Gardening With Gutner: Blueberry Season
TYNGSBORO (CBS) - We always love visiting Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro. Not only do they have one of the best U-pick farms in the area but owner Mark Parlee is by far one of the most knowledgeable farmers we have met in our Gardening With Gutner travels.
Mark tells us that this spring was one of the most challenging weather-wise in recent memory. We had an incredibly warm March which caused all the fruit to bloom early.
A couple of really cold April nights had Mark and many other Massachusetts farmers scrambling to protect their blooming fruit trees.
Mark tells us that most of his crops made it through ok, the strawberries & peaches did just fine, but the cherries had significant losses.
About 80% of Mark's apples survived the freezing weather but many other local farmers were not as lucky. Macintosh apples were hit the hardest and we may see the effects later this summer and in the fall.
The good news is that blueberries have never looked better than they do right now!
They have 8 acres of high bush blueberries at Parlee Farms and today is opening day for the u-picking! This is about 2 weeks earlier than normal for blueberries but this year's crop promises to be one of the best in recent memory.
For daily updates on picking conditions at Parlee Farms visit their website www.parleefarm.com
Happy picking!
