Annual Plant Sale and Pruning Tips

We have finally completed pruning all three blueberry fields (almost 6000 plants!) and now we are busy in preparation for the annual blueberry plant sale to be held this Saturday, April 30 ; Sunday, May 1 and if we still have plants May 7.  Hours are 9am to 2pm all three days. This year we will be offering the blueberry plant varieties Blueray, Patriot and the so-so-sweet Jersey.  We will also have Boyne raspberries and Fall Gold raspberries for sale as well as a small selection of peach trees and rhubarb.

It is still not too late for you to prune your own blueberry bushes.  At the farm, we try to complete pruning before the blossoms come out and also before the “dreaded” black fly appears.  We have included two videos below of pruning both small and large bushes which should help you get your own bushes into top shape for blueberry production.  Keep in mind that it is always helpful to give your plants a dose of fertilizer which can be done after the blossoms drop off.  Blueberries are an acid loving plant so an application of 7-7-7 can be sprinkled around the drip line of your bush.  Unfortunately, the birds will be your number 1 pest when the berries ripen so you need to learn to share or purchase a netting system from a garden center.  Don’t forget that blueberry plants are shallow rooted and love water so try and mulch around your plants with sawdust, bark mulch or even pine needles.

Finally, Anne is in the process of putting together a second cookbook for the farm and she would love to hear from any of you that would like to include your own special blueberry recipes.  You can send them through email (info@berryboggfarm.com) or drop a copy of your recipe with your name on it to Berrybogg Farm, 650 Province Rd. , Strafford, NH 03884.  We look forward to hearing from you!