Bilberries

[pookienoodle]

Has anyone grown bilberries on their allotment?
I have just seen some bushes for sale and they reminded me of North of England ;D
Anyone had any sucess with them? are they better in a container?
thanks pookie

[pookienoodle]

[valmarg]

I thought the bilberry was a native British wild plant. Here in the Staffodshire Moorlands there are places where you can go an pick them for free.  The Victorian Farm TV programme did a bit on these, and the free harvest.

I wouldn't have thought them suitable for allotment growing, rather the American blueberry would be better for cultivation.

valmarg

[amphibian]

If blueberries will grow in your soil then so will bilberries. I have bilberries growing in containers, because my soil is not suitable. I love the blighters, if you're interested in growing them do so. If I lived within driving distance of bilberry moorland I wouldn't bother mind.

[pookienoodle]

thank you
no bilberries around here(not that I know of)
I will certainly try container growing.
I already have blueberries but bilberries are one of the best fruits imho.

[saddad]

We called them "Whinberries" in Rossendale...  very nice but I wouldn't bother trying to grow them unless they got on my "try something tricky" list...  ::)