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Frequently Asked Questions
Where
can I pick wild blueberries in Nova Scotia ?
Try looking at the list at http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/marketing/contact/landsea/upicko.pdf
for a whole list of pick-your-own operations in Nova Scotia.
. Where can I
pick wild blueberries in Maine ?
Try looking at the list at http://www.getrealmaine.com/
for a whole list of pick your own operations in Maine.
Can
blueberry fields be created by planting seedlings?
Lowbush blueberry plants are available for purchase
from several sources. Please refer to http://wildblueberries.maine.edu/FactSheets/227.htm
.
These plants are usually quite young and small
in size. Due to the growing and spreading habit of lowbush
blueberries, it can take several years before these plants
begin to fill in. Generally wild blueberry fields are developed
from existing stands growing on abandoned farmland. These
plants have already established an underground rhizome and
root system that spreads fairly quickly once management begins.
Mulching with a materal such as sawdust will assist the process.
Hand
Rakes: Where can I buy one?
Hand rakes for lowbush blueberry harvesting
are available from:
Liberty Enterprises Ltd.
RR#3, Amherst Nova Scotia B4H 3Y1
Phone: (902) 667- 5002
Acadian Machine Works Ltd.
Tidnish PEI C0B 2B0
Phone: (902) 882-2349
Maine Blueberry Equipment
Tibbitts Town Rd. Box2
Columbia Falls, ME 04623
Phone: (207) 483-4156
Recipes:
Do you have a recipe for ...?
Our experts do not publish or republish
recipes, however, the Wild Blueberry Network Information Centre
does have a Recipe links page.
http://nsac.ca/wildblue/recipes/
What is the
difference between wild and cultivated blueberries, highbush
and lowbush blueberries?
The term wild and lowbush basically refer
to the same plant. Traditionally the term lowbush was used
by extension, researchers and educators. Wild was used by
the trade and marketing sectors. Now, the term wild is being
accepted and used by all sectors of the North American industry.
These plants naturally occur in Eastern Canada and Maine,
and are managed on a commercial basis.
Some lowbush blueberries are planted for production
and therefore the word wild would not be used.
Cultivated blueberries and highbush refer to
the same plant. These are a larger growing shrub than lowbush
and produce a larger fruit. Cultivated bushes are planted
in rows. Most of this fruit is sold fresh compared to wild
blueberries which are mostly processed and sold frozen.
These two products compete together on the
wild market.
Why prune lowbush blueberries?
Chris Prouse, Co-ordinator - Agriculture
Resources Team
Prince Edward Island Agriculture & Forestry
The main reason lowbush blueberries are pruned
is to increase yields and possibly stimulate runner growth.
Blueberries do not produce flowers on the first years growth.
On second year growth the maximum number of flowers are produced.
On older growth (third, forth year etc.) there will still
be flowers produced but in general the number of flowers will
be less.
In addition to maximizing yields,weed control
is more effective if you prune the blueberries. In fact, some
of the herbicides can only be used after the plants have pruned.
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