We bought our house in Blaine 33 years ago. It was an exciting time for me as a gardener, coming from Colorado, where we “enjoyed” 52 frost-free days a year.
Our yard in Blaine came with a few apple and plum trees, but the best treasure was six blueberry bushes. One of the first things I did was mow overgrown grass because most berries do not thrive when competing with weeds and grasses for water and nutrients.
Blueberries, which are native to North America, have evolved roots that allow them to withstand a wider variety of soils than other berries, such as blackberries or raspberries. Blueberries are perfect for the Pacific Northwest as they need wet climates to thrive.
For the required care, berries give you a worthy harvest. They take less space than an apple tree, require limited pruning and are significantly less daily work than vegetables. Additionally, when fresh berries range from $4 to $10, it makes financial sense to install a berry patch. I begin picking red and golden raspberries in June. Every three or four days, I start my morning with a basket of fresh berries. It is my favorite time of year.
I like to put about a cup of mashed berries into Ziploc bags to freeze. If you are up for cooking, they can be easily water-bath canned for pie filling or blueberry shortcake. Using green apples in your berries will add natural pectin, so you don’t need to add sugar until you have cooked it into a thick, jam-like texture. Can without sugar or just sweeten to taste.
I have found berries thrive in a location dappled with sun. Most berries are understory plants, or at the very least, found in the interim space between forest and meadow. Deep mulching can create cooler soil temperatures to reduce watering demands and plant stress. Every fall, I put down two feet of leaves to cover the bushes up to their dripline edges and prune minimally. I never water my blueberries, which were not producing fruit when we first moved.
Now is a great time to see where berry bushes might work in your yard. Since we are having a drier spring and summer, some areas that otherwise could have worked may be too dry. I prefer to integrate edible plants into landscaping to avoid monoculture disadvantages.
Blueberries make great hedges. Berry plants are also great for attracting birds and inspects to the habitat. So, even if you don’t get all your fruit picked, it will benefit the environment. Native plants are good choices for shrubbery and provide edible fruits (though, when looking at natives, you should taste the berries before you purchase the plants).
Nurseries frequently put plants on sale to reduce plant stocks this time of year. This is for a variety of reasons, including that watering plants in containers is an endless task that stresses them, which negatively affects their appearance. Storing your new plants in a shady location where they are well-watered and away from wind will hold them until late September, when cooler temperatures and shorter days reduce the transplanting stress. Mother Nature will also help with the watering chores.
If you’re interested in learning more about berries and other local harvest, Sustainable Connections will hold the Whatcom County Farm Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 13. Each location on the tour will offer an opportunity to meet the folks who grow and raise our food. The self-guided event is free for all ages. For more information, visit sustainableconnections.org/whatcom-county-farm-tour.
Kelle Rankin-Sunter is founder of Blaine CORE, which holds free home and gardening classes at Blaine Public Library. Rankin-Sunter can be reached at fruit@Blaine-CORE.com.
