I grow blueberries in pots and have found that Blue Jay and Bluecrop are heavy croppers. Birgitta Blue is nearly as good and produces its fruit earlier. The biggest and sweetest berries I had were on a variety called Chandler, but it only produced a light crop. I lost it due to not ensuring good enough drainage in the pot and its roots rotted during the winter. I had heard blueberries liked damp conditions so didn't take drainage seriously enough. In spring I immediately re-potted all my plants with proper drainage and was rewarded with my best crop yet.
Hi David Lewis4, sorry for lateness getting back to you with pics, I was struck down with food poisoning ! If you still wouldn't mind having a look and letting me know if the new growth looks ok, and if they are in fact buds showing I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
They growing alright, not as small as I expected. Although I don't know why the nursery told you to prune a third of your plant?
I can't really see, but looks like there a few dead stems on the front bush. Looks like they turned grey? normally starts off as black burned tips and works itself down the stem eventually turning grey. You can compare it to a long piece of ash on a cigarette.
I agree with David, MrsT and you should remove all dead growth and also any wispy, weak growth growing near the base. The strong, long shoots are the ones which are going to produce your crop next year.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
They probably had a reason to tell you that, I got no idea what your plant looked like before the prune. If you pruned the weaker canes to simulate new strong growth, you probably did yourself a favor. Something I should have done with my poorest plant but I'm very reluctant to prune the only cane of the plant.
I was a bit surprised it was pruned late in the growing season that all. Blueberry plants however do have another spurt of growth around harvest, so if it was pruned around then it ended up being a good choice.
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Apologise Jason for hijacking your thread!!!
I grow blueberries in pots and have found that Blue Jay and Bluecrop are heavy croppers. Birgitta Blue is nearly as good and produces its fruit earlier. The biggest and sweetest berries I had were on a variety called Chandler, but it only produced a light crop. I lost it due to not ensuring good enough drainage in the pot and its roots rotted during the winter. I had heard blueberries liked damp conditions so didn't take drainage seriously enough. In spring I immediately re-potted all my plants with proper drainage and was rewarded with my best crop yet.
Hi David Lewis4, sorry for lateness getting back to you with pics, I was struck down with food poisoning ! If you still wouldn't mind having a look and letting me know if the new growth looks ok, and if they are in fact buds showing I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Yes they are buds.
They growing alright, not as small as I expected. Although I don't know why the nursery told you to prune a third of your plant?
I can't really see, but looks like there a few dead stems on the front bush. Looks like they turned grey? normally starts off as black burned tips and works itself down the stem eventually turning grey. You can compare it to a long piece of ash on a cigarette.
I agree with David, MrsT and you should remove all dead growth and also any wispy, weak growth growing near the base. The strong, long shoots are the ones which are going to produce your crop next year.
Thanks to both of you for having a look, and for your advice. I will cut the dead bits off tomorrow.
Safe to say I own't be asking for advice in that garden center again David!
They probably had a reason to tell you that, I got no idea what your plant looked like before the prune. If you pruned the weaker canes to simulate new strong growth, you probably did yourself a favor. Something I should have done with my poorest plant but I'm very reluctant to prune the only cane of the plant.
I was a bit surprised it was pruned late in the growing season that all. Blueberry plants however do have another spurt of growth around harvest, so if it was pruned around then it ended up being a good choice.