Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries

[texaschickmama]

We planted some yesterday in the garden and was wondering if anyone had any "must knows" about berries. Oh, and this is my first post here. Hi.

 

[hcammack2]

protect them from birds with netting they can be great plants. also trim the rasberries down to the cane once a year. (this is also my first post)

henry

 

[texaschickmama]

bird netting, got it. Do deer like to eat these, too?

 

[hcammack2]

Not realy sure they eat my blueberries but we dont have too many deer around.

Henry

 

[Rosalind]

Do deer like to eat these, too?

YES.

 

[silkiechicken]

Good luck!

Only berries I have are blackberries, raspberries, salmon berries and black caps... all wild and nearly impossible to control their spread. I know the chickens and wild birds gobble up any berry they can find, but there are so many, you get purple piles on everything... and there are still tons left that rot when fall hits.

 

[jeannette]

I have a question about growing blueberries. I planted 5 plants last year. Three died before fall and the other two are not looking very promising. Is there a trick to growing blueberries?

 

[Reinbeau]

I have a question about growing blueberries. I planted 5 plants last year. Three died before fall and the other two are not looking very promising. Is there a trick to growing blueberries?

Is the pH of your soil right? They like an acid soil, 4.5-5.0. They also need even soil moisture, you can't let them dry out - although drainage is important. There should be a high humus content in the soil, as they naturally live in the duff layer at the edge of a forest.

 

[aee96]

Blackberries only fruit on second year canes. So every year after the berries are picked you need to cut those branches/canes off. What is left growing will be what flowers and fruits the next year. Here's a good article:

http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/24372

I think raspberries are the same.

I have no experience with blue berries except that they definetely did not like my south texas weather and clay soil (no matter how much I amended it). Too bad - because I love them and they cost so much in the store.


Hope that help,

aee96

 

[jeannette]

Thanks for he info about soil PH for my blueberries. I checked the Ph and found it to be too alkaline. What should I add to the soil to increase the acidity?