potting on blueberry bush

[mrs l]

my blueberry bush which is 3yrs old needs planting into bigger pot when would be best time? also i had vine weevil in my containers in the summer but treated them with nematodes. any possibilities that they could overwinter in my containers?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear mrs l, i would wait until the Spring, just as it's breaking into life to pot on your Blueberry bush.
If your Blueberry bush is not in too bigger pot, you could very carefully knock it out of it's pot and just check for any vine weevils.
I wouldn't dig about too much into the rootball, but they are normally feeding on the new roots around the outside of the pot anyway.

And a warm welcome to the forum.

[mrs l]

Thanks very much for your help and thanks for the welcome .

[garden_serf]

I have 6 Blueberry plants in pots and I am planning/building a dedicated ericaceous raised bed for them underplanted with Cranberries (with its own fruit cage cover).
I have just read a very helpful article and wanted to share it;
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0801/blueberry_detail.asp

3 of them are 'Bluecrop' (4 years old),
1 is 'Legacy' (3 years old),
The problem I have is that I do not know the names of the other 2! and they do not look like any of the others. I think I will have to presume they are Highbush types to ensure I give them enough space longterm.

[Smurfy]

Thanks Garden_Serf that's a really helpful article. I've just bought three blueberry bushes from a local garden centre. This is my first venture into fruit growing so that article will be really helpful.

Are there any basics or handy tips that i should know that aren't covered in the article?

[garden_serf]

Smurfy, I am learning too, it seems pretty good to me. I have read several different sources of info, and searched/looked at the threads on KG Forum.

I have picked up that the main points are;
The correct soil is essential (Acidic Ericaceous, with rotted pine, leafmould, anything that would naturally be in a woodland environment).
They need lots of space (Highbushes 1.5m all around! when fully mature)
No manure, kitchen compost or lime.
Good drainage, add bark chippings or/and sharp sand.
Prefer rainwater.
Like lots of water.
Benefit from correct feeding pre growth spurt and fruit development (April & July).
Prune out one third old stems to the ground each year after the 3rd year.
Protect fruit from the birds.
Fruit ready when blue and a 'bloom' has developed ( a whitish shine).

I am looking forward to watching them develop.

[Johnboy]

Hi GS,
You mention Sharp Sand which hereabouts has a PH between 8 and 9
so quite alkaline. The trouble is that I do not know if this is just particular to this region or if Sharp Sand is alkaline throughout the country.
I understand from the local quarry that they supply to companies making composts using peat as part of the treatment to help alter the acidic action of the Peat.
JB.

[garden_serf]

Hi JB, I have been wanting to reply since Tues but have been unable to.

I have never thought of the PH of sand...it just did not enter my head! I will check with my supplier next time I purchase.

Blueberry bushes are covered in nice new buds now.

[Johnboy]

Hi GS,
There is a fruit farmer somewhere in this county that is, from this year, going to market Blueberries commercially in tubs. I think that the number I saw mentioned was an initial 5000 plants! These are to be grown in large plastic containers buried up to the rim into the soil which means that normal ground conditions will apply although the compost in the tubs is obviously going to be acidic. One assumes that they will require less watering because being buried in the soil there will be no effects of the weather on the tub so far less evaporation. I think this venture was started either one or two years ago and this year is the year that they find out if it will all be viable.
JB.

[garden_serf]

Good idea, I can see it working. I know many people are successful if they keep them in pots. It does allow you to create the exact soil requirements.
I am part way through building a dedicated raised bed for my blueberries. They are in pots at the moment but I want them to have more root room now as they are getting more mature. And I want to underplant them with cranberries. I also have a supply of rain water to drip feed to them.

[Tigger]

We've got ours planted in big half barrels with bought in ericacious soil, 3 to a barrel. I think we've got 6 in total, but it might be a couple more. We've done the same with cranberries. They're in their second year and we've had terrific crops from them.

As for suppliers, I have to recommend Matthews, as usual. If you order in advance, you get strong plants, pot grown, at a fraction of the price they are in garden centres or many of the mail order companies.