there's a lot of useful information on the Trehane nursery website. Trehane were the first company to import and grow blueberries - they are experts in ericaceous plants so this was a natural progression.
I can't find any info on their site, I've either missed it or they've taken it down and replaced it with the book.
I bought mine from Trehane about 5-6 years ago - great plants. It looks like their website has had a well overdue update. Previously the site was almost unreadable as the font was minute and light grey on a white background.. It looks like the FAQ section is no longer there which used to give growing advice.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I'm growing blueberries for the first time this year and they are looking healthy. They had a few berries on when I bought them as potted shrubs and I'm pleased with the taste. Two Bluecrop and two Darrow planted in a square for pollination. I've done everything that I should, planted in ericaceous compost and protection from the birds. So far so good but the Bluecrop have grown one or two long, whippy shoots, see pic, that I'm not sure if I should train upwards or take out in the autumn. There is new growth at the bottom of the plants, see pic. The Darrow are fine. I'd appreciate your advice please.
The new whippy shoots are just what you need You'll find that over time the oldest stems only produce small berries that get smaller every year. What you want is new growth to replace the old wood. Once the new shoots are producing nice big fat berries, you can cut out the oldest wood right at the base. That encourages more new shoots to come from the base to keep your plants young and producing big, fat delicious berries
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
there's a lot of useful information on the Trehane nursery website. Trehane were the first company to import and grow blueberries - they are experts in ericaceous plants so this was a natural progression.
I can't find any info on their site, I've either missed it or they've taken it down and replaced it with the book.
I bought mine from Trehane about 5-6 years ago - great plants. It looks like their website has had a well overdue update. Previously the site was almost unreadable as the font was minute and light grey on a white background.. It looks like the FAQ section is no longer there which used to give growing advice.
Sorry I missed your post until now. I was hoping to have a read before buying, but as per usual in plant world they were out of stock anyhow! I was spurred on by the knowledge that we have acidic soil in some parts here, but need to know more and choose the right plant as it's also cold, windy and wet in Winter.
Hi Mike - cold, wet and windy won't trouble them, so long as they don't get waterlogged. It's best to check the pH of your soil as they need very acidic soil - something like pH 4.5 or thereabouts which is very acidic for soil
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Ph5 Pete. It would be good to have some plants which largely look after themselves in a fruit garden. I was thinking of getting a few different ones for different conditions and to get a wider spread of fruit throughout the growing season. I think quite a few fruits like acidic soil to some degree.
pH 5 will suit them very nicely My understanding is that many soft fruits prefer an acidic soil. I've given up growing most veg and have turned most of my my veg patches over to soft fruits. My clay-based soil is only slightly acidic. Early and Autumn raspberries give fruits from June until Oct Perpetual strawberries (I grow Mara des Bois) also fruit between June and Oct Cultivated blackberry (Waldo) produces kilos of huge fruits July/August with an outstanding flavour and no thorns. Blackcurrants harvested in June/July - I grow Ben Sarek as the berries all ripen at the same time. It's also the one they make Ribena from (for that very reason). I've also grown rhubarb now too - the wonderfully named Fulton's Strawberry Surprise. I put in cordon pears too but you may be bit too far north for them to mature properly.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Posts
It looks like their website has had a well overdue update. Previously the site was almost unreadable as the font was minute and light grey on a white background..
It looks like the FAQ section is no longer there which used to give growing advice.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
So far so good but the Bluecrop have grown one or two long, whippy shoots, see pic, that I'm not sure if I should train upwards or take out in the autumn. There is new growth at the bottom of the plants, see pic. The Darrow are fine.
I'd appreciate your advice please.
You'll find that over time the oldest stems only produce small berries that get smaller every year.
What you want is new growth to replace the old wood.
Once the new shoots are producing nice big fat berries, you can cut out the oldest wood right at the base. That encourages more new shoots to come from the base to keep your plants young and producing big, fat delicious berries
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I was spurred on by the knowledge that we have acidic soil in some parts here, but need to know more and choose the right plant as it's also cold, windy and wet in Winter.
Better put a cane or two in until they are strong enough to hold themselves up with then.
It's best to check the pH of your soil as they need very acidic soil - something like pH 4.5 or thereabouts which is very acidic for soil
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I think quite a few fruits like acidic soil to some degree.
My understanding is that many soft fruits prefer an acidic soil.
I've given up growing most veg and have turned most of my my veg patches over to soft fruits.
My clay-based soil is only slightly acidic.
Early and Autumn raspberries give fruits from June until Oct
Perpetual strawberries (I grow Mara des Bois) also fruit between June and Oct
Cultivated blackberry (Waldo) produces kilos of huge fruits July/August with an outstanding flavour and no thorns.
Blackcurrants harvested in June/July - I grow Ben Sarek as the berries all ripen at the same time. It's also the one they make Ribena from (for that very reason).
I've also grown rhubarb now too - the wonderfully named Fulton's Strawberry Surprise.
I put in cordon pears too but you may be bit too far north for them to mature properly.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.