Blueberries

[paulsharvey]

Mine are at my place in Mississippi. Have about 20 plants. Never seen a bird eat any,nor the deer(heavy population). Mulch with pine straw.Usually get about five gallons. Last year we had a hard freeze around March 15. The bushes already bloomed, and we only got two pints! Let the little sprouts come up. Very easy to propagate. Have about 25 started in pots. Check out U tube.

The birds tear through ours. Good year, maybe a 3 gal bucket, but the birds really knock that down.

 

[DK35vince]

We wouldn't get a single blueberry without netting.
Birds will take them all.

 

[dieselscout80]

Mine are at my place in Mississippi. Have about 20 plants. Never seen a bird eat any,nor the deer(heavy population). Mulch with pine straw.Usually get about five gallons. Last year we had a hard freeze around March 15. The bushes already bloomed, and we only got two pints! Let the little sprouts come up. Very easy to propagate. Have about 25 started in pots. Check out U tube.

How are propagating your blue berries and what time of the year are you doing it?

 

[Alan W.]

How are propagating your blue berries and what time of the year are you doing it?

I have gave away lots of plants from mine.
I wait till fall then I will pull up a sprout and cut it off from the main plants root system.
I will keep at least 6 to 8 inches of root with the sprout. Prune the sprout back to 6 inches and plant.

 

[paulsharvey]

How are propagating your blue berries and what time of the year are you doing it?

I've had some limited success with taking a fresh growth, soft cutting, and putting it in some root growth product, and sticking it in moist soil in a pot, and covering the pot with plastic. It's pretty limited success.

 

[kenacp]

paulsharvey, That is what I do, except for the plastic. 90-95% success. I do this in the winter. By Spring they will bud out. Transplant into a bigger pot until early next Spring. Plant in it's permanent location.

 

[DarkBlack]

I was pruning some of my bushes the other day. I’ve got a couple with witches’ broom, unfortunately

 

[Jstpssng]

Love those wild blueberries! The Costcos in our area occasionally have seasonal wild blueberries, I think from Canada. Small, like those in Maine that Rustyrion describes. Seem to be sweeter than the larger Kirkland cultivated blueberries that are available at Costco year-round.

They are. I routinely buy store brand Maine blueberries for my freezer. One time I didn't notice they were just "blueberries"... the package was the same except for one word. They were like eating lemons...
My dog didn't mind them a bit, however.

 

[MossRoad]

They are. I routinely buy store brand Maine blueberries for my freezer. One time I didn't notice they were just "blueberries"... the package was the same except for one word. They were like eating lemons...
My dog didn't mind them a bit, however.

Anyone ever try lemon curd and blueberries on waffles?

 

[Torvy]

Fruit is setting. I guess we need to wrap the bird netting before they start to snack.

 

[Rustyiron]

Fruit is setting. I guess we need to wrap the bird netting before they start to snack.

Meanwhile "they're" calling for 13-14" of snow tomorrow here!
Not too unusual for March, but this year it'll be the biggest snowfall of the whole season, at least for us.

 

[Jstpssng]

Meanwhile "they're" calling for 13-14" of snow tomorrow here!
Not too unusual for March, but this year it'll be the biggest snowfall of the whole season, at least for us.

I've been telling people since the first of rhe month that winter isn't over. Yet even I was starting to like the weather. The lakes aren't safe, the snowsled trails are gone, the roads are muddy and cleaning up is going to be a mess... we got about 6 inches at my house yesterday and they didn't even plow the road.

 

[Torvy]

I spent half of my life up North. I understand.

 

[Torvy]

Gone for 10 days due to family issue up north.

Came home to lots of weeds, but berries are turning blue!

 

[DarkBlack]

My buds haven’t even broken out yet
Good anyway, we’re having some nights down to around 27f for a couple days.

 

[paulsharvey]

Berries are nearly full size, and stating to go from green to that pinkish color. Should be ready in about 3 weeks. I have very late bushes; and the actual farms have been picking for a month already.

 

[Rustyiron]

This was 18 days ago. (4-5-24)

I don't have so much as a leaf showing yet!

 

[Sigarms]

This was 18 days ago. (4-5-24) View attachment 863960
I don't have so much as a leaf showing yet!

I can still remember driving through a snow squall sometime in May up above Syracuse my first year there thinking when will the snow stop LOL. Sorry to say, don't really miss it.

Taken this morning at 0630. Should be a pretty good year with the 6 bushes we have.

When my dad lived with us, one of his favorite past times was walking out to the garden and picking some blueberries to snack on from the bush. I remember growing up and my parents always talking about a big thing with both their families was going out to woods picking berries and mushrooms.

My father in law made a mean blueberry pie that my boys talked about and missed after he passed away.

Favorite item in the garden we grow, although the tomatoes are pretty darn good. Luckily there are a couple of local farms that have some of the best corn and peaches I've had in a long time.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I just saw this thread; the missus brought home two bushes last weekend. They're a first for me.

 

[Alan46]

I can still remember driving through a snow squall sometime in May up above Syracuse my first year there thinking when will the snow stop LOL. Sorry to say, don't really miss it.

Taken this morning at 0630. Should be a pretty good year with the 6 bushes we have.

View attachment 864416

When my dad lived with us, one of his favorite past times was walking out to the garden and picking some blueberries to snack on from the bush. I remember growing up and my parents always talking about a big thing with both their families was going out to woods picking berries and mushrooms.

My father in law made a mean blueberry pie that my boys talked about and missed after he passed away.

Favorite item in the garden we grow, although the tomatoes are pretty darn good. Luckily there are a couple of local farms that have some of the best corn and peaches I've had in a long time.

How do you keep the birds away?
We have a hopped raised bed. With the black netting, but because of snow we have to remove it in the winter and have to replace it the next season!

Any one have any suggestions on doing it another way?