blueberry

[LucyJ]

I had a nice trip to Wilkos at the weekend and bought my self a blueberrie at the very nice price of £4, I looked at them all and decided on which (i thought) was the healthest with new leaves forming and lots of nice looking leaves.  Potted it up in standard garden compost into a pot not that much bigger than what it was in, gave it a good drink, as did the rain.

Went out today as it was quite a cold night and had a looked at it, as a proper inner city girl, I have to admit to never seeing a bluberry plant in person so this is my excuse. It's leaves have gone from a lice youthful green to a rusty red is this normal? is it going to die? should i give it more acid?

Thank you

[LucyJ]

[norfolklass]

hi LucyJ
I don't know much about blueberries but I think it really needs to be in ericaceous compost rather than bog standard multipurpose. beyond that, I don't know!

[Tee Gee]

It's leaves have gone from a lice youthful green to a rusty red is this normal? is it going to die? should i give it more acid?

Two things could have happened;

1) It has caught a chill due to the extremes of indoor to outdoor conditions it might have been better to acclimatise it by putting it outdoors during the day and in a shed/garage/ cool greenhouse overnight.

2) It is in the wrong type of compost! it wants to be in ericaceous (lime free) compost.

You obviously know a little about them when you ask;  should i give it more acid? What did you mean by this?

Have a look in here; http://tinyurl.com/2edwoj

[LucyJ]

thank TeeGee

like I said I know nothing that what was written on the packet (which didn't say that i couldn't plant it in "normal" compost) I have never even see one, it's not the type of thing one see's in day to day life in inner city newcastle, though now I've moved south and its warmer maybe lots of people have them and I'm just being silly.

Looks like I need a trip to the garden centre for more compost and some advice, there very nice there!

[caroline7758]

I got a blueberry from Wilko's last year and it didn't produace any fruit, while the one I got from somewhere else (internet-based) produced a little. They are both looking as if they are going to really take off this year, though, so don't despair if you don't get much this year.

[flowerlady]

These guys are a font of useful information ... and some great fruit bushes too  ;) ... organic enthusiasts  ;)

http://www.shop.dorset-blueberry.co.uk/

[Jeannine]

Lucy don't panic, blueberry leaves do change colour.In the autumn they go a nice red this is natural, int the spring they will also go reddish if the weather is a little cold but they will get their colour back again when it warms up a bit.

You do need acid soil, and feed them acid feed.

The best bit of advice I can give you is grow more than 1 variety, you will get fruit if you have only one  but not nearly what you should.

I lived In BC Canada, right in the heart of the blueberry growers and learned a bit from friends.

I  an't live with out my blueberries  so have 10 bushes at the moment, all in large pots, I think I have three ,possibly 4 varieties( I would have to go and look to be sure ) and my harvest was huge last year.

Can you tell mw which one you have and I can advise you better.

XX Jeannine

[manicscousers]

all our blueberries are new and the stems and new growth are reddish so I hope it's normal  ;D

[Marymary]

I bought some 2 years ago & planted them in normal compost - they didn't die but were very miserable.  Last year I repotted in eriwhatsit compost & they have really taken off - expecting great things this year.  ;D

[aob9]

You can reduce soil pH with Sulphur. Some pharmacists stock it.
I have alkaline clay and successfully grow blueberries. I never use compost from animal sources ( i.e FYM ). Pine needles or semi-composted bark  is best and should be added as a mulch during the growing season.

Check this;     http://web.ukonline.co.uk/fred.moor/soil/ph/p0104.htm

[LucyJ]

Thank you so much for your help and positive comments.  I thought I should give them some sort of Acid feed, as my mum has some she was willing to give me thought this would be cheaper than buying a whole bag of compost as i'm on the tightest budget in my garden until we finish decorating our very dated new house (electrics are going to cost £5,000).  Which is why in my first post i mentioned should i feed them Acid i didn't mean actual acid!! i'm not that stupid but an acidic feed.  I'll give them a shot and save up for a bag of proper compost.

Was more concerned about the redness, but as it's been a bit chilly thats ok then, also had a look this morning anf there's loads of new growth so that gave me some more hope.

No idea what type it is but will check the packaging over the weekend and tell you, maybe after I've bought some new compost, i'll get another bush next year, wasn't really expecting it to crop this year as it's only little!

[bennettsleg]

I've been thinknig of getting blueberries and your post inspired me to have a search online and I found this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_growingblueberries.shtml

It says in there that blueberry bushes can grow to 5ft tall. Has anyone any experience of that and/or how long it takes for them to achieve that height? And do we then assume that the spread in all directions is 5ft? 

Just need to find out before I allocate a long narrow strip of land to them! I feel an espaniolette coming on...

[Jeannine]

Some do grow quite tall  but like everything there are varieties that are smaller,mine are about the size of a good mature blackcurrant  bush maybe a little wider and certainly more dense.. The berries are different sizes too, some are smaller than others and they harvest at different times rather like apples.I harvested mine over about 7 or 8 weeks.. XX Jeannine

[flowerlady]

This is the one that I have ... purpose grown for limited space and tubs  ;)

http://shop.dorset-blueberry.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=67&osCsid=0f9f934fb8e6ced64903b32cc323f53c

[Jeannine]

Clever girl it is a self fertile one.XX Jeannine

[LucyJ]

Ok, I pulled the name off the blueberry its a Vaccinium Corymbosum.  Which from what I can see (thank you google) is native of the east coast of the states, which after my Husband to Be lived there when he was younger we know the climit, so not to worried about that, also all the pictures have red/rust coloured leaves to happy about it.  Had another look this morning after giving it a drink and more buds and leaves are developing, so really chuffed with it.

it seems to grow quite big so hopefully by the time I get the fence area cleared of Ivy (anyone want any?) it'll be settled enough to move into a nice new home! though with the amount of ivy in our garden might take a few years!

[bennettsleg]

This is the one that I have ... purpose grown for limited space and tubs  ;)

http://shop.dorset-blueberry.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=67&osCsid=0f9f934fb8e6ced64903b32cc323f53c

What kind of yield do you get from each plant and how long have you had them?

I ask because I adore blueberries and would like to have a hearty enough yield for not only "Allotmenteer's Privalege" (munching on them while down the plot and - usually - not having any fruit to take home) but also to stock up in the freezer/jars etc.

[Jeannine]

Yeild is good with mine, the berries are bigger than black currants but about the same amount, and they harvest over alonger period, I had loads in my freezer off ten bushes, but I think 2 or three bushes would give you a healthy amount.

XX Jeannine

[LottyL]

I'm sure I read somewhere that blueberries do not like tap water, just rainwater. HTH :)

[coznbob]

Read in one of the magazines that you had to have at least 2, even if they are self fertile?

Is this true?

If so will have to get mine some company!