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Pound land blueberries
ice
Posts: 332
in Fruit & veg
Hello I bough some poundland blueberries and have planted up in pots. They are currently living in a bucket (in their pots) in my kitchen Will they survive outside? Any other tips. They've started sprouting new leaves so alive
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Posts
I think most plants, except for tender ones, are better outside
In the sticks near Peterborough
I bought a couple of currants & a gooseberry to see if they survive & do anything. Mine are in my minigreenhouse to give them a bit of protection. They should be hardy, I would risk them outside somewhere sheltered. Cover with fleece if frosts are forcast but then I wouldn't want them in my kitchen until the frosts have gone.
Blueberries prefer ericaceous (acidic) soil so should be in more acidic soil and watered with rainwater (tap is ok if you live in a soft water area)
Mine has been outside all winter but is leafless now. My homebase red gooseberry (bought in november) had started shooting as well. Its been outside through the worst of our weather without any damage.
I agree with nutcutlet altough if your blueberries are currently snug indoors and have started sprouting new leaves, it sounds like they think it's Spring and the shock of going outdoors now could kill them, if they are looking healthy I'd be inclined to wait putting them outdoors for a couple more months because they will be accustomed to the heat in your kitchen and will need hardening off even in a couple of months.
The plants are going to need lots of light so either have them by a window or make a temporary outdoor shelter such as a bamboo and plastic teepee to protect them until spring comes.
I got a blueberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry and redcurrant the other day. I put them in the ground yesterday but I have just read somewhere that the ideal PH for all these bushes is different, might need to pot some of them up instead!
The blueberry requires acid soil or it will never do well and likely die. Unless you have acid soil, dig it up and plant it in a large container filled with a 50/50 mixture of ericaceous compost and a John Innes #3 (loam based) compost. They love being grown in containers and it's the best way for most gardeners. I have about a dozen different varieties in 40 to 50cm diameter pots and they do really well.
The others aren't really fussy and will grow in most soils without issue.