We went on a blueberry picking adventure today and hit two sites ... one in Conroe (Moorhead's Blueberry Farm) and the other (King's Orchard) near Plantersville. In general this year was disappointing because of the drought ... but I did come home with a few pounds of blueberries and a different reaction to the two sites.
Moorhead - very tall healthy looking plants for the most part, but the berries were generally (thought certainly not all) small and not very fleshy. There were lots of berries that hadn't ripened and ones that looked like they should have been ripe that wouldn't fall off into your hands as they should. The bushes were close to the parking area and the check-out stand so there wasn't a lot of walking to get started or to return (good when kids are involved). The price was $2/lb.
King's Orchard - the plants were shorter (perhaps a different variety), and in general less healthy looking, but they were well watered and had berries that were larger on average and fleshier. While there was a mix of ripe and not-yet ripe berries, the ripe berries were obvious and fell from the bushes in your hands as you brushed your hand under them. The bushes were relative FAR from the parking area and from heck-out and it was hard on the kids to take the heat walking back and forth. They provide wagons if you want to use them, but they get abandoned in the fields as people realize the handles and seats are like fire in sun (you'd want a blanket for kid bottoms and a glove for your hand if you wanted to use one). The price was $2.50/lb.
We were happier with the quality of the berries at KO and had greater berry hauls there for sure. We'll be going back - even though the walk was brutal with hot and tired kids.
Re: Blueberry picking - Visited 2 sites today
We've only picked strawberries @ King's (last year). They were delicious, but my SIL took the girls this spring and said the strawberries were much smaller this year -- though still very flavorful. Can't speak to the blueberries @ KO.
We picked blueberries Memorial Day weekend at Moorheads which turned out to be opening day. As you mentioned, the bushes were tall and full. They offer something like 25 different varieties, but I wouldn't know the difference. We came home with 8 lbs of blueberries!! I thought for sure there was no way we could eat all of those and we'd have to give them away...but they were gone before the next weekend!! Tough to beat $2/lb!
I'm glad you had a great Memorial Day weekend experience at Moorhead's. We picked strawberries at Froberg's this year. Great big, juicy, beautiful berries. They had so many that were just rotting out there because people couldn't pick their bounty fast enough. I know that would be quite a drive for you from the Woodlands, but the quality and quantity was so high there!
We went to Kings Orchard about 3 weeks ago and ended up using the jogging stroller for the LO because it has a great big sun shade. He was getting too hot in the wagon.
Also, just FYI, Kings Orchard trims their blueberry plants down so they aren't so tall, it makes it easier to pick the berries (especially for kids) they're not just short and unhealthy or anything.
Have you tried Chmielewski in Hockley? I picked there 2 years ago. The bushes needed some weeding but the berries were great even in that drought. I haven't made it out there this year. it is a long way from Clear Lake.