We are looking at ways to improve our homestead and bring in some cash (aren't we all!). Has anyone grown blueberries in a zone 4/5? We have hot summer and coold winter. Any advice?

-- Margie B (bromens@navix.net), January 20, 2001

Answers

Stark Bro's has blueberries that can be grown with great success in zone 5. We have 3 bushes in the fence row planted 2 years ago by my dad. They are doing fine, had a few berries last year, and we expect more. I live in SE Kansas.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 21, 2001.

To Margie B: I had a friend write you back privately about growing blueberries, but the email wouldn't go through. I also tried to send his comments to the address given, but had the same experience. Here is his response to your question:

I am in zone 5/6 (NE Ohio) and have had excellent success with the plants as far as survival. Harvesting is a different story, as birds, raccoons, deer, and groundhogs all will compete with you for the crop. My 200 plants have grown big enough to produce about a half pint per plant which is not yet enough to undertake the enormous task of netting them to keep the critters out, consequently I get less than a quart for myself TOTAL!!

My suggestions:

Buy plants in 100 quantity (to get good price)

I buy from Hartmanns in Michigan 616-253-4281

Plant very close (to reduce maintenance and space requirements)

Protect from rabbits with tree tubes or tree raps

Dig every other one or more once they start getting larger and sell as an ornamental landscape (actually may make more money for you than the berries if you can handle the heavy labor)

Grow with strict organic practices so you can command a premium price and either sell to specialty market or sell roadside.

Even after all this, don't expect to make a lot unless you put a lot into it. I have a neighbor with about 100 mature bushes, and she probably ends up with less than 200 pints/year. She sells roadside at $3 per pint, fresh, organic. Could probably sell just as many at $4 but you're still looking at only $800.

Unless you really love farming and want fresh berries for yourself, I suggest you lower your standard of living and live happily with less money!!

Tom

-- Joanne Schaefer (JoOhio1@aol.com), January 22, 2001.

We started a blueberry u-pick in S.E. OK., I bought Southern varities, Ozark Blue, and Blue something or another, my husband handles the purchasing. Anyway, you need irrigation in the south. Ours will be in this year and I hope to even open this year. All plants are duing wonderful. But... I watered hours and hours and hours, plus we have a natural low PH soil, so they do fine, I also water off a well that has sulfur in which helps to lowered the PH again. I also much with pine shavings. We have also started a Christmas Tree Farm.(all the pine shavings I want). I wonder though, if the people will come for the u-pick. I use to live up North and culturally people liked u-picks, most people stare at me like I am nuts, here. Maybe it is Oklahoma only. We raise both sheep & cattle, cattle of course you can take to the auction house easily but the sheep, well not many people eat lamb in this state also. Good Luck with the blueberries.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), January 24, 2001.

P.S. Our blueberries are now in their 3rd year. It seem to look like we just planted from the post above. We bought 2 year old plants from Oregan, disease resistant type. So the plants are 5 years old now. We also had our soil tested for other diseases potential harmful to blueberries. Had a pretty good crop last year, not for selling but enough for farmers market, canning jams & syrups for 100 years and plenty of eating for the whole family and friends. I will try to open this year as a u-pick. I am told the best years will be the next 2 years. We are going to plant another 100 this coming fall and if things work out our goal is for a good 3 acrea area with just blueberries. This is our test year to see if theres any interest in blueberries. Debbie

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), January 24, 2001.

Debbie-

I bet a sample of some nice, hot blueberry pie would round up some business!

-- Rick K (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 24, 2001.

I just moved to the Big Island of Hawaii and I came up with the crazy notion of growing blueberries, maybe other berries as well. The trouble is I don't know squat about farming or growing anything. My daughter was given a couple of dozen mature blueberry plants that someone wanted to get rid of and they produce marvelously. I don't know how much they yield, just that she lays up a lot of jams and such and my grand-daughter stuffs her face like there's no tomorrow. Seems like the weather here would give me a year-round growing season. Should I have my head examined? Anyone know where I can get mature plants. Thx for your feedback.

-- Stan Politi (stan@politi.to), March 07, 2001.

They grow well in Zone 5. I had some at my last place. you need to protect them from the deer and birds--they love them too!

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), March 07, 2001.

We live in N. Central Ohio. We have five varities but only 10 plants. Although we live in a rural area critters aren't a problem. We've raised raspberries for years and the birds never bother them. When we did see birds in the raspberries we discovered they were eating Jap beetles. We planted the blueberry bushes close to the house because they really are attractive in the summer and fall. Family friends used to raise blueberries when I was a kid. English sparrows were notorious for eating the fruit so the folks constructed a large framework with netting. It worked, but what a hassle! We have birds but no Eng. sparrows. The native songbirds keep them away. At a U-pick near Mohican State Forrest I have never seen a single bird, or bird damage to berries, in 10 years. We also have a cat patrol. They seem to kill an occasional blackbird or robin. Maybe this helps deter the birds who really prefer mullberries over cherries and blueberries. Hope this helps. Mark

-- mark solars (masolars@ashland-city.k12.oh.us), April 11, 2001.