Berries

Bareback

Well-Known Member
For several years I've been trying to get closer to organic. But I ran out of mushroom compost last summer and the mushroom farm in Quincy has gone out of business. So I bought a bag of 8/8/8. So far I've used it in my remote gardens, but I guess I'll be using it in the veggie garden this year. A buck a pound for the holly-tone is just too much for my mental wellbeing with as much garden as I have.
I make my own compost from oak leaves and grass clippings, layered and mixed. I’ll add other stuff sometimes but it makes a rich, worm filled soil for top dressing and amending this red clay soil I have. And triple 8 is my go to garden and all around fertilizer. But the blueberry bushes I go ahead and use a little of the ammonium sulfate it does make a difference in fruit production over just top dressing but the bushes are healthy either way.
 

injinji

Well-Known Member
I make my own compost from oak leaves and grass clippings, layered and mixed. I’ll add other stuff sometimes but it makes a rich, worm filled soil for top dressing and amending this red clay soil I have. And triple 8 is my go to garden and all around fertilizer. But the blueberry bushes I go ahead and use a little of the ammonium sulfate it does make a difference in fruit production over just top dressing but the bushes are healthy either way.
I was spoiled with the easy and cheap supply of mushroom mulch. My last load was $475 for one of those huge dump trucks. They had to get rid of it, so the biggest cost was fuel and the trucker's time. That load lasted 5 or 6 years. I do have folks who will let me get horse, cow and chicken manure, but I never get around to getting a load.

Here on the Sandhill I use grass clippings in the garden. It helps, but I still get jokes about growing on the beach when I post garden pictures. I've been planting loblolly down at the riverfield all week. (I got in on the hurricane recovery block grant, and I have to replant 25% of a stand, that is at least 125 trees per acre) The dirt is really dark and will stick to your dibblers. I came across several of my old patch spots. Plenty of sun, but not much cover. Give these seedlings 3 or 4 years to get head high, and I may give it another go round.
 

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
We had a really cold snap from Christmas though the end of January but it is in the 50-70f most days now and I don’t know if it will get cold again or not but I’m in the Deep South so I have to get the fruit trees and vines ready. I usually do it in January but I didn’t have time or something else was going on when I did.
We lived in Louisiana and in January it was starting Spring.

We was down there last March and seemed everything was two months ahead of here.

This year I almost ready to plant early stuff that usually starts middle of March.
 

Bareback

Well-Known Member
We lived in Louisiana and in January it was starting Spring.

We was down there last March and seemed everything was two months ahead of here.

This year I almost ready to plant early stuff that usually starts middle of March.
Last year was actually a cool spring for us with a helluva cold snap in April. I think was mid 60’s today and mid 70’s forecasted for next week. We’re just a couple states to the east of coonass country.
 

Oldguyrealy

Well-Known Member
Last year was actually a cool spring for us with a helluva cold snap in April. I think was mid 60’s today and mid 70’s forecasted for next week. We’re just a couple states to the east of coonass country.
Had to laugh called a guy from there that and my Father in Law he isn't Black.

He didn't want me to have anything to do with his Daughter because of my race so I married her.
 

injinji

Well-Known Member
Sister and all the cousins had a tree cutting and brush pulling day at the big berry patch a couple three months ago. They cleaned it up really nice. You can get in the middle of the patch now. They are loaded too. With my eat two and put one in the cup method, I'm getting about half a pint per night. (I'm not getting my full three miles in though)

DSCF3157.JPG
 

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
View attachment 5394287

My delicious raspberry fields.
I reckon I need to tie 'em down, getting pretty tall for season that's just starting.

Are people topping their raspberries?? :D
Not sure if this applies to all varieties, but I think they fruit near the top of the cane the first year/season, then on the middle the second year, then kinda fizzle out and can be removed. Blackberries are the ones that grow up super long and then arch over
 

cage

Well-Known Member
Not sure if this applies to all varieties, but I think they fruit near the top of the cane the first year/season, then on the middle the second year, then kinda fizzle out and can be removed. Blackberries are the ones that grow up super long and then arch over
Hmm, didn't know about those sort of raspberries.
I've always had varieties that produce the stalk on first year and second year they produce berries and then they die.
Got few different in the mix.

My blackberries on the other hand are nice and bushy :)
I suppose plenty different varities in both
 

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
Hmm, didn't know about those sort of raspberries.
I've always had varieties that produce the stalk on first year and second year they produce berries and then they die.
Got few different in the mix.

My blackberries on the other hand are nice and bushy :)
I suppose plenty different varities in both
Actually I could be wrong. I think we have an ever-bearing variety, they fruit their first year in the fall on the upper part of the cane, then the following year in early summer on the lower part...
 

FatherNelson

Well-Known Member
Be careful with raspberries. It takes them about a year, but theyre very invasive and impossible to get rid of. I would use them like a boundary bush if you can. Or behind the shed in a crappy spot. Blackberries dont spread as much.

I personally went to hanging strawberries, blueberries and fruit trees. Just need to control ants and a couple others.
 
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