Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Blueberry Bushes

TheSouthernGardenerTheSouthernGardener Posts: 68
in Fruit & veg
Hello All,

I bought a pair of blueberries last week which I’ve potted up with some ericaceous compost into a couple of decent sized pots. They are about two feet tall and look healthy but all of the young red stems are side shooting from a single grayish cane . Should I be pruning back this single cane in order to stimulate more canes to shoot up from below as it looks more like a single stem tree with side branches at the moment. If yes how much do I cut and when Thanks.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I bought 3 bushes from Trehane Nursery 3 years ago and they've done well.
    The advice seems to be that they need no pruning for the first couple of years.
    They have a pruning guide on their website which is here-

    https://www.trehanenursery.co.uk/kb_results.asp?ID=13

    Good luck


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • TheSouthernGardenerTheSouthernGardener Posts: 68
    Thanks did they resemble these when you first purchased them.
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    I wouldn't prune or worry too much. After a few years new shoots will emerge from the soiln also and it will turn in to a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Mine were a bit bigger than yours when I got them.
    I've not pruned them in the 3 years I've had them, but due to the long thin branches there were a lot of berries laying on the ground this year.
    They have grown quite a bit since I got them, so I'll prune mine for the first time this winter. Bear in mind the berries grow on stems and shoots produced the previous year, so I think light pruning is the way to go.
    Like you I have one bush (Herbert) that only has one stem - I hope some more will pop up soon. The flavour of Herbert is amazing

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • TheSouthernGardenerTheSouthernGardener Posts: 68
    Thanks for the info, I’m probably just expecting it to be much bushier too soon, by the way, what do you fertilize your blueberries with and when in the year do you do it? Ive looked online for a good organic feed but there seems to be a lot of mixed opinion in this area on what to use. Hopefully I won’t have to wait too long to get some fruit of my own, fingers crossed. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You'll need a feed for ericaceous plants and if at all possible use only rainwater to feed and water.
    I use Miracle Grow for Azaleas and feed once a month between spring and autumn - they're not heavy feeders from what I've read

    I got about 500g from my plants in the first season and probably got about 1.5kg this year between June and now - there are just a few berries left at the moment.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miracle-Gro-Azalea-Camellia-Rhododendron-Soluble/dp/B001880UE4

    The varieties I got were
    Herbert - amazing flavour
    Ozarkblue - big fat juicy berries and a very good flavour
    Patriot - early cropping, but in my opinion have very little flavour and I'll probably replace it

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • TheSouthernGardenerTheSouthernGardener Posts: 68
    I’d be interested in getting hold of blueberry Herbert, it has great reviews for flavor, I’ll have to see if I can source it , I’m actually gardening in southern part of Ireland, so a bit less choice especially online unfortunately. I’ve also recently acquired some blackberry and autumn fruiting raspberries plants to go with the strawberries I already had so along with the blueberries I hope to be smoothie and crumble self sufficient in a few years😁
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Trehane sell it - it's where I got mine from, but don't know if they ship to Ireland.
    I've only been growing soft fruit for a couple of years now and am really enjoying the results.
    There was something to pick daily from mid June and my Mara des Bois strawberries are till producing 10 ish berries a day
    Some I picked earlier in the season


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • TheSouthernGardenerTheSouthernGardener Posts: 68
    That’s about nine euro worth of soft fruit in a supermarket and I’m not even counting the strawberries, and I’ve no doubt yours tastes better not to mention fresher. Soft fruit is about three quid here for a tiny flat punnet, so very expensive if you buy your fair share which I do at the moment. Can’t wait to be producing a bowl like that ! 





Sign In or Register to comment.