Grandpa's Blueberry Patch Collection
Vaccinium corymbosum
Grandpa didn't live in the blueberry area of Michigan, because he was an orchardist. Most orchards are on the higher, hillier ground. So I guess you could call Grandpa a "hillbilly"--- but only behind his back! Blueberries were an important crop that were concentrated in an area about 20 miles north of where Grandpa farmed. There they had lower, wetter ground that was more suitable for blueberries. Still, Grandpa loved blueberries and Grandma served them in many ways when they were in season.
Grandpa is proud to offer this collection of blueberry plants to start your own "Blueberry Patch". Our choice of varieties, but they will include early, mid-season and late ones, so that you can enjoy blueberries throughout the season like Grandpa does.
Varieties included may include Bluecrop, Blueray, Bluetta, Duke, Jersey, Patriot, and Rubel. You can be sure that there will be a good mix.
Pricing
Height4-7 Feet |
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Spread4-6 Feet |
USDA Hardiness Zone 4-7 |
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Homeowner Growing and Maintenance TipsAlmost all blueberries are self-fertile, but experience has shown that you may get larger crops of bigger berries if cross-pollinated with other varieties. Make sure you have adequate cultured or wild bees for pollination. Blueberries do best on soils with high organic matter, adequate moisture all through the summer, and a pH in the range of 4.5 to 5.0. For once Grandpa recommends amending your soils with lots of well decomposed organic materials like weathered sawdust, wood chips, bark, or good peat additives. Make sure you try to bring the pH into the optimum range before planting. Most blueberries will tolerate soil with higher, but not flooded, water tables. If you are growing in a more "upland" site, with sandy soils, make sure to irrigate regularly to maintain a moist, but not soaked soil condition through the season. Prune bushes when dormant to open them up to better sunlight penetration when they grow up and get too thick. See Grandpa's Growing Tips for more on blueberry culture. |
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A Little HistoryIn Grandpa's Day, the same scientist, Dr. Stanley Johnston, who was famous for breeding the "Haven" series of peaches, which became famous world-wide, also was a breeder of blueberries, and was one of the prime movers in making the blueberry industry in Michigan so large, strong and healthy. |
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