Who has them, who has enough land and doesn’t have them and WHY?
Since I was a child I have always had at the very least apple trees (NY duh) I planed a row of raspberries last year and they are doing great, This year I am thinking about adding a row of blueberry bushes. Here is the deal. I can get 6 bushes for around $40. They will produce for the rest of my life, like 15 Quarts per year per bush. So thats 90 Quarts per year. If you go buy a quart of blueberries in the store, you are paying $3.50 to $5 per quart!!! Even frozen is a couple bucks a quart. I make that back the first year and get 90 free quarts every year after that for the rest of my life!
Can anyone tell me they eat 90 quarts of blueberries per year? How about rapberries? Blackberries and blackcaps. These things are basically one time cost items that produce expensiveish food for you year after year after year. In the case of raspberries, they spread, so a few plants will turn into a huge hedge that you have to keep cutting back because they spread so much.
Eventually my whole yard is going to be a damn orchard. All the fresh fruit and berries I can shake a stick and and I could sell them on the side of the road for a couple bucks if I have too much anyways.
Just some thoughts I wanted to share. Millernurseries.com for good quality and good deals.
I got hooked after I put in some blueberry bushes. It’s awesome. Mix up different varieties so you’ll have them fruiting at different times of the year.
I just started with raspberries and currants. It’s all great. Also put in a mulberry tree.
If I’m going to work to help something grow, I want it to feed me.
Glad you started this thread…I’ve been thinking of doing this in addition to the vegetable garden I already have. Any advice on planting locations or other tips?
Give the extra away and save nothing but the best berries for yourself. Otherwise you could even sell them to your friends for 1/4 to 1/2 the price of the store to help raise money for supplements. I would buy berries from someone I knew knowing they came right from their yard instead of some mass produced blueberry farm.
The only real tip I have is to get your soil tested. Especially with berries, but each different fruit or berry plant has ideal soil conditions. for the price of one bag of loam or ash, you could triple your produce output by 3x over a very long time, like 10 years or more. I used to live on a hill. The thing with hills is that the water naturally washes nutrients down the hill. I know live in a valley about a few hundred yards from a medium size creek/stream.
My soil is absolutely the bomb right now. In fact the raspberries I planted last spring were from my wife’s grandmother, she gave half to us and half to my in laws (who live on a hill). My raspberries took off and produced two small crops of berries the first year which is very uncommon for the first year after transplant. Theirs, planted the same day, died. I have 25 offshoots this year that are already between 6" and 2 Ft tall, aside from the original plants. Good soil is very important.
[quote]bushidobadboy2 wrote:
Don’t forget the bird netting and cage you’ll need, to stop the pilfering of your nutritional goodness by winged creatures.
Also there may be certain insects and fungi that blight your bushes, leaving them unable to produce properly.
BBB[/quote]
I find an air rifle or pistol is more effective. Plus, hey it’s some additional protein to throw on the grill right!
But seriously, with cherry trees this is a MUST, I don’t think it’s a problem with apples or plums or grapes, or pears, or peaches, or nectarines. I’m not sure about blueberries, I have not had any experience with them yet.
I have over 80 fruit trees, most varieties, and another 30+ berry bushes, grapes, blackberries, etc. in the yard. Make over 60 gallons of wine a year, plus keep myself, neighbors, and coworkers supplies. Drip irrigation is the way to go.
Highly recommend it. Store bought can’t begin to compare to home grown
[quote]derf wrote:
I have over 80 fruit trees, most varieties, and another 30+ berry bushes, grapes, blackberries, etc. in the yard. Make over 60 gallons of wine a year, plus keep myself, neighbors, and coworkers supplies. Drip irrigation is the way to go.
Highly recommend it. Store bought can’t begin to compare to home grown[/quote]
Ok, so once I get some grapes in will you teach me how to make wine? My sister drinks a bottle a god damn night, I could literally get rich off it if it’s good. LOL
My folks put in a plum, a peach, and an apple tree about 3-4 years back and a grape vine. Apart from the squirrels that line up in our yard to steal the fruit, I love it, haha. We’re getting some blueberry bushes soon since that might be the one fruit my little bro will eat.
