Assuming you've picked a suitable variety for your area, they don't need protected. You can keep small ones somewhere sheltered from the worst winter weather until they're a bit bigger and toughened up, but that's about all. Unless you're getting very severe weather - lots of snow/ice for long periods, they're unlikely to suffer. What they do need though, is to be grown in non alkaline soil, and not watered with tap water if you're in a hard water area. A sunny site is better, but they won't appreciate being dried out. Most of the varieties sold in the UK will be hardy pretty much everywhere.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My 3 bushes are in pots in full sun too and I've had a very good harvest this year. I only use rainwater, feed once a month with Azalea feed and once a month with seaweed extract. There's only a small handful of berries left now, so that's it until June 2021..
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
My 3 bushes are in pots in full sun too and I've had a very good harvest this year. I only use rainwater, feed once a month with Azalea feed and once a month with seaweed extract. There's only a small handful of berries left now, so that's it until June 2021..
Which was the variety that fruited in June?
I have Earliblue, Earliblue, Goldtraube 71, Bluecrop, Sunshine Blue, Liberty and one other I cannot recall.
Two of these are a gift for a friend for next year.
The plan is for 2-3 months of window shopping looking at all the expensive superfruit I do not need to buy.
“Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
My first to ripen is Patriot and I had the first few berries on 17 June, I don't rate the flavour, but they're OK in my porridge. Herbert is next followed by Ozark Blue which is all but finished now - both have lovely flavours.
I often manage to convince myself that I need to buy some variety of totally impractical plant, but I usually manage to come to my senses before it's too late - Limes and tropical fruits spring to mind. I saw Adam Frost plant half-standard gooseberries a couple of years ago in his garden and noticed the nice looking red fruits on the prog. a couple of weeks ago. I think I may treat myself - it's not impractical or tropical either, so passes the test
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Maybe mine ripens earlier as I'm in the SE? Frosts are quite rare here in recent winters and warmer generally throughout the year these days. We could be picking them at Easter in a few years
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Maybe mine ripens earlier as I'm in the SE? Frosts are quite rare here in recent winters and warmer generally throughout the year these days. We could be picking them at Easter in a few years
I don't know on that.
This is a chart from pickyourown.org, which is one of the ones I used in selecting my varieties, and it shows Patriot as 'mid June', and Earliblu as 'start of June'. Presumably for USA, but the former date matches your record. The dates at the end look quite early to my guestimate.
If we think "Orthodox" then Easter can run into early May, so we could well be nearly at "blueberries for Easter" in a few years, especially with new varieties.
Ferdinand
“Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
That's a useful chart thanks Ferdinand. I've got about 3 berries left on my Herbert and about 20 on my Ozark Blue. The leaves on all are colouring up nicely now. I may swap out Patriot for another early variety as I find them very bland, and I'd like another late ripening variety to extend the season, so your chart will help me choose.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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What they do need though, is to be grown in non alkaline soil, and not watered with tap water if you're in a hard water area. A sunny site is better, but they won't appreciate being dried out.
Most of the varieties sold in the UK will be hardy pretty much everywhere.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I only use rainwater, feed once a month with Azalea feed and once a month with seaweed extract.
There's only a small handful of berries left now, so that's it until June 2021..
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Which was the variety that fruited in June?
I have Earliblue, Earliblue, Goldtraube 71, Bluecrop, Sunshine Blue, Liberty and one other I cannot recall.
Two of these are a gift for a friend for next year.
The plan is for 2-3 months of window shopping looking at all the expensive superfruit I do not need to buy.
Herbert is next followed by Ozark Blue which is all but finished now - both have lovely flavours.
I often manage to convince myself that I need to buy some variety of totally impractical plant, but I usually manage to come to my senses before it's too late - Limes and tropical fruits spring to mind.
I saw Adam Frost plant half-standard gooseberries a couple of years ago in his garden and noticed the nice looking red fruits on the prog. a couple of weeks ago.
I think I may treat myself - it's not impractical or tropical either, so passes the test
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
My Earliblue says it precedes Patriot.
I’m getting impatient for next spring, and I’ve been teased because a couple of mine arrived with a few berries already on.
I am itching for a vertical cordon greengage to go in front of the pillars of my pergola, but I have to build it first.
Frosts are quite rare here in recent winters and warmer generally throughout the year these days.
We could be picking them at Easter in a few years
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
This is a chart from pickyourown.org, which is one of the ones I used in selecting my varieties, and it shows Patriot as 'mid June', and Earliblu as 'start of June'. Presumably for USA, but the former date matches your record. The dates at the end look quite early to my guestimate.
If we think "Orthodox" then Easter can run into early May, so we could well be nearly at "blueberries for Easter" in a few years, especially with new varieties.
Ferdinand
I've got about 3 berries left on my Herbert and about 20 on my Ozark Blue.
The leaves on all are colouring up nicely now.
I may swap out Patriot for another early variety as I find them very bland, and I'd like another late ripening variety to extend the season, so your chart will help me choose.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I think the Late dates in that chart are 2-3 weeks too early based on other reading. But still useful.
A couple of my small blueberries are looking very “single shoot”. The third one on the left looks far healthier as a future bush to my eye.
Is this just something that will self-solve between now and the year after next when I am expecting a few blueberries from these.
Is this just Ferdinand being Pfaffy ?
Cheers
Ferdinand