Finding the right blueberry farms for sale in Mission is challenging enough, but if you are entering the blueberry business, there are things that you should be aware about when starting your venture. In the following lines we will discuss the planting techniques, maintenance and harvesting methods for blueberry crops. Take a look.

The right planting techniques:

• The soil should be acidic with a pH level between 4 or 5. Adding more organic matter into the soil will increase the blueberry’s tolerance to the underlying acidity. The soil should be capable of holding moisture whilst having draining capability to support these shallow rooted plants.

 

• Prior to setting the blueberry bushes, you should add additional organic matter into the soil. The right time for planting the bushes is early spring and 1 to 3 year plants from a well reputed nursery are the ideal choice for the process.

 

• The holes should be 20 inches in depth and about 18 inches in width, which is about twice the width and depth of the plant’s roots. The bushes should be placed in a row about five feet apart and approximately 8 feet apart between different rows. The planting mixture should consist of oak leaf mould (one part), loam (two parts), sawdust (aged), peat moss, compost, which should be placed in layers at the bottom.

 

• The bush should be set with its roots spread out and the depth should an inch more as compared to the one grown in the nursery in order to hold it tight with the soil. The fertilizer should not applied immediately but approximately one month after planting.

The right way to take care of the plantations:

• In order to keep the roots moist you should mulch them with two or four inch layer consisting of saw dust, woodchips and pine needles if required. This should be supplied by one or two inches every week.

 

• Protect your crops from the bird with drape nettings. These keep your crops safe and don’t let birds wreck your work. Apply the fertilizer regularly and manage the rate as per the expert advice. In order to get the best results do not let the crop fruit during the first two years of planting. You can pinch the upcoming blossoms to promote additional growth.

 

 

• Pruning the blueberry crops isn’t really necessary for the first 5 years. However, after that it has to be done regularly to improve the growth from the plants as new season begins. Ideal time for pruning should be either late in the winter or prior to the early spring before new growth breaks out. For best results get rid of short, spindly, weak and broken shoots.

 

• In case of high bush type plants always cut and remove the wood which stand older than six years or is crowding the bush’s centre or has dropped to the ground. Additionally you can get rid of branches growing low to avoid fruit touching ground along with removing spindly twigs.

 

• For Low Bush blueberries all stems should cut from the ground level. However, take note that there will be no fruit for a season after the pruning is done. To avoid losing all produce prune one portion at a time every three years.

Harvesting the fruit in the right manner:

• Typically the blueberry crops are ready around the middle of August. But do not haste in picking up the fruits. Just because they are blue doesn’t mean they are ready to pluck, wait for the right time and you will see how easily they are falling in your hand.

 

• In case of two year old plants, the blueberry crops bear he fruits in just one a couple of years if you pick the flowers the right way. In order to reach a full potential the plants require a period of six years. Once done harvesting, you can easily freeze them and enjoy them during the whole winter season.

Therefore, if you wish to start a blueberry farm today, visit http://fraservalleyfarm.ca/ to see a list of all blueberry farms up for grabs in your preferred locations.