Blueberry Bushes

About a year. The first year we had about two handfuls. So far every year after we’ll get some to put up.

I read somewhere that it is beneficial to the plants to have different varieties.
 
So about 2 days before you think they are ready to pick, birds will come eat them all, lol

Or like my uncle. Had about 8 nice full grown bushes. His daughter in law ask to pick some. He said it looked like a swarm of locust came thru.
 
get a few barn cats, those birds won't land but once ;)

Mine was chasing a field mouse that looked like the Notorious B.I.G. with fur this morning
 
We've got 2 bushes. 3rd year. they have been neglected. it shows... had 3 berries last year.
I've been trying to help them this year with extra acid/ coffee and grounds
 
Birds aren’t too bad around them. We have 3 bird feeders close by and they seem to focus on them more. :)
 
Have 13 bushes. Never seen them this loaded. Started picking yesterday. Could be a record year. Still have almost 10 gallons in the freezer.
 
My chickens ate my wife's blueberries.

:oops:
 
good news: the consistent wet weather will do that.
bad news: chiggers like that, too.
 
I have almost 200 plants and about 17 varieties. Mine are loaded but last week they were starting to look like raisins since they had not had rain in about a month. I started the drip irrigation but almost waited too late.

It is best to have 2 or 3 varieties to get cross pollination.

I have got to start pruning mine after the harvest this year as most are 8-10' tall and drooping over.
 
@beamernc ’s bushes are impressive for sure, he’s not exaggerating saying 8-10’ tall! My niece still talks about the time we picked blue berries (her fav berry).
 
I have a friend in High Point that sent me a recipe that's been in her family for over 150 years for Blueberry wine. She sent me a bottle for Christmas one year and now I know what "nectar of the Gods" means!
 
I have almost 200 plants and about 17 varieties. Mine are loaded but last week they were starting to look like raisins since they had not had rain in about a month. I started the drip irrigation but almost waited too late.

It is best to have 2 or 3 varieties to get cross pollination.

I have got to start pruning mine after the harvest this year as most are 8-10' tall and drooping over.

I planted 5 more this year for mom. Bout three weeks ago she was like “it’s hard to drag a hose to them” so I put my irrigation skills to work. Now she has drip irrigation, and a timer :rolleyes:
 
I have a friend in High Point that sent me a recipe that's been in her family for over 150 years for Blueberry wine. She sent me a bottle for Christmas one year and now I know what "nectar of the Gods" means!

Please share! :)
 
I planted 5 more this year for mom. Bout three weeks ago she was like “it’s hard to drag a hose to them” so I put my irrigation skills to work. Now she has drip irrigation, and a timer :rolleyes:

I need to do irrigation as well. We have a grapevine about 20 feet away and both would do well with the extra water. :)
 
I need to do irrigation as well. We have a grapevine about 20 feet away and both would do well with the extra water. :)
Drip irrigation is really easy. I can post some pics when I get home Sunday or maybe Randy can post some of his since he has way more plants
 
I buy most of my irrigation supplies from Berry Hill Irrigation. Joe Davidson is super helpful if you need advice.

https://www.berryhilldrip.com/AboutUs/

I ran several hundred feet of 1" PVC pipe from my well to the orchard and created a "riser" at the head of the field. (If you are doing irrigation make sure to install inline back flow preventers to prevent water back flowing and contaminating your water supply.)

This is my riser. It has a back flow preventer below grade, one at the well also, a shut off valve, faucet, sand trap filter, valve to divert water through the fertilizer injector which is on the back side. By closing the blue handle, and opening the valves on the injector, it creates a venturi and sucks liquid fertilizer out of a 5 gallon bucket via a tube with a filter on it. I can take the injector off in the winter so it does not freeze and break and drain the system by opening the faucet and sand filter. I also put a well house cover over it.

upload_2019-6-22_20-41-29.pngupload_2019-6-22_20-44-46.png

My 1" line then goes back under ground and branches out to 6 junction boxes with valves, to turn each row on and off individually, then comes out of the ground and attaches to the drip line on each row. Each row is 200' long. The drip line I'm using has emitters spaced every 24". I'm using the Netafim Dripnet PC heavy wall dripline.
upload_2019-6-22_20-47-15.png
 
Picked 2.5 gal yesterday. Almost 5 gal so far this year. Taste is down a little bit. Actually have berries splitting with too much water.
 
I buy most of my irrigation supplies from Berry Hill Irrigation. Joe Davidson is super helpful if you need advice.

https://www.berryhilldrip.com/AboutUs/

I ran several hundred feet of 1" PVC pipe from my well to the orchard and created a "riser" at the head of the field. (If you are doing irrigation make sure to install inline back flow preventers to prevent water back flowing and contaminating your water supply.)

This is my riser. It has a back flow preventer below grade, one at the well also, a shut off valve, faucet, sand trap filter, valve to divert water through the fertilizer injector which is on the back side. By closing the blue handle, and opening the valves on the injector, it creates a venturi and sucks liquid fertilizer out of a 5 gallon bucket via a tube with a filter on it. I can take the injector off in the winter so it does not freeze and break and drain the system by opening the faucet and sand filter. I also put a well house cover over it.

View attachment 133805View attachment 133806

My 1" line then goes back under ground and branches out to 6 junction boxes with valves, to turn each row on and off individually, then comes out of the ground and attaches to the drip line on each row. Each row is 200' long. The drip line I'm using has emitters spaced every 24". I'm using the Netafim Dripnet PC heavy wall dripline.
View attachment 133807
Helluva set up Randy. Mine ain’t nowhere at all even close to that lol. I just took some drip line and ran it around the bottom of each plant and put a 1GPH emitter at the base of each plant and put a female end on the drip line to hook a hose to it
 
Helluva set up Randy. Mine ain’t nowhere at all even close to that lol. I just took some drip line and ran it around the bottom of each plant and put a 1GPH emitter at the base of each plant and put a female end on the drip line to hook a hose to it

That is an awesome setup! I probably need something along the lines of what you have Burt... I have a very small need for water.
 
That is an awesome setup! I probably need something along the lines of what you have Burt... I have a very small need for water.
Lowes will have everything you need for about $25. I’ll find some links and post them here
 
That is an awesome setup! I probably need something along the lines of what you have Burt... I have a very small need for water.

1/2-in x 100-ft Polyethylene Drip Irrigation Distribution Tubing https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-x-100-ft-Polyethylene-Drip-Irrigation-Distribution-Tubing/1039209

1/2-in Polypropylene Drip Irrigation Female Adapter https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-Polypropylene-Drip-Irrigation-Female-Adapter/1194011

1/2-in Polypropylene Drip Irrigation End Cap https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-Polypropylene-Drip-Irrigation-End-Cap/3134171

15-Pack 1 GPH Drip-Spray Drip Irrigation Dripper https://www.lowes.com/pd/15-Pack-1-GPH-Drip-Spray-Drip-Irrigation-Dripper/1115083


This will get you everything you need to get started to watering just a few plants. You can always go bigger or smaller. You can add a timer to a faucet to water automatically or just cut the water on and off manually when you’re messing around in the yard

ETA : just weave your hose along the bottom of the plants and pop a gallon per hour dripper at the base of every plant. It’s really easy
 
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1/2-in x 100-ft Polyethylene Drip Irrigation Distribution Tubing https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-x-100-ft-Polyethylene-Drip-Irrigation-Distribution-Tubing/1039209

1/2-in Polypropylene Drip Irrigation Female Adapter https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-Polypropylene-Drip-Irrigation-Female-Adapter/1194011

1/2-in Polypropylene Drip Irrigation End Cap https://www.lowes.com/pd/1/2-in-Polypropylene-Drip-Irrigation-End-Cap/3134171

15-Pack 1 GPH Drip-Spray Drip Irrigation Dripper https://www.lowes.com/pd/15-Pack-1-GPH-Drip-Spray-Drip-Irrigation-Dripper/1115083


This will get you everything you need to get started to watering just a few plants. You can always go bigger or smaller. You can add a timer to a faucet to water automatically or just cut the water on and off manually when you’re messing around in the yard

ETA : just weave your hose along the bottom of the plants and pop a gallon per hour dripper at the base of every plant. It’s really easy


Thank you very much, Sir! This is great... off to Lowes soon! :)
 
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