April's Kiwi, Grape and Blueberry Fertilizing and Garden News

The kiwis, grapes and blueberries have been weighing on my mind. Every year I mean to fertilize them, but then I don’t. Partly, it’s because it seems a bit daunting. What type of fertilizer to use? When do we do it? But this year, while half the FoodShed was away for the weekend catching trout (recipes and pictures to come!), the other half stayed home and did some serious gardening.

Kiwi, Grapes and Blueberries Food

Sky Nursery, north of Seattle, is our go-to place for garden supplies and information. After chatting with one of their staff, we opted for this E. B. Stone organic fruit, berry, and vine food. It has the right mix to feed kiwis, grapes, AND raspberries. Bonus!

Fertilizing Blueberries Fertilize twice a year. Once in spring at the time of bloom, using 1/3 cup for every ten feet of row. (We just have two bushes in two feed bin planters, so it took just a whisper.) Fertilize 6 inches from the plant base, and feed again in 6 weeks.

Blueberry Blossoms

Fertilizing Kiwis For our green climbing friends, also fertilize twice a year. In the spring, before new growth begins, use five cups per vine, spread over the entire root zone, and 6 inches away from the trunk. We’re a bit late this year, as new growth has already begun. Whoops. Then fertilize again just after bloom with 5 more cups. We have two kiwis (male and female), and it’ll be interesting to see how fertilizer affects their growth.

Kiwis In The Sky

Fertilizing Grapes Fertilize them 30 days before new growth each spring. Again, whoops. Next year we’ll shoot for the end of March, early April. Feed 4 cups, 6 inches from the vine. Duly done.

Foreboding Grapes Situation

Looking elsewhere around the garden, the Oregon Sugar Pods are beginning to crawl out of the kiwi bed, which is so cute.

Oregon Sugar Pod, Starting to Crawl

So Cute

And, the potatoes are going bananas. Time to cover them with more dirt. We have Cherry Reds and Russian Bananas going strong.

Potatoes!

Also, this wildflower mix for the Pacific Northwest was so alluring, it seemed worth broadcasting these seeds over a few beds in the backyard that don’t have anything growing in them. We’ll take pictures as they start to blossom.

Just For Pretties

And, here’s that elusive red trowel.

Where the Heck is that Darn... Never Mind

Related articles

• Outdoor Berry Resource (berries.com)
• Apr 26, How to Grow Grapes: Growing Grapevines Organically (growinganything.com)
• April Harvesting and Vegetable Garden Update in Seattle (seattlefoodshed.wordpress.com)
• March Planting In Seattle: The Seeds Are Sprouting! (seattlefoodshed.wordpress.com)