Biochar is a stable form of carbon produced by burning organic matter (usually wood) under low oxygen conditions. It can be used as a soil amendment to increase the fertilizer holding capacity in soils, making the fertilizers slowly… Read More
Blueberries are not easily grown in Florida soils because of high organic matter and low pH needs. The media for growing blueberries requires good drainage (total porosity of 50-85%), a pH of 4.2-5.5, and a relatively low nutrient… Read More
Growers often want to recoup some of the cost of a new planting of Southern Highbush Blueberry (SHB) by harvesting the fruit from the newly-planted bushes rather than stripping it off, a practice commonly recommended to allow the… Read More
Blueberries require an acidic soil that may be difficult to maintain with some of our high pH soils and with high pH irrigation water. Researchers in Chile and Spain have similar problems and also must produce organically, which… Read More
Now that spring has arrived, many are wondering what local fruits are in season. In Florida, it’s berry season. This is different from the northern states whose berry season is in the summer. Strawberry season comes to an… Read More
Honey bee pollination increases fruit set and yields in many fruit, but not all. Blueberries are supposed to respond to increased pollinator activity with greater yields. Some fruit growers routinely bring in bee hives to increase pollination, but… Read More
Many people are interested in growing blueberries in containers to provide optimum soil qualities of high organic matter, low pH, and controlled irrigation that are not easily provided in fields. Organic matter requirements are expensive and can be… Read More
Blueberries prefer a low soil pH between 4.5 and 5.5. Growers add pine bark fines to the soil to reduce soil pH and increase organic matter, but how else can you reduce soil pH? You can add elemental… Read More
Chilling hours are the number of cold hours that are needed for a deciduous crop to break winter dormancy. Lack of adequate chilling can result in poor bud break, extended flowering season, poor bloom overlap with pollenizers, flower… Read More
By Juanita Popenoe, Commercial Fruit Extension Agent Blueberries like growing in soil with high organic matter and a low pH. Growers in Florida typically use pine-bark incorporated into the planting bed and as mulch to provide these characteristics… Read More
