MAY Blueberry Care

BLUEBERRY CARE

PRUNED, FERTILIZED, MULCHED AND FORTIFIED AGAINST BIRDS!!!

1)FERTILIZATION #2   

It's now time for the second round of fertilization.  This food will help the BERRIES to grow nicely.  Fertilize with Amonium Sulphate : (NH4)2 SO4  Sprinkle around the perimeter of the roots, not the top.  This is the area just beyond the spreading branches.  Use 1 cup for large bushes and about 3/4 cups for medium bushes.  Use less for newer, smaller bushes.

2)PLUCK OFF THE BLOSSOMS if this is the first season of planting.   

I know, it's tough after excitingly watching the flowers bloom out  BUT you should pull off all the flowers, or snip off the little blueberries that have formed if you missed the flower stage.  It will be worthwhile in the long run because this helps to establish a strong root system....I feel your pain!

3)BIRD NETTING 

Be sure to secure the bottom 
because this is where the ROBINS enter!

This is the time to begin thinking about protecting your ripening berries from the birds, unless you are using your bushes to attract birds to your property.  The easiest method is to toss bird or deer netting over your bushes.  My  family tired of lifting, untangling the netting so they created an enclosure last year.  We put it up this weekend...and I'm trying to secure the bottom better after many birds still managed to get inside!
Story Time- As we completed the netted enclosure this past weekend, several birds immediately tried to enter the "fortress".  The next day as the plastic bottom sheets were being placed there was a pair of blue colored birds taking "tag team" turns  at being flying missiles at the netting hoping to break and penetrate the "fortress".   I wish I had my video camera handy!
 I guess I should be flattered that the birds must agree that my blueberries are supreme treasures!  :-)

***My friend still has netting for sale (3 cents/square foot).  It's 16 feet long which is lots longer than you can buy in a store and a square will protect a medium- large bush completely to the ground.

4)MULCHING  

There is still time to mulch your plants.  Mulching helps to keep the moisture in.  LOTS of moisture = bigger, plumper berries! Don't use leaves or egg shells or other high PH mulch since blueberries like acidic soil around 4.09-5.0. (This range is more acidic than other fruit plants.)
 I use tree chips, pine needles and other acid organic matter.
 
5)RELAX, dream about your wonderful harvest and all the yummy ways to enjoy your berries.
Your next care update should be in about a month...

Anne
PS  You can e-mail me if you have any questions about your blueberry plant care.

Foraging and learning to "live off the land"...

Dr. John Kallas is a botanical expert & author on foraging.

It's been over 5 months since my last post!  My past year has been busy opening and then closing my new business, ForeveRemembered.  Quite a learning experience.

Blueberry care...Pruning should be done by mid-Jan through Feb. but don't despair if you did not have time.  You can still prune your bushes...but it will be more painful for you to clip off the budding flowers..(For more info caring for your bushes, type "blueberry care" or "blueberry" in the "Search This Blog" feature on the upper right area.

Foraging and harvesting native North West "weeds" for food and medicinal purposes has been an interest.  This was piqued as I followed the national & local health care system trends, debates and now laws.  I believe that people need to learn what native plants are available for health use.  With food prices soaring 30%, I also think it's prudent to learn about roadside and backyard edibles.

Enter...John Kallas, Ph.D. of  Wild Food Adventures. 

Dr. Kallas is based in Portland and his new workshop list is out. I attended his Sea Vegetable of the Pacific Coast workshop. What I appreciated MOST about Dr. Kallas is his broad knowledge and humility.  He will NOT share any information that is questionably unsafe, which is why he does not teach the medicinal properties of plants.  He will honestly tell you if he does NOT know the answer rather than guessing and creating one.

The  new 2013 schedule is now available.

 APRIL includes several lectures, seminars and "hands on" workshops in Seattle.

Wild Food Adventure Events in Seattle  ----

Check Wild Food Adventures workshops for details. Most workshops are between $25-50.
 Families with children are welcomed.

   

Seattle - Wild Foods Presentation	April 18	Seattle
Wild Foods in Wilderness Survival	April 20	Seattle
Wild Foods of the Pacific Northwest	April 20	Woodinville, WA
Wild Foods of the Pacific Northwest	April 21	Woodinville, WA
Wild Foods of Native Americans	April 21	Seattle

 

Happy foraging!
Anne

Falling with Pumpkins!

I recently returned from a Vista Missions outreach in Mazatlan.  More than 700 used donated eyeglasses were fitted and distributed to the local people.

The sunny days of my departure are now crisp and rainy.  A few blueberries still cling to the bushes. In my absence the deer have  adopted our yard as their new play ground!  Fall's splendor has peaked but a handful of trees still boast their amazing dress of reds, golds, yellow and orange.

Fall's Splendor

PUMPKINS!  PUMPKINS! PUMPKINS.......... and more PUMPKINS!

Sugar Pumpkins are Best for pies.

Various squashes and pumpkins

What a dilemma...should I bake pumpkins for pies, dump cakes, muffins, pancakes, scones, soup, egg nog???  or just enjoy it plain?  Hmmm....maybe I should do a recipe a day!


Search my archives for past recipes, photos and videos!

Anne

Blueberries are ripe!

My blueberries are getting ripe and are ready for sale!!!  

With the birdnetting keeping MOST of the robins out, I actually have enough berries to sell this year!  So if you want 5# or less of the freshest hand-picked, pesticide  free berries in Renton, WA email or call me.  

When they are gone, they are gone!

My early blueberries.

The "little" tasty blueberries should be ripe in 1-2 weeks depending on the weather.

2012 Prices - $3 per pound.  Tax free because it's produce.
These are hand picked by me. Yes, my hands are clean when I pick your berries!
 I am not a U-Pick because I don't have that many bushes and can't afford to waste knocked off berries.  This also allows me to pick you the ripest berries from the clumps.

Here is a fun photo of the 2 deer who think our "wild wilderness area" in the back corner is their own private refuge!!!!  It's ok since they aren't eating my blueberry plants this year!!!

Taken with my cell phone while I was picking berries.  They are above the blue tarp in front of the 2 maple tree trunks.

Birds love Blueberries

Life with engineers can be nasty for birds. 

Thank you to all you engineers for protecting those little berries from nasty birds.

Anti-Bird netting....

Blueberry Care

It looks and feels like Spring is finally here!

Yesterday my dear hubby asked me if it was time to "do" the blueberry plants... I answered..."Thank you!  I'll go out and look at the bushes!" I had completely  forgotten about blueberry care since mulching and pruning the area 2 months ago....

If you need the specifics look for April 4, 2011 blog.  
Use the "Search this Blog feature" or "archives 2011" on the right side of the blog. 

I think Spring took me by surprise this year....We had all that late March snow, I had my knee surgery and recuperation and then the Southern California trip...that tripped off my asthma.
Suddenly, the daffodils, tulips, flowering currents with the hummingbirds and DANDYLIONS are all out!!!  My rhubarb is huge!!!   When did all of that growing happen????

On Saturday I went to Fred Meyers  fuschia days.  I thought that I would check it out...it was wild!  I went half an hour before they opened and learned the ropes from the old timers.   We had to buy our plants, get in line to put potting soil in our pots ( I brought my own planters) then tell the FM employee how I wanted the pots to  be planted.  I was out in an hour but the lines were long when  I left. I ended up with 10 pots for $30...not bad!  If my plants survive, I may do this again....

Back to the blueberry care...  YES!  When I went out to check out the bushes the buds were just at the stage for mummy berry prevention.  I also did the first of 3 fertilizations.  This winter I put my fireplace ashes around the berries so they should be acid happy for awhile. I look forward to good crops for the next  couple of years. 

Time to go out in the sunny orchard!  Enjoy your Springtime gardening!
Anne

Happy 2012!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
I realized that I've not written since October so here is "catch-up"...

I have enjoyed time with my college kiddos being home.  It was good being together.

I'd like to share a video of the Man Ham.  My daughter and I voted that the guys make our Christmas dinner...and it was certainly a man meal...Man Ham, potato salad...  The Man Ham was delicious!

Also want to let you know that the deadline to order native NW plants through King Conservative District 21st Annual Native Bare Root Plant Sale is coming up.  January 27th is the pre-order deadline for the MARCH 2-3 pick up in Renton.

Picking up my Evergreen Huckleberry starts Spring 2011.

Photo memories...Since parts of Seattle had snow today and we didn't... I decided to post a  2011 snow winter photo of our blueberries.

Lastly, I'm in the process of launching a new floral business in February.  Stay tuned for more information on that!

May your 2012 be a year of growth, peace, patience and joy!
Anne
photo disclaimer: Ok, it snowed today, Sunday, lots...so this is what our plants really look like now!  gotta go and build a mini snowman...oops, I guess the snowman is copyrighted...hmmm, maybe a mini frozen water vapor man.