Growing Blueberries ?

[Guest guest]

Evening John,

 

>>Are these carefully cultivated blueberry plants?

 

Mine were carefully cultivated for a number of years. I studied

everything I could find, contacted several colleges, and visited a

Blueberry research center.

 

All of the experts said, " don't fertilize them the first year " . Being

the non-conformist that I am, I simply did not believe this.

 

So, using my grain scale, I formulated my own balanced rations and very

carefully applied this carefully weighted nutrition mix to each plant a few

times per year. All 450 of them.

 

After one years growth I harvested 1800 pints. My best harvest on this

plot was 10,000 pints.

 

The scientist from the research center visited my plot at two or three

years growth and stated they had never seen any plants that grew as much as

mine, anywhere, under any conditions.

 

So.... they told me wrong, just like all the information that has been

dumped on us by the food industry, the AMA, FED and medical

profession. According to the soil test, this was not an ideal plot for

blueberries. Later the head scientist from the State soil lab was in my

field munching out on huge blueberries. I reminded him that this was the

plot whereas his test said was not ideal for blueberries. I got a kick out

of that.

 

I planted this plot in 1980. ( about 2/3 acre ) One acre plants about

600 plants.

The rows are 12 feet wide and the plants are 6 feet apart in the row.

 

The varieties I am growing need cross pollination. So the way I

planted them you could stand most any place and touch 3 different

varieties. This is after they grew a few years.

 

My goal was to sell this fruit, which I did for a few years. I also

grew 7.5 to 9.0 tons of blackberries per year, plus 15 tons of other produce.

 

In recent years, I just give away all the blueberries. About 3 years

back I donated

650 gallons of blueberries to the local County Penal farm.

 

You can see why I have not had a " blueberry deficiency " since 1981. <grin>

 

If the variety you will grow there is the same type I grow, I can

answer most of your questions. This could save you many hours of study.

 

Wayne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm thinking seriously, of

>trying to grow blueberries in my back yard, in Los Angeles (hot, dry

>climate, not much rain).

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Wayne Fugitt wrote:

 

> In recent years, I just give away all the blueberries. About 3 years

> back I donated

> 650 gallons of blueberries to the local County Penal farm.

 

Well, I'm sure the prisoners love you, then! Which may or may not be a good

thing...

 

What state do you live in again?

 

Do blueberries grow in shade? I have a very shady backyard and am trying to

think

of things I could plant back there...

 

Mindy (Illinois)