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Honeybee blueberry 🫐

Hi All,

I'm after some advice for my blueberry. I purchased it from the Duchy in Cornwall and it was in fab condition. I've given it everything it needed and for some reason it's just not doing well. I've made sure it's in a big pot, not too much water, gets enough sunshine and used good compost and soil. It started browning up about 2 months ago. I thought lack of sunlight, so I moved it to a sunnier spot. Should I cut it right back in the autumn and see what happens, keep it in the greenhouse? ThanksĀ 

It says honeysuckle family, so made sure it had enough water during the heat but not too much.Ā 

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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited September 2023
    Did you use ericaceous compost?
    They won't survive in ordinary compost. They need something very acidic.

    Sorry - ignore that - just realised it's not a blueberry.
    Maybe it needed more water?

    this may help-
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/honeyberry/grow-your-own

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8 said:
    Did you use ericaceous compost?
    They won't survive in ordinary compost. They need something very acidic.

    Sorry - ignore that - just realised it's not a blueberry.
    Maybe it needed more water?

    this may help-
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/honeyberry/grow-your-own
    Thanks for that. I just used alpaca manure and some general purpose compost and soil. Liquid seaweed once in a while throughout summer. It was nice green leaves then it started browning. Hopefully I haven't killed it, it does look very poorly. Is there anything I can do to bring it back? ThanksĀ 
  • pansyface said:
    From White Flower Farm’s website:

    Watering and fertilizing:Ā Water thoroughly after planting. Then, give plants a good soaking once a week during summer, unless rainfall is plentiful (more than 1in per week). Apply a 2ft-wide, 4in-thick layer of mulch (keep at least 2in away from the stems to avoid rot), which will keep the soil moist and keep down weeds. We recommend against fertilizing at planting time and during the first growing season in your garden. Plants need time to settle in before being pushed to grow. Most established plants grow best if fertilized with a light hand. Here at the Farm, we fertilize shrubs and trees just once -- in early spring -- with a light but even coverage of a balanced, granular fertilizer (such 10-10-10 or an organic fertilizer).

    Maybe you overdid the fertiliser?

    Personally,I wouldn’t prune it.

    Your honeyberry isn’t a blueberry, by the way. Blueberries are not members of the Lonicera or honeysuckle group of plants. Ā They are of the Vaccinium species, totally different.

    Thanks for the info. I did mostly all that. Maybe it was the compost. Or lack of sunlight earlier on, as I moved it in a sunnier spot later in the season. It still has new shoots, but they turn up brown in no time at all. I thought it might have been diseased? ThanksĀ 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't think it's a disease, but it's clearly not happy atm.
    It's quite possible your compost mix was a bit strong with the alpaca manure that has caused nutrient burn on the leaves.
    It's probably worth repotting in a less adventurous sort of mix.
    This is a good mix for most plants that are going to be in a pot for a long time-
    John Innes no 2 or 3 - about 50%
    Ordinary multi purpose compost (or home-made)Ā  - about 20%
    Horticultural grit - about 30%

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8 said:
    I don't think it's a disease, but it's clearly not happy atm.
    It's quite possible your compost mix was a bit strong with the alpaca manure that has caused nutrient burn on the leaves.
    It's probably worth repotting in a less adventurous sort of mix.
    This is a good mix for most plants that are going to be in a pot for a long time-
    John Innes no 2 or 3 - about 50%
    Ordinary multi purpose compost (or home-made)Ā  - about 20%
    Horticultural grit - about 30%
    Just done that. Thanks for the advice. I've obviously killed it with love! Will see what happens. Will probably just have to buy another next year. ShameĀ 
  • pansyface said:
    According to the White Flower Farm’s recommendations about feeding, you have definitely been giving yours the Billy Bunter menu.Ā 

    As Pete.8 says, repot in something far weaker in nutrients.
    pansyface said:
    According to the White Flower Farm’s recommendations about feeding, you have definitely been giving yours the Billy Bunter menu.Ā 

    As Pete.8 says, repot in something far weaker in nutrients.
    Will see how it fairs in the multipurpose and grit. Fingers crossed. ThanksĀ 
  • Should I cut any sections back at all or leave as it is? ThanksĀ 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think it'll be fine next year.
    The old leaves are damaged and they'll drop in due course and next year you have fresh leaves.
    Don't know about pruning them I'm afraid, but I think I'd leave it for now and see how it looks in Spring and take it from there.
    Seaweed extract now and then while it's growing is good, and use rainwater if you can.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • It's important to note that honeyberries need other varieties in order to produce a decent amount of fruit, usually sellers add two or three varieties in one pot so they're more productive. The two I have at the allotment have done well but were pretty thirsty all summer. I found the berries took an aeon to ripen and just gave up on them. I'd have raspberries instead anytime 🤣
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Lonicera caerulea...a honeysuckle...common name Honeyberry.
    I have yet to find one with the ripe edible berries.
    It is deciduous so will be going into winter moult.
    Can get rather large and straggly.

    As already mentioned not related to Vaccineum...common name Blueberry.



    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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