Blueberries – Plant a Bush or Pick Your Own

I love blueberries! They are so delicious especially when picked fresh off the bush. With my new interest in edible gardening, I planted a few blueberry bushes in the landscaping around our back patio. They look great, but are too new to produce fruit this year. I’ve tried to pass my love of blueberries onto my 1 year old son. Unfortunately, he repeatedly refuses to try just one.

And I’m not talking about the simple “No Thanks” kind of reaction, it’s the full blown lips pinched shut and head violently shaking back and forth with a definite “No, No, No, I’m so not going to do it!”. Who knows if the color, texture, or maybe a not so tasty berry from the grocery store originally turned him off?!

On a recent visit to Grandma and Pappy’s house, I was happy to find their blueberry bushes loaded with ripe blueberries. So we went outside with little baskets and began to pick them. Or I should say I picked them and my son ate them! I could hardly believe it, but every blueberry he picked went promptly into his mouth and he even reached in my basket and ate a few more handfuls of blueberries. Now he loves blueberries too.

So if you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat fruits and veggies, try planting or picking your own. Blueberry bushes can even grow in containers. Now, I just have to patiently wait until our blueberry bushes start producing fruit…I can hardly wait!