Production

Production is the ultimate test of effective horticulture.  In analyzing blueberry production two primary factors are important: quantity and quality.  In this project we will address both of these parametersand examine how they are affected by different soil treatments (Organic: Horse manure, Sheep manure, Pine needle, and Planter's Choice and Conventional: Horse manure) and by cultivar qualities (Duke, Bluecrop, Bluegold, Jersey, and Chandler).

Summer of 2010

During the summer of 2010, we did not harvest any blueberries but removed many/most of the immature fruit.  In June 2010, I counted the immature berries on the Duke, Bluecrop, and Jersey bushes in each of the treatment plots.  These plants were four years old in the summer of 2010.  The following graph shows the relative potential yields of these cultivars for each plot.  Generally the Duke productivity was higher than the Bluecrop and Jersey.

Summer of 2011

This is the first summer that we harvested a crop of blueberries from our young plants which were four and five years old -- planted as 2 or 3 bare-rooted plants in November/December 2009.  The Duke, Bluecrop, and Jersey plants were five years old and the Bluegold and Chandlers were four years old at the time of harvest. 

The following information represents the amount of berries harvested as well as the projected amount harvested but lost through predatory birds.  (The projected harvest amounts were conservatively estimated.)  The harvest dates represent the various picking dates and the average berry size (number berries/cup) for the picking dates.

Cultivar	Harvest Dates	Berry Size (#/cup)
Duke	6/15/11 - 7/15/11	Range: 57 - 90; Ave: 68
Bluegold	6/27/11 - 7/20/11	Range: 69 - 75; Ave: 72
Blue Crop	6/28/11 - 7/15/11	Range: 63 - 72; Ave: 68
Jersey	6/29/11 - 7/20/11	Range: 66 - 111; Ave: 98
Chandler	7/14/11 - 8/01/11	Range: 55 - 68; Ave: 62
Summary	6/15/11 - 8/01/11	Range: 55 - 111: Ave: 74

In looking at the productivity of the various cultivars versus their planting plot several results are illustrated:

• Overall the organic plots out-performed the conventional plot in productivity.  In comparing the organic horse manure plot versus the conventional horse manure plot, the organic plot typically had about a two-fold greater yield than the conventional plot.  The exception was the Chandler berries which were essentially the same between the two plots.
• Duke, Blue Crop, and Jersey were most productive in the organic pine needle and Planters Choice plots and less productive in the organic horse manure and sheep manure plots.
• Bluegold was most productive in the horse manure and Planters Choice plots.
• Chandler was most productive in the organic pine needle plot and was moderately productive in the organic sheep manure and Planters Choice plots.

Comparing the total per plant productivity of the various cultivars within a given plot produced the following results:

 

 

We currently do not have any blueberries for sale.  Check back during the summer of 2012 when we anticipate having marketable blueberries.

 

 

 

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