Re: HELP :Bueberries
thanks everyone for the Blueberry info. I now have enough to at least have a
go.
regards to all
Janet
Richard & Janet Blenkinship
Crete
janetble@otenet.gr
----- Original Message -----
From: M. & L. Doster <mld@theworks.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: HELP :Bueberries
> Yes, you can grow blueberries in a Mediterranean climate (I think).
>
> Currently in California growing blueberries in the San Joaquin Valley and
on
> the Central Coast is being investigated. The blueberry plants seem to be
> doing OK.
>
> I planted a couple of Southern Highbush blueberry bushes last spring, and
> they are doing well.
>
> As has been mentioned, blueberries are not typical Mediterranean plants.
For
> my blueberry bushes, I had to worry about the following:
>
> 1. Getting the right cultivar. The problem is getting a cultivar that
> matches your winter chilling (summer seems not to be a problem). Many
areas
> with a Mediterranean climate do not get much winter chilling. Working off
my
> memory, Northern Highbush blueberries need something like 800-1200 hours
of
> winter chilling, whereas Southern Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberries need
> more like 100-600 hours (depending on cultivar). So, there are currently
> blueberry cultivars available that need very little chilling during the
> winter. In the southern United States, there is a breeding program (might
be
> more than one program) trying to develop more low-chill cultivars.
>
> 2. Getting the soil right. Blueberries seem to need acidic soil. Anyway, I
> added lots of peat moss (besides compost, etc) to my soil (enough to make
it
> 50% peat moss). That's something I had read somewhere.
>
> 3. Giving the plants enough water. Blueberry bushes really like water.
Mine
> didn't have any trouble with the summer heat as long as they had plenty of
> water. So, I ended up giving them lots of water frequently (more than the
> other plants).
>
> My plants seem to be doing well and have shown good growth. There is a
> planting of blueberries nearby (that is older than mine) that seems to
have
> no trouble producing lots of fruit.
>
> --Mark
> Mark Doster
> central San Joaquin Valley, California
> USDA zone 9
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janet B <janetble@otenet.gr>
> To: Medit-plants <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Date: Monday, September 20, 1999 12:21 PM
> Subject: HELP :Bueberries
>
>
> Hi everyone
>
> In the sunday papers this weekend Blueberries, along with strawberries
(see
> Nans posting) were said to be especially healthy. Mopping up free
radicals,
> deferring old age etc. there must be lots of knowledge in the group on
this
> plant and how best to grow and fruit it. In England we could buy it in the
> supermarket, here in Crete it is unheard of.
> Can we grow it in our mediterranean climate. Any advice please?
>
> regards
>
> Janet
> Richard & Janet Blenkinship
> Crete
>
> janetble@otenet.gr
>
>
