May Update

Blueray variety of blueberries 5.16.18

A Rainy May-Day!

I thought you might like to see the progress of the berries toward the ripening stage.  I believe the cold weather and late freeze has slowed the berries so that we are looking at an opening of the fields around the middle of June.  This is a little later than normal, but it's to be expected with the cold temperatures that we had.

The variety shown to the left is one that we've had a long time.  It produces a large sweet berry and somehow is still thriving and doing well - even after 25 years of being planted.  Some of our other plants we've replaced, but this one is actually an old planting on our property.

We can see this group of rows from our patio window and often see bunny rabbits bouncing around under the plant bushes or deer grazing in the newly planted field next to it.

Duke variety of blueberries

Just a few years ago, we planted an acre with several new variety of plants and picked on those rows for the first time last season.  The variety you see to the right is an early producer and ripens early in the season.  Les placed a kid-friendly swingset and tower right in front of it, so parents of young children really like picking berries in front of these plants.

The Duke variety is the starter of our season - usually ripening by June 5th and is a mild berry.  It is never sour at all!  It's nice to see how they've grown in the last year and how pretty and green everything is after the rain we had today!

Pimlico variety

Les added a row of Pimlico blueberries and hasn't been very happy with this variety.  The size is always really small - about the size you would want in a blueberry muffin.  Most people seem to prefer picking large berries - the bucket fills faster with the big berries.

Another problem with this variety is that that birds swoop down and easily take off with the crop.  Somehow, we don't find many after they turn blue.  You can see we really do have berries, though!

Blackberries Blooming

Blackberries 5.16.18

The blackberries are looking like they will have another large crop this year.  You can see the blooms are still on, but some of the blooms have fallen and turned into little green berries, so they are beginning their way toward a summer crop.

This variety is our largest variety - the Natchez - and can produce a berry as big as a person's thumb.  They are easy to pick and may take about 10 minutes to pick a gallon when the season is going strong.

Since they are large, the seeds are also large so you may have to strain some seeds if you're sensitive to large seeds.  Otherwise they have a great sweet taste and are wonderful in blackberry jelly and jam.

Nova Raspberries

Raspberries in Decline

Our Nova variety of raspberries have really suffered and don't look like they will bear many berries this year.  You can see that some are still in bloom and are just beginning to form berries.

This seems so late to me.  Last year I was beginning to pick raspberries at this time, so I guess they're at least 2 to 3 weeks later than normal.  It's so sad; raspberries are my favorite berry!

Les thinks we may need to take out the nova and do a replanting of different stock next year.  They've begun a decline in production which can happen with old root stock.  

Thankfully, our purple raspberries - the royalty - seem to be performing well and looking like they're going to have a good crop.  Maybe I can look forward to those raspberries!

Well, I think you've got a glimpse of all 3 types of berries we have on the farm.  I'll check back in with an update soon.  Until then, enjoy the rainy days along with the warm, balmy weather.

God is good - all the time!
Kathy