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Blueberry query

ruthshorterruthshorter Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
We’ve had a blueberry bush in a pot on our patio for a number of years. It has always successfully fruited lots of tasty blueberries. This year it has started growing things that I can only describe as catkin like. It’s never done this before and they are off the main stem. Has anyone got any ideas on what they are and whether we need to do anything about it? Are they an issue or is this normal? Thanks 
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Trace the branches back to the soil level and check that it's really off the same stem as the blueberry, because that looks awfully like a goat willow that's seeded itself into the pot next to the blueberry.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ruthshorterruthshorter Posts: 5
    It’s 100% off the main stem that’s always been there. The stems these are on go nowhere near the soil
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Is there just the one stem coming out of the soil? If there are more, I suspect one of them (at least) is not blueberry. Otherwise I'm afraid I have no idea but I'd be interested to see what it develops into (every day's a schoolday!).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ruthshorterruthshorter Posts: 5
    Do you think the best bet is to dig up and bin?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You might have some blueberry in there as well. Maybe wait and see if anyone else has other ideas, but if part of what's in the pot does turn out to be an impostor then it needs to go. If there are two different plants in there, only you can judge whether you'd be able to carefully separate them and replant the actual blueberry.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ruthshorterruthshorter Posts: 5
    Thanks Jenny that’s really helpful! 
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @ruthshorter,

    It might be worth getting in touch with Trehane nursery .... they might be able to help.

    https://www.trehanenursery.co.uk/Default.asp

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Jonathan50Jonathan50 Posts: 1
    My blueberry has done the same thing and looks exactly like the photos. Is it just producing male catkins rather than the female flowers? I only found out last week from GW that it needs acid soil and mine is neutral so this could be something to do with it.
    Any advice?
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We had the same thing posted on here a couple of weeks ago, yes acid soil ours are about 4 years old never had this problem before,we do have a silver birch nearby but hubby reckons this was a self seeded Hebe and has dug it out
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Blueberry don't have catkins
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