Zone 5 Gardeners United!

[Reedo5]

I'me in the Denver area. Want to try my hand at raspberries and blueberries this year. Biggest challenge seems to be getting the soil ph right. So many good cold hardy varieties out there. Any favorites? Any duds?

https://www.almanac.com/plant/blueberriesThis has helped me a bit im starting blueberrys this yr i started raspberries an BlackBerrys last yr ill report back tonight once im near my gardening notebook on what type they are. An im chimin in from the souther tier of NY zone 5

 

[gmjarvi]

So thinking ahead a ways...has anyone ever planted an overwintering cover crop on their raised beds? I'm considering doing this here and then letting the chickens and ducks till it all up for me in the spring before transplanting time.

 

[Reedo5]

So thinking ahead a ways...has anyone ever planted an overwintering cover crop on their raised beds? I'm considering doing this here and then letting the chickens and ducks till it all up for me in the spring before transplanting time.

I never have but now that you have mentioned this is sounds good hahaha

 

[Justso]

That's cool looking! I've been looking for creative herb planter designs, might have to show that one to my husband.

Never got around to my garden planning last night, but I am sitting down to do it now!

I started some flowers last week (sunflower, petunia, zinnia, helichrysum, marigold, milkweed) as well as celery.

Thanks for the reminder! I have to pull out my milkweed seeds. Found them stashed in the kitchen the other day.

 

[Justso]

So thinking ahead a ways...has anyone ever planted an overwintering cover crop on their raised beds? I'm considering doing this here and then letting the chickens and ducks till it all up for me in the spring before transplanting time.

I looked for winter wheat last fall but couldn't find any. Maybe this year I need to broaden my horizons and look at feed stores further out from the metro area. I think it's a great idea to work nitrogen back in.

 

[Reedo5]

I'me in the Denver area. Want to try my hand at raspberries and blueberries this year. Biggest challenge seems to be getting the soil ph right. So many good cold hardy varieties out there. Any favorites? Any duds?

Sorry for such a late reply, so for raspberrys i planted 4 total 2 Latham, 1 Caroline, 1 Encore.
Then for BlackBerrys i did 4 total 2 Navaho, 2 Arapaho. They will be in a full yr this upcoming june, they all have showen good growth and addapted well i feel an my PH was 6.8 im gonna add some fertilizer this yr and 4 more plants. As for blueberries i havnt picked any out yet but im prepping the soil this weekend to get the ph level down to 4.5 to 4.8.

I refer to this book a lot theres a websote in top left corner of the book in the pic u could check out.

 

[gmjarvi]

I never have but now that you have mentioned this is sounds good hahaha

I looked for winter wheat last fall but couldn't find any. Maybe this year I need to broaden my horizons and look at feed stores further out from the metro area. I think it's a great idea to work nitrogen back in.

I'm thinking it will be a good way to go because the beds I'm working with got neglected for a few years by the previous owner and are going to be really tough to get back in order. Somehow I feel like it will be better in subsequent years if I purposefully plant something there lol. I'm still mulling it over, though.

 

[gmjarvi]

Thanks for the reminder! I have to pull out my milkweed seeds. Found them stashed in the kitchen the other day.

Only one of mine has germinated so far

 

[Justso]

Only one of mine has germinated so far

Hang in there!

 

[Justso]

Sorry for such a late reply, so for raspberrys i planted 4 total 2 Latham, 1 Caroline, 1 Encore.
Then for BlackBerrys i did 4 total 2 Navaho, 2 Arapaho. They will be in a full yr this upcoming june, they all have showen good growth and addapted well i feel an my PH was 6.8 im gonna add some fertilizer this yr and 4 more plants. As for blueberries i havnt picked any out yet but im prepping the soil this weekend to get the ph level down to 4.5 to 4.8.View attachment 2058278
I refer to this book a lot theres a websote in top left corner of the book in the pic u could check out.

What are you prepping your soil with to get the pH down?

Your chickens sure will be happy with all those berries!