Finally I've got my blueberry plants. Bought 3 over the weekend. The varieties were Brigitta Blue, Goldtraube and Northland. Does anyone know if I've chosen well, for they were the only type available. My query is can I leave the plants outside in the garden over winter or do I need to bring them into the green house. Also would it be alright if I repot it into a bigger, more stable terracotta pot rather than allowed it to remain in it's existing plastic pot. Thank you.
blueberries can be susceptible to frost but only a problem usually when the blossom is out so, depending on your location, should be ok alaska excepted ;D - if you live in a cold area be prepared to fleece if a frost is expected during flowering
potting on shouldn't be a problem either
if growing in pots use an ericaceous compost and only water with rainwater - enjoy - they've been glorious this year due to all the rain
My first year of cropping plants (Sunshine Blue and Chandler) have given me a couple of bowl fulls so far this year, which were nice and tasty but very very late. the Sunshine Blue are only just ripening now.
Can't remember what I did with them last year tbh, think I just left them outside. ::)
Don't forget cracking terracotta though unless your pots are the frostproof kind.
;D
I have 3 bushes planted out at lottie, planted in raised beds with a high ratio of ericatious compost and mulched with shredded pine. Overwintered the last two years very well, the birds got to the berries on one before I got to net them but the other two fruited very well.
Blueberries need several hundred hours at less that 10 degrees c to fruit well the next year. By putting them in a greenhouse you risk reducing that to a level that compomises the amount of fruit that you get.
Also, with regard to the terracotta pots, whilst plastic are not as nice visually, the pot ones will dry out much faster making watering several times A DAY quite likely in warm weather. I have a large number of bushes, all bar 2 planted directly into the ground into ericaceous compost and treated to sulphate of iron twice a year to keep the acidity high. They out perform my pot grown ones but a country mile.
thanks for that, pigletwillie, I'll leave ours out
Thank you folks for your kind tips and advise. Much appreciated. Have a great weekend.
Quote from: Susiebelle on September 21, 2007, 17:15:00
I have 3 bushes planted out at lottie, planted in raised beds with a high ratio of ericatious compost and mulched with shredded pine. Overwintered the last two years very well, the birds got to the berries on one before I got to net them but the other two fruited very well.
Really i had no losses due to birds. However a) they are on the patio very near to my house b) next door have a cherry tree which the birds love.
They like an acid soil so an acid feed now and again helps
My two bushes lived outside in pots on the north side of the house for several years (so no direct sun for 3 or 4 months though plenty of light) before they got too big and were planted out in a large hole filled with ericaceous compost. Here in central rural Belgium, our normal winters include a spell of a few weeks at -15C at night and the plants thrive on it and fruit well.
They do not need shelter except, as has been said, if frosts threaten at blossom time as this can affect cropping.