Blueberries

[Colin Miles]

Am toying with the idea of taking advantage of the Blueberry offer. Notice that Pigletwillie has 10 plants. Any comments to add to the KG article? Presumably you grow them in the ground? What varieties and if in containers how big should they be and what about watering?

[pigletwillie]

Colin,

I grow mine in the ground in a fruit cage directly into the soil. You need a couple of varieties for best yield and spread of crop. Most of mine are Bluecrop with a few Chandler and Duke. All are good productive cultivars. All need a period of cold to fruit well so they are extremely hardy.

They are planted in normal garden soil mixed with ericaceous compost, pine needles and some peat. To keep them in an acid environment they have sulphate of iron watered on twice a year and are fed with food suitable for azeleas etc , again twice a year. If possible and when necessary water with rain water although tap water is better than nothing.

If you can underplant with cranberries, these spread very well so you only need a few plants. This also gives you a bonus crop in the late autumn just in time for Christmas.

If anyone buys Blue berries or gets than as an "offer" be aware that you will only get a small crop if any for the first few years as they are probably 2-3 year old plants and these fruits only really start going for it when they are 5-6 years old. Then they will give you a superb crop of delicious fruit for very little effort. My oldest bush is 5 years old and it gave over 6lb of fruit.

If you want to buy any by mail order I can reccomend "The Dorset Blueberry Company" who supply good quality 3 year old bushes.

[Colin Miles]

Many thanks Piglet! One more question. Do Leylandii prunings count the same as pine needles? I always have lots.

[pigletwillie]

Yes Colin, just shred it up and top dress it. It all helps to keep the PH quite acid.

[Colin Miles]

Thanks Piglet. I have looked at the Dorset Blueberry company and am actually inclined to go there. As you say they offer 3 year old plants and although they are more expensive the KG offer looks as though they are just 1 year old plants. And last time I tried getting through to the Fruit & Veg company I think I wasted more money on phone calls than I saved on the offer and ended up posting the order!

[index]

Hi,

Has anyone try taking cutting from blueberries,
I think I will give it a go .

Marlaine

[Colin Miles]

I was also thinking of taking cuttings!

[taralastair]

I took up a free Blueberry offer in Nov this year and got a very small (although healthy) looking plant. However I also bought another plant from the Dorset Blueberry Co (which should arrive soon). My hope is that the larger older plant from will give some fruit soon whilst the other will simply help with polilnation. BTW the Dorset B Co. is also very helpful if you want to know about varieties to plant together. Although they can be a bit slow to address emails.

Tara

[John]

Are blueberries really worth growing? I've bought them from the supermarket and an old fashioned greengrocers and was unimpressed. I appreciate that they have an intense colour and are supposed to be full of antioxy- whatnots but they didn't TASTE of anything.

John

[pigletwillie]

John, some things just have to be eaten really fresh to appreciate them, sweetcorn, new potatoes, asparagus and soft fruit.

To eat a Blueberry straight of the bush, that has been kissed by the sun is heavenly, and that is a place I believe in.

[Tigger]

If you get them from the supermarket - just cook them gently for a few minutes in a pan - serve when the juices start to flow - gorgeous.

[jaci]

Better late than never! I have just read your posting, Pigwillie and wish I had read it earlier but never mind. I have three one year plants (offer from Kitchen Garden) and they really are nice plants, I have potted them on in ericaceous compost into 9" pots and water them with rainwater, and also bought some sulphate of iron, which I see you say to feed twice a year. You also say to give them azalea feed. Please could you tell me what azalea feed is and exactly when I should feed that and the iron - also whether together or separately? Would much appreciate your advice. Jaci.

[Weed]

This is a rather daft question....but I have to ask... be gentle with me

How many bushes would you recommend to obtain a decent crop?....I already have two small but healthy bushes...

I have five blackcurrants and six red currants that do us just nicely

[jaci]

Not a daft question at all,Weed, it is an important one to know especially with something that takes years to crop properly as apparently these do. Pigletwillie says that his oldest bush is 5 years old and has had 6 lbs of fruit so perhaps that will help. Don't know if that is typical, though. Sounds OK....only another four years to go

[Weed]

Thanks Jaci

I guess I will be buying a few more bushes then...

My allotment supplies my wife and I plus the youngest daughter and family...she made a lovely summer pudding last weekend for us.....that's a few more pounds around the middle