I Got SCHOOLED By An 83 Year Old Farmer On How To Grow Blueberries

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[@grindcorizer6818]

For those beginners who want to grow *blueberries* in buckets: 01. Bucket 55l (15 gallon) 02. Soil from a pine forest 03. Mix the soil with pine twigs and pine bark 04. Pine bark mulch Purchased soil is dead soil. No doubt. Purchased fertilizer is not as good as slowly decaying pine twigs with pine bark. They gradually give the blueberries nutrients. If you really want to take care of the blueberry, it is a good idea to let pieces of pine bark stand in water for several weeks. As soon as the water "rusts", it also has a low ph, then water them. If you have blueberries in black buckets, they will heat up a lot in the sun and the roots will suffer. Either use white buckets or simply paint the black ones white or wrap them in paper or aluminum foil. One last piece of advice: the more varieties of blueberries, the more fruit you will have. *Failure is not possible with this procedure*

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

The worst thing about using bird netting on a plant is when new leaves start to grow through it. That's a great way to rip new leaves right off after fruiting. I've started using insect netting instead (although I have some tulle that will get used soon) and it does NO damage to the blueberry bush when removed.

[@Batchat2352]

Bought big bushes this year and yeah the new leaves go right through and then removing the netting it shreads them

[@JP-vq6ku]

Dead birds is also horrible.

[@taketwodevotions1247]

Next level gardening tried a dark colored tulle and it worked. I guess it's because of the tighter weave. He said it worked for shading as well. I'm gonna try it in the spring. It can't hurt.

[@OurIntrovertedHomestead]

You can apply the bird netting so that it doesn't actually touch the plant... make an enclosure larger than the plant.

[@tmontero8492]

Well done. Blueberry growing does perplex me. I am in CA with 6 different lowbush varieties and so far, so good. However, over the past 3 days, my Florida Rose is suddenly dropping dried up leaves. Is it dying or is it deciduous? The other 5 look great -- I do fertilze quite often. But I have no clue about this one. Thanks.

[@LMLewis]

I had no luck with blueberries in the ground or in pots until I planted them in pure peat moss (in pots). They look fantastic, now. But, pH can change over time due to watering, so I'm prepared to amend with sulphur as necessary.

[@nightswan1234]

I killed every blueberry plant I’ve ever tried to grow and I won’t even say how many I’ve had! Love blue berries and resolved to just buying the expensive buggers. Thanks for this video. I’m now inspired to try growing my own again 👍🏿

[@slowpoke4557]

The difference between a success and a failure is that the success got up and tried one more time. Never give up!

[@sf55514]

The older people have a wealth of knowledge. I am glad he shared and you listened.

[@Prometheus4096]

You realize he just made that up for clickbait, right?

[@BIGMIKESKNUTTS]

@@Prometheus4096you always look at things negatively? Then like your own comment 😂😂 this isn’t Reddit. Go back to watching pegging videos

[@DebRoo11]

​​​@@Prometheus4096 same with his 'an Amish farmer taught me this trick'. It's pretty cringe and transparent 😅. Thanks 'Marvin' 🤭

[@TaterFarm]

Luke, I can’t thank you enough for passing along Marvin’s knowledge to the rest of us! Really can’t beat the value of experience, in the garden and in life!!! Love and appreciate you bunches!!! ❤️

[@sn232]

TULLE OVER SQUARE TOMATO CAGES AFTER THE FRUIT HAS FORMED, and flower petals have fallen off (not before because the bees need to get in and help to pollinate the flowers), I use tulle wrapped twice around large, metal, square tomato cages. It works perfectly! I kept the tulle attached to the cages with 3 clothes pins on one corner of the cage, and gathered the extra tulle at the top, twisted it, and zip-tied it closed with a zip-tie that can be reopened so I could open the top, reach in and pick the berries, then reclose the tulle with the ziptie afterward. No damage from staples, can be reused yearly as long as your plants are small and fit within the cage.

[@ckredmagna]

Thx on the information. I use tulle over my strawberries and over the top of my tomato cages as they were getting hammered by wildlife. Pollinators are still able to get to the Flowers , just have to go out and lift the tulle because wasps have a hard time getting out Also tulle does a great job against June bugs allowing you to easily pick them of the fabric and dispose of them

[@doe9de995]

It's worth noting a blueberry bush being purple or any other colors isn't always a bad thing, I have a blueberry variety that has a natural normal purple coloration to the leaves.

[@pear92]

Growing blueberries in my area (SE Idaho) is super difficult, because both our soil AND water are very high pH. Even if you amend the soil, the pH goes back up every time you water. People in my local gardening group suggest growing honeyberries instead; they apparently taste a lot like blueberries, but don’t need the high acidity like blueberry plants do.

[@YasuTaniina]

I also live in SE Idaho. Haven't tried blueberries, but I'm definitely making a note of the honeyberries now. I also haven't heard of honeyberries. I'll have to see if anyone local sells them

[@be6715]

Honeyberries are good, and the birds think so too. :) I have used netting to get my fair share - or maybe just a few. Funny thing, two years ago I had a duck nesting under the bird netting and the honeyberry bush (live in IL). Almost stepped on the nest while trying to get some honeyberries or put the netting up, can't remember which now. Anyway saw the nest, and the duck seemed to be fine with getting under the bush and netting. One day, duck was gone, and egg shells were left. Never sure if eggs hatched or if nest was gotten into by another animal. Should say I live in suburbia, and no water source very close at hand (other than my multiple bird baths).

[@slowpoke4557]

Would collecting rain water give you a lower ph water source?

[@pear92]

@@slowpoke4557 Not really. We don’t get the rainfall to provide enough water for a garden without still having to pull the majority of it from the tap, as this is a high desert. Summers are very dry, going most of the season without any rain. Most of our precipitation comes from the winter snow.

[@slowpoke4557]

@pearsaregreat oh, I didn't know that. This might be a lot of effort to do, but wouldn't it be possible to hook up a rain collection system from the gutters of your roof and collect the water into barrels or a large tote? Filtering and whatnot might be an issue, I'm just wondering. I'm wanting to do something like that myself.

[@jeremyinthewild]

Thanks for the tips. Last year I had about a dozen wild blueberry plants pop up in my side yard so I've been nurturing them. This year I had a great harvest but like you I really didn't know much about them haha. Thanks to you and let Marvin know I appreciate it too!

[@cynthiaj4863]

Glad you'll be covering Blueberries more. I'm in AZ zone 9b and I am determined to grow some for my grandbaby 😊

[@kadiechristiansen2369]

A humble heart sharing knowledge of the old ways from those who walk before us is the best way to learn. Thank you Luke! Love that most of my seeds for next year came from your company!

[@slyborgl]

Great tips, love your channel! ❤ thanks for keeping the birds safe! 😊💯

[@donnayoung5942]

Thank you Marvin for sharing your secrets with Luke and all of us!😘

[@Mynx5050]

Thanks for the great tips. I have had super productive blueberries here in MT. Pest free, disease free, very winter hardy and the birds haven't been interested. They look beautiful in all seasons; survival food must have! LOVE & HUGS

[@tinamitchell3764]

I've used tomato cages turned upside down, wrapped the Tulle around and then held in place with a bungee cord to keep birds off of the plant.

[@lori-annallen9186]

Yes! Tomato cages are great for this! I have upside down tomato cages around all "bloobz" in my row (love the BIG ones I scored on super clearance years ago before I decided I don't like using cages for tomatoes, lol), and on the largest ones I wrapped them with 1" chicken wire to keep the blue jays out. Worked great. The bees and hummingbirds could still get in, bird eaters could not. Tied reflective tape to the tops, or pretty colored glass bottles over them if they're the shorter ones so I don't walk into them. The biggest drawback is, like someone else mentioned, sometimes a branch will stick leaves through or berries, so you have to be careful when taking it off for harvest, though that could be solved if I left one section I could unhook and open🤔 Also hopefully someday the bushes will be too big for them. My thought then was to get or make some of those even larger square type cages that can be stored flat, and attach wire to THOSE. Also- I think birds get confused by the Pink Lemonade blueberry variety. They will try to get every other one of my bloobz, but I don't even have to cover it. Maybe they look unripe? 😅

[@DustinNulf]

My grandfather just poured saw dust all around his blueberries. Every year, whenever he had saw dust, it went on the blueberries. I used grass clippings every time I mowed my lawn. That's all you need to fertilize & acidify the soil at the same time. You're working too hard if you're fertilizing 4 times a year and testing and throwing down sulfur. Mulching with grass clippings or sawdust also prevents you from having to weed around them.

[@peterbedford2610]

I put a lot of azalea food on my blue berry bushes 4 months ago...they are exploding with fruit now.

[@anneyday3493]

I needed this video, nearly all my blueberry plants croaked soon after planting.

[@leelaural]

I knew that bluberries needed an acid soil but apparently I didn't give quite enough.....in the spring, will try again..

[@gerhardbraatz6305]

I use tulle for my squash to keep vine borer moths off them.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I struggle getting the pH amendment to last all season, and knowing when/how often to apply... I noticed that it wears off over the summer as irrigation washes it away, and it takes a while to work after you apply it so I can never catch it in time 😢.

[@hopewellinfo3321]

Thank you SO much!! I was given ten bushes this year! I really want them to succeed! We hope to teach children and adults how to be more connected to their food sources! God bless you and Marvin! 😊

[@SniperKingz]

Aren't the leaves supposed to turn red in the fall though? I understand red leaves in the growing season but in Oct-Nov my leaves usually turn red naturally before dormancy in the winter.

[@amygriffith3598]

Yes, they do. Several varieties have fall color- some are just yellow/orange and some are a red. Some even have beautiful red stems for winter color. So pretty!

[@MIgardener]

Yes, the leaves will turn red in the fall, but mine were red from the beginning lol

[@delyco1]

⁠ My understanding/experience has been that red leaves in a time other than fall has more to do weather conditions (sun and temperature). Your red leaves this year may have been on account of the smog reducing light to the plants… My experience has less to do with gardening and more to do with foraging and natural law. If you haven’t checked out Learn Your Land or Back to Eden, I HIGHLY suggest them both to improve your understanding of soil health. Feed soil, not plants…

[@sherriianiro747]

​​@@delyco1You are correct - some of mine had red leaves in the beginning of the season because we had a colder spring and was not getting enough light on one side!

[@loribethartist6353]

I was just going to comment about this!

[@evelynbrooks4436]

Thank you and Marvin. Very Helpful.

[@azannah]

I just bought 5 blueberry plants and am excited to see if I can keep them alive. I live in AZ so it will be a challenge. Thank you for all the good information. If I am successful next year I will start a blueberry forest. Have the land, just need to learn the tricks!

[@mollysmith6055]

Awesome video with great information, Luke. I tried growing blueberries many years ago with peat moss amendments and they just never thrived. Tried again this year and I'm trying to grab all the tips I can to be successful this time. Looking forward to future blueberry care videos.

[@sherriianiro747]

Don't feel bad, I have struggled with them too. They do take a couple years to get acclimated and once the do it's just a matter of keeping soil acidic, which is no problem for me because I have super acid soil here because of the trees.

[@PapaA7145]

As a side note we have discovered that dehydrating the blueberries slightly before freezing helps to keep them from becoming mushy while baking. By slightly I mean about half the time to dry them into raisins, usually 24 hours for large berries. The blueberry raisins are not desirable and take quite a bit of time to rehydrate.

[@strowd]

I have followed your tips and wow what a difference. Thanks. The sulfur was a game changer. ❤ your channel.

[@cyberwolf6667]

My puppy pruned my blueberry for me last fall, I guess I’m ready.

[@bigoljoe1829]

My favorite thing to use for bird deterrence in the garden are cheap rubber snakes like you'd get to prank your wife or a buddy or something. I leave them scattered around the majority of the birds keep well clear. Only problem is they get stolen by my kids or hawks once in awhile

[@marianagabel8361]

Thank you Luke and Marvin. 💕❤💕

[@kat3910]

This is all fascinating!! I will take these tips and use them next season. One question, though - tulle is very fine mesh indeed. How does it allow bees in to pollinate???

[@ChristaFree]

Pine needles raise acidity. Grass clippingssoaked in water in the sun makes a natural nitrogen fertilizer.

[@lleestimer2547]

Thanks Marvin!! and thank you as well, Luke.

[@dougstaab-gh5eh]

I have 20 blueberry plants myself, 6 different varieties, I also planted flowers amongst them, Black-eyed Susan's and red clover. Using sulfur helps, but also cutting dying flowers and using as nitrogen and mulching it around the base of the blueberry plants helps maintain moisture in the soil.

[@michaelcolors]

Thx! Great tips. Another ancient agricultural secret: always do planting or grafting (new beginnings) at or between the new moon and full; always do pruning activities or harvesting between the full moon and new. 🏋️❤

[@Dianaferrell222]

I’m new here. Excellent video. I would love to see you do a video with your fruit farmer. I love to listen to older people talk

[@leonadubois249]

Thank-you I just planted blueberries last spring I'll follow these instructions and hopefully they'll do well

[@Jasper.B]

Tulle is the spelling of the bird netting alternative if anyone was wondering like me and hearing tool (which is the correct pronunciation).

[@banzy3]

My cats favourite spot is the blueberry and currant patch. They just lounge about all day in the shade, rolling around in the dirt, and it keeps all the birds at bay.

[@autumnmeadows4079]

In Florida, it is important that we do not fertilize as the runoff during the rain runs to the bay and encourages overgrowth of some plants which leads to fish kill. any ideas how we deal with natural fertilizers so that we do not kill the bay in the process?

[@GreatWhiteWeasel]

Mulching with pine straw will also help lower your acidity.

[@mlmallory2780]

Great timing, was just working on my blueberries. Thank you!

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

Dear Lord, I need a local Marvin. I'm trying to grow in such a poor climate. Several years ago I put in some trees, I followed the directions to the "T", and they all died. I was upset about it and a lady said that, in our area, we MUST amend the soil. For *everything* we plant. Our dirt is so devoid of life, so stripped of organics, that it's a necessity. Yes, I chose the right trees and they will survive here - once established. But even the heartiest of plants need a boost in the beginning to give them that best chance. That single conversation helped me go from 100% failure to 75% success and I now have a dozen trees and bushes.

[@michellelyons7929]

Thanks for the tips!

[@dustyflats3832]

Great points! Thx Marvin and Luke.

[@MIgardener]

Glad you enjoyed it. Happy gardening!

[@deborahcollis9814]

Some of mine have pink leaves, but they are supposed to at this time of year.

[@Niaru.m]

Tulle sounds good, but I have doubts that pollinators can get through it, as its as closely woven as agricultural fleece in a way...

[@amberdube2041]

Thoughts on using his fertilizing techniques for all berries or fruit trees?

[@peanutbuster]

Can you see if he would be willing to make a video with you? Or maybe an orchard series, focusing on various fruit trees/bushes? He seems like he would be a delight to learn from, as well as you.

[@dlbet4110]

Great info. I am failing over and over again trying to propagate my blueberry bushes. I'd love to hear your method.

[@tavanasibgatullah]

Amazing video. I bought a blueberry last year spring. I planted it in a pot, which was a largest pot I had at home. But this year I’m planning to re pot the plant an I’m confused if I should do it during the dormant season, or if I should wait until it start to come back from the dormancy and then change the pot! 🤔

[@jabolbot9371]

Awesome information!! Thank you Marvin and Luke!

[@mary_land0]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Elinorisgettingbetter]

Thanks Marvin!

[@MattyDemello]

Wow. I fertilize my blueberries like 4 times a year too. My blueberries are like 10ft tall and insanely loaded. Marvin's right. I also prune 2 times a year. Once in the winter and another after i pick the blueberries clean. Heavy pruning in the winter, light pruning after harvest. I noticed after pruning after harvest, ceazy new shoots get to form new blueberry buds for next year. If i pruned only 1 time in the winter, i lose some buds.

[@shelleyquandt8243]

Could have used this information years ago. My plants are around 30 years old. Didn't get berries for 8 years. They never got bigger than maybe 7 or 8 inches tall. Finally figured out the rabbits and deer where eating them. So I put chicken wire around them. Wow what a difference. They grew a 2foot the first year and I got berries. I planted 3 new bushes to replace them this year. The old ones are still producing. But I have been told the bushes are usually only good 20 years. I would miss my berries terribly so new ones will be ready. Never really used fertilizer. I take up the oak leaves in the fall and put them all around the bushes. Seems to work guess they are high in acid. Sorry I use the netting or I would not get any berries. Never have had a casualty occasionally one bird will get in and I will have to let them out.

[@marthakratz7877]

I was wondering if you would specify waiting until the plants are done flowering to cover them with tulle so you don't inadvertently prevent pollination?

[@MIgardener]

They are only covered when the fruit is ripening and will be food for birds, he leaves it off for pollinators in the spring.

[@tyramasters-heinrichs921]

thank you

[@sightline4004]

1:10 Turns out you can just grow grass under the Blueberry to correct the iron deficiency, look up the studies about it.

[@tracenixon5487]

Black snake caught in berry netting first time used it, took snake to local herpetarium for assistance, did get netting removed set snake lose in woods, never used netting again

[@agaba5500]

man i love blueberries. we have festivals for them in michigan

[@sharonwachowski3951]

Thank as always Luke.

[@karindinarda8755]

my blueberry plants are about 4 years old and I've never trimmed them. Can I trim them now?

[@vickiwestlund7777]

I came here to ask that same question

[@garlicgirl3149]

Love seniors 👵🧓

[@Growinginthenorth]

Does the pruning work for both lowbush, and highbush varieties?

[@Marcosworld77]

A really good and informative video, good job!

[@markclemmens2862]

I live 20 minutes from Whitesbog Village where the blueberry was "domesticated". The best way to grow a blueberry plant here is to put it in the ground and wait.

[@stacyburden-pravato346]

Great info on blueberries. I'm growing for them first time. Mine are in containers, any tips for overwintering? The tag said to bring inside to a garage.

[@mneraasen224]

Is it a wider spaced tulle? Wondering if there are pollinators needed or is the regular tulle okay. I’ve actually worked on tutus😂🙌🏻 I use bird netting for my strawberries and 3 times I’ve had a snake get twisted up in it until the snake was a goner.

[@shelleyquandt8243]

Don't put tulle on until the berries form.

[@lauramasonoff8675]

That back porch is to die for!!!

[@lovesees4320]

Like lime with brassicas

[@bobfrye8879]

would you advise/suggest pruning in the fall? or wait until spring? Thank you

[@MIgardener]

I prune my plants in the spring, and it seemed to not affect them very much, but they had already begun growing, so maybe in the fall, just after they go dormant, would be best.

[@bobfrye8879]

Thanks so much for the reply @@MIgardener

[@robertnewman3646]

Why not use an upside down tomato cage attaching the tools with clothe pins for young pkants

[@reneecasey5719]

perfect timing---- I NEEDED THIS

[@ty_845]

I’m in DESPERATE need of help. This is my first season growing blueberries and my plants’ leaves are turning a dark red color. I bought the plants from a reliable nursery, they are 3 years old and 100% disease free. The soil PH is at a perfect 4.5 and I prepared the soil beforehand with a 4-3-6 fertilizer specifically for blueberries. I have absolutely no idea what could be causing this problem so any help would be greatly appreciated from anyone.

[@olenmiles9334]

Thank KZbin for fast forward.

[@juystafanreview2532]

Uhg... How much of the sulfer do we use on a single plant? Wish you could show it. Or maybe you do and I commented before I got to that part.

[@deborahmerchant7603]

It's mid October, and I thought those were the colors the leaves turn in fall.....

[@melissak8892]

So one fertilization before flowering, one just before fruit ripens, and one in Fall with high potassium mix...which one am I missing? You mentioned 4 applications.

[@angelaland9403]

During planting

[@melissak8892]

thank you! @@angelaland9403

[@tylerb69]

And this whole time I've been fertilizing once to break dormancy lol. Looks like I'm going to switch things up

[@lovesees4320]

Marvin the Man! Fertiliser ace!

[@lindaownp]

Is it okay to prune the bushes in the fall?

[@chasmarischen4459]

THANK YOU!!!

[@cindystokes2367]

Luke, I have three blueberries potted, one of them is red the other two green. I feel Ive kept each of the blues soil fertilized with Espoma blueberry tone. It may be time for another fertilization. Should I add sulphur to the one that is red? Or just blueberrytone all three and that may be enough to shift the ph. I may need to check the ph on each too!

[@laurieclarkson9180]

The color also depends on the season and where you live. Blueberry plants are awesome for fall interest in a garden because they turn red in the fall. Kinda like Japanese Maples.

[@JS-ss9my]

If you use tulle, how do the bees get to the blossoms for pollination? The holes on tulle are far too small for bees to pass through.

[@MIgardener]

You don’t cover them up until the fruit begins to ripen, because other than that nothing is going to get to the fruit.

[@a708mkw]

Thanks for the video, I have some older blueberry plants so when should I prune them in the fall or after harvest

[@MIgardener]

I would probably recommend pruning them in the fall after they go dormant.

[@Daughter_of_the_MostHigh]

so what about if it has not put on flowers?

[@MattyDemello]

Once in a while i like to get a 5gal bucket. Fill it with water and use PH down till the water is 5 ph. Then i water my blueberries. Theyll get instantly happy hahaha

[@JerrieHacker]

I am currently preparing a raised bed for blueberries. I knew about the peat and plan to use alot in the bed. My question is how close together can I plant them. It appears on the video that yours are about 2 feet apart on a 4x8 bed. Is this correct?

[@paulnipper4071]

Thank you for sharing

[@mcbru102]

Luke, Should I prune the blueberries in the Fall?

[@MIgardener]

That would be the best time.

[@InAweOfAnimals]

At what time of year did you prune that first year?

[@brentsbackyardredneckery]

Marvin uses what? Tool? I'm gonna have to ask what in the world that is. I'm planning on turning my sorghum patch into a blueberry patch this year and am curious if I heard you right on the name of it.

[@leobaltz2057]

What time of year does he recommend to prune

[@Carol32547]

Tulle is awesome!!

[@trudymautz4388]

Great tips Luke

[@bspevans7940]

I have three blueberry plants that are 2 years old this year and they have barely grown and definitely didn't even flower. I found out WAY too late that you aren't supposed to grow them near tomatoes and I actually did plunk down 2 cherry tomatoes in between them. Epic mistake, apparently. So hopefully this coming year will be much different. :(