Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - Re: [Homestead] Blueberries

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Blueberries
  • Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:23:24 -0500

Oops. This one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006KY5OUG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

On Jun 26, 2012, at 5:18 AM, Gene GeRue wrote:

> I ordered this one yesterday. Three customers gave it five stars. $6.42
> with shipping.
>
> I have used part peat, all peat, pine needles as mulch (later learned
> likely ineffective), normal mulch, sulfur, other acidifiers. Obviously I
> was growing blind. It will be interesting to see what the meter says has
> been created or maintained with the leaching due to watering.
>
> Gene
>
> On Jun 25, 2012, at 8:52 PM, Gloria M wrote:
>
>> Yes, blueberries really do need acidic soil. My pH meter is older, but it
>> is similar to this and has been adequate for my needs:
>>
>> https://www.jungseed.com/dp.asp?pID=51326&c=607&p=Digital+Ph+Meter
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 4:21 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Gloria, yes on the soil tests. I used to have a soil test kit but I have
>>> been sliding for decades, largely correct in believing that all the
>>> organic
>>> materials we add to the garden beds extends the pH range. Blueberries may
>>> well be the exception. I need to spend more time studying what's
>>> available;
>>> on Amazon the lower-priced kits tend to have poor customer ratings and the
>>> higher-priced ones are way too high.
>>>
>>> Gene
>>>
>>> On Jun 25, 2012, at 11:36 AM, Gloria M wrote:
>>>
>>>> I know you know this, but soil tests are really important. I have a
>>> fairly
>>>> inexpensive soil pH tester. It is a good investment to keep plants
>>> healthy.
>>>> A cheap alternative is pH strips (but they are single use). You can't
>>> know
>>>> what (or how much of it) to add if you don't know where you are starting
>>>> from. My first suggestion would be to test your soil.
>>>>
>>>> I do water my plants as needed, as the sandy soil dries out fast. It does
>>>> not hold water like your clay, even though I have it heavily amended with
>>>> organic matter. Fortunately, the replenishing aquifer is only a short way
>>>> down and thus pumping costs are low. This year we're in a bit of a
>>> drought
>>>> and I've had to water more than normal.
>>>>
>>>> Gloria
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 5:29 AM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Gloria, thanks for the update. As soon as Marie referenced you I
>>>>> immediately remembered you. Maybe it is the M last initial. Who knows.
>>> Glad
>>>>> you are still here and living as homesteady as possible.
>>>>>
>>>>> Your note that your blueberries only get a half day of sun is
>>> instructive
>>>>> to me. I am thinking that half-sun reduces their need for so much
>>> water. Of
>>>>> course our soils are different, mine is clay, but the garden is much
>>>>> modified with organic additions over many years. Sulphur may also be
>>> part
>>>>> of my problem--too much or too little. Hard to know dosage with young
>>>>> plants.
>>>>>
>>>>> Interesting about vinegar. I detest poisons but also hate summer bugs
>>> that
>>>>> try to feast on me. Just before I go outside in the morning I slop
>>> vinegar
>>>>> on my head bandana, beard, neck, all exposed skin, and that helps a lot,
>>>>> although shorter term than poison repellents. Also I am recycling my old
>>>>> long-sleeved white dress shirts; they protect arm skin from UV rays and
>>>>> bugs and also reflect summer sun heat.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gene
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 23, 2012, at 5:19 PM, Gloria M wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I've been around the homestead list for many, many years. But mostly I
>>>>>> lurk. From time to time I post, but probably a couple of times per year
>>>>> on
>>>>>> average. And I bet I go several years sometimes between posts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I live in Central Illinois - not a great many miles from Marie McHarry,
>>>>>> another member here. Hi, Marie!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm on 2.5 acres. I love gardening (Master Gardener with lapsed
>>>>>> certification), have some chickens, and raise various fruits, including
>>>>> the
>>>>>> blueberries. Other fruits we have: cherries, raspberries, highbush
>>>>>> cranberries, elderberries, strawberries. I used to have goats, but sold
>>>>>> them when I took a new job that was taking up a vast amount of time -
>>>>>> meaning milking was not possible. Eventually I would like to have dairy
>>>>>> production again. I also have horses, but I don't count those as
>>>>>> homesteading - they are very large pets that produce compost material.
>>> :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We are not self-sufficient. I do not earn a living off the homestead
>>>>> (hence
>>>>>> the job). But I enjoy homesteading activities and raising some of our
>>>>> food.
>>>>>> So we are more homesteading-lite.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I also like canning, making yogurt and soft cheeses (that sort of fun
>>> is
>>>>> on
>>>>>> hold while we are goat-less), fiber arts (spinning, knitting, crochet,
>>>>>> weaving), and tackling various DIY projects around the house and
>>> property
>>>>>> (running a water line to the barn, building a milking stand, etc.). At
>>>>> one
>>>>>> point I raised sheep, and I may again. I also kept bees, but have not
>>> for
>>>>>> some years - my significant other is extremely allergic to bee stings.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Right now I am up to my elbows in house fix-its. We are trying to get
>>> the
>>>>>> house ready to sell so that we can move closer to my job. Once we
>>> move, I
>>>>>> will have more free time and can once again consider dairy (and
>>> possibly
>>>>>> sheep).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I give the blueberries a sulfur based soil acidifier once per year. I
>>>>> also
>>>>>> give them some compost in addition. The sulfur is not OMRI listed, but
>>> I
>>>>>> can't afford to do everything 100% organic. What I strive for is to use
>>>>>> things that are either organic or at least not BAD. I avoid
>>>>> insecticides. I
>>>>>> avoid herbicides (other than vinegar - I did some early research with
>>>>>> vinegar as an herbicide and wrote up my findings on an organic list).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Where I live now is sand - like sand-dune sand. I used to live on clay.
>>>>> Not
>>>>>> sure what is next for me to garden. :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Gloria
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Jun 17, 2012, at 3:58 PM, Gloria M wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm not Lisa, but I'm here (lurk infrequently to see if anyone posted
>>>>>>>> anything). I raise blueberries - have for several years and am
>>> getting
>>>>>>>> fruit now. I have mine planted where they get half day sun and they
>>>>> seem
>>>>>>>> pretty happy. I amended the soil with peat at planting and added
>>>>>>> acidifier
>>>>>>>> even though my soil is on the acid side. So far, so good. I'd be
>>> happy
>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> try to help you figure out what's wrong if you'd like.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi, Gloria M. How long have you been here? Sorry if I should remember
>>>>> you.
>>>>>>> Please remind, or tell us where you are and what you do in the
>>> homestead
>>>>>>> realm.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What and how often do you feed your blueberries?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Gene
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 2:52 PM, Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Lisa Perry, you still here?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> With substantially-home-produced goodies, we just consumed a fine
>>>>> meal.
>>>>>>>>> For accoustical ambience I selected Scott's album, 8 Miles to
>>>>>>> Perryville.
>>>>>>>>> Which of course reminded me of you. Which reminded me of your
>>>>>>> substantial
>>>>>>>>> blueberry experience. I am very close to throwing up my hands and
>>>>>>> admitting
>>>>>>>>> apple and blueberry production failure, due partly to more items on
>>> my
>>>>>>> menu
>>>>>>>>> than time to enjoy them--the inevitable time challenges, the
>>>>>>> environmental
>>>>>>>>> conditions here in this part of the Ozarks, and the knowledge that
>>> we
>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>>>> buy good, organically grown fruit at somewhat reasonable prices.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> As I move through geezerhoodism, I am more and more skeptical of the
>>>>>>>>> proclamations of food producers. So, yeah, I ever more prefer to
>>> grow
>>>>> my
>>>>>>>>> own.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> We have thus far this year gorged on strawberries, cherries, and now
>>>>>>>>> boysenberries. The blue fruit did not make it. But before I give up
>>> on
>>>>>>>>> blueberries, I solicit you advice.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Gene GeRue
>>>>>>>>> www.ruralize.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>>>>>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>>>>>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/genegerue%40ruralize.com
>>>>>>>> View the archives at:
>>>>>>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>>>>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>>>>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/gloriamorris59%40gmail.com
>>>>>>> View the archives at:
>>>>>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>>>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>>>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/genegerue%40ruralize.com
>>>>>> View the archives at:
>>>>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/gloriamorris59%40gmail.com
>>>>> View the archives at:
>>>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/genegerue%40ruralize.com
>>>> View the archives at:
>>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Homestead list and subscription:
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>>> Change your homestead list member options:
>>>
>>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/gloriamorris59%40gmail.com
>>> View the archives at:
>>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Homestead list and subscription:
>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
>> Change your homestead list member options:
>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/genegerue%40ruralize.com
>> View the archives at:
>> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Homestead list and subscription:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> Change your homestead list member options:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/genegerue%40ruralize.com
> View the archives at:
> https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead
>
>
>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page