6:17:07 PM
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Down here, we grow 'rabbiteye' blueberries. The 'high bush' varieties do not do well here.
Initially, yes, they are a little difficult to get started. The root system is extremely (!!!) shallow and fibrous and they become dehydrated quickly, especially when they are new transplants. They are also particular about water quality (rainwater is best) and many have succumbed to being watered with 'city water'. Once they get established, I don't think it is too bad, but they are a fussy little plant when small. Mine have somehow survived so far!
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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vmfein
True Blue Farmgirl
247 Posts
Valerie
Dale City
VA
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2011 : 1:46:56 PM
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| I love blueberries but have never tried to grow any. |
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CurlysQuilts
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Sarah
Northeast Kingdom
VT
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2011 : 6:53:58 PM
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Blueberries are the next berry I intend to plant. Whether it's this year or next is still in the air. We planted respberries 3 yrs ago, and they have done fantastic. My two yr old has been asking off and on this month if he can go out and pick berries, so they must have made an impact on him!
Curly's Quilts
www.curlysquilts.etsy.com
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8
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TJinMT
True Blue Farmgirl
211 Posts
TJ
Billings
MT
USA
211 Posts |
Posted - Jan 28 2011 : 07:00:18 AM
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Blueberries are on the Consumer Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" of veggies/fruits which should be either grown at home or purchased ORGANIC, as they pick up alot of pesticide residue when conventionally farmed. So there's another reason to grow your own!!
I didn't realize you could grow them in buckets - great ideas you guys!!!
~TJ of Green Willow Place
www.MyWesternHome.wordpress.com
"We make a living by what we get, but we build a life by what we give." ~Thomas S. Monson |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 1:47:41 PM
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After doing some more looking around about blueberries I am going to get a raised bed set up for the blueberries even though we have good soil for them here. As for the watering part I saw someone posted rainwater works best, that is so neat because I was planning on watering my entire garden from as much rainwater as I can collect! I was doing reading on using warm rainwater for gardening as the plants respond better to that than the cold water from either a well or city water... Neat!!! I can't wait to see how the blueberries turn out... Well I will have to wait until next year to really find out! :)
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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Vintage Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
70 Posts
Sue
Woodbine
Maryland
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - Feb 03 2011 : 6:50:00 PM
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| I'm hoping to put in a couple of blueberries this year as well and am pretty overwhelmed by the number of varieties. Question - do you recommend getting bushes from the nursery/garden center or ordering small ones from one of the catalogs? |
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Mary Ann Newcomer
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Mary Ann
Boise
ID
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - Feb 03 2011 : 7:30:41 PM
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Vintage Sue, I actually do a lot of work w/a local nursery, and although I love the folks, their blueberry shrubs were huge and very very expensive. I would love to buy their big ol'plants, but instead, I DID order some from a catalog last year. I can't remember the name of it. After checking w/your extension office for the very best varieties to grow in your area (they should have a nice list, check their website), you could shop around locally or go ahead and order from a reputable company. Just treat them well when they arrive. Don't let them dry out. I lost one that way. :(
Farmgirl w/a city garden, Dirt Diva on the radio. Sister chick #246
www.gardensofthewildwildwestcom |
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Vintage Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
70 Posts
Sue
Woodbine
Maryland
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 02:50:11 AM
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Mary Ann thanks so much for that great advice!! I will check the with the extension office today and see what they recommend. I am so ready for spring!
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun" - Katharine Hepburn
www.mymotherspearls.me |
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longbeachfox
True Blue Farmgirl
322 Posts
Mary
Long Beach
WA
USA
322 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 6:28:45 PM
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We live on the SW Washington coast and planted blueberries 3 years ago. Each year the production gets better and better and we just love harvesting those little goodies and putting them on our cereal and in our mouths  They seem to do very well here. Two years ago we planted strawberries behind the shop and they did wonderful...also built a fence around as the deer thought they were wonderful too Last year we planted Sylvan and Raspberries. As you can tell, we love 'em all! This weather seems to make them flourish.
Farmgirl # 2532
With God...Nothing Is Impossible!
http://foxontherunarts.blogspot.com
www.etsy.com/shop/longbeachfox
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Garden Gate: Blueberries |
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Blueberries
