Anyone use a blueberry rake?

[Oblio13]

I'm trying to increase the efficiency of my foraging, and blueberries are one of my favorite foods. I've never used a rake, or even seen one in use. This is what I've gathered on the internet so far:

1. A rake will double your rate of harvest.

2. A rake will make no difference in your harvest because there's so much debris to clean out of the berries.

3. A rake will damage the berries.

4. A rake designed for highbush berries can be used on lowbush, but not vice versa.

So, any first-person experiences to help separate the wheat from the chaff?

[AlchemyAcres]

For wild lowbush blueberries where the plants are like a carpet, a wide rake works quite well. A wide rake is too cumbersome for highbush berries.

For cultivated highbush blueberries a narrow rake works best. I prefer a rake that's only 4.5 inches wide.

Yes, You'll get a lot of leaves, stems and such mixed in with the berries, but the increase in speed of harvest far outweighs any time spent cleaning the berries which is easily done on a table or the like.

FWIW, A wide rake also works phenomenally well for harvesting dandelion blossoms for dandelion wine.


~Martin

[MEBrian]

Thanks!

I never knew a rake existed for highbush b'berries.

I'll just have to find one. Yeah, hand picking is definitely time consuming.

I assume one covers the plants to thawrt the birds, waits for the majority to ripen and then rakes them?

[AlchemyAcres]

I never knew a rake existed for highbush b'berries.

I'll just have to find one.

http://www.hubbardrakes.com/


~Martin

[AlchemyAcres]

I've never used a rake, or even seen one in use.


I found a video of a young girl using a rake...LOL.........


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1496124260769949426#


~Martin

[Grizzy]

That was Great! Martin... Thanks. She's a cutie haha an she's the future isn't she..

~Grizzy~

[MEBrian]

Thanks AA!

Edit: When I saw that the Co. was in Jonesport I figured we'd make a daytrip and pick one up. But we can't really get there from here; in a convenient day drive anyway. I'll have one shipped.

BTW, they have a specific rake for highbush b'berries. I can't tell you how many hours this tool will save us. Thanks again!