Wild High bush blueberries help

[GBOUTDOORS]

We bought 22 acres of forested land to build our new house three years ago and now that we are all settled in and have time to work the land I would like to try and get some berries from the many wild high bush blueberries on the property. I would like to know if anyone has had any luck with fertilizing and pruning wild high bush blueberries. They do get lots of flowers in the spring but by the time the berries start to grow the ones the birds don't eat just seem to fall off before they get ripe. So how do we keep the birds off them and is there some way to increase the harvest.

 

[PANNU98]

prune them like crazy, fertilize them, water them and put a netting over the plants to protect them from the birds. Also, there is probably a nitrogen deficiency since there are more flowers than the plant can handle. You could also remove few of the fruiting buds in the bud swell stage which is right about now.

 

[forgeblast]

I have a lot and have talked to other comercial growers. Prune them to 6 stems coming out of the base. Then the easiest fert that we use is double ground hardwood mulch. It keeps the weeds down and when it breaks down it feeds the bushes. You can hit it with the hollytone fert also.

 

[GBOUTDOORS]

Thanks for the replies I will try getting some of them pruned this weekend to see how that goes and I have lots of hollytone fer. so will give that a shot also. I have bush hogged around some that are close to the house and will start with them for this season( 20-30). If this works I will clean up as many as I can for next year. I can taste the pies already. :licking:

 

[HarryN]

Pann is correct. Prune them way more that you think they should be pruned. Most don't cut back enough. May be a little late for that this year though. Should be done in the fall after all berry's are gone. Blueberry requires a more acid soil or they won't absorb the fertilizer efficiently.
(Go easy on the fertilizer) The easy way without using a acidifier (like powdered sulfur) is to use pine needles. I put mine one to two feet thick around each plant. It decomposes quick enough and a by product is acidic soil and less weeds. Hope they are in lots of sun too.

 

[GBOUTDOORS]

Thanks HarryN these are in the woods mostly surrounded by pines and oaks so the ground is already covered in pine needles. I will rake the area under them and cover it fully with needles for mulch. Will also hold off on the pruning till fall as they had buds when i checked on them today but will get some netting to see how that works for this season.

 

[Rustyiron]

While we're talking b.berries, I have a ton of wild highbush that are in a, **** near peat bog. Most of the time we need rubber boots for picking. I had always heard that they like "dry feet" or well drained areas? I would really like to move some to a better (and more convienient) area, and be able to "push" them with fert. etc. We moved a small plant (crazy intertwined root system) last spring and it all died back except for a small little new sprout. We are hoping that this survives, but with the root system these guy's have it seems like it might be better to do a root type transplant. I'm not sure what it's called, root cutting? but can this be done and how is the best way. It's still winter here, had a foot of new snow the day before yesterday, but it and all the other snow in the woods is melting fast. (that was directed at HARRYN down in the bayou state) So I think that I still have time to try to move some this spring. Sorry to hijack gboutdoors, good luck with yours. I too can smell the pies. I want to try some wine, but that takes alot of berries!:cool2:

 

[Gary Fowler]

Netting has to be tight to the ground or birds will just find a small hole and go under it. You should still be able to prune off some limbs without stressing the plant since it is just budding and not leafed out. Better in the fall, but dormant to semi-dormant spring pruning can be done also especially since you are still winter locked there in the frozen Northland.

 

[PANNU98]

While we're talking b.berries, I have a ton of wild highbush that are in a, **** near peat bog. Most of the time we need rubber boots for picking. I had always heard that they like "dry feet" or well drained areas? I would really like to move some to a better (and more convienient) area, and be able to "push" them with fert. etc. We moved a small plant (crazy intertwined root system) last spring and it all died back except for a small little new sprout. We are hoping that this survives, but with the root system these guy's have it seems like it might be better to do a root type transplant. I'm not sure what it's called, root cutting? but can this be done and how is the best way. It's still winter here, had a foot of new snow the day before yesterday, but it and all the other snow in the woods is melting fast. (that was directed at HARRYN down in the bayou state) So I think that I still have time to try to move some this spring. Sorry to hijack gboutdoors, good luck with yours. I too can smell the pies. I want to try some wine, but that takes alot of berries!:cool2:

Maybe the soil your are planting them in has a high ph? Also, when transplanting mature bushes, you should heavily prune them since you are cutting away most of the fine roots that the plant feeds/drinks from.

 

[GBOUTDOORS]

Hey Rustyiron how about 9-12" of snow last night we were told a dusting to 1". Only good thing about it is it's 45 out right now and I did have fun plowing the driveway for the last time I hope. So I am back to pruning a little this week end very lightly . What kind of netting works best and where do I get it.

Ps try some blueberry beer good suff for those cold winter nights.