Bountiful blueberries

[bob in CT]

My gardens have been a real bust this year. Corn is just starting to tassle after being stunted by all the rain.

The blueberries are making up for it with a stellar year. They are about a month late but there are so many it is unbelievable. I am picking 8 quarts a day, I could probably pick 40 if i had the time. The freezer will be full again. Last year i don't think we got more than 2 quarts!

[Don McCombs]

Because of a very late frost, the blueberries around here have not produced well this season.

[bob in CT]

Because of a very late frost, the blueberries around here have not produced well this season.

Grab a pail and come on up!

[Big Mike]

What's your secret Bob, Mine didn't do much of anything.....in fact, ten plants died this year. Very dry in North East Texas.

[Buzzard Wing]

Funny you should mention it Bob, this year I had the most wild blueberries ever up in Maine. I would even say triple what are normally there.

I think I may have done them some good too on the hillside that I can't mow with the Cub (next year maybe?). I mowed it with the Gravely (dual wheels) and usually I use a brush cutter. But I got a lot of the stumps out (either knocked em over or mowed them, Gravelys are tough beasts). I did 'hook' a stump with a rear wheel.... now that is too much excitement for me. I think the wild ones only produce well every other year?? They are my absolute favorite.

[bob in CT]

What's your secret Bob, Mine didn't do much of anything.....in fact, ten plants died this year. Very dry in North East Texas.

We had tons of rain, 4-5 days a week from May to July. They like water. Plus this is the "every other year" as I had a great year 2 years ago and almost nothing last year. Plus no big flocks of Starlings. They will nail every berry about 2 days before they are ready to pick.

[Buzzard Wing]

So I did hear right about the every other year.

I know the commercial growers up in Maine will burn the plants too, but I don't know how often. It's all new to me, but I guess I could count blueberries among the other 'crops', rocks and trees.

[bob in CT]

So I did hear right about the every other year.

That has been my experience. I have not had 2 great years in a row since my forst season with this patch in 1993. i don't know if it is science, but I know to fill the freezer while the filling is good. i actually still have berries from 2 years ago that still make great pies.

[Dan England]

We had lots of blueberries last year, all we could eat plus putting a large supply in the freezer. The freezer malfunctioned in early spring and we lost everything in it, vegetables, berries, meats, a ton of ice cream ( we like ice cream). By the time we discovered the problem the food stuff was beyond use. Our blueberries did not produce well this year. We had two or three cobblers but that was it. Nothing for the freezer. We are hoping for better luck with berries and with freezers next summer. Dan