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Adventures in Blueberry Farmingin Hamilton County Ohio
GROE
SBEC
K
OHIO
SLazyFRUIT RANCH
Est. 201
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Discussion Guide
• Why?• Lazy S Background• Blueberry Cultural Needs– Soil Chemistry– Fertilization–Pruning–Other Stuff: Irrigation, Pollination, etc.
• Recommendations
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Why?• I Like to Eat Them– Best Cocktail of phytonutrients (anti-oxidants)– Lower cholesterol, reduce urinary tract infections, better
night vision, improved memory & motor function, etc. (Source:
Human Research Center on Aging, Tufts University et. al.)…better than an apple a day!
1 cup (150gm) = 84 cal % of USDA Daily Reco
Vitamin K 35
Magnesium 25
Vitamin C 19
Fiber 14
Anti-oxidants 1000
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Why? Continued
* Estimate per Gary Gao, Associate Professor, Small Fruit Specialist, College of Food, Agricultural & Environmental Science, OSU
State Yield(MM Lbs) Acres Lbs/A Value ($MM)
Michigan 114 19000 6000 121.2
Oregon 89.5 9600 9320 94.3
Maine 87.1 NA NA 66 (15% wild)Washington 81.6 9000 9070 71.6
Georgia 59 13500 4370 83.2
California 51.4 4800 10700 121.5
New Jersey 47.9 8800 5450 56.8
Ohio 350*
• I Enjoy a Challenge– From USDA Year Book Tables for 2013…
ButWhere
Is OH?
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• Water– Good Drainage, but Evenly Moist– 1-2 inches/wk
• Sun = Full• Pollination
– Self-Pollination…• but 2-3 varieties ↑Yield
– Who = Bubble bee• Nutrient Needs: More on this later• Soil Chemistry = Low pH
– In Ericaceae Family (Heather, Heath, Cranberry, Azalea, Rhodo)– Blueberries like pH of 4-5 (Normal 6.5 – 7.5, Fruits 5.5 – 6.5)– Vinegar pH = 4-4.5, Soap = 8.5-10, Peat Moss = 3-4.5– Hamilton County Average pH = 7.0-7.8 – Hard to hold pH low if Ca is high (> 1000ppm (2000 lbs/acre))
So What Do They Want?Northern Highbush = Vaccinium corymosum
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2012 – Site Prep, Row/Soil Prep, Soil & Water Testing
Install Drainage System
Two Soil MixturesRows 1 & 2 = 1/3 Native Soil, 1/3 Peat, 1/3 Pine FinesRows 3 & 4 = ½ Peat, ½ Pine Fines (no soil)
Rows 1 & 2 Rows 3 & 4
Oct’12 Composite Sample of Native Soil Test Results: pH = 6.1, CEC = 12.1, Ca = 1265ppm Irrigation Water (city) pH = 8.7-8.9
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2012 – Site Prep, Row/Soil Prep, Soil & Water Testing
Rows 3 & 4
The Inspirationfor soil-less rows
Lazy S PreparationSpring 2013 – Apply Sulfur to Rows 1 & 2
Summer 2013 – Install Irrigation/Acidification/Frost System
Elemental Sulfur (lb/acre) needed to lower pH to 4.5SOIL TYPE
Current pH Sand Loam Clay5.0 175 530 8005.5 350 1030 16006.0 530 1540 23006.5 660 2020 30307.0 840 2560 3830
Spring 2013 – Apply Sulfur recommended (10 lbs/row) for decrease from 6 to 4.5pHin the two rows containing native soil and incorporate
(200sq.ft./43560sq.ft.)x(2300lbs) = 10lbs
Source: Lowering the Soil pH with Sulfur, Mark Longstroth, MSU Extension
2S + 3O₂ + 2H₂O 2H₂SO₄Thiobacillus
Bacteria>70F
Sounds easy…but it takes 6 warm months for Sulfur to work…With max 3-4lbs/100ft²/application (3oz/plant)
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Lazy S PreparationSpring 2013 – Apply Sulfur to Rows 1 & 2
Summer 2013 – Irrigation/Acidification/Frost System
Drip Line Installation
Irrigation/Acidification System
Frost ProtectionInjector
Acid
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2013 – Re-Test Soil & Plant
3 Varieties Each Row =10 Bluecrop, 10 Blueray, 5 Aurorafrom DeGrandchamps Farms, MI
Aug’13 Composite Sample of Rows 1 & 2 Test Results: pH = 5.0, CEC = 15.2, Ca = 942ppm
Fast forward to Summer’14…blossoms removed
Bluecrop(1 yr plant
@ purchase)($4.10 ea)
Aurora(2 yr plant)($4.50 ea)
Blueray(2 yr plant)($4.10 ea)
Spacing = 10ft between rows & 4ft between plants
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2013 – Select Plant Varieties
Through 2010South Haven = Zone 6a (-10F to -5F)SW Ohio = 6b (-5F to 0F)
←Not sure of impact on pollination?
Balance early bloom risk with early harvest
Two Mid-Season Varieties(Cross-pollination + synchronized harvest)
Other Factors:Disease resistance
Berry Size
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2013 – Try Not To Share
Chicken wire for those rascalily rabbits…
Make sure they don’t escape…9ft Deer Fence
Unwanted visitor…Scalopus berryeruptus
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Lazy S PreparationSpring 2014 – Fertilize
WHEN: At Least 2 FeedingsApply ½ Early Spring before bud break (most new roots forming before bud break)
and ½ 6 wks later (most new shoots & leaves are forming just before & during fruit development)
Plant AgeYrs/Size (gal)
Nlb/Acre
P*ppm
K*ppm Other*
1 / .5 15 35-45 45-75 Mg = 40-80Dry fertilizer w/1-2% Mg
2-3 / 1-2Ht ~3ft
30-50(~1oz/plant**) Maintain Maintain Maintain
3-8 / 2-5 50-80(max ~4oz) “ “ “
**Example using Ammonium sulfate: 30lb/A = .6oz/plant using Ammonium sulfate for N (21%N)(30lbN/A)(300ft²/43560ft²/A)/(.21lbsN/lb)(16oz/lb)/(25plants/row) = .6oz/plant
50lb/A = 1.1oz/plant
* Limits used by MSU Lab for Soil Test Reports
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Lazy S PreparationSpring 2014 – Fertilize
Nutrient In Organic Organic
N Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0)(avoid N from Nitrates)
Fish Emulsion (5-2-2)Fish Powder (12-0-1)
Feather Meal (7-10%N) - slow
P Ammonium phosphate (11-52-0) Bone Meal (1-11-0)
K Potassium Sulfate (0-0-50)(no Chlorides – KCl) Greensand (0-0-7)
Balanced(Controlled
Release)
18-6-12 w/micro15-9-12 w/micro
Up to 8-9mo @ 70F
Lazy S Used Balanced Controlled Release(Not Called Lazy S for No Reason!)
OK…but has 7% Nitrate Nitrogen from Ammonium NitrateApplied 20-75gm depending on plant size
5-6 mo ($2.23/lb)
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Lazy S PreparationSummer 2014 – Sick-Bay!
CLASSIC CHLOROSISRows 1 & 2 – July14
Begin foliar treating with Iron Chelate 1x/2wks(EDDHA type works better at higher pH)
Nitrogen Deficiency in
Northern Highbush
Nutrient Mgt for Blueberries in Oregon 2006 Hart et.al.
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2014 – Re-Test Soil Rows 1 & 2
Soil Results
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
(Lab 1)
Fall 2014
(Lab 2)
Fall2014
(Lab 1)
Fall2014
(Lab 2)
Sample Native Soil
Rows1 & 2 Row 1 Row 1 Row 2 Row 2
pH 6.1 5.0 7.2 7.2 6.9 7.1P (ppm) 63 44 132 135 125 103K (ppm) 109 165 230 219 237 212
Mg (ppm) 229 195 373 355 364 295Ca (ppm) 1265 942 2931 3200 2800 2700
CEC 12.1 15.2 18.4 19.5 17.6 16.5% Organic
Mater 3.1 23.6 12.7 11.6 14.9 13.8
←+2!
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2014 – What Happened to Rows 1 & 2?
Soil Results
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
(Lab 1)
Fall 2014
(Lab 2)
Fall2014
(Lab 1)
Fall2014
(Lab 2)
Sample Native Soil
Rows1 & 2 Row 1 Row 1 Row 2 Row 2
pH 6.1 5.0 7.2 7.2 6.9 7.1 ←+2!
Soil Buffer Capacity = Ability of soil to resist a change in pH
Amount of Acid Added
pH7
6
No lab seems to offer a test. Studies indicate 60hrs may be required for equilibrium!
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Lazy S PreparationFall 2014 – Test Soil-less Rows (#4)
Soil Results
Fall2014
(Lab 2)
Sample Row 4Na (ppm) 43S (ppm) 5B (ppm) .1Fe (ppm) 38Mn (ppm) 16Zn (ppm) 7Cu (ppm) .2
←
Soil Results
Fall2014
(Lab 2)
Sample Row 4pH 5.2
P (ppm) 6.5K (ppm) 41
Mg (ppm) 23Ca (ppm) 46
EC .36
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Lazy S PreparationEarly Spring 2015 – Pruning
From University of Maine (on You Tube):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm6ZfpGy5oQ&feature=player_embedded&x-yt-ts=1422579428&x-yt-cl=85114404
BASICS:• Every year in early spring • Remove dead and injured wood• Remove old canes (up to 20%) at crown (base)• Remove low/lateral branching• Mature bush: Maintain 10-20 canes of various ages
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Lazy S Preparation2015 Next Steps
Rows 3 & 4 – FIRST HARVEST!+ Install Bird Netting
+ Try Fertigation (Peters 21-7-7 Acid Special)+ Watch For Pests (SWD Fruit Fly)
ROWS WITH NATIVE SOIL (pH = 7)Row 2 – Re-Plant with 80% pine bark, 10% peat, 10% perliteRow 1 – Attempt to lower pH?
ADDITIONAL TESTING Test Foliage Test Irrigation Water for Carbonates
Age Yield/Plant
2 1-2 pt
3 2-3 qt
4 1 gal (6lb)
>7-8 13-18 lb
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Lazy S Blueberry RanchRecommendations for Hamilton County Growers
pH1) Test Your Soil
www.algreatlakes.com Use Test S1 = $9.35 per sample
2) If pH >5.5 and/or Ca > 1000ppm Use soil-less media Consider containers See Edisto Blueberries @
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3H9mQm792s3) Birds – Netting or RejeX-it (grape extract spray)4) Add to Rouster’s U-Pick List: [email protected]
FOLLOW THE LAZY S @http://lazysblueberryranch.wordpress.com
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