Slow blueberries

[KTurner]

This time last year, I'd been picking blueberries for two weeks, but I haven't seen a ripe one yet this year. It does look like we're going to have more berries than last year. How are your blueberries doing?

btw, this is in southeast virginia.

Keith

 

[sandman2234]

Early last year a neighbor's kid and his friends decided to cut through my property and then back again, several times on four wheel atv's. The path of least resistance was across my blueberry patch (about 110 plants). Pretty much destroyed them, and I was ticked to say the least. The Dad and I had a discussion, kids haven't been back. I dropped the discussion, because he has been good to me, loaning me a brand new John Deere when I needed a loader, without question. (tractor had 2 hours on the meter). Keys in it, use it anytime you need it type of attitude, a gesture I appreciated and did not take lightly. Anyway, briars and blackberry bushes pretty much engulfed the area. A couple weeks ago, I discovered that under all those briars, there were blueberries ready for picking. So... for the last two weeks the wife and I have been ripping out briars taller than us and clearing around the plants. Probably lost 65 percent of the plants, but what remains seem to be pretty hardy. Considering they haven't been watered, fertilized, and have had the sun blocked for the most part, the quart or so of berries so far has been a welcomed blessing. Blueberry pancakes, berries on homemade ice cream, (and a few while picking, lol) has made the work a little less of a burden.
Hope your berries are just coming in a little late, and you have a bountiful harvest.
David from jax

 

[ncnurseryman]

Mine are slow to ripe this year too. Also have plenty of them with all the rain but as of tasting one yesterday, nope still needs more time.

 

[cqaigy2]

Have lots of berries but still green as well. Im assume the cool weather has had something to do with it.
Love blue berries and blackberries too, probably a good thing because we have so many blackberries. :laughing:


Sandman, sounds like the survivors are super berries!

 

[radioman]

around here they are not ready to july or aug. If you guys are late down south, it might be late around here too.

 

[Stimw]

I picked about a gallon and put them in the freezer.
My bushes are loaded up but I haven't had time to pick them. I have told freinds they were ready but everybody seems too busy also.
The birds are pigging out!
For pancakes make sure you add Cinimin to the mix. (YUM!!) Pour the batter on the griddle then sprinkle the berries into it to get them even.
My berries are the size of a dime too!

 

[woody]

Wife has picked about a gallon of blue berries and a gallon of black berries in the last couple of days. She canned every one of them maybe I'll get some on my pancakes tomorrow

 

[Richard]

around here they are not ready to july or aug. If you guys are late down south, it might be late around here too.

+ another

 

[PANNU98]

im guessing their highbush, what varieties do you have?

 

[RobertBrown]

Put your location in your profile

 

[Tdog]

I've been freezing blueberries every day for over a week - - at least 2 cups each day. A friend in South Carolina said her blueberries were not ready yet - - & ours were late compared to most years. probably due to our cool spring.

Jack

 

[KTurner]

im guessing their highbush, what varieties do you have?

No idea. About five years ago I cleared a strip of brush/small trees/etc that had formed at the border of the old garden (last used ~1995 or so). Not long after that, blueberries appeared and I was told that's where my wifes grandparents had planted blueberries, probably had been ignored for 5-10 years before I cleared it.

Keith

 

[sellercreek]

Going like gangbusters here in N Arkansas. Plants have been producing for about ten days and are still loaded with ripening berries.

 

[NHmitch]

In New Hampshire ours our still very green and immature. We have loads of bushes in our yard, and we get a few quart bags full every year, but ours are all wild blueberries. We do have fields full of mini wild strawberries that are very ripe.

 

[Dingeryote]

Up here we are approx 300GDD @ Base 50 behind 2012, so even the Weymouths are 2 weeks late.

Not really a bad thing, because the Cranberry fruit worm moths are still flying and laying eggs, and frankly, I don't have our harvester up and running yet.
I figure 3-4 days in the upper 80's and we will start getting back on track.

Heavy year to be sure. We pruned heavy last winter, and I noticed the bud set was crazy, but didn't expect this kind of nonsense.
Our Bluecrop bushes are literally over burdened with the weight, and the canes are drooping into the middles. It's going to be rough once things go blue and they really pack on the weight. Our pickers are going to make some serious cash off of me this year.

Any of you guys getting Drosophala flys in the traps yet?
Still nothing but Vinegar flys here, but the countys north and south both, have had some catches.

 

[dmccarty]

The U Pick it orchard in my area said the Blueberries are slow this year. There is a U Pick it Stawberry patch and they have opened late as well.

I have been too busy to go to either one...

Later,
Dan

 

[s219]

Our native blueberries (about 1/4 to 3/8" diameter) are mostly all still green here in tidewater VA, but I did pluck a perfect ripe one yesterday to eat, the first of the season. I will keep a close eye on the plants over the next week or so. It's been cooler than normal here (fine by me) and I suspect that is a factor.

 

[PANNU98]

what other varieties do you grow? We grow duke, elliot bluecrop and liberty. I wa spraying our 5 year old bluecrop yesterday and it was a nightmare with our m8540n, too many branches on the ground that are laden with fruit despite the fact that they are trellised

Up here we are approx 300GDD @ Base 50 behind 2012, so even the Weymouths are 2 weeks late.

Not really a bad thing, because the Cranberry fruit worm moths are still flying and laying eggs, and frankly, I don't have our harvester up and running yet.
I figure 3-4 days in the upper 80's and we will start getting back on track.

Heavy year to be sure. We pruned heavy last winter, and I noticed the bud set was crazy, but didn't expect this kind of nonsense.
Our Bluecrop bushes are literally over burdened with the weight, and the canes are drooping into the middles. It's going to be rough once things go blue and they really pack on the weight. Our pickers are going to make some serious cash off of me this year.

Any of you guys getting Drosophala flys in the traps yet?
Still nothing but Vinegar flys here, but the countys north and south both, have had some catches.

 

[schmism]

it will be several more weeks till ours are ready. dozzen plants that we have been nursing for the past 3 years and this year only one has a hand full of berries on it

 

[crazyal]

I've wanted to plant some for years now. I've asked some friends who have them for opinions and was told that you needed more than one variety. So what varieties are people having good success with in New England and NY? I know I'm not going to pay $3 for a tiny container at the store.