Well, I went to make the last of the blueberry jam today and found that all the frozen blueberries had already been processed. It was just the thing for a blustery, and wet winter's day. I forgot to look on the content list on front of the freezer. Oh well, here is a compilation of this past fall's fotos-- from the lottie to the pot. On the bush in the... Harvested... The big 'cauldron' full of blueberries, sugar and pectin brought to a boil... Big pot with the pouring beker... She pours... ...and I tighten... The finished product--now all I have to do is let them cool and make the lables.
Ohhh, that looks yummy. I have several bags of blueberries in the freezer from last years trip to the blueberry farm that I really need to get made into jam.
Those berries look lovely! I'm afraid they would never make it to the freezer at all around here. Too many of us eating them straight off the bush. Which sort do you grow?
okay Sjoerd you an your wife are hired,,lol. that looks wonderful. nice big plump blueberries. since i have 3 fields of blueberries, you can make all the jam for me. lol. i had quite a few bags of blueberries from last summer an everyone of them is now either opened or gone,,,lol.... they don't last long here at all. once blueberries are ripe here, there is always a bowl sitting on the table for anyone to enjoy.
Hi, I will have to look in the shed to see what types I have--I have a diagram of how they are planted and what sort they are. I understand that they do better if there are different types mixed together, so that is how I planted them I did. Ah! I pulled out "the little Black Book", and it's in there. I have Early Blue, Goldtraube, Northland and the last one I just can't make out the name of. I scribbled it pretty badly, I'm afraid. It looks like something with the name "grosfruit" in it. It is the one featured above in the picture of the bush. I am hoping that one will die or stop producing because I want to get one called "Patriot". It looks good to me. I had to put a little fence around the grouping of bushes because the rabbits ate the leaves and brenches of them dramatixcally last year. I was lucky to have any at all. In fact two bushes had any leaves or berries at all, due to the "grazing" of the rabbits.
OO blueberry jam!!! I can taste it now and I know it's absolutely delicious. I have a problem growing fruit here because as soon as it's ripe I have to fight the birds for it. They're up earlier than me so guess who wins most years!!
I have the exact same problem...so I built a cage for my little sweeties. Before that I stuck poles in the ground and threw a huge net over the whole thing.....all the wat to the ground . Now I don't loose even one berry.
Those are some of the biggest berries I've ever seen. You must have just the right conditions. They're a bit touchy to grow here, and I've never been succesful. We've got the acid soil they like, but it may get too cold even for the cold-hardy varieties. In the years I had them, only the portion below the snow line survived, and then they eventually died off. They're so good for you (high in antioxidants) and have a great fall color...I'm blue with envy!
Thank you 'berry' much. I know they are good, and to a degree "healthy". I luvv'em! You know, I'll bet your measured success may be due to they type that you are growing, or tried to grow. When we lived in Alaska, there were un-estimatable (is that a word?) miles of them growing wild...and if they can survive the climate of the alaskan interior, it makes me think that there must be at least one that is commercially available for your climate sort. Don't you think? Also perhaps Biita can help you with a sort compatable with your area, 'cos she has lots of plants that grow way up in Norway year after year. It might be worth an inquiry, if you are a blueberry lover like me.
Yeah we're "Zone 4" here (according to the US hardiness map), and many varieties say they're hardy for this area, although most only will grow to Zone 5. I've tried several that said they were hardy to Zone 4. There are some wild varieties that grow on the outskirts of area woods, but the berries are very small and not so sweet. Wild blackberries and raspberries are more prevalent so I forage for those when they're ripe (we have black bears in our area, though, so I'm always on the look out for them when I'm collecting one of their favorite foods!). I'd appreciate any advice from cold-weather berry growers, and hopefully the varieties you plant will be available to me here.
OH.. I know all about those pesky bears pillaging blackberry and respberry bushes!. We've had a couple of close shaves whilst living in alsaka. I hope the types that we have here will be available to you there. The only thing that I have to do sometimes is throw a little "fleece" over them when they have blossoms and it's TOO frosty-cold.
Thank you Sjoerd. The reason I asked is that we're planning a few bushes in a hitherto unplanted area. If you're satisified with yours, I'll give one or two a try here. We're definately planting "Patriot" - they do well here.
I have blueberries but they aren't on a bush. the only ones that can grow in the artic are the flat berries, close to the grown, an are usually wild. the berry itself is pretty big for a wild variety. not as sweet as what grows in the south of norway but beggers can't be choosy,,lol. Kasey all i can say is try to winter sow your seeds,,the cold an freezing will weed out the weak seeds an all that is left will be the plantlets that can survive in your area. Wisconson is alot like here on the island, lots of snow, a few weeks of unbearably freezing weather, but will warm up but stay at the freezing point. try the winter sowing. infact i just put a few boxes to start my winter sowing. not blueberries, but other plants that i am trying to breed for cold weather. Good luck to you!
Droopy, I the best producers for me are the Northland and Goldtraub. The berries are big, delicious ...and there are lots of them! I also do alot to make the ground that they are in as close to perfect as I can get it. I also dote on them too, adding water when things are extra warm and extra dry. I hope that you guys have great success with them. It is my main fruit. Yeah... the Patriot gets great reviews. I wish that I had the room for just one more plant. darn it!
