The winter red beauty of blueberries can make a dramatic statement in your garden of edible plants. In early spring, I will be moving these delicious Southern Highbush 'Sharpblue' blueberries out of their current large containers to my front border garden this spring. 

 

Blueberries are easy to grow, have few pest issues, but do require certain conditions:

1. Buy blueberry cultivars that are recommended for your area.
2. Blueberries need to have acidic pH levels of 4.0 - 5.5 for healthy    growth.
3. Blueberry plants should have at least 4 - 5 hours of sunlight and good air circulation.
4. Fertilize blueberries with 8-4-8 in April, June, August, and October.  Sunniland's Azalea + Camellia Fertilizer is an excellent fertilizer formulated for Florida's soils.
5. When your blueberries are mature, (3 - 5 years) do not be afraid to prune (top) your blueberry bushes by 1/4th, so that there are no canes that are older than three to four years old.   
6. No need to overwater, blueberries need 1" - 1.5" of water a week during the summer.  If no rainfall, provide supplemental irrigation.

Check out new Southern Highbush cultivars for Florida at the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.

University of Florida's Blueberry Gardener's Guide.

Blueberries as Ornamentals in Edible Landscaping

More University of Florida Blueberry research on cultivars

Winter Loving Strawberries

Strawberries, Fragaria × ananassa, are one of my favorite berries. I love strawberries with angel food cake and whipped cream, strawberry jam cookies, and strawberry ice cream. Strawberries are also one of the easiest fruits to grow in your garden.

Florida has three seasons, autumn, winter, and spring to grow delicious strawberries. They need temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees and shorter daytime conditions. Raised beds are best so that the crowns of the strawberry plant are kept well-drained. The soil pH for good growth should be between 5.5 and 6.8, but will tolerate acidity levels 5.0 through 7.0. Ensure your strawberries have adequate fertilizer by digging a balanced N-P-K into the soil before planting. Then using a slow-release fertilizer once a month. Water one to two times a week in the winter and two to three times depending on the temperatures in the spring.

Protect strawberries with frost blankets when temperatures go below 32 degrees. Recommended varieties for Florida include 'Caramosa', 'Sweet Charlie', and 'Festival.' I found beauiful white flowered 'Camarosa' and hot pink flowers  "Lipstick" at my local nursery.  Lipstick strawberries have long runners spreading to five feet if allowed, and can make a lovely groundcover for edible landscaping.  Strawberries can be used in containers, window boxes, and in rock gardens.

Pest issues include fungus, spider mites, and nematodes. Check leaves for any pest issues before you buy your plants. Using rich organic soils will reduce nematode populations.  Apply a proactive fungicide if you think your plants may be susceptible.  Check labels before using any pesticides or fungicides for use on strawberries.

Camarosa strawberries

Lipstick Strawberries

More Links:

Growing Strawberries in the Florida Home Garden.

Growing Strawberries Hydroponically

Fragraria 'Lipstick' Strawberries

Would you like to read more on Edible Landscaping? Check out my in-depth article on Edilble Landscaping for Green Builder magazine on "Edible Landscaping 02" pages 31 - 37.

Orange And Gang Meet Bonsai Trees

This is disturbing on so many levels.

Look At Those Melons!

Amazing how fruit doesn't last long in my fridge or on the counter but will last more than 2,000 years under the ground near Tokyo.

Archaeologists have excavated in Shiga Prefecture what they believe are the oldest remains of a melon ever found.

Based on a radiocarbon analysis, researchers estimate the half-rounded piece of fruit to be about 2,100 years old, Shuji Yamazaki, an official in the city of Moriyama, said.

The remains are believed to be the oldest of a melon that still has flesh on the rind, Yamazaki said. Previously, the oldest such find was believed to be remains found in China that date back to the fourth century A.D.

The melon might have been so well-preserved because it was in a vacuum-packed state in a wet layer below the ground, an environment hostile to microorganisms that might otherwise have broken down the remains, Yamazaki said.