blueberries

[Beer_Belly]

I bought 3 blueberry bushes and planted them on my plot, I know read that they need an acidic soil for best results. How can I achieve this - my plot is nice and neutral and needs to stay that way. Can I just water them with a vinegar solution ?

[Beer_Belly]

[cleo]

Made some duff wine then eh BB? ;D

I think you can get stuff to water in but that will only ever be a temporary solution(no pun intended). If you don`t mind using it I suggest you dig in a load of peat around them and see how you get on.

Stephan.

[Tenuse]

I have got a couple of bushes on order and my plan is to dig a giant hole, fill it with ericacious compost and plant them in that.

Then I will only water them with rainwater and put leafmold around them (both are acidic).

Ten x

[Muddy_Boots]

Can vouch for that Ten, did that with any ericacious needy plants in my garden (good, fertile loam) and worked a treat.  Didn't need to do anything else, just tended to mulch every now and again with peat.

Kate

[cleo]

yes I agree with both Tenuse and Kate,but BB has already planted them. it`s a tough call between seeing how they go and digging them up and planting in ericacious compost-and that is not a cheap option for the likely yield of fruit.

Stephan.

[Muddy_Boots]

At the risk of being revolutionary, have to admit to digging up and repositioning all kinds of plants and shrubs, at times when you are not supposed to!   Call it blind faith if you like, but had very few failures!  However, have to admit they were not fruit or veggie plants!

Kate

[Mrs Ava]

I grow blueberries in my neutral garden.  Have done for 3 years, and altho the plants haven't grown like mad, they produce masses of fruit every summer, so long as you can beat the birds as they like them before they are ripe!  I water them with that acid fertiliser stuff, can't think what it's called, and they seem to be doing okay, but I know they aren't reaching their full potential.  Now I have stolen your raised bed ideas I will find a permanent home for them at the plottie  over the next few weeks!  Bumper crops this summer  ;D

[ina]

Hi BB. When I planted mine, I put peat in the hole first and mulched it with peat on top as well. Here in Holland you can buy it it bags and it's called TURF or TUINTURF.  The turf is acid and if you put a nice thick layer of it around the bush it will also prevent it from drying out in the summer.

Nets are a must once the berries start to ripen.

[Muddy_Boots]

Good to know not completely off my trolley then!

Kate  ;D

[mysticmog]

I hear tell that blueberries in pots do well.  Am thinking of doing this so the whole worrying about soil, moving thang won't be a problem...

Is this a pigment of my imagination?  Also, am I right in thinking they do best when you have multiple cultivars?

Am just a learning about growing person...may well be talking out of bottom..

Anyone got any good varieties - I love blueberries, but not sure which to go for...

[ina]

Yes, I also heard that you should get different types. I have 5 blueberry bushes, 3 different types.

Picking the berries I find a real chore, one by one. What I do after picking is, I freeze the berries I don't use right away in a container, next time I pick, I do the same in a different container and once frozen add them to the previous one. At the end of the season I have a nice big container full of loose rolling marbles so I can just take out what I need and when I need.

[Gail-M]

Hi,

I've read that planting in a large sunken container ( bin) filled with acid soil is the best idea.

Now yours are planted what about adding mulch /forking in acid material like pine needles.( if available !!)

I'd like a blueberry bush - anyone recommend a good supplier ?


Gail.

[Palustris]

They really do need netting, our berries disappear when they are still white, never mind waiting for them to ripen.

[Beer_Belly]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll add a nice thick mulch to them.

As for picking - I read somewhere that you could buy a comb device that strips them from the bush.

-B_B-

[budgiebreeder]

Dont pay for a special comb BB i use an Afro comb i.e. one with large teeth for Bilberries so that should do for blueberries i would think.