Got my blueberry bushes...

djmb74 · 05-30-2010, 10:14 AM

Picked up my blueberry bushes on Friday. 26 plants in all and 3 Nanchez blackberry plants as well.

Varieties I ended up getting were mostly Emerald and Jewel as well as 5 Windsor bushes.

almost 5lbs of blueberries!

MediaHound · 05-30-2010, 05:57 PM

Wow, that's awesome... congrats!
Got blueberry recipes?

AmberNichole · 05-30-2010, 07:33 PM

holy crap thats a lot of blueberries! I have 2 bushes, but they dont produce anywhere near that amount! they are a souther verity.....Sharp and another one i think.

CoryS · 05-30-2010, 10:32 PM

Congratulations! They look incredible [and the blackberries don't look bad, either]. We have a small, potted blueberry bush but nothing like that. Thanks much for sharing the photos. Happy eating!

Abnshrek · 05-30-2010, 10:36 PM

Wow, that's Berrilicious Martin :^)

sbl · 05-31-2010, 07:51 AM

Mine are just beginning to ripen--my main crop will come in between mid June and mid July. I expect to get around 80 pounds off my bushes this yr.

I have 17 known varieties plus several unknown. I have been wanting to get an Emerald and Jewel.

As for recipes, we eat them fresh every night once they come in--I put a spoonful of blueberry pie filling on top of about a 1/2 cup of fresh berries, a couple spoons of Grape Nuts, whipped cream and then top that with shaved dark chocolate.

I freeze a bunch and then make blueberry wine in winter when it is cooler.

MediaHound · 05-31-2010, 07:54 AM

Just a reminder, we have a section for recipes (other than banana recipes):

Other Recipes - Bananas.org
This forum is for recipes for foods we make from our gardens, from plants aside from bananas. Preserves, pies, quiches, cakes, dried fruits, wines, beers, and other recipes from foods made from bounty from your garden belong in this forum. Share your most prized secret recipes for others to enjoy!

djmb74 · 05-31-2010, 08:10 AM

Wow that's awesome, 80lbs. I hope to get enough bushes to get that much one day. How many plants do you have in total?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbl

Mine are just beginning to ripen--my main crop will come in between mid June and mid July. I expect to get around 80 pounds off my bushes this yr.

I have 17 known varieties plus several unknown. I have been wanting to get an Emerald and Jewel.

As for recipes, we eat them fresh every night once they come in--I put a spoonful of blueberry pie filling on top of about a 1/2 cup of fresh berries, a couple spoons of Grape Nuts, whipped cream and then top that with shaved dark chocolate.

I freeze a bunch and then make blueberry wine in winter when it is cooler.

sbl · 06-03-2010, 11:14 AM

There are about 35 bushes at my place over in AL, but they are various sizes. Most of the 17 named varieties are only about 3 to 4 ft tall, although a couple are over 6 ft. The majority of my bigger bushes are an unknown variety I got from my wife's dad--most of them are at least 6 ft an some over 8 ft and the limbs are starting to bend over--there are green berry clusters that will fill your hand--I can't wait until they get ripe!. I picked about a cup full off of my Becky Blue and a few berries off Premier and Climax just yesterday.

stevelau1911 · 08-26-2010, 01:02 AM

How long does it usually take for blueberries to get to start making fruits? I just planted a lot of these guys. What kind of fertilizers will help them speed up their growth? I'm hoping for these guys to get big enough to make fruit the year after next year. I'll probably water them with willow tea just to get them well rooted for the rest of this year.

Here's all of them.

Richard · 08-26-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevelau1911

How long does it usually take for blueberries to get to start making fruits? I just planted a lot of these guys. What kind of fertilizers will help them speed up their growth? I'm hoping for these guys to get big enough to make fruit the year after next year. I'll probably water them with willow tea just to get them well rooted for the rest of this year.

Get a pH probe and check the soil pH regularly for awhile. Looking at your plants, it appears you have the southern type(s) so maintain a soil pH of about 5.8 to 6.0. There are many products for acid-loving plants that will be suitable. What you need to avoid are fertilizers and soil amendments that contain significant amounts of nitrogen in the nitrate form.

For your current needs, you can find a 30-10-10 formula labeled "Soil Acidifier" from several manufacturers. Then switch to an Azalea bloom formula such as 14-18-14 for berry production.

The Hollyberry Lady · 08-26-2010, 09:22 AM

Oh how I love blueberries! Great shots, guys!

Getting some shrubs next year that are everbearing and will produce all Summer and Fall long!!!

: o

cherokee_greg · 08-26-2010, 10:18 AM

very nice.

Richard · 08-26-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

Getting some shrubs next year that are everbearing and will produce all Summer and Fall long!!!

I'm jealous. Only the southern highbush cultivars will produce in warmer winter areas (USDA zones 8b - 10) and so we are limited to spring through early summer harvests.

stevelau1911 · 08-26-2010, 12:11 PM

These are supposed to be a mixture of northern and southern highbush varieties and I plan on applying a layer of pine mulch once they get a bit taller. As far as winter protection, I don't think that should be an issue for the ones that are only hardy to zone 7 since this area is fairly well protected from the wind and snow tends to drift there and my larger blueberry bushes didn't get fazed by last winter at all.

Richard · 08-26-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevelau1911

These are supposed to be a mixture of northern and southern highbush varieties and I plan on applying a layer of pine mulch once they get a bit taller. As far as winter protection, I don't think that should be an issue for the ones that are only hardy to zone 7 since this area is fairly well protected from the wind and snow tends to drift there and my larger blueberry bushes didn't get fazed by last winter at all.

The northern blueberry species and european species require a pH below 5.5, preferably around 5.2. The southern highbush and rabbit-eye hybrids will not tolerate this, they function well at a pH of about 5.8 to 6.0. Both of them will rapidly decline in the presence of too much nitrogen in the Nitrate form.

stevelau1911 · 08-26-2010, 05:33 PM

Since that picture, I have added about 1 inch of pine bark pellets all around and a pretty strong dosage of sulfur through the entire barriered area to hopefully drop the PH down to those levels since PH here is slightly alkaline.

I plan on waiting a few days for them to get comfortable in their new home and then start adding some organic fertilizers such as milorganite or any other organic pelleted fertilizers which should not be harmful. I'll probably get some blueberry specific fertilizers once they get a little bigger.

sandy0225 · 08-26-2010, 05:58 PM

My friend in the master gardeners grows blueberries here and I have some potted ones for sale. I'm just growing them like he told me to. He told me the easy way to grow them here. I don't change the ph of the soil at all, I just add ironite whenever the new growth lightens up a little, indicating that they need iron.Mulch under them real well with mulch after you plant them and grow them fairly moist.
I've even picked a few berries off my potted plants I just got in this spring. We have Blueray, bluecrop and tophat dwarf. Northern types.

Richard · 08-26-2010, 06:31 PM

Note that before Ironite was bought out a decade ago, the formula was 12% Iron. Now the package sold out here has a scant 1.5%. What does yours say?

NANAMAN · 08-26-2010, 08:12 PM

If the plants are started with mycorrhiza, and fertilized organically, they will be able to use the available iron much more efficiently.

05-30-2010, 10:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
djmb74 djmb74's Photo Gallery Location: Longwood. Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Martin Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 631 BananaBucks : 240,977 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 334 Times Was Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times	Got my blueberry bushes... Picked up my blueberry bushes on Friday. 26 plants in all and 3 Nanchez blackberry plants as well. Varieties I ended up getting were mostly Emerald and Jewel as well as 5 Windsor bushes. almost 5lbs of blueberries! __________________ PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

05-30-2010, 05:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,071,877 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,087 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Wow, that's awesome... congrats! Got blueberry recipes? __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

05-30-2010, 07:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
AmberNichole AmberNichole's Photo Gallery Location: Cape Coral, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Amber Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 523 BananaBucks : 73,657 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 227 Times Was Thanked 575 Times in 148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... holy crap thats a lot of blueberries! I have 2 bushes, but they dont produce anywhere near that amount! they are a souther verity.....Sharp and another one i think. __________________

05-30-2010, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
CoryS Novice Gardener CoryS's Photo Gallery Location: OK Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 727 BananaBucks : 76,989 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,362 Times Was Thanked 709 Times in 302 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 46 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Congratulations! They look incredible [and the blackberries don't look bad, either]. We have a small, potted blueberry bush but nothing like that. Thanks much for sharing the photos. Happy eating! __________________ Sunlight makes plants grow and people live. -Me

05-30-2010, 10:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 228,841 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Wow, that's Berrilicious Martin :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

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05-31-2010, 07:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,013 BananaBucks : 68,462 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 732 Times in 395 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Mine are just beginning to ripen--my main crop will come in between mid June and mid July. I expect to get around 80 pounds off my bushes this yr. I have 17 known varieties plus several unknown. I have been wanting to get an Emerald and Jewel. As for recipes, we eat them fresh every night once they come in--I put a spoonful of blueberry pie filling on top of about a 1/2 cup of fresh berries, a couple spoons of Grape Nuts, whipped cream and then top that with shaved dark chocolate. I freeze a bunch and then make blueberry wine in winter when it is cooler.

05-31-2010, 07:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,261 BananaBucks : 2,071,877 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,856 Times Was Thanked 5,087 Times in 1,353 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,086 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Just a reminder, we have a section for recipes (other than banana recipes): Other Recipes - Bananas.org This forum is for recipes for foods we make from our gardens, from plants aside from bananas. Preserves, pies, quiches, cakes, dried fruits, wines, beers, and other recipes from foods made from bounty from your garden belong in this forum. Share your most prized secret recipes for others to enjoy! __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

06-03-2010, 11:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
sbl sbl's Photo Gallery Location: Pensacola, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8/9 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,013 BananaBucks : 68,462 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 177 Times Was Thanked 732 Times in 395 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... There are about 35 bushes at my place over in AL, but they are various sizes. Most of the 17 named varieties are only about 3 to 4 ft tall, although a couple are over 6 ft. The majority of my bigger bushes are an unknown variety I got from my wife's dad--most of them are at least 6 ft an some over 8 ft and the limbs are starting to bend over--there are green berry clusters that will fill your hand--I can't wait until they get ripe!. I picked about a cup full off of my Becky Blue and a few berries off Premier and Climax just yesterday.

08-26-2010, 01:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
stevelau1911 stevelau1911's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 458 BananaBucks : 148,801 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 51 Times Was Thanked 561 Times in 258 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... How long does it usually take for blueberries to get to start making fruits? I just planted a lot of these guys. What kind of fertilizers will help them speed up their growth? I'm hoping for these guys to get big enough to make fruit the year after next year. I'll probably water them with willow tea just to get them well rooted for the rest of this year. Here's all of them. __________________ I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas. my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/ http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

08-26-2010, 09:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,342,150 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Oh how I love blueberries! Great shots, guys! Getting some shrubs next year that are everbearing and will produce all Summer and Fall long!!! : o

08-26-2010, 10:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
cherokee_greg Love those bananas cherokee_greg's Photo Gallery Location: Fresno,CA Find me on the map! Zone: zone 9 Name: Greg Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,357 BananaBucks : 303,025 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times Was Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,665 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... very nice. __________________ Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

08-26-2010, 12:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
stevelau1911 stevelau1911's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 458 BananaBucks : 148,801 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 51 Times Was Thanked 561 Times in 258 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... These are supposed to be a mixture of northern and southern highbush varieties and I plan on applying a layer of pine mulch once they get a bit taller. As far as winter protection, I don't think that should be an issue for the ones that are only hardy to zone 7 since this area is fairly well protected from the wind and snow tends to drift there and my larger blueberry bushes didn't get fazed by last winter at all. __________________ I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas. my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/ http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

08-26-2010, 05:33 PM	#17 (permalink)
stevelau1911 stevelau1911's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 458 BananaBucks : 148,801 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 51 Times Was Thanked 561 Times in 258 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Since that picture, I have added about 1 inch of pine bark pellets all around and a pretty strong dosage of sulfur through the entire barriered area to hopefully drop the PH down to those levels since PH here is slightly alkaline. I plan on waiting a few days for them to get comfortable in their new home and then start adding some organic fertilizers such as milorganite or any other organic pelleted fertilizers which should not be harmful. I'll probably get some blueberry specific fertilizers once they get a little bigger. __________________ I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas. my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/ http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

08-26-2010, 05:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 371,698 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... My friend in the master gardeners grows blueberries here and I have some potted ones for sale. I'm just growing them like he told me to. He told me the easy way to grow them here. I don't change the ph of the soil at all, I just add ironite whenever the new growth lightens up a little, indicating that they need iron.Mulch under them real well with mulch after you plant them and grow them fairly moist. I've even picked a few berries off my potted plants I just got in this spring. We have Blueray, bluecrop and tophat dwarf. Northern types. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

08-26-2010, 06:31 PM	#19 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 590,388 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... Note that before Ironite was bought out a decade ago, the formula was 12% Iron. Now the package sold out here has a scant 1.5%. What does yours say? __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

08-26-2010, 08:12 PM	#20 (permalink)
NANAMAN Pseudostem Therapist NANAMAN's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Park Fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Brian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,696 BananaBucks : 285,727 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 452 Times Was Thanked 1,118 Times in 320 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 16 Times	Re: Got my blueberry bushes... If the plants are started with mycorrhiza, and fertilized organically, they will be able to use the available iron much more efficiently. __________________

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