Klock Farm Holiday Season Update

Why are Klock Blueberries so good???   Because the bushes receive daily love and attention throughout the year.   It is also because of Pruning!

Hello fellow Tri-County Members and farm fresh fans.   The Klock farm crew took advantage of the sunny December days (a fading memory now that it’s raining) by finishing most of pruning during that period.  The blueberry bushes at Klock farm are pruned considerably.   Anywhere from 30-60% of the existing trunks, branches and/or whips are removed from each bush each winter.    Pruning is one of the most important practices a good blueberry farmer tackles every year.

We are seeing the effects of the cool, wet weather from last spring and early summer.   The bushes do not have as many new whips and the new whips have less fruit buds.   This equates to a potential decrease in fruit for the following season.   Because of this we’ve adjusted our pruning methods just a tad.  Taking into consideration the effects of the past growing season, we are leaving as many whips containing fruit buds as possible.

Later next spring Klock Farm is returning to the practice of applying nutrient rich ground cover to the base of the bushes.   A local stable owner delivers a 3 yard load of ‘horse pucky’ each week to the farm.   The pucky pile is getting big.  The horse pucky is a mixture of mostly straw with horse fallout mixed in.   The pucky pile is aerobically composting, at 140 degrees on the inside, preparing itself for distribution in the field.   We anticipate that the bushes will be very happy with their new food and ground cover.

Blueberry Pruning and Care Seminar

When:              Sat Jan 21st  10am

Where:             Klock Farm     931 NE Salzman Rd  Corbett

Cost:                Free!               

What’s It About:

Come Rain or shine, but not sleet or snow.  Bring warm clothes and a rain coat and be ready to practice pruning, if you wish. Come learn the finer points of having healthier, better producing blueberry bushes in your garden. Plant nutrient, irrigation, pest control will be discussed into addition to pruning.    A small section of our mature production bushes have been set aside (not pruned) for the pruning demonstration.   Bring your loppers.

That’s a wrap for now.  Klock Farm wishes the best to you for the holiday season.   Enjoy your blueberry caches.  

Pics are pre and post pruned bb plants