Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782072
02/24/20 10:19 PM
02/24/20 10:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308 MT
snowy
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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I also have wild berries and a year ago I fertilized and brought in some old manure and worked it in around the trees and bushes. That was in the fall and last year I had the worst crop of berries that I could remember. I decided not to touch them again and I actually will plant some bare root wild blue berry, Juneberry and Black currents this spring and will try to help them along so to keep the berries thriving on my place. These old berry plants are very old on my place and the ground is poor and they are on steep hill sides and very hard to get access to them. I do harvest a lot of berries through the years but as I get older in time I won't be picking berries where they are at. The new planted one I will be able to get to them easier. Good luck.
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782146
02/24/20 11:49 PM
02/24/20 11:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308 MT
snowy
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Joined: Dec 2011
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MT
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^ that is interesting. I never did any research when I tried to enhance my wild berry. I actually thought after I did all that fertilizing they were going to die off. They did survive and I'm hoping to see them do better this year.
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782165
02/25/20 12:08 AM
02/25/20 12:08 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
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Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Aluminum sulfate will acidify your soil if it is not acidic enough for the berries.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782252
02/25/20 06:39 AM
02/25/20 06:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779 Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,779
Northern lower Michigan
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In the spring mine stuck up through melting snow. I was doing rabbittat work. I came back the next day with a weed burner and burned some areas to get new young lush growth. I got that, and great wild blue berries as a bonus. The wild blackberries perked right up too. Safe, well timed burning is part of my habitat work now. Always early spring with some snow. Like about now. This is at my off grid hunting cabin. I can count on the ripe blue berries around 4th of July.
you're only allowed so many sunrises... I aim to see every one of them!
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: snowy]
#6782550
02/25/20 11:12 AM
02/25/20 11:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171 ny
upstateNY
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171
ny
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I also have wild berries and a year ago I fertilized and brought in some old manure and worked it in around the trees and bushes. That was in the fall and last year I had the worst crop of berries that I could remember. That's because you fertilized too late.Blueberries shot NOT be fertilized any time after the fourth of July.
the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782575
02/25/20 11:35 AM
02/25/20 11:35 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005 Oregon
beaverpeeler
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Oregon
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Barnyard manure tends to have too much sodium and nitrogen in the form of nitrate which blueberries aren't fond of. Commercial guys use ammonia sulfate as the ammoniacal form of nitrogen is what they can process the best and it also acidifies the soil. If you want to go the natural route fish fertilizer works well. This is only applied from early spring to late spring in multiple light dosages.
If you live in an area that already has a base pH below 6 I don't think you need to work at acidifying the soil. They'll be OK.
To root blueberries you need to take green cuttings in June when there is at least 6-10" of new growth. Small pieces (treated with rooting compound) 4-6" in peat with diffused light and misters set up, or some way to keep the humidity above 80%. Plus heating cables to keep that moist peat at 75-80F. If you're not adept at rooting things don't start with blueberries. They are not on the easy side of the scale.
Last edited by beaverpeeler; 02/25/20 11:41 AM.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6782580
02/25/20 11:45 AM
02/25/20 11:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171 ny
upstateNY
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ny
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I have a small patch of wild blueberries that have shown up in the last few years.
It's up on a rocky forested (oak and maple) hill.
What can I do for these to come in thicker and stronger? I use " Holly Tone "right after snow melt,,then once again in June.Works well for my blueberries.
the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: upstateNY]
#6783005
02/25/20 07:51 PM
02/25/20 07:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308 MT
snowy
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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I also have wild berries and a year ago I fertilized and brought in some old manure and worked it in around the trees and bushes. That was in the fall and last year I had the worst crop of berries that I could remember. That's because you fertilized too late.Blueberries shot NOT be fertilized any time after the fourth of July. Thanks I never know that would about kill them.
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: Pike River]
#6783021
02/25/20 08:21 PM
02/25/20 08:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005 Oregon
beaverpeeler
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,005
Oregon
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Keith, garden stores have kits for testing pH, but personally I would spend $35 and have a lab do a complete soil test. I'll bet you can get your pH in the proper zone with elemental sulfur. It's just a matter of how much. Keep in mind it needs to be incorporated into the soil and it will take months before it can adjust the pH. In other words you need to treat your ground at least a year ahead of planting. So i would be doing a soil test before, and one after taking measures to acidify.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Cultivating Wild Blueberries
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#6783049
02/25/20 08:48 PM
02/25/20 08:48 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540 Champaign County, Ohio.
KeithC
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
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Keith, garden stores have kits for testing pH, but personally I would spend $35 and have a lab do a complete soil test. I'll bet you can get your pH in the proper zone with elemental sulfur. It's just a matter of how much. Keep in mind it needs to be incorporated into the soil and it will take months before it can adjust the pH. In other words you need to treat your ground at least a year ahead of planting. So i would be doing a soil test before, and one after taking measures to acidify. Thanks Beaverpeeler. Keith
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