Growing Blueberries 



Aclaptabilitv — Cultivatod bluohorries are being 

 suceessfiillv grown from Isortli Carolina to tlie 

 Northern boundaries of the Country. The best 

 indication tiuit bluel)erries may sueee(>d on a soil 

 is that tliey or some related plants, such as huckle- 

 berries, azaleas, or laurel, are found growing tliere 

 naturally. We do not feel any exact limit of adapt- 

 ability "has Ix'en established and would suggest 

 trial "plantings anywiiere except in tlie deep South 

 or where the soil is alkaline or very dry. 



Soils— vj<:kv IMI'OKTANT— Natural blueberry 

 soils have a pll value from .'5.S to 5.5 with best 

 growtli occurring l)e(W(>eu pll 4.1 to pII 5. These 

 soils have an abundance of humus and a fairly 

 constant high water table. Such soils must have a 

 good surfat-e drainage, as flooding during the grow- 

 ing season may cause serious injury. I'lanting on 

 this tviie soil is usually done on wide ridges, six 

 to seven inches high. DO NOT PLxVNT I'.LIJE- 

 I'.EKKIES IN KIC'II (JAKDEN SOIL THAT HAS 

 HAD THE r.ENEEIT OF LIME. STABLE MA- 

 Nl'KE OK OTHER SOIL SWEETENERS. H you 

 s(>t bluel»(>rry i)lants in your garden or lawn the 

 best method is to dig a large hole where each plant 

 is to be set and fill with woods leaf mold (the de- 

 cayed leaf and straw matter found in woodsland). 

 If" this material is not readily available mix your 

 soil witli generous j)roportions of peat, sawdust 

 (i)referablv rotting hardwood sawdust), or similar 

 humus materials. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES 

 should lime or stable manure be permitted to come 

 into contact with the area in which plants are set. 

 It sliould be borne in mind that the productiveness 

 of a blueberry planting depends largely on the 

 moisture supplied in the upper soil. 



Mulrhing— On all but natural blueberry soil, a 

 permanent mulch should be applied as soon as the 

 plants are set. Such materials as straw, sawdust, 

 salt hay. sudan grass, pine needles or leaves should 

 be si)r('ad around the plants about six inches deep. 

 Further applications should be made each year in 

 suflicient (luantities to maintain the mulch. With 

 individual plants mulcli should be applied over an 

 area six to eight feet square. 



Fertilizer — The application of commercial ferti- 

 lizer has given a very marked increase in the yield 

 and size of fruit. Applications of 14 to % lb. per 

 bush have been very successful. We are using a 

 standard 5-10-5 fertilizer with very good results. 

 Application should be made in a wide band spread 

 evenly around the plant about 10 inches from the 

 plant. AVhere sawdust mulcli is used, 2 oz. sul- 

 phate ammonia per bush should be added the sec- 

 ond and third years to supply necessary nitrogen. 

 Also see point No. 2 across this page. NO FER- 

 TILIZER SHOULD BE APPLIED THE FIRST 

 I YEAR PLANT IS SET. 



I'L.\NTIN(; l-'or commercial planting, plants are 

 set every four feet in rows eight to ten feet apart 

 as many varieties of bluelterries reacii a hi'igiit of 

 six to seven feet and a width of five to six feet. 

 Plants sliould i)e set slightly deeper than they grew 

 in the nursery, with the roots well spr(>ad out. 

 ^Vlieii planting, we place a thin layer of pulver- 

 ized peat and sand, whicli has been soaked and 

 mixed half and half, Ix'low and above tli(> roots. 

 We feel this makes an ideal rooting medium, and 

 Avill keep tlie plant well supi)lied with moisture 

 until it becomes establislied. Before i)lanting, oiie- 

 hali" to two-thirds of the top growth should be 

 I)riiiuMl otr. Sliould some of tiie liiids lie missed the 

 blossoms may lie piiiclied off first year as they 

 appear. For the home planting, plants may be 

 set in whatever manner is convenient, giving them 

 about thirty-two square feet of space to each plant. 



Yields — On good blueberry soil, yields of G to 8 

 pints per plant may be expected from mature 

 plants and with medium pruning iilants may pro- 

 duce 12 to 20 pints. However, most varieties will 

 tend to overbear and after the third year it is the 

 practice of commercial growers to prune the plants 

 to keep up the size of the berries and encourage 

 vigorous new growth for the next year's crop. In- 

 dividual bushes will produce some fruit after being 

 planted 1 year. A good rule of thumb is to esti- 

 mate 1 pint per year of age of well established 

 bushes; for example, G pints from a G year bush, 

 etc. Present records indicate that blueberry plant- 

 ings, with proper care, will be profitably produc- 

 tive for fifty to seventy-five years, and possibly 

 longer. 



IMPORTANT POINTS 



1. Plant at least two varieties to provide for c'r(»«s 

 pollination. Cultivated blueberries are consid- 

 ered self-sterile. Do not permit to fruit first 

 year. Be sure to follow instructions in plant- 

 ing: parag-raph above. 



2. Blueberries should not be planted on soils limed 

 in recent years unless actual tests show soils 

 are still acid enough for blueberries. For less 

 acid soils, decaying- leaves or acid peat, rotting 

 straw, sawdust, etc., may be mixed into soli to 

 make conditions suitable. This is important if 

 .vou are planting in your garden or on your 

 lawn. Aluminum sulphate at rate of 5 lbs. per 

 100 sq. ft. and up to 10 lbs. on heavy loams is 

 excellent for garden plantings. 



3. Do not permit lime or stable manure to come 

 into contact with immediate area in whioh 

 Blueberry plants are set. See directions on 

 Soils and Fertilizers on this page. 



You will never believe just how in- 

 credibly wonderful it is to behold a 

 blueberry bush in fruit, to pick and 

 eat these marvelous berries until you 

 experience it youself. 



And this rich experience can be en- 

 joyed from your own lawn or garden. 



Blueberry bushes can be pruned 

 and adapted to any landscaping plan. 



Full insructions wath every order. 

 Add beauty to your home and grow 

 fruit that will be the sensation of your 

 neighborhood. 



LOOK WHAT 

 ^19.50 BUYS 



40 2 yr. 9-12" Blueberry Plants $19.50 



30 3 yr. 12-18" Blueberry Plants $19.50 



20 3 yr. 18-24" Blueberry Plants $19.50 



We select varieties guaranteed suitable 

 for your area and climate. All top-grade stock 

 labeled with name. Please be sure to indicate 

 size plants desired. 



OIK BLUEBEKKY PLANTINGS LAST A LIFETIME 



BUY RAYNEK'S PLANTS AND YOL BUY THE BEST 



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