Are blueberries picked by hand or machine?

For the fresh market, blueberries are mainly picked by hand, but some are gathered with large harvesting machines that move slowly along the rows of blueberry plants and gently shake each one so ripe berries fall into a catching frame.

Can blueberries be picked by machine?

In addition to labor cost and availability issues, the use of mechanical harvesting can enhance food safety since the fruit is untouched by human hands during harvesting. Machine harvesting will likely become standard practice for many blueberry growers at some point in the near future.

How much is an acre of blueberries worth?

The United States Department of Agriculture says that a mature planting of blueberries can return as much as $3,000 per acre with correct marketing, management, and growing. Of course, the best choice for the small-farm grower with a good crop of blueberries is direct sales.

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How much does a blueberry bush yield?

You can expect to average around five to seven pints of fresh, sweet blueberries per plant each summer. Blueberries are remarkably carefree. You aren’t likely to encounter many insects or diseases, and if birds are a problem, just cover the plants with netting.

What happens if you eat blueberries everyday?

According to a few studies, a bowl of blueberries can help in boosting immunity and can reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity and heart diseases. Moreover, consuming a small portion of berries daily can help in strengthening the metabolism and prevent any kind of metabolic syndrome and deficiency.

What should I look for when buying a blueberry bush?

When you buy fresh blueberries, look for berries that are firm, dry, plump and smooth-skinned, with a silvery surface bloom and no leaves or stems. Size isn’t an indicator of maturity but color is – berries should be deep purple-blue to blue-black.

How much does a blueberry picking machine cost?

You pay now or you pay later.” While the initial investment for a large machine could be as much as $30,000, what a grower will make up for in labor costs makes it worthwhile.

How do you know when blueberries are ready to pick?

Blueberries are typically ready for picking between June and August. Don’t rush to pick the berries as soon as they turn blue. Wait a couple days. When they are ready, they should fall off right into your hand.

How many blueberries can you plant per acre?

Typically, you can plan on between 1,300 to 2,000 blueberry plants per acre. It is ideal to create flat-top raised beds in long rows with incorporated organic matter such as sawdust or wood chips (pine or fir) or peat moss.

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Is there money in blueberry farming?

How much can an acre of blueberries make a year? Once your blueberry bushes reach maturity they could produce from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds a year. If they all sold for $4.00 a pound this means that you could make anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000 an acre a year once they reach maturity.

How many years will a blueberry bush produce?

Blueberries will live and produce for 40 to 50 years. Attending to their ideal location and conditions at planting will guarantee you delicious fruit for many years.

How many years does it take for a blueberry bush to produce fruit?

It can take three to four years before they will produce fruit. Blueberries also produce better if they are cross pollinated. This means that growing blueberry bushes of different varieties will help with their production.

Do you need 2 blueberry bushes to get fruit?

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) bushes are self-pollinating to an extent, but grow larger fruit through cross-pollination by a second variety. Bees and wind help bushes to cross-pollinate, although the bushes need to be near each other to be productive.

How many blueberries should I plant for a family of 4?

Blueberries. 3 Plants per person is usually enough. We have 12 mature plants for our family (2 per person) and could definitely use more!

Do you need to stake blueberry bushes?

No Stakes Required Blueberries grow on upright, erect bushes, not as rambling vines. The bushes don’t usually need support and they are also too heavy for most stakes. When grown in hedges, a simple trellis system is sometimes used but it’s not necessary when you have only a few bushes.

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