Are Blueberries easy to keep and grow ??

jennyjelly

I bought mine from my local WyeVale garden centre last autumn for the princely sum of £14.99 for 6 (3 each of 2 varieties) and they seem to be fine healthy little plants.

As they had only been planted a couple of months when the weather turned cold I was a little worried about them in the exceptionally hard winter we've just had, so I put them in the garage (it's only wood with a clear plastic roof so it's still below freezing but kept the worst of the frost off) and now they have lovely strong little buds and I've put them outside.

I'm so looking forward to blueberries with my greek yoghurt!

morg_monster

i'd like to get some blueberry bushes to grow in containers, but am wondering about having to net them - presumably you have to get some kind of rigid structure / cage for this? Not sure i have room for that on my patio!!

Megansmum

I bought two plants last year for £15 from spaldings i think, and they both fruited lots last year,despite me potting em up and leaving them to it!!

I have bought 3 from wilkos so we'll see how they go, but the spaldings ones have done me proud. I didn't prune them as they are still quite small so expecting a bumper crop this year!

I have topped them up with fresh eric comp and bought some eric feed cos i read that they like a feed when flowering.

Already got lots of buds showing - oh and i just left them out all winter with no cover or anything!

I will net them when the fruit starts to go blue cos the birds love em as much as us!

Maddie

I treated myself to two blueberry bushes in homebase yesterday and am going to be planting them in their new pots today. Another customer was warning me that I could be disappointed, so I'm keen to get everything right. Hence loads of questions that I hope someone will be able to help with!

I've bought a big bag of ericaceous compost, and will put broken bits of plant pot at the bottom to help with drainage. Should I also mix in some home made compost? I also read that conifer mulch is good for them, and that a layer of mulch at the top is good to keep moisture in. Now I have some conifer clippings from late last year that are only just starting to decompose - shall I put some of these on top or will that encourage pests and diseases?

Finally, I bought two plants to help with pollination, but as these are the same variety (and possibly genetically identical depending on how they cultivate them?), will that be no help?

Maddie

BUMP

I've tried to be be good and not start a new thread, but I don't think anyone's read my questions yet.

Advice would be greatly appreciated

Plasticman

Maddie wrote: »

I've bought a big bag of ericaceous compost, and will put broken bits of plant pot at the bottom to help with drainage. Should I also mix in some home made compost? I would just stick with the ericaceous compost.

I also read that conifer mulch is good for them, and that a layer of mulch at the top is good to keep moisture in. Now I have some conifer clippings from late last year that are only just starting to decompose - shall I put some of these on top or will that encourage pests and diseases? I've heard that a layer of mulch is good practice too (but I must admit that I haven't bothered and mine are fine!).

Finally, I bought two plants to help with pollination, but as these are the same variety (and possibly genetically identical depending on how they cultivate them?), will that be no help?
It think that it might depend on the type but I know that many (all?) beed a different variety to pollinate. Time to buy a third one maybe!

Answers above in blue.

Maddie

Thanks a lot for your help plasticman

haycorns

JodyBPM wrote: »

I was considering the Suttons ones, does anyone know how big they will be compared to poundland ones? If they're just the same as Wilko's/Poundland they are expensive, but if they are similar to £12 garden centre ones then they would be a bargain IYSWIM!

Mine were delivered today. They are in 4 inch square pots and vary in height. The biggest is about 12 inches , the others probably 6 to 8 inches. Each has 4-6 stems and the leaves are just beginning to bud.

They look quite strong to me. Also got £1.36 back via quidco.