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Post by martywny on Feb 12, 2020 19:51:25 GMT -5
Is your wife retiring soon, as well? Here's the scoop... I started the company we work for and sold it to her in 2007 when she took an early retirement from Bank of America. I am not sure exactly what she wants to do, last time we discussed it she was planning on staying three more years part-time while transitioning it over to her son, who works for us. The other thing is family, all the kids and grand kids are here but then again, the drive from there to here is only 8 hours and we can come up often. I would like to sell out and move in the fall but it's not my choice. My job is to say "Yes dear, whatever you want" and I will be happy forever. When I think of how long it takes for a fruit tree to produce, I realize this should happen soon. There's fences to put up, barns to build and soil to till!
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Post by tom 🕊 on Feb 13, 2020 13:56:52 GMT -5
I would like to sell out and move in the fall If I ever have to move, I will look for a place upwind from any herbicide spraying.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Apr 20, 2021 15:31:10 GMT -5
Fretting about my blueberries, as they're in full bloom with a late freeze approaching. Southern Highbush types, they're too big to cover. I'll hope for the best, I guess.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Apr 21, 2021 12:08:10 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, how cold did it get last night? One of the local forecasters said the dangers to the ground weren't as much as could be anticipated b/c it takes more than a night or so of frigid air to cool the ground. He didn't address anything in bud. I've never grown blueberries, at least not yet. Are they a reblooming variety, in the event that the existing crop is cold damaged? My lilacs took a real beating, bent over close to the ground from the ice. They were just beginning to bloom.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Apr 21, 2021 14:49:10 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ it was only 39 this morning (Wednesday 4/21) . Cool enough for a frost in sheltered areas, but my blueberries are out in the open...plus, we had brisk winds to help keep the frost at bay. Tomorrow morning, we'll be right at freezing, with wind continuing. Not worried about the ground, as they're thickly mulched with peat and pine needles. Those blooms are pretty delicate though, and I've lost a crop or two over the years. Mine do rebloom somewhat.
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 21, 2021 19:09:13 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, Just seeing this and it's probably dark there, now, but since you can't cover them could you put some strings of lights around/through them? It might raise the temp just enough.
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Post by nathan125 on May 22, 2021 4:00:19 GMT -5
Have about 8 blueberry bushes. Younger plants. They don't do well in production. By nature we are high alkaline. The bed is mostly peat moss and I add sulfur every year. I will get picks later. I think I need to really soak them with water and see what happens.
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Post by Wheelgarden on May 23, 2021 20:36:02 GMT -5
My crop of berry blooms got lost in the frost this year, dag-nabbit, but the bushes are healthy. nathan125 you're on the right track, especially if you have alkaline soil. Peat moss, sulfur, and other acidic amendments should serve you well.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 6, 2021 17:14:50 GMT -5
I luvs me my blueberries... This year's April freeze killed most of the first blooms on them (Southern Highbush)... Ah, but fortunately, all but one bush re-bloomed and now I've got a belly-full o' sweet berries in my belly while snacking out there. A bit smaller than usual, but good nonetheless.
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Post by Latitude33 on Jul 11, 2021 18:25:34 GMT -5
Making my first foray in growing blueberries. Stopped at a yard/estate/moving sale around the corner from Mom's. Folks running the sale were motivated to move everything. While checking for any gardening related items I noticed a healthy potted blueberry bush off to the side. I asked the folks if it was part of the sale and sure enough it was. Currently it's in the bed of my truck until I can pay one of the neighborhood teens to lift it out. It's a start.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 11, 2021 20:12:31 GMT -5
Latitude33, my best advice for blueberries is to keep the soil acidic, whether potted or in the ground. They're like their relatives --- azaleas and cranberries, they love their acid. Peat moss or pine needle mulch, and a a schprinkle of sulfur in the winter (you'd say, "what's winter?") every couple of years makes for bigger, schweeter berries.
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Post by roxy on Jul 12, 2021 1:04:30 GMT -5
Latitude33 , not sure if this has been mentioned or if you already knew this or not, but around here you usually need more than one blueberry plant to get blueberries. I think it can either be the same variety or a different one, I don't remember. I tried growing them probably about 10 years ago and had probably around 12 or more plants in pots and probably 4 to 6 varieties. They did produce some, but I had to keep them covered with netting because the birds thought they were for them! I think I eventually lost all my plants when they became neglected when life got in the way... It was fun while it lasted though. And yes, Wheelgarden , is correct in suggesting the acidic soil. I had used bags of the acidic soil for azaleas, etc that I bought at our very local Mom and Pop Nursery. (You know which one)
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 16, 2021 16:21:27 GMT -5
Didn't think we'd have any, but lo and behold, we've picked and plucked over a gallon of sweet blueberry goodness thus far in spite of the April freeze event. Thank goodness for the re-blooming highbush. My favoritest berry.
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Post by binnylou on Jul 16, 2021 16:55:07 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, there’s nothing like fresh blueberries. We purchased two pints of blueberries when grocery shopping yesterday…$1.48 per pint. They were product of New Jersey. Plump and tasty.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jul 19, 2021 16:25:45 GMT -5
Yet another quart of big sweet berries from the bushes that I thought were toast after the April freeze killed the early blooms. Gallon-and-a-half so far, and a few more to come if I beat the birds and squirrels to them. Got a cookie sheet, put a quart of them on it, and stuck them the freezer. When I pull them out, I'll dust them with stevia powder and then have cool blueberry poplets for hot summer days.
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