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nafex - [nafex] vaccinium tolerant of alkaline soils

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  • From: William McNam <billmcnam@yahoo.com>
  • To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [nafex] vaccinium tolerant of alkaline soils
  • Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:46:51 -0800 (PST)







Does anyone have experience using
vaccinium arboreum as rootstock?

Does anyone know of the existence of interspecific hybrids involving
vaccinium arboreum or vaccinium angustifolium?

**********************
----Forwarded Message----
From: jfruth@uslink.net
To:
Cc: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sat, Nov 25, 2006 3:45 PM MSK
Subject: Re: blueberrries in alkaline soil

Bill,
1) Sand, with alot of Calcium in it.
2) I don't know. Never tried it.
3) Of course!
4) Never measured it but, if I had to guess, I'd say, "1/4 cup or less." They
grow rather thickly so it is difficult to tell.
5) Identical
6) The coldest it has gotten here has been -46º F. They only don't bear from
lack of rain.
7) I haven't been curious enough to check. They are the wild blueberry here
and I haven't seen any other species around here.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot

----- Original Message ----- From: bill d
To: jfruth@uslink.net
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 11:46 AM
Subject: blueberrries in alkaline soil


Thanks Jim!

What's the soil type there--sand ,clay, loam?
What happens if they're grown in soil with acid ph?
Are the plants self-fertile?
How much fruit do you get off one plant?
Are they distinguishable in taste from other species of blueberries?
How much winter cold can they withstand without injury?
Do you know of any interspecific hybrids of V. angustifolium with other
Vaccinium species?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bill asked:

Hi JIm!
What kind of blueberries are these that thrive in alkaline soil?
How tall do they grow?
Do you know what species they are?
Thanks!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Vaccinium angustifolium, aka Dwarf, Sugar, Early or Low-Bush
Blueberry.
The pH here is 7.3. They grow up to, about, 18"

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
www.bberryfarm.com
(218)568-8483 [Store]




*****************

----Forwarded Message----
From: lonrom@hevanet.com
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2005 4:29 AM MSK
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] blueberries for neutral soil

In one of the older POMONAs there is an article from (name escapes me) who
studied Vaccinium arboreum, so called "farkleberry" of the South. It was
sufficiently tolerant of alkaline soils that northern highbush blueberries
could be grafted on the species and they would survive and produce when they
would die on their own roots. One old timer apparently had a patch of such
grafted berries that was 25 years old and in good production. I have a piece
of V. arboreum grafted on highbush blueberries, and it's quite interesting.
I had thought of crossing the two, but the V. arboreum doesn't bloom until
the highbush types have ripe fruit.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at
http://www.bunchgrapes.com Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best
Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Feb 13, 2005, at 2:33 PM, Louisa Rogoff Thompson wrote:

Jim,

I believe all blueberries require very acidic soil, but some of their close
cousins, the huckleberries (Gaylussacia spp.) do not.  Around here, black
huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) grows along with blueberries in extremely
acidic soil, but also grows in neutral soil if some other factor limits
competition, and produces small but sweet berries.  This particular plant is
a very low shrubby groundcover, about 6-12" tall and woody.  It's quite
attractive, with silver-grey woody stems and exceptional fall foliage.   I
believe it is found as far north as Newfoundland and Saskatchewan.  Also
dangleberry, Gaylussacia frondosa, a much taller shrub (6-7'), has sweet,
juicy fruit and grows as far north as southern New Hampshire.  I don't know
if any true huckleberries (as opposed to Solanum spp.) are available from
fruit nurseries.  If not, you could try native plant nurseries.

Louisa Thompson
Columbia, MD
Zone 7a






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