It is amazing to see the 22 acres of open fields blanketed with white and to know that under the blanket of white rests the blueberry plants. In my opinion, all this snow makes for a better crop. So while we humans might not care so much for all this snow, the blueberry plants are loving it.
In my limited experience, one thing I have noticed about the effects of our Maine seasons on the fields is this: less snow, poorer crop conditions; more snow, healthier crop conditions. Here's why.
When we have little to no snow during the cold winter months, the fields that are to produce fruit in the coming spring can sustain "winter kill". Essentially what happens is the cold freezes the tips of the blueberry plants, thus killing the dormant fruit buds. With a thick layer of snow covering the plants, it acts as an insulator for the hardy plants.
And come spring, we have more fruit buds that can be pollinated thereby producing more fruit.
So for you blueberry lovers living in this region of snow, snow, snow....think about the value all that snow has on the wild Maine blueberry plant. We do, (while we dream of warmer weather).
Happy Shoveling and Plowing!!
Theresa &
(Hula girl mounted on my plow truck)
