Gardening With Brenda

PROFESSIONAL HELP: Tips from local leaders in their industry Brenda Powell • GARDENING

Berry Good

By Brenda Powell

BLUEBERRIES ARE DELICIOUS, NUTRITIOUS, AND A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE PLANT BOASTING RED

FALL FOLIAGE. They’re easy to grow and long-lived, and you can harvest a small crop the year after planting. I love them on yogurt and cereal for breakfast, and so many baked goods are enhanced by adding fresh berries. Also, they freeze well and are excellent in smoothies. My husband and I defrost the frozen berries in the microwave to use in the winter months instead of buying fresh from the grocery store. Blueberries are one of the few fruiting plants more readily available at nurseries for fall planting, an ideal time to do so.

Although easy to grow, blueberries do have specific requirements to grow well. They require a sunny location with no competition from tree roots. Plant them in well-drained soil with a high organic matter content and a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5. I use G&B Acid planting mix in the ground when I plant. Our soils tend to be slightly acidic (mine was a 6), and by using organic fertilizer for acid-loving plants (I like Espoma Holly-tone) I didn’t need to add anything else to get them to grow. It is a good idea to test your soil pH. Test kits or meters are available and not too tricky to use. To plant, remove the plant from the pot and loosen the roots by scoring the sides and bottom of the root ball. Spread roots as broad and shallow as the root ball will allow. Make sure the plant crown is one inch higher than the soil level. A mulch of 2-3” depth should be applied throughout the planting. Sawdust or bark mulch (except cedar, redwood, or black walnut) or the acid-planting mix may be used.

Prune 30-40% of the bush the first year, removing older, twiggy growth that is not upright. Also, remove the flowers the first year. This allows the plant to establish and put energy into growth. Harvest begins in year two, increasing yield until year seven, and continues for up to 50 years. Not only do humans love blueberries, but so do deer and birds. A fenced growing area works best to keep deer at bay. Birds are trickier. A small mesh netting or structure with a netting cover works best to keep birds out. OSU Extension has a great guide online entitled Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden, which includes more details on planting, pruning, and pest control. For best production, plant two different cultivars to provide cross-pollination. If you have space, choose cultivars that bear at different times to increase the length of fresh harvest. The following are the most popular varieties we sell at Garland Nursery;

BLUE CROP: mid-season with good flavor and a medium-sized berry.

CHANDLER: long bearing, mid to lateseason with a delicious flavor and huge berries.

LEGACY: mid to late-season, very productive. The fruit is large with very good flavor.

SPARTAN: early season with a deliciously tangy, sweet flavor. Large berry.

JERSEY: late season with good flavor. The fruit is small-medium, but the plant is very productive.

www.GarlandNursery.com

Brenda

Brenda Powell is a fourth generation owner of Garland Nursery in Corvallis.

Follow her writing at garlandnursery.wordpress.com