I would like to plant some blueberry bushes in my (back)yard, is there anything I should know first?

Question

I would like to plant some blueberry bushes and maybe a few raspberries so that my children and I can walk out back and have a few fresh berries when they are ripe. Is there anything I should know first? Do they bring pests to the yard, or cause any other problems? (we live in zone 5 in a great blueberry area so I know they should do ok with the weather) Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Berry bushes do not attract pests. But the birds will probably eventually find them, and if you want to harvest more than the birds, you may need to hang netting over them during the season when the berries are ripe. You may also have to watch out for invasion of small children from the neighborhood.

Blueberries are one of the few plants that like acid soil. They like to be receive regular applications of pine needles to keep the soil pH low (below 6.5). Or perhaps even sulfur treatments to the soil when planting them. A few varieties are self-fertile, but most need to have other varieties planted with them in order to bear fruit. In fact, it's great to choose a selection of varieties with different maturation dates to extend the season. It will take you 3-5 years to begin to get large harvests from your berries. In the meantime, you could plant strawberries in between the blueberry bushes, since strawberries produce the first year after planting, but a strawberry bed generally only stays productive for 3 years or so.

With raspberries, you will need to use a trellis system to keep them under control. Choose a variety that grows well in zone 5 with large berries. You will need to learn how to prune the bushes. Raspberries produce on year-old wood, so you will need 2-3 years before you will start getting a harvest.

The good news is, you will not need to apply any poisons to keep the plants healthy or produce fruit. And soon you and your children will be eating great fresh fruit without having to worry about pesticide residues.

Answer 2

Blueberries are fairly easy to grow. There are two things you need to keep in mind. First you need at least two varieties for good pollination and good berry production. Second- they like an acid soil so when you plant them use a lot of peat moss and fertilize with somthing like aluminum sulfate, or hollytone. Raspberries are extremely vigorous- if you plant them make sure you really want them in that spot as they will take over and try to spread. Consider putting a trellis up to try to contain them.

Answer 3

You already got some good advice. Here's more:

Canby is the absolute best raspberry to plant. Nearly thornless, tops for flavor. Here in central Maine they began ripening about a week ago. Nothing bothers them - not birds, not deer. Do watch out for wasps - I've had several building nests under the canes. And no, these do not need trellising.

You do want highbush bueberries. The extension service of your state university puts out very informative (free) flyers on how to grow any of these - check your phone book. As the blueberries ripen, you will need to cover them with netting to protect them from birds. BTW, they are very ornamental - leaves turn brilliant red in fall!

Answer 4

Good luck and have fun growing fruit. The poster who told you how to plant your blueberries and raspberries is correct, acidic soil and more than one variety of blueberry is good.
The only thing you have to remember is : once the critters find your fruit, they will want to partake as well. If you live in an area where there are blackbears, they might be spotted, birds will find them, as well as some deer to eat the raspberry leaves.

Answer 5

Blueberries like acid soil. You can supply this by adding lots of peat moss to the soil. Or you can use an acidic fertilizer.

I believe there are two types of blueberries, High bush and low bush. Check at your nursery. Also you may need two bushes in case there is the male/female thing.

Nancy

Answer 6

Well for starters unless you have a way to keep them cool for this hot spell i would wait til the end of sept to plant them.. You may want to check what kind of soil the blue berries need to be in and adjust your soil for them..
As for raseberries they will grow in just about any kind of soil and do really good.. make sure that you have your soil worked up really well for both plants .
the raseberries have stickers on them so if the kids are very young make sure that you warn them or they will be all scratched up.. sounds like a good plan fresh berries for the kids to eat.. It is very good for them and they will love it. I am planting some this fall but farther away from the house so that they don't spread all over the place raseberries spread..so plant them well spaced apart..soon you will have a patch of them..