Planting blueberries and asparagus in the mud

Joey Wahoo · #1 04/05/08, 10:42 AM

As luck would have it, my blueberries and asparagus arrived just as we have had several days of rain and everything is a wet muddy mess.

It will take a week for everything to dry out sufficiently for me to till. I'm afraid if I wait that long the plants will suffer. On the other hand, I'm worried about planting in the mud, because of clodding and the inability to till.

Any advice?

thanks

Callieslamb · #2 04/05/08, 02:02 PM

if we knew a general location of where your garden is.....I know some don't like to give out theri location, but it is really hard to help you with the best advice.

I would wait. Keep the roots damp, it will dry up eventually? In my area, we are expecting three days without rain this coming week. That is when I will plant. Pot the blueberries up in pots if you really can't resist. I think you are right though. The blueberries like a very light soil. If you plant them out now, you are more likely to get the soil packed in around them.

Sorry, I know nothing about asparagus.

Spinner · #3 04/05/08, 02:06 PM

I've mudded in complete gardens in years past and they did just fine. Is the place you will plant and old garden spot from last year or will you be breaking new ground? If there is grass growing around where you will plant, then use some black & white ink newspaper to mulch around them. The paper should choke out any grass and weeds so the plants won't have to fight them for nutrients.

HockeyFan · #4 04/05/08, 04:37 PM

If your state has an extension office for gardening and agriculture, you should be able to find a master gardener in area that is familiar with the local climate and soil conditions; and should be able to give more accurate advise.

anniew · #5 04/05/08, 04:54 PM

Asparagus roots will keep awhile if you put them in very slightly damp peat moss, the in a plastic bag with a couple of holes, then in the refrig.

Farmerwilly2 · #6 04/05/08, 04:56 PM

Only things I can think of that would like getting transplanted in the mud would be cattails and rice. Wrap a damp paper around the asparagus roots, put em in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and wait till it drys some. If the blueberrys are potted, just put some mulch around the pot and wait. If they're bare rooted, heel them in and wait. don't work your plants wet.

Big Dave · #7 04/06/08, 09:58 AM

Hang the mud how is your p h level? I just bought four blueberry bushes from ATWOODS and the book I have studied by Linda Tilger( Tips for the LAZY GARDENER ) Blue berries need acid soil. P H levels of 5 - 5.6.
Book tell to buy one year old roots( I did not do this I planted last year and am getting small heads as we speak. ) It does say to lavish the fertilizer on them. I did do this I also dug down about a foot layed down several inches of barnyard poop we have and put it in and area of the garden where it will not be disturbed.
Mud will not hurt it will be easier on your digging I would think.
Oh by the way the book also says to plant only male plants they are suppose to be thicker and put off more spears.(I did not do this either)

luvrulz · #8 04/06/08, 10:02 AM

I have 2,000 asparagus crowns in the ground and 1,000 blueberry bushes in the ground. Where are you? It might make a slight difference but shouldn't matter too much.

What is your soil ph - you need 4.2 - 4.5 for the berries. You need peat moss to put the bb's in, whether it's a pot or a hole in the ground, ok? That will help even out the ph to what they like. Clear an area about 2 foot sq for each bush, when you get ready to plant. Not really necessary to till the whole area if you have a post hole digger. if the ground is too wet, pot them til the ground is dry enough. It won't hurt them at all - it's better to plant them in the fall but spring is ok too.

The asparagus crowns just need a little dampness/moistness to keep - do not refridgerate. ACK! They will keep for about 2 weeks as long as you don't let them dry out. Where did you buy them? I bought mine from NJ Farms and they were exceptionally helpful... We have a middle buster for the tractor (paid $85 and worth everypenny!) and just dug a trench with it. We put 0-46-0 (hard to locate) or 18-46-0 sprinkled in the bottom of the trench. We put the crowns in the bottom and put a little dirt on top of them. We didn't fill the trench all at once, just put a little bit at a time to fill them in over time......

We fertilize both maybe twice a year - once before they come up or leave out. The second time after they're done producing for the summer. Both are about a 6 week crop and the asparagus will do fabulous with watering - we pick ours 3 times a day when it's really coming in.

Good luck - check out my website for my phone # and call DH with more questions if you have them!

Joey Wahoo · #9 04/07/08, 08:24 AM

Thanks for all the helpful neighborly advice y'all.

We're in southern central Virginia, near Danville.

I got the blueberries and asparagus from Nourse nursery.

I mudded in strawberries last year, but thats really not an option now. We've got "up to your ankles" mud.

The area I'm planting the blueberries in has a ph of 5.4. Thanks for the peat moss advice. I assumed that was acidic enough, but I see that it isn't.

I put in 75 asparagus crowns last year, and now I'm adding 75 more (provided it ever dries out).

thanks again