Blueberries Blueberries have long been prized as a great tasting and value added fruit. They are low in calories, virtually fat free, a good source of fiber, and very high in antioxidants. Research has put blueberries at the top of the list of 40 fruits, juices and vegetables in antioxidant activity. Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals that contribute to heart disease and aging. Blueberries also contain over 40 cancer-preventive compounds, as well as vitamins C, E and beta carotene. Rabbiteye blueberries are the main fruit at our farm. We have approximately 1,200 plants of various varieties. Our blueberry season usually starts in early July and continues through September. In addition to the berries, we usually offer a limited number of blueberry plants for sale during the winter months.

Blackberries Blackberries are available at our farm from mid June until late July. We have several types available, such as Arapaho and Hull. All of our blackberries are thornless and are grown in an open, easy to access field. However, depending on harvesting pressure, we encourage you to call ahead before you come to pick blackberries because we may be closed a few days during the week to allow time for more blackberries to ripen.

Muscadines Our farm also offers  muscadines for pick-your-own customers during the growing season. The muscadine season is from August/September until October.   We have several varieties of muscadines such as:  Black Beauty, Supreme, Darlene, Fry, Nesbit, Scuppernong, Dixieland, Granny Val, and Cowart. We have both the bronze and dark types. At one time muscadines could only be found in the wild. But in the early 1800s a number of superior wild varieties were selected for cultivation. One of these was "Scuppernong." Found on the Scuppernong River in North Carolina in 1810, it has become the common name for all bronze muscadines. Grapes and muscadines are among the world’s richest sources of ellagic acid (thought to help prevent cancer) and resveratrol, which helps reduce heart disease in the so-called "French paradox." (Frenchmen with rich diets who drink red wine have much less heart disease than people in the rest of the world.) Muscadines are a great source of dietary fiber, too.

Planting Instructions

Blueberry Plants
Blueberry plants will grow well in nearly every soil type, but best is lightly well drained, acid soils with the soil pH between 4.2 and 5.5, preferable 4.5. Deep sands and other soils of low fertility and low water holding capacity are poorly adequate to blueberry production. Poor soil drainage is also unsatisfactory because the plants will not tolerate excessive moisture for long periods of time.

If the soil pH is too high, poor growth results due to iron deficiency. This causes a yellowing of the leaves. When the pH is too high, ground sulfur or ammonia sulfate should be applied to increase the soil acidity. Soil test should be made annually. Contact your Extension Service office for additional assistance on soil testing and plant care. [Each county has an extension service office and most have email addresses and state web sites.

Blueberry plants do best when planted in a hole dug about 12-inch in diameter by about 12-inches deep. Set plant about 1/2 inch deeper than grown in nursery pot. A good mulch of 4-6 inches of well rotted sawdust, ground pink bark, or pine straw around the base of the plants will discourage weed growth and help keep moisture. Set plants 6 feet apart in 12-foot rows.

Blueberry plant roots are very sensitive to readily soluble fertilizers and can be injured with excessive amounts. Plants should be fertilized twice during the first growing season; early March with two ounces of 12-4-8 or a good turf fertilizer. Mid-June this should be repeated again. One ounce of ammonia sulfate should be used if yellowing of growth occurs. Keep fertilizer at least one foot away from plants in a circle. IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE NITRATE OF SODA OR CALCIUM NITRATE AROUND PLANTS.

Second year amounts should be doubled and doubled on a yearly basis. The following is another good way to get excellent results. Apply Osmocote 18-6-12, 1/4 pound per plant in mid-March. This is a slow release fertilizer and will last six to nine months. This will not burn the roots and should be placed in the middle of the plants. Miracid 30-10-10 soluble fertilizer with iron chelate is an excellent fertilizer for foliage if applied as manufacturers recommend. If will not burn plants and will give quick results.

Blackberry Plants
Although we routinely do not sell blackberry plants, the following tips may help you if you decide to grow your own plants. As with most new plants, it’s always best to test the soil four to six months before planting to allow adequate time to amend the soil based on results. Your local Extension Service can help you with soil testing. The extension service also has excellent material on their web site that can help you with your plants. If the soil pH is too low, raise it to the level suggested by the soil test with dolomitic lime.

Keep plant roots moist until planting time by either heeling them into the ground temporarily or wrapping them in wet burlap. As with any plant, do not leave the roots exposed to the drying effects of sun and air.

Prepare a planting hole large enough to allow the roots to spread out naturally. Do not prune the roots except to remove damaged ones. Set plants at the same depth they were planted in the nursery. The crown (the point where the stem and root merge) should be one inch below ground level; tissue culture plants should be placed at ground level.

After planting, tamp the soil firmly to remove air pockets around the roots. Water all new plantings well, immediately after planting. Mulch with pine straw, or other weed-free type mulches.

Mixed fertilizers are satisfactory for blackberries. For best results, apply fertilizer in early spring when growth starts and again in summer just after harvest. Use 10-10-10 commercial mix at the rate of 5 pounds per hundred linear feet of row. For late-ripening thornless blackberries, apply the fertilizer mix no later than July to avoid forcing late-season growth that would be subject to winter injury. For the first year or two, before the root system of the plants develops fully, spread 3 or 4 ounces of fertilizer in a 12-inch radius around the base of each plant.

Blackberries require abundant moisture while the berries are growing and ripening. If rainfall is not adequate, provide irrigation water equivalent to 1 inch of rainfall per week. A minimum rate of drip irrigation for mature blackberry plants is 2 gallons of water per day while berries are developing. Usually, about 5 gallons of drip irrigation is equal to 1 inch of rainfall.

Muscadines

We don’t sell grape plants however a number of nurseries propagate and sell muscadine plants. Fall is usually the best time to order plants.