Blueberries

TomatoDon · March 19, 2008

Hi all,

I tried blueberries in the ground a few years without luck. This year I am trying them in large containers. I've read that a good soil mix is 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 shredded hardwood bark, and 1/3 potting soil. Then they say on some of the web sites to use a fertilizer for acid loving plants, but caution against some of those, but they don't mention names. So, I need to know what is a good recognizible name brand fertilizer that is good and safe for blueberries.

Thanks!

Don

mresseguie · March 19, 2008

Hi, Don.

I went out to my shed to make sure what I actually have. I have two different fertilizers--one organic; one not. The non organic is Bayer brand. I believe I bought it at Home Depot two years ago. The other is from Down to Earth brand.

I really like Down to Earth's products. I suspect 1/2 to 2/3 of my fertilizer is from them. Here's a link to their acid mix:

http://www.downtoearthfertilizer.com/rhodimix.html

Good luck!

Michael in OR, zone 8.

jungseed · March 19, 2008

Full-sun, loose well-drained soil. Blueberries do not like wet feet. Soil should be very acid a pH of 4.0 to 5.6. (best is no more than 5.0) Use Aluminum Sulphate at the rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound per plant at planting time. To maintain soil acidity use Soil Sulfure at the rate of 1/2 to 1 cup per plant every 3 to 4 years.
If you would like the planting and pruning instructions PM me. I doubt everyone wants to read all that.

TomatoDon · March 19, 2008

Thanks Michael! I appreciate you checking on that for me. I'll look at HD and also appreciate the link.

And thanks jungseed (Ruth?)! I may have to pm you later for more advice. I'm starting over with my whole blueberry operation.

It's unbelieveable, but I ordered blueberries about 10 years ago. I grew them in medium size containers a few years and they produced lightly. Then I dug very big holes, added a half bale of peat to each, and planted in the ground. I can't remember picking a blueberry off them in at least five years. When I got them pulled up recently I noticed how wet the bottom of the planting holes were. This was on rolling pasture land, so I assumed the drainage was good, but something obviously was not right.

So, now I'm ready to re-pot in 24 gallon containers. It's hard to convince anyone that sees these plants, mostly about knee to waist high, that they are this old. I think I saved 10 of about 17. Some were still no bigger than what you would expect from a one gallon plant.

Oh well. Try, try again! I may pm you as I get this going again. Obviously I need a lot of advice on growing blueberries!

Thanks again!

Don

Stoloniferous · March 19, 2008

I’m a blueberry novice, but I hope to have a yard full of blueberry bushes in a few years. So far, I planted four highbrush blueberry bushes last summer on a hillock that gets a good bit of sun and drains well; they didn’t seem too perky by the end of the summer. I also tried starting lowbrush blueberry cuttings two weeks ago; to my surprise the buds are showing signs of growth! I’ve never grown anything from cuttings before, so this should be doubly interesting. Wish me luck!

TomatoDon · March 20, 2008

Thanks all. I found what I believe to be some good fertilizer, the Espoma Holly Tone. I asked around at some nurseries also and this is the one that kept coming up.

So now...go fertilize the blueberries!

Thanks again!

Don

Tormato · March 20, 2008

Don,

asktheberryman.com

Tormato

**coronabarb** · March 20, 2008

I just purchased a Misty and an O'Neal plant to go with an unnamed one my aunt gave me last year. I bought peat moss, azalea potting soil and an organic sulfur product (I'd have to look for the name) to put in the planting holes. I covered over with fine wood chips.

I have very alkaline soil here (eight), so I hope these measures help, because I love blueberries, but not the prices down here. :-))

TomatoDon · March 21, 2008

Blueberry prices are...ridiculous. But the berries are one of the healthiest on the planet.

I potted around 17 today in 24 gallon containers. I used a mix of peat moss, shredded hardwood bark, and something like home made potting soil. I added Holly Tone and microbes and watered it all in good. I think I have 7 to go. All have lots of blooms, and in the containers, I can handle them better if the weather takes that crazy cold snap between now and May.

Thanks for all the great info!

Don

March 19, 2008	#1
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Blueberries Hi all, I tried blueberries in the ground a few years without luck. This year I am trying them in large containers. I've read that a good soil mix is 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 shredded hardwood bark, and 1/3 potting soil. Then they say on some of the web sites to use a fertilizer for acid loving plants, but caution against some of those, but they don't mention names. So, I need to know what is a good recognizible name brand fertilizer that is good and safe for blueberries. Thanks! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

March 19, 2008	#2
mresseguie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 159	Hi, Don. I went out to my shed to make sure what I actually have. I have two different fertilizers--one organic; one not. The non organic is Bayer brand. I believe I bought it at Home Depot two years ago. The other is from Down to Earth brand. I really like Down to Earth's products. I suspect 1/2 to 2/3 of my fertilizer is from them. Here's a link to their acid mix: http://www.downtoearthfertilizer.com/rhodimix.html Good luck! Michael in OR, zone 8. __________________ Learning to speak tomato! Got compost?

March 19, 2008	#4
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Thanks Michael! I appreciate you checking on that for me. I'll look at HD and also appreciate the link. And thanks jungseed (Ruth?)! I may have to pm you later for more advice. I'm starting over with my whole blueberry operation. It's unbelieveable, but I ordered blueberries about 10 years ago. I grew them in medium size containers a few years and they produced lightly. Then I dug very big holes, added a half bale of peat to each, and planted in the ground. I can't remember picking a blueberry off them in at least five years. When I got them pulled up recently I noticed how wet the bottom of the planting holes were. This was on rolling pasture land, so I assumed the drainage was good, but something obviously was not right. So, now I'm ready to re-pot in 24 gallon containers. It's hard to convince anyone that sees these plants, mostly about knee to waist high, that they are this old. I think I saved 10 of about 17. Some were still no bigger than what you would expect from a one gallon plant. Oh well. Try, try again! I may pm you as I get this going again. Obviously I need a lot of advice on growing blueberries! Thanks again! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

March 20, 2008	#6
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Thanks all. I found what I believe to be some good fertilizer, the Espoma Holly Tone. I asked around at some nurseries also and this is the one that kept coming up. So now...go fertilize the blueberries! Thanks again! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

March 20, 2008	#8
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	I just purchased a Misty and an O'Neal plant to go with an unnamed one my aunt gave me last year. I bought peat moss, azalea potting soil and an organic sulfur product (I'd have to look for the name) to put in the planting holes. I covered over with fine wood chips. I have very alkaline soil here (eight), so I hope these measures help, because I love blueberries, but not the prices down here. :-)) __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal Last edited by coronabarb; March 22, 2008 at 01:34 PM. Reason: sp

March 19, 2008	#3
jungseed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pardeeville, WI Posts: 318	Full-sun, loose well-drained soil. Blueberries do not like wet feet. Soil should be very acid a pH of 4.0 to 5.6. (best is no more than 5.0) Use Aluminum Sulphate at the rate of 1/4 to 1/2 pound per plant at planting time. To maintain soil acidity use Soil Sulfure at the rate of 1/2 to 1 cup per plant every 3 to 4 years. If you would like the planting and pruning instructions PM me. I doubt everyone wants to read all that.

March 19, 2008	#5
Stoloniferous Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 7	I’m a blueberry novice, but I hope to have a yard full of blueberry bushes in a few years. So far, I planted four highbrush blueberry bushes last summer on a hillock that gets a good bit of sun and drains well; they didn’t seem too perky by the end of the summer. I also tried starting lowbrush blueberry cuttings two weeks ago; to my surprise the buds are showing signs of growth! I’ve never grown anything from cuttings before, so this should be doubly interesting. Wish me luck!

March 20, 2008	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Don, asktheberryman.com Tormato

March 21, 2008	#9
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Blueberry prices are...ridiculous. But the berries are one of the healthiest on the planet. I potted around 17 today in 24 gallon containers. I used a mix of peat moss, shredded hardwood bark, and something like home made potting soil. I added Holly Tone and microbes and watered it all in good. I think I have 7 to go. All have lots of blooms, and in the containers, I can handle them better if the weather takes that crazy cold snap between now and May. Thanks for all the great info! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS