Blueberries

robbie checker · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I bought 3 blueberry plants in the autumn (2 different varieties). I planted them in ericaceous compost in pots in the polytunnel. They have been flowering the last few weeks. Just wondering for pollination purposes, would they be better outside now as I am trying to make some room in the polytunnel or would frost kill the flowers as it does for other fruits such as plum trees etc. I also have strawberries in the tunnel and they pollinate ok. There is a gap at the top of the tunnel which does allow access for bees and other insects. I could leave them in the tunnel for another couple of weeks until the heavier frosts have finished.

Greengage · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:08 pm Post subject:

Put simply Blueberries have both male and female flowers on the one plant so one plant will give you blueberries, If you have two different varieties they will cross pollinate and you will probably get more fruit this would be more important if you have one or two acres you get more fruit and more fruit means more money if selling. Anyway back to your three palnts you can fertilise them with something like 10-20-10 but just a little 1 to 2 oz per plant they do not like over fertilisation. Keep them in acid soil, keep them watered and at the moment I would keep them inside if there is accesss insects will get in and polllinate them you can also tap them with a stick to release the polllen or use a small brush, outsid it is a bit cold so if we (when we ) get frost it could damage the new flowers harden them off if you are going to put them out.

robbie checker · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

Greengage, thanks for that. New to blueberry growing.

tippben · Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:42 am Post subject:

We have a blueberry bush that isn't thriving, and I intend to move it, to make space for other things. Should I put it in a container, or in the open ground? What should I do to make it thrive?

Greengage · Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 7:25 pm Post subject:

Stick it in a container with ericaceous compost

Paulinlaois · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 9:30 pm Post subject:

Greengage · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 9:33 pm Post subject:

Paulinlaois · Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 9:55 am Post subject:

i must have been given wrong advice when purchasing blueberries, will have to go and re-pot them now!
thanks for that. Embarassed

robbie checker · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Posts: 21

I have giving mine a feed with tomato feed the last couple of weeks and they are looking very healthy now. Also giving it to the strawberries in pots in the polytunnel and they are flying it.

Paulinlaois · Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Blueberries

tippben · Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 12:25 am Post subject:

Greengage, don't blueberries like a decent amount of water? Or am I wrong? I'd be worried that putting it in an 18+L pot, given the size of the plant (approx 30cm wide rootball), might let the compost dry out too much, and too regularly

Greengage · Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 11:07 am Post subject:

well then put it in a bigger pot or water it more frequently, this is a plant that senms to have become poplar lately for some reason along with goji berries probably a fad.