I am sure this must have been asked before but could not find it in the archives (so, please bear with me -- sure will be glad to have that "search" option in the new forum!).

We are considering a pick your own blueberry operation. I have read a lot on the subject, but would really like to hear from people who "really" do it. Often the books just don't mirror the real-life aspects of things!

I read that you can plant 800 to 1,000 blueberry bushes per acre. Is this true and does that allow you enough room to comfortably mow with a sm. garden tractor/riding mower?

How long does it take for the bushes to really be producing from 1 yr - yr old original stock? I have read 4 years, some say 6 years, and others 8 years.

What varieties would you recommend for pick your own operation boarding zones 6 & 7.

Thanks a million for any advice and help!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002

Answers

We are 30 miles west of Augusta, Ga. We only have 190 bushes so we are "small potatoes". With our other interests this is big enough for us, especially at age 71! Yes, you can plant 800/1000 per acre. And you are 4 years away from a U Pick operation. You need at least 2 varieties for cross-pollination. First year after planting, break off the forming berries....to force more growth into the wood. Lay down a drip irrigation line for the bushes. Send name & address, I'll mail brochure. Talk to your county agent.

-- Buddy in e. Ga. (Buddybud@csranet.com), May 08, 2002.

To search this forum (along with other greenspun forums), go to www.google.com. Select "advanced search" (one of the little options off to the right of the box). Use "Pick Your Own Blueberry" as the search phrase, BUT ALSO go down to the "domain" box and enter "greenspun.com". Then hit the "Enter" key.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 08, 2002.

Another way to search is do a control F and a box pops up for you to type in your desired search terms. I just tried it for the pick your blueberry terms & it brought up all the posts with that term. Blessings,Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

Well thanks Dave..I never knew that about Google! Thanks a million.

Kathy, the ctl F search only works on the page you are currently on. It won't find archived pages unless you go to each archive catagory separately and do the ctl F. Which I did in a few that might "sound" related but the specific posts I was looking for was not there on the ones I looked at -- but there are thousands of posts in there - no time to go to everyone.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Um, Kathy, that works after you've got into the right category. Sometimes subjects get covered in more than one category, and aren't even listed in the thread title. The "Control"-"F" was the best I could think of for a while, but it doesn't find them all. Google does a MUCH better job, although it's not as simple, and it's not perfect either. Did you try google, and compare its results with the Ctrl-F method? Anyway, that's one of the reasons why we're getting a proper search function on the new forum.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 09, 2002.

Whoops - simultaneous posts. And Karen, first thanks, and then that's "Don". There's quite a few of us D's around, and at least one "Dave" is a techo expert, so I'm flattered. I've been a techo expert, but I think my licence expired a long time ago - if I know anything now, it's just plain using the stuff.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 09, 2002.

Yeppers, Dave and I can't wait!! I have a problem finding things in my OWN forum let alone the others...and I at least have a ball park idea of where they are...LOL! People email me all the time asking where they can find something already posted in my forum, so I am very appreciative of your Google hint until we get moved. That search feature in the new site will be wonderful! God bless Chuck!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.