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moonbells Site absent-minded Scientist

Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 1132 Location: Chilterns
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Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:06 am Post subject: Blueberries! |
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Don't think we have a topic on these yet
I am now harvesting my crop; one bush (blue jay, exactly 4 years in my possession) is doing really well, but the other two (pensioners - >>12y old!) are not doing very well, so I've just cracked to buying two more from Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum! | (The Dorset Blueberry company). They grow them for M&S among others, and sell plants.
Anyway, I had a lovely chat with one of the ladies there (I think she was one of the bosses) and she gave me all sorts of info about rejuvenating old bushes (which wasn't why I'd rung - I just wanted to buy two appropriate bushes to pollinate my Blue Jay). Apparently they do respond to drastic pruning in spring, like blackcurrants do. So I can chop down the old ones and get lots of new shoots. And the feeding roots are in the centre of the rootball, so pruning out the outer roots and exposing the feeders to new compost will also give a potted blueberry a boost. She recommends half barrel-size pots, and was astonished to hear I've been growing mine for so long in 18" pots!
(I didn't dare confess they were in 15" for most of that time...)
She reckons I ought to get 2-3 KILOS per year off each bush when in full production - I am suitably amazed if I get 2-3lb in total off all three, so I am looking forward to getting some new ones
moonbells _________________ Diary of my Chilterns lottie
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Icyberjunkie Site Plumber

Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 1935 Location: West Sussex
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:58 am Post subject: |
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THanks for that Mrs Blueberry expert  Its made me think about replacing my blackcurrant bush with blueberries because they are much nicer but I'd never thought about growing them before! _________________ "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop,multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times" Mark 4, v8 |
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French Chique Guest
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moonbells Site absent-minded Scientist

Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 1132 Location: Chilterns
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Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Icyberjunkie wrote: | Thanks for that Mrs Blueberry expert Its made me think about replacing my blackcurrant bush with blueberries because they are much nicer but I'd never thought about growing them before! |
Not that much an expert - or I'd have pruned the old ones properly years ago! They are impossible to grow in the ground in alkaline areas and aren't worth growing outside of pots even if you're on neutral. Anyone who grows rhododendrons and very blue hydrangeas is laughing though!
And you need two different varieties for the best cropping and sometimes they flower at slightly different times so you have to get complementary ones (hence my initial queries).
I am so glad that it rained yesterday - my shed rainwater butt supply was getting very low and the blueberries need it. We had 4mm which is better than nothing, giving me a few more litres of the stuff.
moonbells _________________ Diary of my Chilterns lottie
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wardy Site Burk(a)

Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 8091 Location: My allotment
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Flowerlady

Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 3336 Location: Herts
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Blueberries! |
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| moonbells wrote: | Don't think we have a topic on these yet
moonbells |
Oh yes we did !!!
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_________________ Gulp ...
I love my vegetable garden. So here is my sad ballad: I nurtured it for months, And ate it in one salad! |
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frenchchique

Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 3466 Location: Kent
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Flowerlady

Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 3336 Location: Herts
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Bagpuss74 Site Admin

Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 193 Location: Chesterfield
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daveandtara The Bouncers

Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 2911 Location: south-east london
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wardy Site Burk(a)

Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 8091 Location: My allotment
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:31 am Post subject: |
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yes I think it is too strong from fresh, in fact I'm sure it it
Speaking of blueberries I took a few bits off mine to tidy it up and bunged the bits in a seed tray with some seedlings. They're growing
Not had a blueberry as yet as my main plant is fairly new. Can't wait
You don't need to feed em do yer til you see signs of fruit  What about ericaceous liquid food which one can buy these days, or bonemeal, Growmore, sulphate of potash, sulphate of ammonia, flowers of sulphur
- reading this off the RHS page  It does say poultry manure |
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Flowerlady

Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 3336 Location: Herts
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| wardy wrote: | ........
Speaking of blueberries I took a few bits off mine to tidy it up and bunged the bits in a seed tray with some seedlings. They're growing |
... value for money !!  _________________ Gulp ...
I love my vegetable garden. So here is my sad ballad: I nurtured it for months, And ate it in one salad! |
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