Recommend me a blueberry.

elsien

I've decided I need to try again with a blueberry plant after my Poundland special turned up its toes (and was probably defunct before it left the shop.)
So if I'm going to buy from a "proper" shop I might as well look at a cultivar that'll suit being grown in a container and doesn't mind a little benign neglect. Only room for one so will it need to be self fertile, and it will be in a sheltered spot.
Any suggestions?
And where to buy a more mature version so it fruits sooner?
Thanks

Silvertabby

Garden centres should still have some mature plants in pots, which are probably fruiting now. Check the labels for size and go for one of the smaller ones.

Don't forget the ericaceous compost.

Mine's fruiting well now (sorry, can't remember the name) and the race between me and the blackbirds is on!

savemoney

I grow several varities and they take a couple of years to properly fruit. This my 1st year of some verities fruiting.

This variety seems to do well so far, Gold Traube its a mid season variety.

As said they need acidic soil I use eracious soil which is in pots sunk in the ground. I cover the bed that I have bluebberies in with added tree clippings/bark

Also they need watering with rain water not tap and use eracious feed also need bird protection

I got mine from JR Parkers online. Oh and tried Poundland one and didnt take much just small plant despite all of above

http://www.jparkers.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=blueberries

This is my bed taken in May this year its now netted up

sheramber

Mine bought in Tesco are flourishing and produce berries every year.

Davesnave

I can't recommend, as I don't have any at all, but this man reckons he knows a bit....Mind you, he could be wong!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/15/gardens-blueberry-fields-forever

http://www.jameswong.co.uk/blueberries/4588105999

madjackslam

I agree with savesmoney. I bought a collection of five varieties from Parkers six? years ago - Top Hat, Spartan, Gold Traube, Dixi and Patriot. The labels rubbed off a while ago, so I know longer know which is which. There's not much difference, some fruit later, the one that's probably Top Hat is smaller. I think there's a benefit to having different varieties for pollination, but I can't say for sure. They live in large pots of ericaceous compost, and I water them with rainwater from a butt. They do very well. For the first few years I was worried about pruning them because they weren't that big, but now they are romping away, and the long stems need cutting back to keep them compact and encourage fruiting. I'd like to get an old bath, or maybe a pierced pond liner, because I think they'd do even better in soggier conditions, and I could let them be. I think they're super plants. Lovely spring foliage and flowers, fruit, then almost cornus-like stems in the autumn and winter. Great value!

Chris25

I bought 3 this year from Parkers - early, mid, and late fruiting varieties - 1 of each.

They were small little twigs and they're about 2 feet high and very bushy now. I'm surprised by the growth and obviously didn't read the blurb properly as I thought they'd be of a similar height to the wild ones you find.

Mine are in pots of ericaceous compost and as others do, I water them from the rainbutt.

I did discover that if you need to water them with tapwater you can use a 10l container with a tablespoon of vinegar stirred in and by mulching them with shredded pine needles, you can change the PH of the soil.

[Deleted User]

I have 4 plants on the allotment in raised beds, carefully filled with acidic soil and I have 6 plants at home in containers. The most reliable with large fruits is bluecrop, the one that gets the highest rating for flavour is herbert. Earliblue is early and large fruits with nice flavour

I am going to do a little light pruning this year, I am aiming for more pink stems

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Dalefoot compost do really good ericaeceous compost without peat (I use their standard as I don't have acid loving plants myself and it's great), as they compost bracken and sheepswool. It's worth the delivery charge to go direct - and they turn up very quickly - I'd definitely use them for something like blueberries, as their standard compost has been the best I've used, as I won't use peat or something topped up with fertilisers to hide how poor it is.