Growing blueberry in the home garden

Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet
Horticulture and Crop Science
2021 Coffey Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43210-1086

Growing Blueberries in the Home Garden
HYG-1422-98
Gary GaoExtension Agent, HorticultureOSU Extension, Clermont County
Blueberries are a very popular fruit in the United States because of their unique flavor, small edible seeds, and ease of preparation. Blueberries can be eaten fresh or used for jelly, jam, pies, pastries, or juice. Blueberry fruit is also low in calories and sodium, contains no cholesterol, and is a source of fiber. A major constituent of the fiber is pectin, known for its ability to lower blood cholesterol. Blueberries contain measurable quantities of ellagic acid, which has inhibiting effects on chemically induced cancer in laboratory studies. Blueberry juice also contains a compound that prevents bacteria from anchoring themselves to the bladder, thereby helping to prevent urinary tract infections.

Should I Grow Blueberries at Home?
Blueberries could make a good fruit crop for home gardens since they require small space. At present, blueberry plants are not common in home plantings because the plants require highly acidic soil conditions for best results. Few backyard soils in Ohio are naturally acidic enough to grow quality blueberries. The grower of blueberries must, therefore, make extra effort to acidify the soil before plant establishment. Then, the acidity level must be maintained over the life of the planting. Due to the special concerns associated with the rather demanding soil requirements of growing the crop, the soil must be amended with organic matter and the pH must be corrected before proceeding to establish the planting.

Blueberry plants begin to produce fruit in the third season; however, they do not become fully productive for about six years (Figure 1). Once in production, it is necessary to protect the fruit from loss to birds.

Climatic Requirements
In general, the climate throughout Ohio is suited to the production of blueberries. Plants are generally not hardy when temperatures drop below -20F.
Site and Soil Requirements for Blueberry Production
The highbush blueberry requires full sun for optimum yield and quality, and grows best where the soil is very acidic and well supplied with moisture. Soil pH should be in the range of 4 to 4.5 and have 4 to 7% organic matter or more.
On loam or clay loam soils, it is suggested that plants be grown on raised beds, 4 feet wide and 9 inches high for better water drainage. Such beds are not needed for production on sandy soils.

Soil Preparation
It is very important to test soil for pH, lime index, nutrient status, and organic matter content before conducting soil preparation. Your soil should be tested twice; once before soil preparation and acidification, and once after sulfur and fertilizer have been added. Further adjustments may then be necessary. Your local Extension offices have soil-testing forms, bags, and instructions available. Increase soil organic matter by adding grass clippings, manure, or leaves (not red maple or beech) according to soil test recommendations. Incorporate the materials into the top 4 to 6 inches at least one year before planting.
Suggestions for Soil Acidification

If soil pH is above 4.5, apply granular sulfur to lower soil pH. Refer to Table 2 for general guidelines for the amount of granular sulfur to apply to 100 square feet of soil to be acidified. The material should be well mixed throughout the top 4 inches of soil, three months before planting.

Planting
At planting, dig a hole 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide and mix 1 cubic foot of peat moss with top soil until the hole is filled 4 inches from the top. Set the plant and cover the roots with the remaining peat-soil mix. In heavy soils, an equal amount of peat can be mixed with an equal amount of soil. Set plants 5 feet apart with rows 10 feet apart. Apply 4 inches of sawdust or wood-chip mulch in a 2 feet wide band after planting, and maintain a 4 inch depth and 4 feet band over the life of the planting.

Fertilizers
Fertilizers for blueberry production are best applied using soil test results as a guide. At planting, apply 1/2 to 2/3 pound of ammonium sulfate (or 10 to 16 ounces of 10-10-10) per 100 feet of row 4 weeks after planting. Keep fertilizer at least 6 inches away from plant.
In the second through twelfth years, apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of ammonium sulfate (2 to 3 pounds of 10-10-10) per 100 feet of row each year for fertility and acidity maintenance. Apply 0.5 pound of the ammonium sulfate at bloom, and the remaining 0.5 pound 4 to 6 weeks later. If plant leaves become chlorotic, apply 2 to 3 ounces of ferrous sulfate or iron chelate around the base of the plants each year.

Watering
Blueberry bushes have very shallow root systems and are very sensitive to water fluctuations. They need at least 1 to 2 inches of water per week. In dry seasons, supplemental watering is essential to obtain good yields of high quality products. However, do not apply water after early September unless soil is very dry.

Pruning
Blueberry plants normally do not need to be pruned for the first three years. Remove blossoms that appear in the year of planting and second year after planting to stimulate vigorous growth.
It is important to know the anatomy of a blueberry bush before attempting to prune blueberries (Figure 2). During the fourth year, the dormant plants should be pruned in mid-March. At this time, remove dead and weak branches and thin, terminal wood with small buds. Prune interior crossing branches to admit light to the center of the plant.

Mulching
Generous use of mulches like sawdust or peat moss will help control weeds, conserve moisture, and keep roots cool. Increased organic matter from decomposing mulch will help improve soil structure and nutrient uptake of blueberry bush. Replenish mulch as needed to keep the mulch depth at 2 to 4 inches.

Insects and Diseases
Some potential insect problems in blueberries include blueberry tip borer, plum curculio, cranberry fruit worm, and cherry fruitworm. Disease problems include mummy berry, powdery mildew, twig blights, botrytis blossom blight, leaf spots, and cane gall. For more information about growing blueberries, obtain a copy from your Extension office of Bulletin 591, "Growing and Using Fruit at Home" and Bulletin 780, "Controlling Disease and Insects in Home Fruit Planting."

Kamil Kurka's coffee maker looks like it beamed down from the Enterprise

This coffee maker by Kamil Kurka doesn't look like it belongs to our century. Beyond its good looks — after all, I think a design like that can speak for itself — the unit also features controls that'll let you customize your cup o' joe. You can set how hot you want it as well as how much you want to make, which probably helps brew a more consistent beverage than the eyeballing I do every morning.

The only downside is that it looks like you'd be brewing just one cup at a time, much like a French press. Still, with good looks like that, who minds waiting for a second cup? Here's hoping Kurka's coffee maker design finds its way on to a shelf in the future.

JOMCHANG VILLA IJ 1.6.2009

JOMCHANG, A small exclusive private residential development on Phuket's western coast, sits discretely on a secluded headland with something of a mythical past - a past intertwined with the very origins of Phuket. It's called Jomchang, a name derived from one of the mythical settlers of the island's pre-history, Toh Yomding - a man blessed with magical powers.
Few, if any, development sites in the world match Jomchang. It is situated on a secluded headland on the west coast of Phuket, where an almost forgotten stretch of the most beautiful coastline Phuket has to offer has been opened up by a new road – and Jomchang’s developers got to it first.
Jomchang is an ambitious project. And it has a peerless cross-professional team of designers, engineers and project managers dedicated to an imaginative residential response to an exquisite site. The Jomchang team is a team with imagination. With flair. And with a wealth of experience
News: October 2007
We have just completed a restructuring at Jomchang to allow sales by leasehold. Outline details of this very secure, renewable lease structure can be found under Project Information
A new pricing structure has also be introduced, both to the few remaining plots on the original Jomchang and also on Jomchang Two.
Contact us today for details of the new structure and price.

http://www.jomchang.com/