As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can read my full disclosure statement here.
This week in our Farm Fresh Tuesday Blog Hop, our featured posts will give you some great ideas on how to use your berry harvest, and how to go berry picking with your kids! Scroll down to find out more!
Tips on Growing Your Own Berries
I grow a lot of berries on our homestead. So far, we are growing Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackerries, Honey Berries, and Currants. So I thought I would share a couple of my own tips on growing berries here, before I share ideas from our featured posts on how to use your berry harvest!
Mulching Your Berries
My first tip, is to MULCH! Mulching really really cuts down on weeding and watering! It basically makes your job growing berries, easier! And you will get a bigger berry harvest! Check out my article The Secret to Easy Gardening, NO WEEDING with Mulch!
Protect Your Berries from Birds and Deer
My second tip, is to protect your most valued crop of berries from birds and deer. We finally had to do this for our blueberry bushes. You can do this by using a simple bird netting. However, when I used that cheap one, be forewarned, the birds can get caught up in it very easily and die. Especially if it is just draped over the pushes.
It is best to build a framework over your berries, that supports the netting. This can be made quite simply with PVC or 2x4's. But if you want to really protect the birds, consider using this Deluxe Bird Barricade Netting which is designed to prevent the birds from getting caught in the netting.
Freezing Your Berry Harvest
My third tip, is grow as many berries as you can, and FREEZE THEM! It is so easy to do, and then you can enjoy them all year long! I love to pull out frozen berries for my smoothies, which I have almost everyday. Berries are a super healthy whole food, full of vitamins and antioxidants that are good for you! So a smoothie using them is a healthy snack that is good for you!
Berries in Smoothies
Smoothies are another great way to use up your berry harvest. Check out my article Homestead Favorite Smoothie Recipes.
If you are a smoothie fan, I just wanted to mention these new YourSuper Superfoods. I have been using them for a couple of months in my smoothies and I love every single flavor that I have tried, which is all of them but one I think. They are 100% organic NONGMO vegan and harvested sustainably AND they are sugar free!!!! Best of all? They taste great!
My Featured Posts This Week on the Farm Fresh Tuesday Blog Hop Are:
Berry Picking with Kids Without Losing Your Mind
If you don't grow your own berries, and need to go picking, check out Ridge Haven Homestead's How to Go Berry Picking with Kids for some excellent tips!
Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie
I make a lot of smoothies, but I have never made a Pomegranate Blueberry smoothie! So check it out form Comfort Spring Station!
Blueberry Meringues Summer Dessert
A unique, but yummy sounding dessert from Nancy on the Homefront: Summer Dessert - Blueberry Meringues
Want to Remember This?
Please share "How to Use Your Berry Harvest" on Pinterest to your favorite homesteading or gardening board!
Leave a Reply