Starting a Blueberry Farm
Posted on July 02 2018
Mmm, blueberries - one of the most beloved fruits to use for summer pies. This low-calorie fruit has many health benefits, such as memory loss reduction, and is rich in antioxidants. This National Blueberry Month, consider planting blueberries on your farm or upscale garden. Here's what you need to know:
Blueberry growers may see sticker shock during the first year of starting a blueberry farm. The initial start-up fee is about $10,000 per acre including equipment such as tillers, sprayers, mowers, and tractors.
Once land and equipment are ready, blueberry bushes can be planted in line rows. They thrive in acidic soil at a PH level of 4.6 and 5.1. The more organic matter the blueberry bushes have, the more likely they are to grow in the acidic soil. Do not add fertilizer right away, instead fertilize the ground one month after planting the bush. Once this is done, a hole should be dug about 20 inches deep for the growing process to begin.
While growing blueberries is rewarding, the typical full growth of blueberries is not until its 7th year.
Blueberry growers will need to protect blueberries from wildlife and bird damage using deer fencing around the blueberry farms or draping bird netting over the fruit bushes.
Keep checking the Deerfence.com blog for more information on blueberry growing this National Blueberry Month.
