how to start a blueberry farm

Peat Moss. Berry-picking farms rely on consumer trust and recurring purchases. Then, every spring and fall planting seasons, you can add and plant another 600 plants at a time. Infestation of pests (aphids) in blueberry Blueberry plants are relatively free from disease, pest, and nutrient-related is-sues. Good highbush blueberry soils in coastal North Carolina are primarily coarse sands with an organic base, open, porous, and with a water table of at least 14 inches but not more than 30 inches below the surface. And don't forget that your local county extension agent is your free resource to help you locally! Any berry-picking farm that doesn’t need outside investors will do better at tax time by choosing an LLC. Prune back some of the stem before transplanting, or the small amount of roots won’t be able to support the plant. It is available on www.pickyourown.org, a great website with tons of information on everything related to this topic, from canning and freezing, to a comprehensive list of pick-your-own operations by state.If you have a pick-your-own operation, you should go to the site and get listed. Gregory Heilers has helped on two startup farms: his father’s 200-acre grass-fed beef and goat farm, which also includes an orchard, a berry patch, and a vegetable garden, with areas set aside for future logging; and on a seven-acre organically grown market garden in upstate New York. Most commercial blueberry plantings in eastern North Carolina are … Blueberries are another one of the most popular berries in the United States, ranking second behind strawberries, and just ahead of raspberries. peat pot. However it can be rewarding in the long run. Today, Bob Hays has a 10,000+ blackberry farm in Dumas, Mississippi. Luckily, they are also easy to grow. Blueberry bushes will sometimes put up new shoots several inches from the base of the main plant. These seeds will actually produce new plants just as they do in the wild setting, slowly carpeting the area with new plants. As a 'superfood', with a number of health benefits, the berries are in high demand in both local and international markets. When To Start Blueberry Propagation Successful growing of blueberries from cuttings needs a temperature around 21°C (70 °F), so summer is the best time for propagation. Starting or expanding a farm, even a small one, is not a cheap feat. Plant in moist, well-drained, acidic soil in a sunny, sheltered spot. - After that, he tilled in the pine bark. The pH should be at least as low as pH 5.5. 11 miles from Cookeville and 9 miles from Livingston on Hwy. Most farmers start with 10 to 20 seedlings in a small acre, and with the right marketing strategy, they would have the baby trees sold out before they mature. Some varieties can grow in zone 2 or in zone 7. Spend some time researching how to organically source the trees you want to grow. Balanced liquid fertilizer. To start a blueberry farm could be a good long-term investment. Additionally, there will be immediate expenses in the form of seeds, fertilizer, pesticide, labor, and overhead. New farmer grants, which are used to help those looking to start operating a new farm. Softwood Cutting Growing Blueberry Suckers. Once established blueberry plants can be productive for 25 years. Growing blueberries in containers makes it easy to keep the soil at the low pH blueberries need to grow well. Carefully dig these up with roots attached. Potting soil. The plant spacing and common rows require 1,000 – 1,200 plants for every acre. Still, the returns are substantial especially if you found a good and suitable site. View this post on Instagram. Plant the tiny seeds in blueberries for new plants. - Then, he built the rows with a row builder. My advice to you in starting a blueberry farm would be to do research in growing blueberries, find varieties that will do well in your area, plant early, mid season and late varieties to extend your harvest, give them plenty of space in between for air circulation and in case you have to mow around them like I … Here are some resources to help understand what is required, from both a business and technical aspect. Lowbush blueberries are very cold-hardy plants, and most varieties grow in zones 3 to 6. Although this is often the most time-consuming part of the project, it’s worth it … Blueberries. Blueberries take about 7 years to reach full maturity and production. To start a blueberry farm you must take a long-term view. 111. Like highbush blueberries and other plants in the heather family, lowbush blueberries are acid-loving. Water the plant to a 4-inch depth the night before gathering the cuttings to ensure the stems and foliage are hydrated. Bob loved growing blackberries, and a gift of 6 blackberry plants in 1999, was the beginning of growing blackberries for profit. NSAIS offers information about grants for on-farm biodiesel, ethanol, wind and solar energy operations. Blueberries contain small seeds almost not recognizable in comparison with other berries like raspberries or blackberries. Simply pot them up in a 50/50 mix of potting soil and … The first job for any potential berry grower is to determine how much time and space that can be devoted to a berry patch. While blueberries are tolerant of shade, better crops (and autumn colour) are obtained in the sun. This means it takes a lot of investment, hard work and patience while it is being developed. There are special potting mixes for acid-loving plants or you can make your blend of half regular potting soil and half peat. You can buy small trees for around $20 each, or raise them from scratch. There are quite a few farmers that want to convert to a PYO operation and hobbyists who would like to start one from scratch. The following year you will get a few blueberries. Growing sucker plants from blueberries is easy. Lowbush Blueberry Information. Products Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries Market Channels PYO and on-farm retail of pre-picked fruit Year Started 1994 Size of Operation 4 acres To that we add horticultural technology in the production of strawberries will allow double utilization of … It’s not unusual for an interest to turn into a business. A small farm is typically defined as those farms bringing in gross receipts of less than $250,000 annually. Starting on his land that had been cleared of all trees and stumps, Chris shares his exact steps for creating the blueberry farm: - First, he marked the 41 rows he’d be planting to blueberries. Own premium blueberry bushes on a controlled environment farm. The easiest way to start a bountiful blueberry patch is by transplanting just three young plants from a container into the ground. There are several farms about 35 miles from here and I would love to start one in my area. - He rebuilt the rows. Take the flowers off the first year so the plants can spend their energy growing strong roots and bushes. Blueberry shrubs are slow-growing and usually take about three years to begin bearing fruit. Lay out your plants, as per your design, being sure to measure your plant spacing from the center of the plant. Some of the main types of government grants include: Farm labor grants, which can be used to locate, hire and pay farm employees. Starting blueberry bushes from seed can be a challenge that often times doesn’t pay off. Blueberries are a great investment for health and happiness, and Nourse Farms can show you how they are one of the easiest fruits to produce. A berry-picking farm might benefit from starting a corporation if outside investors are important. : Farmers often consider converting to a pick-your-own (PYO) because there is reduced labor required for harvesti… I love to garden and this would be a way to hopefully make my love of gardening into a paying job. If you purchase the blueberry plants that are 2 years old, it can cost you $1; so for every acre of blueberry plants, it will cost you $1,000 - $2,400. Blueberries take about 7 years to reach full maturity and production. If your garden soil is alkaline (above 6.0), grow blueberries in containers of ericaceous compost. If you’re looking to start an organic farm or co-op, NSAIS can help you find grants to launch such an effort. Does anyone have any experience with blueberries? With proper attention to soil pH, and choosing your planting area wisely, you can reap harvests for 20-30 years or more! However, one of the main concerns for blueberry growers is the aphid. To start a blueberry farm you must take a long-term view. Start by clearing the area, if necessary, your berry walk needs good quality soil, no weeds or debris. The reason why many people hesitate to grow blueberries is because of the huge cost involved. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) offers grants to help offset the high start-up costs for these alternative energy systems. Start blueberry cuttings in summer when the plant is actively growing. The best time to propagate blueberries is when the temperature start to warm up. That’s what happened to Robert Hays of Hays Berry Farm. I recently found some great information on starting a pick-your-own farm operation. The most economical approach is to purchase two old blueberry plants from a reputable nursery. Plant early season ripening plants, mid-season ripening plants and late season ripening plants. Blueberries can live a long time, so give them a big container at the start. This means it takes a lot of investment, hard work and patience while it is being developed. - Next he applied pine bark mulch to the rows. See this page for the contact information to find your county agent! To raise an acre of strawberries, you’ll need at least $1,000 to begin. If you do not already own a piece of land, you will need to factor in the costs of not only the land acquisition, but any taxes and insurance that go alongside it. Studies show that eating plenty of blueberries can improve your memory and eyesight. We start with an existing farm that has custom-innovated equipment. Start a pick your own organic blueberry farm for a profitable PYO blueberries farm business with a little blueberry patch like this one below, with just 600 blueberry plants for a fast u-pick organic berry farm start-up. Pine bark mulch. 8-oz. Featuring a resilient varietal of bluberry bushes known as OzBlu, berries are sweeter and last longer. Farm Name Berry Ridge Farms Owners David and Diana Webb Location Overton County. The Blueberry Years is a mouth-watering and delightful memoir based on Jim Minick’s trials and tribulations as an organic blueberry farmer.This story of one couple and one farm shows how our country’s appetite for cheap food affects how that food is grown, who does or does not grow it, and what happens to the land. It can be easily diagnosed by closely monitor-ing plants, using yellow … You can’t expect any harvest for the firs… Credibility and Consumer Trust. If space and personal time is abundant, a grower may choose to plant several acres of blueberry bushes which will develop into a full-time job at least during growing and picking seasons. Sand. Stem before transplanting, or raise them from scratch full maturity and production garden and this be! Find your county agent walk needs good quality soil, no weeds or debris 1,200 plants for every.... 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