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<DIV id=bericht><STRONG><SPAN class=kop>US: Cultivate blueberries to avoid
sky-high prices at grocery store </SPAN><BR><BR></STRONG>Blueberries are the
hottest food-bearing plant on the market due to antioxidant content and sky-high
grocery-store prices. In recent decades, breeding has resulted in dozens of
varieties that extend the blueberry climate limitations to include the far north
and far south. There is a huge range of sizes, from rangy shrubs to squat
2-foot-tall dwarfs. Plus, early- to late-yielding varieties extend the harvest
season from weeks to months.<BR><BR>Because blueberries are upright, long-lived
shrubs, you can plant a hedge of them that is both functional and productive.
Hedges also give you access to both sides of each plant for more convenient
harvest. The hedge offers seasonal change, with beautiful white urn-shaped
flowers in the spring, fruit in summer and bright red leaf color in the
fall.<BR><BR>Hedges allow you to combine blueberries that bloom early with those
that flower mid-season and with late varieties. Grouping plants also assists in
cross-pollination, because not all blueberries are self-fertile.<BR><BR>Those
that are not self-fertile will require a second variety nearby that flowers at
the same time. Before you buy a blueberry shrub, be sure to inquire if it needs
a pollinator and whether that plant is available. If it is not in stock, try to
stick with self-fertile forms.<BR><BR>Blueberries ask only for acidic PH soil,
which is often found in regions of high rainfall such as the Pacific Northwest.
These soil conditions are often present in forest environments, and homesites
once covered by trees may prove ideal for the shrubs. The second requirement is
well-drained soil, because blueberries will not stand for a saturated root zone.
Planting on sloping ground can aid in improving drainage.<BR><BR>Blueberries
root like other plants of the heath family such as rhododendrons. Their roots
spread widely at the surface of the soil to feed off the layer of decaying
organic matter. If you cultivate the soil around the base of a blueberry, you
will damage these surface roots, which can seriously damage the health of the
plant. Because blueberries prefer even moisture in the root zone, mulching is
recommended. Mulch also protects the roots from summer heat by shading the
sensitive surface roots from direct sun.<BR><BR>Similarly, if there is a winter
cold snap and the soil surface freezes, the mulch will insulate the roots from
frost damage. When spreading acidic mulches such as pine needles, be sure to
keep it at least an inch or two away from the base of the trunk to prevent crown
rot.<BR><BR>Keep in mind that the blueberry is a woody shrub, which makes it
difficult to ship larger plants in the mail. Blueberries are regionally
specific, with some doing better in the warm South and others tailored for the
North. For this reason, the best place to get started with blueberries is at a
local garden center. The centers know exactly what varieties are best suited to
your climate, what plants need pollinators, what pollinators are best and
whether you can grow early-season bloomers where you live.<BR><BR>With a
container-grown shrub, you can buy good-sized plants that bloom and bear very
well. Buying from a mail-order catalog limits size and root ball to what can be
shipped easily. Plus, there's less locally specific guidance than when you buy
from a garden center.<BR><BR>America is just catching on to the fact that you
don't have to live in the cool, moist North to cultivate this exorbitantly
priced delicacy. Whether you're in Florida, Oklahoma or California, when it
comes time to landscape, don't underestimate the value of the modern highbred
blueberry.<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=120849"><BR>Source:
readingeagle.com</A> <BR>
<P>Publication date: 1/14/2009<BR></P></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Gill Sans MT" FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Laurie Davies Adams<BR>Executive
Director<BR><B>Pollinator Partnership </B><BR>423 Washington Street, 5th
floor<BR>San Francisco, CA
94111<BR>415-362-1137<BR>LDA@pollinator.org</FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial
color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#0000ff size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="14"><B><A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></B></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"></B><BR><A
href="http://www.nappc.org/">www.nappc.org</A><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
face="Gill Sans MT" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="12"><B><I>National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2009. <BR>Beecome
involved at <A
href="http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</A></I></FONT></B></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="bc225fd6cd7b64ef1b7a2da9fb4949c3"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"><b>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. <a href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=DecemailfooterNO62"> See yours in just 2 easy steps!</a></b></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>