Blueberries

[Loujalou]

Hi,

Has anyone got any experience of blueberries. My plant is still in its pot and have been told they are hard to get any fruit out of.

Any top tips?

I have 2 plants in containers and have had a few handfuls of fruit off them in their first couple of years. They need ericaceous compost, since they are lime hating, but apart from that, need very little care. They don't even need a lot of pruning; just enough to stop them from getting leggy.

The bees have been loving mine, this past week.

Hi, blueberries naturally grow in boggy areas so you need to keep it quite moist. If you have some pool liner you can dig a hole and use the liner to make a barrier. That way it will retain the moisture better. Otherwise lots of watering with rain water not tap and lots of mulching. Go to the Royal Horticultural Society site, I am sure they will have lots more info.

I bought a plant yesterday from homebase. I can't decide if I should plant it in the ground (which contains lots of peat) or just put it in a large plant pot, which I have loads of. Its currently soaking in water (as per instructions) ready to be planted today?

Looks like I am going to have to go and get a big pot for them. Have limey well drained soil so not going to work otherwise!

Thanks for everyones help!

I have 3 with loads of flowers on, one which went v leggy so will have to wait for next year for that.

I have been to the garden center and got a big bag of ericaceous compost now. Thanks for the advice, even if it wasn't my thread

Anybody know what else ericaceous compost is good for? I have a big bag of it now!

OK thanks. I planted a blackcurrent plant in the ground last week - would I be better off digging this up again and re-planting in a pot with ericaceous compost?

Thanks :-)

You need ericacious compost (acid) and regularly top it up with ground coffee grinds.

Don't ever water it with tap water - use rainbutt water

Blueberries need another bush for cross-pollination.

They take approx 3-5 years to mature and bear fruit.

leave them open in the spring to allow the bees access for pollination.

Cover them with netting over the summer when the fruits start to asppear

Thanks to you all. I think I might go and buy another plant and I can use my left over compost. Just need another pot and some more blueberries.... Yummy not sure I can wait a few years though.....