Berry Bliss, part 2

Phase 2 of Operation Berry Bliss is now complete.



The top terrace has been planted with blueberries and strawberries.

 

The blueberries in the middle and on the right were moved down from the slope.

They have very small leaves and don't seem to be growing much.

I'm hoping the regular watering they will get here in the terraced garden, along with the acid-lover's soil will change that.



Left side of terrace.

Tristar strawberries

Day neutral/Everbearing.

Medium to small berry with firm flesh.

Matures in 60 days. Hardy to -20 degrees F.

Glossy, deep red-skinned fruit. Good dessert variety.

 

'Blue Jay' blueberries.

Early midseason (harvest mid-July).

Extremely vigorous variety.

Produces medium-sized, mild-flavored berries.

6-7' tall and 3-4' wide

 

There's another variety of strawberry between the Tristar and the Allstar, I just can't for the life of me remember what it is. My top guess is 'Benton,' but it could also be 'Shuksan' or 'Honeoye.' Those were the other varieties for sale, I just can't remember what I decided to take home.

This is what comes of not taking notes the day they were planted!

Perhaps I will be able to figure it out from the plants themselves?

 

For future reference:

Shuksan: Short day; large, bright red, medium-firm fruit.

Very flavorful.

Known to be fragile: "use by sundown."

 

Honeoye: Early Midseason, moderately-sized, bright red all the way through. 

Size stays consistent throughout season; very high yields.

 

Benton: Late midseason, medium to large conical fruit.

Upright growth habit.

 

 

Middle of terrace

['Blue Jay' bush, again]



 

'Allstar' strawberries

June bearing: late midseason.

Large, light-colored orange/red berries.

 Excellent disease resistance.

 

'Patriot' blueberries

Produces 10-20 lbs of fruit per plant.

Height 4 feet, spread 2-4 feet.

Beautiful fall color, berries ripen in July.

Protect blossoms from late spring frosts.

Cross between lowbush and highbush varieties. 



 

'Quinault' strawberries

Everbearing.

Large, soft fruit.

 

'Blue Ray' blueberries

Estimated mature height 4-5 feet, spread 3-4 feet.

Largest berry on the market!

Crimson fall color.

Very sweet, light-blue fruits resist cracking.

 

 

Still needs mulch.

We'll have to see how the strawberries and blueberries do in the same bed.

Blueberries do best with acidity in the 4.5-5.5 range, while strawberries like it around 6.0. I need to do a soil test to see where it's at right now.

If they don't thrive together, I may make a separate strawberry patch.