In Season, Out of Season

It was a few years back that a mom of one of my violin student's gave me a young off-shoot from her gooseberry bush. I never knew they existed outside of books until one afternoon she had me over for a visit and served me a slice of her gooseberry pie. The next year when they had a bumper crop, she gave me a gallon sized bag full of berries. There was no complaining from me! :) For a couple of years now I've watched and waited for mine to produce fruit. Last year it only attracted some kind of plant-eating bug, which I was able to conquer after heavy spraying with some organic stuff I found at the local greenhouse.

This year it has finally produced fruit and no bugs. Yay! :) For weeks they've been as green as gourds, but much to my delight they're starting to turn color in the last day or two. Since it's a small crop, I'm picking them as they ripen and then stick them in the freezer. When it's all said and done for the year, there should be enough for one pie. Again, I'm not complaining seeing how I'm the only one in my family that likes gooseberries. Well, other than our dog, but she won't get more than a bite. Or two.

The blackberry bush is in full bloom, with a few berries starting to grow. Last year I think a squirrel ate the precious few, so this year I'm going to watch it like a hawk.

They never touch the raspberries, and it looks like we'll get our usual early crop, and then a heavy crop before the frost.

My little blueberry bush needs some help. It hasn't grown at all in the last 3-4 years, but is still alive and has maybe 10 berries on it. Do any of my readers have knowledge or skill in blueberries?