So our blueberries are super small and very purple right now. Im guessing its because we have had 80 and 90 degree weather for the last month. Is that the reason? Im guessing there is no hope for them? Its almost like the prematurely ripened and dried up.

Also, does anyone know when pigweed/amaranth goes to seed so I can collect it? Im thinking chicken feed!

Berries too small equals too little moisture. I only get one harvest per bush and year. I bet your blueberry year is screwed. I'm sorry.

I have my blueberries in a bucket without holes with 1 inch of clay pellets on the bottom and forest soil on top. They can be in dead water for a few days but hate dried up soil. Heat is not a problem for them. No moisture is.

hmmm prior to this heat we have had an enourmous amount of rain, and I have it all swaled so I didn't think it was from lack of moisture. Are you sure that is the only reason?

I think it is. Maybe one has a more scientific background in gardening but experience taught me so.

I have hundreds of european blueberry bushes in Finland but only two american bushes in Germany. Dry spring always meant few to no berries in Finland. Wet spring and dry summer meant small berries.

usually we get blueberries in mid to late June....everything around here is going to see already because its been so hot..its like we didnt even have but a week of spring weather. And it rained the entire time.

Many types of blueberries grow naturally in bogs and on the edge of ponds...love water.  Never seen them growing naturally in the dry west, only in wetter climates.

yeah, blueberries love water. FWIW wild blueberries are very small and VERY tastey, have you tried any of the berries? One of my favorite camping spots features a lake with blueberries surrounding the shore in long stretches... once we went there just as the berries were really producing and harvested a giant bowl full that came home and went into our freezer.

Wild blueberry pancakes for months later!

I did try a few, they arent sweet which isnt a bad thing...the texture is just dry like they would be at the end of the season, and its not every single one...some of them are still on track. There is always next year!

Rob S. aka Blitz wrote:
I did try a few, they arent sweet which isnt a bad thing...the texture is just dry like they would be at the end of the season, and its not every single one...some of them are still on track. There is always next year!

That there is! I don't think it could hurt to feed them some end of the year compost in hopes that some added nutrients will help next years harvest.

I was just thinking the same thing. I was going to pull the mulch back and add more peat and compost. I also want to make my swale more effective.

I would suggest doing it SOON.  A late feeding can harm trees.  A late feeding can stimulate new growth (at the plant's expense).  This new growth (and the weakened plant) may not be ready for the first frost and winter to follow.  Generally, you want new growth in the spring, not before winter.

its been brutally hot here for a month.  breaking temp. records all last week.  and again couple days this week.  my blueberries are doing great.  when i planted them i covered around them with newspaper and then put straw on top of that, real thick.  the dirt under the paper is extremely wet.  almost mud at times.  but the plants are loving it,  and are full of large plump sweet berries.  just now turning purple.  ive already eaten a few.  had to put a net over them this AM.  watched a bird steal one.

Yeah I think I need more water, reswaling and mulching will help. My leaves are starting to brown a bit....I hope the entire bush wont die.

When life gives you small dried up blueberries…..make blueberry sauce!!

I didn’t get all the little stems out and cooking it rendered them soft and you didn’t notice it. I took all the little tart blueberries that were dried up, cooked them in water for a while with a bit of sugar, and viola a pretty tasty sauce!

now that ours are coming ripe in mass...they are proving to be rather tart