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BLueberry picking in our patch is On! Picking amd grinnin..

Discussion in 'Sports, Hobbies & Interests' started by Patriot, Jun 12, 2017.

  1. Jun 12, 2017 at 3:27 AM
    #1
    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    Another hobby of ours is growing blueberries...
    Saturday morning was our first early berry pick of the season in our patch here at our home.
    We did ok for the first run with 2 gallons. Our total last season was 37 gallons. I don't think we will hit that number this year due to an early freeze. We freeze them and eat them all year. We installed a drip irrigation system this year to keep them watered on a timer. Just a small patch of 40 bushes.

    image.jpg
     
  2. Jun 12, 2017 at 3:42 AM
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    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    Nice! One of my favorite fruits.
     
  3. Jun 12, 2017 at 4:47 AM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    Steve,
    Blueberries like their root ball planted 1" high, and like pine mulch around their base, and only pine mulch, not hardwood mulch. They do best in full sun 6-7 hrs at least. They like water but not wet or damp areas and really thrive on a gentle slope in my experience. I reccomend buying 3 gallon size bushes to start, plant them in the fall or early spring, depending where you live. Anything smaller and you may wait a few years for berries. They like a low PH in the soil, no lime, a PH of around 5.5-5.7 is good.
    I water mine with a drip system daily. Two one gal emitters per bush for 2 hrs per day especially when berries are starting to grow. They have to have water, so plant where you can run a hose from your home. You have to net them from the birds and deer. You can buy netting at lowes in 100'L X 7'W lengths, like $12.
    You must plant a few different varieties for cross pollination. Check with the local Extension Agent area you are going to mode too. He can test your soil and tell you if they will thrive or if anyone else is growing berries in you area. Very little fertilizer is required, infact I use none. Blueberries don't like a lot of fertilizer or additives. Just sunshine, plants high, mulched and watered.
    Hope this helps!
     
  4. Jun 12, 2017 at 5:08 AM
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    Law323

    Law323 it’s only weird if you make it weird

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    That looks delicious!

    self grown berries taste the best!

    we have some wild berries that grow around where I lived in Gonzales. Used to pick them all the time! It was natural growth, none of us planted it but reaped the benefits, nonetheless! LOL
     
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  5. Jun 12, 2017 at 10:09 AM
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    SOB

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    Man, that's a nice harvest! I have 4 blueberry plants and 3 of them have been coming on pretty good last year and this year. The 4th I had to replant and is a couple years behind. I was late to net mine in this year and the birds got a good chunk of them so far. Typically my wife and kids eat them all out in the garden. Since I'm not a blueberry (or fruit) fan I don't mind. At least they aren't going to the damn birds!

    My parents have a huge cherry tree and I just picked a 5gal bucket of cherries yesterday. We freeze those as well as a ton of strawberries and raspberries that we pick. Whatever doesn't get used up I make a mixed berry wine out of it.
     
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  6. Jun 12, 2017 at 1:56 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    You bet!
     
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  7. Jun 12, 2017 at 3:02 PM
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    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Wish I was your neighbor. I eat a cup of BB daily with breakfast.
     
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  8. Jun 12, 2017 at 3:25 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    My wife makes blueberry smoothies for breakfast or whenever.. it's a super jolt of antioxidants.:thumbsup:

    image.jpg
     
  9. Jun 17, 2017 at 2:09 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    My wife and I picked 9 more gallons this morning. This was a record pick for is on one morning.
    Not as many berries as last season, but we are happy with the results. We use no chemicals and only net them to keep deer and birds away. In to the dep freeze they go!
    Berrie size..
    image.jpg
    This mornings haul..
    image.jpg
    Prepared for and into the freezer.
    image.jpg

    image.jpg
     
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  10. Jun 19, 2017 at 4:21 AM
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    SOB

    SOB Big Member

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    I better not show this to my wife or else I'd be planting my entire back yard in blueberries!

    This is what we found works best for us when freezing our fruit harvests: after washing, lay them on a towel to dry. Then lay in a single layer on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Freeze in the open sheet, then bag. It's another step to the process but we found when frozen in a bag they all freeze together. We then put them in gallon bags and can pull out as many or as few as you want - Not one big chunk. Maybe it's the fruit we're using (raspberries, strawberries) as they are more moist on the outside??
     
  11. Jun 19, 2017 at 4:49 AM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    In the 10 yrs farming we never wash our blueberries, no need, we don't use any chemicals. We net them for deer and birds that's all. We lay a paper towel in our picking buckets which absorbs any excess moisture. Dump the berries in quart freezer bags and they roll out like individual marbles.
    We froze 37 gallons last season this way, never a clump issue. :thumbsup:
    I am very blessed, my wife and I both like farming blueberries!

    Cheers!

    Super Jolt of pure antioxidants!
    image.jpg
     
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  12. Jun 19, 2017 at 9:39 AM
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    SOB

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    We don't use chemicals either (other than a little 12-12-12 fert in spring). We wash for bugs and debris. I'm really thinking it's the fruit that keeps them from clumping - blueberries have that nice firm outside where cherries (after pitting), rasp and strawberries do not. The few blueberry bushes that we have - none of the berries make it to the freezer. Hell, they barely make it to the house most the time!

    For me, I don't really eat any fruit. It's just too sweet for me. I love growing it and maintaining it for the enjoyment others in my family get when eating them. My 4yr old loves snack time in the spring/summer when it consists of berries, peas, carrots, etc right out of the garden. That brings a smile to my face too :)
     
  13. Jun 19, 2017 at 1:54 PM
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    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    Nice harvest @Patriot! When is the blueberry jam group buy? :D
    LOL
     
  14. Jun 19, 2017 at 2:00 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    Seriously?

    image.jpg
     
  15. Jun 19, 2017 at 2:06 PM
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    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    :pout:
    LMAO
     
  16. Jun 19, 2017 at 2:28 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    No fertilizer here or lime ever, just pine bark mulch which does a great job of holding the low acidic PH level that Blueberries thrive in. Water on blueberries before can and will usually result in clumping during in the freezer, honestly has nothing to do with the berry skin. We have never had any insect issues at all. Good luck with your bushes!
     
  17. Jun 19, 2017 at 2:41 PM
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    Patriot

    Patriot [OP] Member

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    Jose,
    I honestly don't have the time to make jam, package it, sell it and ship it. Too labor intensive and the profit margin is super narrow for a small 40 bush patch that we grow. In other words you can buy jam locally cheaper than I could sell and ship it, I promise you this.

    The berry yield over the last 9 years we have grown our bushes has long paid for them. As blueberries are fairly expensive in the grocery store. So now, only rain water, sunshine, drip irrigation and our labor is what account for now. Some of the bushes are 7' high and 4' round or in girth. They are going to get cut back this winter, pruning is essential for new growth.

    So bro...I will have to leave the "jam session"to the super farms that mass grow blueberries. :sorry:
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2017
  18. Jun 19, 2017 at 3:29 PM
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    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    All good Dave. I have no right to ask anything from anyone. Just messing around and having some fun; that's all. But even if I was serious, it would just be a testament of how good those berries look because of the awesome job you did with 'em :thumbsup:
     
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  19. Jun 19, 2017 at 3:31 PM
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    Patriot

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    Cut it out...I am getting misty :rofl::rofl:
     
  20. Jun 19, 2017 at 3:34 PM
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    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    Get off my lawn!
     
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  21. Jun 19, 2017 at 4:09 PM
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    lionix

    lionix The Grey Moose!

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    Remind me to get together with you next time I'm in Weaverville.
     
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