You won't believe what blueberries are really for ...

Check out this blueberry gardening guide right now! [Food Gardening Network Preview]( March 27, 2024  [“Blueberries in my breakfast cereal, fresh from my garden? Just a handful, because someone else is eating most of my blueberries!”]( Read about my colleague, Christy Page, and her successful efforts to grow blueberries in her backyard—but how, surprisingly, most of her harvest gets used! [Blueberries] Dear Gardener, Blueberries are delightful! To eat and to grow. So, when my colleague here at Food Gardening Network, Christy Page, told me she had planted blueberry bushes—using all the advice from our [Blueberry Bonanza—Everything You Need to Know About Growing and Enjoying Blueberries]( Gardening Guide—I wanted to know how it worked out for her. Here is Christy’s story: “I love blueberries. Not only are they full of antioxidants, they are just delicious. I like them in yogurt, cereal, just plain, and most definitely in baking. I decided that it made a lot of sense to get my own blueberry bushes so that I could have fresh wonderful blueberries all summer long. I visited my local nursery and purchased early and late blooming varieties that were already fairly well established. I was so excited! That summer I watched as the pollinators floated from bush to bush, so happy with the thought of all of the great recipes I would try. The small buds started, and I was in full-on planning mode. I’m envisioning buckets and buckets of blueberries (well maybe not in the first year, but definitely in the years to come). I made sure there were no signs of pests or diseases. My first berry ripened, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. It was so very delicious and sweet. Now I am starting to get a teensy bit impatient. I just needed one cup. Then I would be on my way to blueberry fudge, or muffins, or so many other wonderful treats. [Bear] The next morning, I’m sitting having my coffee and gazing out the window. I looked over to see my wonderful blueberry bushes, and something was blocking my view. I paused for a moment completely stunned, and then I just had to gasp. It was a BEAR. A very LARGE BEAR was having my blueberries for his morning breakfast. Now let me tell you, my very first instinct was to run out there and protect my blueberries. After a moment though, I came to my senses. That bear was A LOT bigger than I am. So instead, I watched him continue to munch on my morning treats.​ Well, the rest of that summer, and every summer since, I’m lucky if I get a handful of blueberries. But I have a very happy bear who knows where to look for his breakfast treats, and since he is bigger than me, I let him have them.”​ Christy has been very successful with her blueberry-growing efforts … but, she has a harvesting problem that’s better solved by animal-control professionals. Somehow, though, I think she enjoys having a visiting bear and sharing her berries with him! There’s nothing so delicious as freshly picked blueberries, whether you’re a human or a bear. Get ready for your own blueberry success with [Blueberry Bonanza—Everything You Need to Know About Growing and Enjoying Blueberries]( ready for you to read right now! This premium Gardening Guide about blueberries walks you through becoming the best blueberry grower you can be! Refer to this Gardening Guide whenever you have questions about your blueberry plants—from planning to planting and from maintaining and nurturing to harvesting and reaping the rewards in your kitchen. So, plan now and get everything you need to know to about growing, harvesting, and eating blueberries in [Blueberry Bonanza—Everything You Need to Know About Growing and Enjoying Blueberries]( [Blueberries] In this Gardening Guide, you get all the blueberry growing tips, techniques, and advice about how to start and maintain your own blueberry bushes. And we cover growing blueberries for beginners and skilled gardeners alike, so no matter your gardening skill level, we’ve got you covered! Don’t wait—read [Blueberry Bonanza—Everything You Need to Know About Growing and Enjoying Blueberries]( now, so you’ll be ready to make your next blueberry harvest the best ever! First, you get a complete Introduction to Blueberries—including the history and background of this beautiful fruit. Learn which ten U.S. states account for 98% of all U.S. production of blueberries—and how blueberries are one of three berries native to North America (can you guess the other two?). And learn all about how a particular family in New Jersey really put blueberries on the map! All the details when you read this introduction now. Then, you get Feature Articles about Blueberries that include: - Types of Blueberries—learn the differences between lowbush blueberry plants and highbush blueberries … and rabbiteye blueberry plants and half-high blueberries. Which type is best for your growing needs? - Where to Plant Blueberries in Your Home Garden—while blueberries are one of the easiest fruiting plants to grow in your garden, learn the first thing you need to decide when preparing to plant. - Preparing Your Soil and Getting Ready to Plant—how much does the pH level of the soil for blueberries matter? When will you need to adjust the soil? Where is the best place to get your blueberry plants to start your blueberry garden? Find out now. - Pollinating Blueberry Plants—learn about the biggest benefit of cross-pollinating your blueberry plants (Hint: it affects the size of the berries), and how self-pollination works with blueberry plants. [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership Special Offer—Just $10 for an Entire Year! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Become a Charter Gold Member today and get the Food Gardening Magazine and Library, Gardening Guides, and Recipes! [Gold Membership] Check out all that this new food gardening club has to offer you today! YES, SIGN ME UP NOW FOR JUST $10!]( - Chill Out—get a full explanation about what a “chill hour” is for blueberry plants. And how to ensure that your blueberry plants are protected from too much cold. - Growing Blueberries in Containers or Pots—get all the secrets to growing blueberries in containers or blueberries in pots with our proven three-step method. - Preparing for Blueberries all Season Long—learn which blueberry varieties deliver a crop all season long. - Fertilizing and Pruning Your Blueberry Plants—discover when (Hint: not when you first plant!) and how much fertilizer your blueberry plants need. Plus, how and when to prune blueberry bushes to ensure quality and bountiful fruit. - Harvesting Your Blueberries—learn exactly how to manipulate your fingers for picking only the ripe berries. And discover when you need to use a special hand rake (only with certain varieties) to harvest your blueberries. - Dealing with Blueberry Pests—while blueberry plants are usually disease- and insect-free, find out what the biggest pest threat is to blueberries … and what you can do about it. - Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing Blueberries—get the full list of essential gardening tools and equipment for growing blueberries … and for almost all of your gardening needs. [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership Special Offer—Just $10 for an Entire Year! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Become a Charter Gold Member today and get the Food Gardening Magazine and Library, Gardening Guides, and Recipes! [Gold Membership] Check out all that this new food gardening club has to offer you today! YES, SIGN ME UP NOW FOR JUST $10!]( Next, this premium Gardening Guide highlights ten popular blueberry varieties to help you choose the varieties you want to grow—this is just a sampling of the many varieties available, and this section covers the appropriate USDA growing zones for each variety: - Biloxi Blueberry - Bluecrop Blueberry - Blueray Blueberry - Brightwell Blueberry - Legacy Blueberry - Pink Icing Blueberry - Pink Popcorn Blueberry - Powder Blue Blueberry - Sunshine Blue Blueberry - Top Hat Blueberry And all your blueberry-gardening efforts are made more satisfying when you have quick and easy-to-make recipes, to ensure your harvest is enjoyed by everyone you serve at your home. Food Gardening Network is all about providing delicious recipes for making yummy dishes. Try these recipes and enjoy your blueberry harvest: - Quick & Easy Blueberry Jam - Baked Blueberry Oatmeal - Blazing Fast Blueberry Muffins - Traditional Blueberry Slump - Wild Rice Salad with Blueberries and Corn - Blueberry Tofu Smoothie - Blueberry Pie Fudge - The Ultimate Berry Crumble - Blueberry Coffee Cake - Blueberry Chicken - Classic Blueberry Pie [Blueberries] Next, you’ll learn all about the health benefits of blueberries with Nutrition Facts about Blueberries and Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Blueberries. Learn about all the wonderful and beneficial attributes of blueberries—and how you can use blueberries to boost your overall health. And to be sure you have everything you need to grow your own blueberries, we’ve included a Resources about Blueberries section—so that you can easily find additional tools and information about blueberries and all sorts of other general gardening resources. The Glossary section gives you the explanation of key blueberry-gardening terms and concepts—so, you’re never in the dark or confused about important blueberry gardening and harvesting ideas. Finally, you get a BONUS FEATURE ARTICLE, “How to Prune Blueberry Bushes”—learn how to prune blueberry bushes the right way so you get the most fruit!  [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership Special Offer—Just $10 for an Entire Year! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Become a Charter Gold Member today and get the Food Gardening Magazine and Library, Gardening Guides, and Recipes! [Gold Membership] Check out all that this new food gardening club has to offer you today! YES, SIGN ME UP NOW FOR JUST $10!]( But this is just a fraction of what you get with your [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership]( You see Gold Membership is packed with benefits you can’t get anywhere else! As Executive Editor of Food Gardening Network, I’m happy to have you as a free Bronze Member, but that only gives you a small taste of what Food Gardening Network is all about. When you upgrade now to [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership]( you unlock the key to an entire library of material, absolutely everything we publish about growing good food at home—all access and all the time for you, including: - [All-Access Membership in Food Gardening Network Gold Club]( only online resource for planning, planting, growing, tending, harvesting, and enjoying foods from your very own garden. - Subscription to Food Gardening Magazine—you get monthly issues filled with articles about how to start, maintain, and harvest food from your own garden at home. Plus, instant and unlimited access to the entire searchable digital library of back issues! - Subscription to RecipeLion Magazine—you get quarterly issues filled with hundreds of delicious and easy-to-make recipes at your fingertips, plus tips and tricks for developing new cooking skills. Plus, instant and unlimited access to the entire searchable digital library of back issues! - Gardening Guides—you get instant access to more than 60 comprehensive guidebooks that are plant-specific—from tomatoes, basil, and garlic to potatoes, pumpkins, beans, corn, squash, and more!—about how to grow, harvest, and enjoy the bounty of your home garden. Learn everything about specific foods you can grow, get recipes to enjoy with friends and family, and enjoy tips on health benefits and home remedies that use your harvest! - Cookbooks—you get full and instant access to 9 digital cookbooks, filled with more than 1,300 recipes! You’ll never run out of ways to enjoy the fruits of your labor with these easy-to-make recipes! From single dishes to a whole meal—we’ve got you covered! - Videos & Video Library—you get instant access to more than 80 videos in our library with gardening tips, tricks, and tactics; do-it-yourself projects for gardening and crafting items; and cooking videos to show you exactly how to make specific dishes. Plus, access to new monthly videos over the coming year! - NEW! Planning Calendars —every season of the year, you get printable planning calendars to help keep your garden on track. Calendars include tasks, checklists, notes, and recipes that use fresh seasonal ingredients from your garden. - NEW SERVICE! Recipe of the Week—every Sunday, you get a recipe with quick, easy, and delicious ways to cook food—delivered weekly to your email inbox. - Gold Member Insider—you get this exclusive email service, delivered regularly to your inbox, to guide you through the Food Gardening Network Library. Saves you time finding articles, magazine issues, gardening guides, videos, kits, and recipes that you won't want to miss! And all of this is available to you—right now—when you upgrade to a [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership.]( I want to see your name on my daily list of new Gold Members—you deserve to join like-minded gardeners and get full access to our entire library of material for optimizing your food garden. Please become a [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Member]( today—while this special offer lasts! Sincerely, [Bill Dugan Signature] Bill Dugan Executive Editor Food Gardening Network P.S. Your success with food gardening depends on you acting now—please claim your [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership]( today and get the only all-in-one-place resource for planning, planting, growing, tending, harvesting, and enjoying foods from your very own garden. P.P.S. Please remember: full access to the Blueberry Bonanza Gardening Guide is waiting for you when you [become a Gold Member today](  [Food Gardening Network Charter Gold Membership Special Offer—Just $10 for an Entire Year! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! Become a Charter Gold Member today and get the Food Gardening Magazine and Library, Gardening Guides, and Recipes! [Gold Membership] Check out all that this new food gardening club has to offer you today! YES, SIGN ME UP NOW FOR JUST $10!](  About Food Gardening Network: Food Gardening Network brings you expert in-depth information and daily advice to help you grow good food at home and become the best food gardener you can be. Our worldwide community of gardeners, farmers, and cooking enthusiasts share advice and practical information on how to plan, plant, grow, tend, harvest and enjoy great-tasting and nutritional food from your home garden. Our magazine articles, in-depth gardening guides, how-to videos, recipes and cookbooks, and planning calendars help you improve your gardening skills, be a better cook, and enjoy all the benefits of successful food gardening—including saving time and money. When you join our growing worldwide community of more than 300,000 food gardeners, you get the information, advice, and camaraderie that can only be experienced with your membership in Food Gardening Network. You are receiving this email as part of your free subscription to email updates from Food Gardening Network. If you no longer wish to receive this update as part of your free subscription, please click the unsubscribe link below. 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