BLUEBERRY PLANT ~ ADVICE NEEDED!!

[Duke Ellington]

I bought two blueberry plants in Wilkos today (I couldn't resist :-[). They are planted in 5 inch black plastic pots. I want to plant them in containers on the allotment. I have soaked them in water.
My questions are.....
1. should I put them in the greenhouse which is unheated?
2. should I put them conservatory which is very cold at night or
3. should I plant them up and place them outdoors?

Being Wilkos plants they have been in the warmth of the store and I am worried that the cold might damage them.

Duke

[Duke Ellington]

[gwynnethmary]

I bought one last week- yesterday it went into a slightly bigger pot and was placed(tentatively !) outside next to its big brother in a sheltered corner.  I too would like to know if it's in the right place?

[Mortality]

My one from Poundland has been repotted and is on the cold kitchen window sill, not sure if it's survived yet. When I got it, it was so dry all the soil fell off  :(.

As above, advice would be appreciated.

[Duke Ellington]

Well I have watered mine now and have placed it in the conservatory. My plan is to move them into the greenhouse and later into their final containers on the plot.
If anyone can give further advice the three of us that have posted on this thread would be grateful.

Duke :)

[grawrc]

Me too! My three have been in the (unheated but much warmer than outside) porch for 3 months and are starting to sprout.

[Obelixx]

My mature blueberries are tough as old boots and survived several years in 60cm pits on a north facing terrace with winter frosts down to -15C and occasional -20C.  Three years ago I moved them out to the veggie plot, planted in large holes filled with ericaceous compost and they survived our 2009 drop to -32C despite being more exposed to the prevailing winds.   They di dneed a bit of pruning to cut out frosted wood.

For small plants, recently liberated from heated stores or sheltered garden centres I would advise potting them up and keeping them cool but sheltered until spring so they have time to acclimatise and don't suffer a nasty shock.     They respond well to the odd dose of liquid tomato food to help with flowering and fruiting and like their soil to be moist rather than dry.

[Wheatyman]

Hi all I bought a couple of plants last year, due to them been in a warm building I first re-potted them, then kept them in my greenhouse before moving them to a permanent bed once the weather warmed up. Try the link below for more information on growing blueberries in the home garden hope this helps.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1422.html

Wheatyman

[angle shades]

 :) my wilkos blueberries are in big tubs (they are 3 years old) and outside. I stuck them outside straight away when they were babies ;D, but this winter has been a lot colder so greenhouse/conservatory is prob the best/ shades x

[calendula]

I think you are doing the right things - slowly harden them off and get used to the cold, still early days out there yet - they need ericaceous soil to help them on there way and loads of water in summer (rain water that is - so they will do well in wet summers), be patient can take a while to fruit really well, I have several that are now quite a fews old and the crops are fantastic

[grawrc]

My plan was to pot them up and put them outdoors but then the snow arrived so they're still in the porsche (I wish) porch. I'm going to start putting them out during the day and work out getting them outdoors on a more permanent basis.

[gwynnethmary]

I saw a really good idea in a book today- dig a hole in the ground, and then use one of those planting bags that let water through, fill it with ericaceous compost, and plant in that- I guess it would give more protection than being in a container, although I have heard that blueberries are pretty hardy- I did buy my first one in the Scottish highlands!

[Tulipa]

That sounds a good idea Gwynnethmary, it would work for things like azaleas too I imagine.

Duke, I would think they would need hardening off very gradually, possibly until spring.  I once went with a friend who had an allotment at the time on our site to here......

http://www.trehanenursery.co.uk/blueberries-cultivation.php

they were very helpful and we got to try them all first as they do pick-your-own.

[grawrc]

I have heard that blueberries are pretty hardy- I did buy my first one in the Scottish highlands!

They are very hardy - they even grow in the  far north in Norway - but once you put anything in a pot-which we all do to keep the soil acidic for them- you change the ground rules.