Successful Blueberry Tips and Tricks

The main thing to know with blueberries is to transplant them right in the first place, keep the soil fairly acid over the years, and be patient. They take a few seasons to get into full swing.

Site and Soil

Blueberries must be planted where they have full sunlight most or part of the day and in acid soils (pH 4.5-5.5) that are well grained, porous and high in organic matter. They are shallow-rooted plants and must be irrigated, heavily mulched, or planted in soil with a high water table. However, they can not tolerate standing in water.

If the soil is not acid enough, it can be acidified in one of these three ways:

Mix equal parts of acid peat and garden soil. This should be done at least six months before planting (in September of the spring before you plan to plant blueberries).

Add sulfur at the rate of one pound per 100 square feet. The acid soil can then be maintained by annually adding acid-forming fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate.

Mulch 2 or 3 inches deep with pine bark, pine straw or sawdust. Mulch will also help control weeds and retain moisture.

Please have your soil tested by the extension office and use only one of the three methods above to acidify it to the proper levels.

Planting

Early spring planting is recommended (after last frost, of course). Set the plants four feet apart in rows six feet apart. Blueberries have a very shallow root system. Plant at the same level as they were growing in their nursery pots. The plants will have a definite line that shows you the right depth. Firm soil around the plants, mulch and water to set.

To improve the productivity of blueberries, at least two varieties should be planted, because blueberries require cross-pollination between varieties.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing is recommended in early spring once the plants are established. Apply a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Also, an Azalea-Rhododendron fertilizer is good for blueberries.

When using mulch a high nitrogen fertilizer is necessary since decomposing mulch removes the nitrogen from the soil. In spring just before the buds break, apply about 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of ammonium sulfate under the branches around each plant.

Pruning

Pruning can be done anytime from leaf fall until growth begins again in the spring. From the time of planting until the end of the third growing season, remove only the dead branches, injured branches, and branches that are too close to the ground. As the bushes come into bearing (usually in the fourth year), regular pruning is necessary. Regular pruning consists of removing dead and injured branches and trimming back bushy twigs.

Pest Control

Birds are attracted to blueberries. Covering with plastic netting supported by a light framework is the best bird deterrent.

Insect pests seldom become a problem. Removing over ripe fruit and diseased branches help keep insects away. If you find you have creepy crawlies, call your favorite greenhouse or your local extension service for help identifying and dealing with the problem.

Winter Protection

In those lucky parts of the United States which experience severe winters (like Northern Minnesota, for instance!), winter protection is required. A covering of straw in the fall about six inches deep helps reduce plant injury. Some gardeners use a fence of wire to contain the straw. Apply the mulch after plants have been subject to a few good frosts, and don’t forget to rake it away and compost properly in the spring.…

Type 2 Diabetes – Exercise As Part of Diabetes Management

Exercise is one of the most important parts of a diabetic’s lifestyle. There are three effective pillars in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes…

diet,

exercise, and

medication.

And exercise is one of the main drivers.

People with Type 2 diabetes are no different to non-diabetics when it comes to excuses why they can’t find time to exercise. While fitting exercise into a diabetic lifestyle might be difficult, it isn’t impossible. You just have to be creative.

The single best move you can make is to involve a friend. Having accountability means it won’t be as easy to talk yourself out of exercising on a particular day. Make sure it is someone who is actually going to push you and be there for support. The best scenario is to have someone who is in better physical condition than you and will be able to outperform you.

Make sure you are held accountable for your actions. If you sneak out of a workout, there has to be consequences. The consequences also have to be dire enough to be painful and something your workout partner is going to hold you to… no matter what.

Next, you need to work in your own exercise. If you like to watch TV, then commit to getting up and doing jumping jacks, lunges, knee bends, etc. during the commercial breaks. You could even have an exercise bike where you can see the TV… watch TV from the bicycle seat.

Another way to build motivation is to include several others. Having a workout partner is great, but having three or four is even better. Start your own workout club or join an existing one. There are always those friends who would be willing to put forth the effort if others would, too. All they need is motivation… just like you.

Here are a few simple ways to fit movement into your day:

stand while you talk on the phone.

get a laptop tray for your treadmill. Then you can walk while you do your routine computer work.

park at the far end of the store parking lot.

walk your dog. Take advantage of the fact dogs love to walk (mine loves to run). If you don’t have a dog, offer to walk a friend’s dog. Both your friend and their dog will be appreciative.

clean. Tackle that time-intensive chore you have been putting off.

rake leaves. This burns a lot of calories and, unlike aerobics, you can instantly see the positive results… a clean yard.

folding clothes? Fold them while standing up. This not only allows you to burn more calories than sitting, but you’ll be required to bend over a lot, too.

Exercise is as important as the type of food you eat and in some cases, as important as drugs in managing Type 2 diabetes.…

Type 2 Diabetes – The Benefits of Broccoli for Diabetics

Broccoli is known as being one of the world’s best super foods. But while everyone knows it’s good for you, few know exactly why it’s good for you. If they did, perhaps more people would willingly eat it.

Broccoli’s main health benefit is it provides substantial protection from free radicals. How does it do this? It’s all in your blood. Research also shows broccoli contains sulphurophanes, and other types of phytonutrients that helps to protect your body from cancer. These components remove harmful toxins from your body and help restore overall good health.

Broccoli also provides protection for your blood vessels. When blood vessels become damaged, the risk of the individual developing heart disease increases four-fold. Although this type of damage can also be caused by:

your diet,

lack of exercise,

smoking,

alcohol consumption,

stress, and

genetics,

another major contributor to heart disease is Type 2 diabetes. Since having Type 2 diabetes dramatically increases the risk of developing free radicals, now the odds are really stacked against you.

Free radicals go to work to tear down and destroy your body. This issue in harmful disease such as cancer, causes you to age prematurely, and unnecessarily wear out your bodies. Studies show that just consuming regular amounts of broccoli reduces this effect by a whopping 75 percent.

Besides its attack on free radicals, broccoli also contains substantial amounts of helpful vitamins and nutrients. Some of the most abundant are:

magnesium,

thiamine,

iron,

calcium,

phosphate,

zinc riboflavin,

folate and niacin, as well as

an ample supply of vitamins B6 and vitamin C.

Need more reasons to eat broccoli? How about the little known fact it contains protein, is low in carbs and is fat-free. How much healthier can you get?

Some people feel the only way they can stomach broccoli is to smother it with cheese sauce. But there are other ways to prepare it that are tasty.

try steamed broccoli with some sprinkled butter or other flavored sprinkles on top. Or

hide it in a dish with other ingredients such as a healthy casserole.

For those who don’t particularly care for it in its original state, they should try broccoli sprouts. Broccoli sprouts have very little flavor so they won’t overpower a salad, which happens to be their most common use. But broccoli sprouts do manage to pack quite a boost to your health. As healthy as broccoli is, the sprouts carry approximately 100 times the benefits of regular broccoli.…