Blueberry care

[mormor]

We don't want to use sphagnum around blueberries. Can I use pine needles or/and earth from the floor of a pine forest as an acidic addition?

[mormor]

[squeezyjohn]

Hi mormor,

My soil is non-chalky pH7 and I have a blueberry bed that I prepared before planting them out with the addition of some sulphur chips and ericaceous compost at the start.  Despite being told over and over again that pine needles are not particularly acidic I have gone and collected a pine forest mulch every year to top dress with (I also add a little yellow sulphur) - and my blueberries seem to be thriving.  Even if it doesn't particularly help with the pH, the pine needles break down to a really lovely dark rich compost layer on the top after a couple of years.

Squeezy

[johhnyco15]

indeed pine needles rot down to neutral   i always use half a teaspoon of sulphate of iron on my blueberries  mine are in pots are do very well  hope this helps

[mormor]

Thank you. Where do I buy sulphate of iron? I wonder what It's called in Danish! Google will probably know!

[johhnyco15]

Thank you. Where do I buy sulphate of iron? I wonder what It's called in Danish! Google will probably know!

most garden centres will stock it dont use too much half a teaspoon per 30cm pot is plenty

[hippydave]

Coffee grinds from your local coffee shop are very good for blue berries and free, I use them as thick mulch and mine thrive with this as their only feed and i do this with all my acid loving plants around the garden.

[squeezyjohn]

I also use coffee grounds that waitrose give away for free on my blueberries ... but they are also proven to rot down to a neutral compost!