Blueberries

[calamityjayneuk]

Hi all

I'm scratching my head over the vast array of blueberry plants you can buy.

I was thinking of 2 plants, I don't want great big bushes - I know some are smaller than others. The thing is I have quite heavy, clayish soil and it's pretty cold here in Co Durham (I live up a big hill).

Anyone have any success with these conditions? What varieties should I grow? Will the bushes take over and grow massive?

Thanks in advance

Jayne

[calamityjayneuk]

[moonbells]

I'd phone up the Dorset Blueberry Company. They know a heck of a lot about growing them in the UK, and if you can get to talk to one of their experts, they'd probably be able to tell you exactly which cultivars would be suitable, and then sell them to you as well!

www.dorset-blueberry.com

You're in the north so you shouldn't have any problems at all. They prefer to have a cold winter. (Natural habitat is NE USA ie where they get several feet of snow each year!)

The only really important thing is that you use ericaceous compost and rainwater. (And net them from the marauding blackbirds)

moonbells, gardening on solid chalk but still growing blueberries, in big pots!

[MrsKP]

Thanks for that tip moonbells, i need a buddy for my Chandler and have just wizzed of an email to DBC to see what they recommend.

;D

[oubykh]

i have just recieved two BB plants from this company for a present. very helpful and comes with info sheets.

[Meg]

Got mine year before last. Kept them in pots first year and fab but this year they look a tad brown. Didn't feed them with food so will have to see!

[Doris_Pinks]

One of mine has expired, I think it got anted, the other is producing "real" blueberries!!
Daughters fav fruit so am well chuffed! ;D
I think mine came from the Dorset Blueberry Co.

[jennym]

Hmmmm.
I bought six plants last autumn and have had fruit for them this year. They're healthy enough, and looking good, but, to be quite honest, I'm not impressed with the flavour, nor the apparent yield, although I know its early days. Prefer the taste of blackcurrants, and at least with them there's no messing about with pH.

[organicartist]

try www.jparkers.co.uk

they do a supersaver 5 pack of blueberry bushes, all different varieties for £19.75 & offer a money back quality guarantee, I've placed an order & will let everyone know what the quality is like when it arrives.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm extremely tempted by some of their bulbs!

[organicartist]

yes, I have to admit I placed a rather large bulb order in addition to the blueberries, well, I don't smoke, don't drink or go out much, and I tell myself that gardening is a HEALTHY addiction lol, if I'm going to spend money, it may as well be something I get to enjoy all year. I'm keen to see how the dual pear & cherry trees will do.

[ruudbarb]

Hmmmm.
I bought six plants last autumn and have had fruit for them this year. They're healthy enough, and looking good, but, to be quite honest, I'm not impressed with the flavour, nor the apparent yield, although I know its early days. Prefer the taste of blackcurrants, and at least with them there's no messing about with pH.

I agree about the flavour - my guess they have become the in-thing to grow because they are one of the so-called "superfoods" but they are so bland they remind me of American sitcoms........ ;D  Mind you, the home grown ones do have a bit more flavou than those tasteless shop bought ones.  Give me good old blackcurrants anyday, the tarter the better  :o

I think the phrase is 'over-rated'.

[calamityjayneuk]

try www.jparkers.co.uk

they do a supersaver 5 pack of blueberry bushes, all different varieties for £19.75 & offer a money back quality guarantee, I've placed an order & will let everyone know what the quality is like when it arrives.

That sounds good - I wonder if they are really young plants and maybe not going to fruit in the first year.

Waiting with much interest for your delivery......

[bennettsleg]

lots of good info on this thread. Will be looking into sorting out a site for BB plants next year as I love them.  The supermarket fruits are expensive, very small and can be tough skinned, the home-grown ones I've tried are lovely. I'm not a great fruit fan but eat BB's whenever I can get hold of them.