The first harvest of the Southern Highbush Blueberry cultivar evaluation was today June 7, 2022. While it was a small harvest, these cultivars are ripening ahead of the Northern Highbush Blueberries that are also planted here at the station. This project is funded by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the USDA. … [Read more...] about Southern Highbush Blueberry Harvest
Southern highbush blueberries were planted in a new research plot today. Again, spring or fall is the ideal time for planting blueberries to reduce transplant shock and allow the plants to establish a solid root system before winter time. However, the wet spring weather and scheduling prevented us from planting until now. At least this week was "cooler". The key to planting … [Read more...] about Southern Highbush Blueberries Planted
Today the field crew burned holes in the weed barrier for the blueberry plants to be planted soon. They used a homemade device to measure the plant spacing and a propane torch to burn and remove the hole for the plant. … [Read more...] about Burning holes in the weed barrier for the blueberry plants
While this is not the typical time of year for planting blueberries, the beds for the southern highbush blueberries were put in today. The rainy weather had delayed the the ground from being workable for using the bed shaper. The plot had previously been soil tested, amended and worked up. We finally had enough dry weather and sunshine to dry the plot and be able to work the … [Read more...] about Southern Highbush Blueberry Beds
This plot is being prepared for a new research project that will receive grant funding from the Missouri Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant program. This project will evaluate the viability of Southern Highbush Blueberry as an option for growers in Southwest Missouri. A soil test was taken earlier this fall and the amendments are being made. With blueberries … [Read more...] about Site preparations began today for a new Southern Highbush Blueberry research project coming in the Spring