This year we have ordered another 750 blueberries, 350 blackberries and 40 raspberries! The beds have already been tilled last fall and allowed to sit fallow over winter. Now it is time to add the soil amendments to prepare the proper bed for the blueberries.
 Blueberries require a low ph of 4.5 to 5.5. We plant rabbit eye varieties which are a little more forgiving but we still like to get the ph in this range. To do so, these are the steps we have taken. The first step is to add our custom soil mix from Dirt Craft Organics. Next we add Sulphur pellets and pine sawdust or double ground pine fines; either work great. Once the soil is mixed well, we use a potato hiller and prepare a raised bed to plant the berries above ground grade. This allows the roots to get the water they need plus keep them high enough not to keep their feet too wet, preventing root rot.  Once the berries arrived we set the plants in the ground every three feet in our 200’ rows. This is where family and friends come in! We all work together setting out the potted plants and begin setting them in the ground. The soil is very mellow at this point and it is easy to open a hole and seat the plants in the holes. Once the plants have been planted, we come back and mulch them in with pine bark, pine chips or what is available that is acid based.This spring we will have berries from the original 150 plants to pick this year!! However, the newly planted berries will require us to remove all the blossoms so they don’t produce any fruit this year. This will allow all the energy to put new growth into the plant so the bushes will be bigger to make fruit next year. Below is what we are hoping for. We are excited to share with you along our journey! Come visit us starting the middle of May to Middle of July for Blueberries and then black berries from July through August. Raspberries will be August – September. |