It's blueberry picking time

Blueberries are beginning to ripen at farms across the region, so picking time is near. Optimum planting time won't come until fall, so you'll need to remember just how good these berries tasted to motivate yourself to plant a few bushes of your own.

"A cool thing about blueberry bushes is that they turn crimson with a gold tinge in fall," said Mike Barron, farm stand and greenhouse manager at Crabtree Farms, Chattanooga's urban farm on East 30th Street. "It's great for landscaping and looks good in the front yard."

The bushes at Crabtree Farms are young and will be more productive in a couple of years. They're 2 to 4 feet tall and will grow to a height of 8 to 10 feet, Mr. Barron said.

"The best (harvest) time will probably be in about a week," he said.

Five Steps for Growing Blueberries

1. Blueberry bushes are hardy plants and grow well in full sun or partial shade, so location isn't a huge consideration. They should be planted at a depth of 10 inches.

2. Place mulch around roots. Heavy mulching will keep moisture in the soil. Oak leaves make an ideal mulch for blueberry bushes.

3. Water often. "Blueberry bushes have no tap roots that grow deep into the soil to get moisture," Mr. Barron said. "Instead, they have a hair root that's shallow. They need a moist environment."

4. For the first two years, pluck off blossoms. "It takes all the energy to grow the blueberry," Mr. Barron said. "If you pluck the blossoms, the bush will grow bigger, resulting in more blueberries."

5. Weed frequently around the bushes. "Like the blueberry bush, grass has a hair root system and will compete for water," he said.