Dorset, United Kingdom
Hi, does anyone have advice on getting the best out of blueberry plants? I bought one st the start of 2015 and put in a very large pot with ericaceous compost and fed monthly with ericaceous feed, but didn't get any berries at all! It flowered early on then did nothing, I think the wind may have affected it quite a bit. Do I need to keep feeding over winter? Should I put it in my garage over winter or will it need light? And as it was only 2 years old would I need to prune it to encourage growth next year?
Thanks a lot
Martin
- 15 Oct, 2015
Answers
You may need a pollinator to get the best out of it, but if its only newly planted its not surprising it didn't fruit.
If you planted it in a large pot with new compost there was no need to keep feeding it as the fertiliser in the compost would have been sufficient. It would have been better in a smaller pot, to be moved on as it grows.
Blueberries are hardy and should not need putting in the garage. The only danger would be if there is an exceptionally hard and long frost which would freeze the whole pot solid - this applies to most plants in pots. As you don't say which part of the UK you live in there's no way of knowing if this is likely.
15 Oct, 2015
As Steragram says, sounds as if you need a pollinator - this is an obvious case if it flowered but didn't set fruit. Another possibility is that the birds beat you to the fruit - you don't say whether you netted the plant once the flowers were over.
Check out:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/blueberries
And http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/gardening/fruit-and-veg/growing-blueberries-in-pots.aspx for starters.
I would also query the size of your 'very large' pot - the plant may be busy putting energy into growing roots rather than setting fruit.
You can keep up the acidity of the compost, without the need for feeding, by adding a cup of (distilled) vinegar to the watering can or throwing spent tea leaves/coffee grinds around the base of the plant.
16 Oct, 2015
The pot size is not a factor in blueberry production - think of the bushes growing in the ground. Just make sure it's big enough to establish a big strong root system. The ericaceous compost you are using is just fine for blueberries. They only need to be fertilized 2x - when they break dormancy and halfway through growing season but you will be fine if using fresh compost. If you decide to go with vinegar, it must be diluted enough to bring the ph to 5 otherwise it will damage the roots.
16 Oct, 2015
Also, a brief period of drought while blooming, or shortly after will abort all of the fruit--easy to do in a container.
16 Oct, 2015
Thanks a lot for the comments, will answer some of the questions-
I am in bournemouth
The pot is between 40-50cm across as I read this was Minimum requirement for blueberries
The plant said on label that didn't need a pollinator companion and I checked that at the garden centre and they confirmed it was fine
I put some plastic netting wrapped round the pot once I saw a blueberry form, which covered the whole plant from birds
And I only starting using the liquid feed after a few weeks as the advice on the compost said it would only last a certain time, should I have ignored that for blueberries then?
Thank you
17 Oct, 2015
If it's brand new compost, it's good for a season.
17 Oct, 2015
Mine didnt fruit for 3 years, then I was picking alternate
days. Then I pruned them a little. No fruit the next year.
I have learned my lesson, will now leave them alone.
Always put fruit netting over them, the birds attack before we are awake.
17 Oct, 2015
Mine didn't fruit at all the first year and the following year only had a few. Patience is the thing. I've read that the ones that "don't need a pollinater" will fruit without but do better with one.
17 Oct, 2015
Martin, one thing that I am unclear on--Did it bloom? If not, that puts a whole other complexion on the problem.
18 Oct, 2015
Yes it did bloom a lot, think it was very early on in spring and looked really good... Then 2 or 3 fruits started to form but that was it. Does anyone think it would be better in the open ground, I have just got an allotment so will have plenty of room. I suppose it would just mean digging out a suitable amount of ground and replacing the soil with ericaceous compost, how deep and wide would I have to replace the soil though? The plant is a patriot and says on label will spread to about 4 foot. Thanks !
20 Oct, 2015
And maybe since I have space at the allotment I should invest in another plant to increase the pollination chances...
20 Oct, 2015
Was there a sharp frost during or shortly after blooming? That could have killed a lot of fruit, before you even noticed them. A heavy feeding at that time could have done the same thing.
21 Oct, 2015
I think they would be better in the ground. You won't have to water/feed as much. The best tasting berries are the ones that grow "wild." Plant them with roots just below the surface and 3x wider then the pots, full sun.
Here is some good information for you.
http://www.fallcreeknursery.com/gardeners/gardeners_tips
21 Oct, 2015
Blueberries need acidic soil. You may have over-fertilized your blueberries - this will retard fruiting. They need full sun & should overwinter outdoors. Try to duplicate conditions in the wild. Here is a website you will find very helpful.
http://www.burpee.com/fruit-plants/blueberry-plants/how-to-grow-blueberry-plants-article10389.html
15 Oct, 2015