Really appreciate your videos. I'm going to be running a berry operation about 2 hrs east of you and also lived up near the Asheville area for a few years. It's good to find some helpful videos from someone in the same general region. Blessings.
I inherited three blueberry bushes, as a first time blueberry bush pruner, I appreciated your succinct video. The close ups were great for understanding the procedure.
Someone probably answered you already, but I want to let you know: blueberries LOVE cottonseed meal. Get it at your local organic garden supply place. Buy in bulk, if you can---doesn't take much for each plant. Also: use lots of peat in soil. They love that, too.
Thanks for this great and informative video. I have two blueberry plants which have not grown as expected over the past few years. I will have to transplant them to an area with more sun. I guess my next stop is your blueberry planting video! Thanks!
@maciverandy Yes. You need two or more plants, as blueberries all need cross-pollinators. This is great teaching vid. I have two blueberries, each in its own 1/2 barrel, doing great. Lots of fruit. I am in So California and STOKED that I can now grow blueberries. Thanks for the good lesson.
Thanks for the information. I recently purchased a plant for $15, whoever pruned it in its growing stages (Lowes) I dont think they knew what they were doing. I have to buy a 2nd plant since these need cross pollination, now i'll have a better idea what to look for when buying it.
Awesome video. Thanks very much! Can I suggest next time, putting a white sheet on the ground as a background to increase visibility. Otherwise, amazing video.
Here's what I learned from 10+ years of growing blueberries: 1. Understand the growth habit: VERY IMPORTANT. The first year a cane (primary ground stem) grows, it will put on buds directly on the stem by the Fall, which will fruit the following year. The Second year, the buds directly on the primary cane from last year will fruit, and the cane will also grow secondary stems/branches with buds of their own for next year's fruit. Also the tip of the primary cane will die off. This cycle repeats each year, with smaller and smaller branches, stems, and fruit each year. 2. Start by cutting entire canes from the base, then work your way up and do heading cuts (tips of old canes as needed). 3. Cut off canes that are diseased, old, woody, and unproductive. Also canes that are very horizontal or crossing over other canes. 4. Removing old canes allows the energy of the plant to go into new vigorous (tall) canes. 5. Not removing enough old canes will result in new canes that are short (6-12"), thin, and weak. A short thin cane will have very little first year fruit, and virtually no 2nd year fruit due to its short and small size. 6. Commercial growers only keep canes up to the 2nd and sometimes 3rd year. The reason is the branches become thin, short, like matchsticks, and fruit gets smaller and harder to pick. 7. First year plants get heading cuts all around, meaning all growth is cut 6-12" from the ground as early in the season as possible. The allows new canes to grow from where those cuts were made. Also any buds are rubbed off to prevent fruiting, and allow the vegetative growth to be established. Second year most fruit is removed and pruning is also done to encourage vegetative growth. 8. Pruning should be done each year, to promote new, strong canes for next year.
I love how you show how to do all the pruning. Do you also show one on how to prune blackberry bushes. I have 3 thornless ones and all the stems look purple-planting last year. And I have 2 with powerful sticky thorns-they all look the same-full of leaves and stems brown, but not dead.
Troy, That is the very best pruning lesson I have ever seen! I actually get it now. Could you please tell me why my 4 year old blueberry bush has never bloomed. I transplanted it from my neighbor's yard. ph is 5. Don't know the variety but his produce in early July and are about 7 feet tall. We are in piedmont NC. Please help!
wish you would have done more very in close shots as that to me is the key--identifying. But lets ask you to explain what is an old cain? what identifies it as it seems one you kept looks old but you kept it. ty !!!
I enjoyed the video. I assume that you are working with the highbush blueberry which is a different species from the two (rabbit eye and Vaccinnium elliottii that I work with. I wonder about toping them or at least the care you give to the end but where you make the cut. I can't think of a single instance where a new main branch comes out so close to the terminal bud or to the end but next to where the pruner makes the cut. I find that they usually arise ten to twelve inches below the terminal bud. Hi bush blueberries may act a little differently, but that has been my experience with both its warmer climate cousins. God bless. Marcus
To the person below saying that pruning is unnecessary for such a young plant, that's semi true for a young plant as healthy as the one in the video not trying to put on a bunch of flowering wood. Rabbit eye blueberries will often try to put on way too much fruiting wood on the older stems than the plant can support and do a lot of vegetative growth. I have come to realize that it's pretty important to remove a lot of the two year old wood before the second growing season in the ground. Sometimes blueberries kind of mope their first year in the ground so that there is a lot of new wood and the old wood is kind of haggard looking. In such instances, cutting a good bit of that old wood out can sure help jump start things. God bless. Marcus
Do potted blueberries need to be brought in for the winter. Last winter it got down to 8 below zero and I thought since the root ball is above ground maybe I should
Blueberries like cold. Do you have room to add mulch around the pots outside? Take all your pots and cluster them together, tightly. Rake your leaves in autumn and hump the leaves all around your pots to act like an insulator. Also, snow is a great insulator (think igloo). You can shovel snow on top of the leaves throughout winter for added protection
Thank You So Much.......We use your video every year to prune our blueberries....You are a great teacher......Please continue to teach us!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice and clear explanation. No muss, no fuss. I will now go and have a 'discussion' with my blueberries...
I just love how you just get to the point and show exactly what needs to be done, thank you for this.
Very concise, step by step directions, with the explanations of the goal for each step. Thank you, this is just what I wanted to see!
Really appreciate your videos. I'm going to be running a berry operation about 2 hrs east of you and also lived up near the Asheville area for a few years. It's good to find some helpful videos from someone in the same general region. Blessings.
I inherited three blueberry bushes, as a first time blueberry bush pruner, I appreciated your succinct video. The close ups were great for understanding the procedure.
I really appreaciate your delivery manner. I would love to see these plants in the productive season as a re-visitation to see how it looks now.
best pruning video I have ever seen
good video and great explanations to where and why you make the cuts.
Thank you for the helpful video. I can tell even from this short video that you are a gifted communicator thus, a good teacher.
Someone probably answered you already, but I want to let you know: blueberries LOVE cottonseed meal. Get it at your local organic garden supply place. Buy in bulk, if you can---doesn't take much for each plant. Also: use lots of peat in soil. They love that, too.
Thanks for this great and informative video. I have two blueberry plants which have not grown as expected over the past few years. I will have to transplant them to an area with more sun. I guess my next stop is your blueberry planting video! Thanks!
Thank you! This is exactly what I need, you covered everything I needed to know in this video
@maciverandy Yes. You need two or more plants, as blueberries all need cross-pollinators. This is great teaching vid. I have two blueberries, each in its own 1/2 barrel, doing great. Lots of fruit. I am in So California and STOKED that I can now grow blueberries. Thanks for the good lesson.
Thanks for the information. I recently purchased a plant for $15, whoever pruned it in its growing stages (Lowes) I dont think they knew what they were doing. I have to buy a 2nd plant since these need cross pollination, now i'll have a better idea what to look for when buying it.
This video was awesome! Very well done, thank you!
Excellent. Thank you so much! I was wanting to start blueberry production so this was just what I needed! We look forward to visiting EH again soon!
We're near Black Mountain, NC, in the Southern Appalachians. Hollytone or Cottonseed meal are good for feeding blueberry plants.
Awesome video. Thanks very much! Can I suggest next time, putting a white sheet on the ground as a background to increase visibility. Otherwise, amazing video.
Great job Troy
Excellent explanation of what and why. Thank you.
Best pruning video I've seen.
Very clear instruction. Thanks!
Here's what I learned from 10+ years of growing blueberries:
1. Understand the growth habit: VERY IMPORTANT. The first year a cane (primary ground stem) grows, it will put on buds directly on the stem by the Fall, which will fruit the following year. The Second year, the buds directly on the primary cane from last year will fruit, and the cane will also grow secondary stems/branches with buds of their own for next year's fruit. Also the tip of the primary cane will die off. This cycle repeats each year, with smaller and smaller branches, stems, and fruit each year.
2. Start by cutting entire canes from the base, then work your way up and do heading cuts (tips of old canes as needed).
3. Cut off canes that are diseased, old, woody, and unproductive. Also canes that are very horizontal or crossing over other canes.
4. Removing old canes allows the energy of the plant to go into new vigorous (tall) canes.
5. Not removing enough old canes will result in new canes that are short (6-12"), thin, and weak. A short thin cane will have very little first year fruit, and virtually no 2nd year fruit due to its short and small size.
6. Commercial growers only keep canes up to the 2nd and sometimes 3rd year. The reason is the branches become thin, short, like matchsticks, and fruit gets smaller and harder to pick.
7. First year plants get heading cuts all around, meaning all growth is cut 6-12" from the ground as early in the season as possible. The allows new canes to grow from where those cuts were made. Also any buds are rubbed off to prevent fruiting, and allow the vegetative growth to be established. Second year most fruit is removed and pruning is also done to encourage vegetative growth.
8. Pruning should be done each year, to promote new, strong canes for next year.
That was very helpful. Thank you.
I love how you show how to do all the pruning. Do you also show one on how to prune blackberry bushes. I have 3 thornless ones and all the stems look purple-planting last year. And I have 2 with powerful sticky thorns-they all look the same-full of leaves and stems brown, but not dead.
I seen your full video thanks for information n advice❤
Woo, of course Troy knows how to take good car of his fruit! Good job sir.
best blueberry care video I found.
Very informative thank you
Thanks fer the info Buzzy😉
Thanks for the good info! Time to go prune. :)
This helps. Region 8 here.
Very useful. Thanks
Troy, That is the very best pruning lesson I have ever seen! I actually get it now. Could you please tell me why my 4 year old blueberry bush has never bloomed. I transplanted it from my neighbor's yard. ph is 5. Don't know the variety but his produce in early July and are about 7 feet tall. We are in piedmont NC. Please help!
thanks, very imformative!
Appreciate your video
I saw that u topped to blueberry off but did u realize that you’ve cut the flowering buds ?
Excellent video. Great information, well done!
Very clear thank you x
I like the video. very easy to understand.
Thanks, nice peaceful video ...
wish you would have done more very in close shots as that to me is the key--identifying. But lets ask you to explain what is an old cain? what identifies it as it seems one you kept looks old but you kept it. ty !!!
Thanks... nice peaceful video! Where are you located? We are in Oregon... when do you suggest feeding the plants?
I enjoyed the video. I assume that you are working with the highbush blueberry which is a different species from the two (rabbit eye and Vaccinnium elliottii that I work with. I wonder about toping them or at least the care you give to the end but where you make the cut. I can't think of a single instance where a new main branch comes out so close to the terminal bud or to the end but next to where the pruner makes the cut. I find that they usually arise ten to twelve inches below the terminal bud. Hi bush blueberries may act a little differently, but that has been my experience with both its warmer climate cousins. God bless.
Marcus
When it it best to prune? When do you fertilize? What's a good acid to add?
Very nice video! Thank you. God bless!
To the person below saying that pruning is unnecessary for such a young plant, that's semi true for a young plant as healthy as the one in the video not trying to put on a bunch of flowering wood. Rabbit eye blueberries will often try to put on way too much fruiting wood on the older stems than the plant can support and do a lot of vegetative growth. I have come to realize that it's pretty important to remove a lot of the two year old wood before the second growing season in the ground. Sometimes blueberries kind of mope their first year in the ground so that there is a lot of new wood and the old wood is kind of haggard looking. In such instances, cutting a good bit of that old wood out can sure help jump start things. God bless.
Marcus
@gardengirl11ify
I believe that you need 3 varieties of blueberry bushes to cross pollinate in order to produce blueberries.
@reddirtg You could try. Blueberries are hard to root from cuttings, but it might work.
great video, thanks!
very cool I have one groeing in my fish tsh tank.
very good
Great!!!
Fruiting buds are mainly the tip buds they say, is it true?
can you prune when the plant has leaves and flowers?
I need root bb for planting😀
Do potted blueberries need to be brought in for the winter. Last winter it got down to 8 below zero and I thought since the root ball is above ground maybe I should
Blueberries like cold. Do you have room to add mulch around the pots outside? Take all your pots and cluster them together, tightly. Rake your leaves in autumn and hump the leaves all around your pots to act like an insulator. Also, snow is a great insulator (think igloo). You can shovel snow on top of the leaves throughout winter for added protection
@Ryan Cookvor
-"Batman's day job ?"??????????????? This is job!
- Batman's day job ?
There is no need to prune such a young bush.
U are not an expert.
Gay
No one cares that you are gay