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Post by gianna on Jul 17, 2016 15:21:59 GMT -5
Blueberries are another of the gardening things I've taken to excess. I have about 60 plants in pots, all Southern Highbush. In my area, I have to grow those with extremely low chill requirements (nothing over 300 hrs), many of which were developed by the University of Florida. Local winter chill - we are lucky to get 50 hours over the winter. I grow them as evergreens in full sun.
Our tap water is about pH8, so I have to adjust it downwards to 5-ish with acid, or the plants become chlorotic. This year I've gone to great lengths to collect and store rainwater to last the summer, since our city water in the drought is now so awful (mostly well water instead of reservoir). It's just full of minerals and chlorine, and my BBs were visibly suffering last year. This year on their new rainwater diet, they are growing much much better.
Alas my crop is over and I'm in withdrawal. But some of the super low chill varieties are showing a bit of re-bloom so in a couple months there might be some more berries. I grow about 10-15 varieties. Last year when the birds were unmercifully harvesting them (I was willing to share - they weren't.) I built an enclosure and moved them all into it. That has worked out well, except for taking too much of my main garden area.
Does anyone else grow blueberries?
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Post by binnylou on Jul 17, 2016 15:35:09 GMT -5
I tried many years ago. We had ducks and they ate the crop. I lost interest...in the blueberries and the ducks.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jul 17, 2016 17:05:02 GMT -5
I live fairly close to the "Blueberry Capitol", Hammonton NJ, and blueberries are very cheap, and good, and they aren't one of those crops that have much sprayed on them, fortunately, so I just buy them locally. Plus, blueberries prefer acidic, sandy soil, which is why they grow so well in the pine barrens.
I just got a bunch of blueberries really cheap, and froze a bunch, plus I dried 6 pints of them, which resulted in just over 3 pints dried.
I just saw a segment on the news about the farmers, and why the first crop didn't happen (I was wondering what happened!). They "rent" the bees to pollinate, but that horrible rainy, cold May we had kept the bees in the hives, and very little came of the first crop. Fortunately, the second crop is really good, and made up for it somewhat.
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Post by binnylou on Jul 17, 2016 17:13:30 GMT -5
Fortunately, the second crop is really good, and made up for it somewhat. That may explain the pints of blueberries selling for 99 cents on special. I stocked up for the freezer.
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Post by OregonRed on Jul 17, 2016 20:46:40 GMT -5
blue berries at the health food store are insane - $7 maybe. Every says I need to go the "u pick" place nearby, just havnt done it...
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Post by restless on Jul 18, 2016 1:29:48 GMT -5
I love blueberries! I typically buy them frozen in bags. They are too expensive for me to buy fresh in Philly. I would love to grow them someday.
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Post by brownrexx on Jul 18, 2016 8:02:48 GMT -5
I just bought some for $1.77 / quart and they are big, plump New Jersey blueberries. I buy a quart, rinse them off and just nibble on them throughout the day.
I never need to refrigerate them because they are gone the same day that I buy them.
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Post by OregonRed on Jul 18, 2016 21:05:54 GMT -5
purchased some on sale today, $5 for the ? 2 cups?
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 24, 2016 10:22:43 GMT -5
Can blueberries grow if they are shaded part of the day. Would love to put some on the north side of the house, where there is morning and afternoon sun, but not mid-day.
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Post by lisaann on Jul 24, 2016 19:30:14 GMT -5
That's a fruit I never acquired a taste for.............My dad never liked them either. Maybe this stuff is genetic taste acquired? I don't know............... But Blueberries taste bitter and rancid to me. What the heck is up with taste buds?
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Post by desertwoman on Jul 24, 2016 23:09:21 GMT -5
Bitter and rancid? lisaannThen you've never had a good blueberry! I'd say there's nothing wrong with your taste buds.
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Post by gianna on Jul 25, 2016 0:36:32 GMT -5
Can blueberries grow if they are shaded part of the day. Would love to put some on the north side of the house, where there is morning and afternoon sun, but not mid-day. They do better in full sun, but even the sun you describe should be enough for good berries. They may not bear as much however. In hot, sunny weather, some mid-day shade might even be beneficial. But you won't know till you try. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ But Blueberries taste bitter and rancid to me. Then most likely the ones you purchased were bitter and rancid. Even good ones can go off in the store if they have been picked too long ago and stored improperly. When fresh they are quite firm. If they are soft at all, much less dented or damp looking, it's too late for good eating. Try some in the prime of the season and even ask your produce man to help you pick out a good package.
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Post by lisaann on Jul 25, 2016 16:42:04 GMT -5
A funny about this.......
My stepfather grows them and even fresh off the bush..........while he's smacking his lips...........I spit mine out. Yuck, he laughed.
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Post by gianna on Jul 25, 2016 17:07:30 GMT -5
I love blueberries! I typically buy them frozen in bags. They are too expensive for me to buy fresh in Philly. I would love to grow them someday. I just love them too. There is a YouPick place about 30 miles away that still has berries. They are a bit inland from me so their season is later. But because it's the only UPick for maybe 100 miles, so many people go there. They are pretty much picked over as U-pick fruits can get sometimes.. I'd also feel guilty buying them (quite expensive) when I've already had so many of my own this year. I might just have to buy a carton from the store however. I need a fix!!!
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Post by gardendmpls on Jul 26, 2016 7:38:49 GMT -5
Different types have different flavors, also. My favorite blueberry memory is picking wild ones into plastic cups while visiting my daughter at camp while she was in that awkward, early teen "can't talk to Mom" stage. It was easier for her to talk when her eyes were on the blueberries (teens also talk better next to you in the car, where they don't need to make eye contact).
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