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Growing Highbush BlueberriesGrowing Highbush Blueberries
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Site SelectionSite SelectionWell-drained, sandy soil with high organic matter
Good light exposureProtected from wind
Gentle slope, good elevationSource of water nearby
Soil pH: 4.8 to 5.2 sulfur, limeEliminate all perennial weeds
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Blueberry PlantsBlueberry PlantsSame family as rhododendrons
grow in acid, peat soilsdont like heavy, clay soil
Shallow, fibrous rootsWoody canes
Fruit on one-year-old shootsDeciduous
Long-lived (50+ years)
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Blueberry VarietiesBlueberry VarietiesSelect only very hardy types
Patriot
Northland
Bluecrop
BluerayJersey
Nelson
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HalfHalf--High BlueberriesHigh BlueberriesHighbush x Lowbush crosses
-Short stature for better winter survival
St. Cloud (48)Northblue (30)
Friendship (24)
North Country (24)
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Blueberry PollinationBlueberry PollinationBlueberries require cross-pollination
Need at least 2 varieties
Encourage bee activityespecially bumblebees
No insecticides during bloom
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Planting BlueberriesPlanting Blueberries
Early spring
Dormant 1-2 year old plants
Dig large planting hole
Backfill
1:1 soil:organic mattercompost, peat, etc.
no fertilizer
Same depth as in nursery
Water in thoroughly
Prune? -very lightly, if at all
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Blueberry PlantingBlueberry PlantingSpacing
4 - 6 w/in rows
2 - 4 for half-highs
8 - 12 between rows
650-800 plants/acre
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Blueberry EstablishmentBlueberry EstablishmentFirst Season Care
Clean Cultivation
Water (trickle system)Remove flower clusters
Fertilize - very lightly~2 oz. after 3-4 weeks
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Blueberry EstablishmentBlueberry EstablishmentFirst / Second Season Care
Mulchw/in rows, 4-8 deepwood chips, bark
Establish ground coverbetween rows
weak perennial grasshard fescue, bluegrass
Weed control
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Fertilizing BlueberriesFertilizing Blueberries
Use acid-loving fertilizer roughly 10-10-10 equivalent
New plants: 2 oz. per plant
3-4 weeks after planting
1-6 year old plants:increase rate by 2 oz. per year
6 years and older:
12 oz. per plant1/2 at bud break, 1/2 six weeks later
Apply in a ring 15 from base of plants
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Fertilizing BlueberriesFertilizing Blueberries
Typical Nitrogen Application Rates/acre
145310658
120260557
100215456
80170355
601302744595203
3575152UreaAmm.Sul.Actual NAge
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Years 1 to 3:
Remove broken branches& weak growth
Remove most flowers
Years 4 and on:
Prune to 6 to 12 canes,1 -6 years old
Thin out weak fruiting
shoots
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Step 1.Remove 1 to 4 of the oldest
canes (over 6 years old)Thin new canes, leaving 1 to4 of the most vigorous toreplace the old canes
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Step 2.
Remove weak one year
shoots -thin, less than
6 long, few buds
Remove winter injured
shoots -chocolate brown
color
Weak shoots
Strong shoots
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Strong shoot
Weak shootCane
Flower bud
Vegetative (shoot) bud
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Before After
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Pruning BlueberriesPruning Blueberries
Renovating neglected bushes
Cut all canes to the ground= 3-4 years to re-establish
Or
Remove 1/4 - 1/3 of oldest
canes every year for 3-4 years
= no loss of production
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Harvesting BlueberriesHarvesting Blueberries
Starts late July to mid August,may go until frost in fall
Harvest when fruit has been
completelyblue for 1 to 3 days
Harvest fruit when cool and
dry, refrigerate immediately
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Handling Blueberry FruitHandling Blueberry FruitHarvest hand or mechanical
Pick fruit cool & dry
Use shallow containers
Cool immediately
Store fresh fruit at 32F
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Marketing BlueberriesMarketing BlueberriesPick-Your-Own
Timing, labor and price issues
Pre-Picked
Labor, labor and labor issues
Retail
Demand?; price resistance?
WholesaleDemand?
Storage & transportation
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry Problems
Winter InjuryCold, fluctuating temps.
Brown, desiccated shoots
Select very hardy varieties
Plant in protected site Establish windbreaks
Injured shoots
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsBirds
Netting (best method)Apply over structure
Anchor edges
Deterrents
Scare-eyes, owls, etc.
Set up as fruit ripens
Move 2 to 3 times daily
Take down after harvest
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsFungi: Mummy Berry Shoot Blight
Overwinters in mummifiedfruit
Mushrooms form in spring,shoot spores onto shoots
Shoot Blight Phase
White ooze = spores, infectflowers, leading to fruit rot,mummies
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsFungi: Mummy Berry
Fruit rot mummiesRemove mummies as theyappear
Rake up mummies fromground in fall or spring, orcultivate then into the soil
Fungicides can be appliedfrom bud break to flowerbud stages
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsFungi: Witches Broom
Alternate host = Balsam FirCant spread from blueberryto blueberry
Spores travel great distance
Remove entire canes that
have broomsIf brooms come from base ofplant (no new canes), remove
plant.
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsInsect: Blueberry Maggot
Adult: Fruit fly, lays eggs infruit during ripening
Larvae: Maggot, feeds insidefruit, causing shriveling
Traps: Sticky yellow boards
or red spheres, one per bushInsecticides: apply just priorto start of ripening
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Blueberry ProblemsBlueberry ProblemsInsect: Japanese Beetle
Symptoms:Skeletonizing of leaves
Management:Hand-pick beetles
InsecticidesTraps
generally not effective
place at least 50 from plants
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Blueberries: Bottom LineBlueberries: Bottom LineEstablishment Costs (years 1-2)
$4000 - $6000
Prep, plants, irrigation, labor, etc.Maintenance Costs (years 4 +)
$6000 - $7000
mostly labor
Net returns (above costs)
$2000 - $6000Dependent upon:
Yield (4,000-8,000 lbs./acre)
Price ($1.00 $2.00/lb.)
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http://www.umext.maine.edu/pubs/fruitpubs.htm
Highbush Blueberry InformationHighbush Blueberry Information
David T. Handley
Vegetable & Small Fruit Specialist3/06
http://www.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/
Highbush Blueberry Production Guide NRAES 55
http://www.nraes.org/
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