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Blueberrys Now?
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Posted by jimla Z6 PA (My Page) on Sun, Oct 18, 09 at 15:04
Just got a deal on 4, 2-year old blueberrys from Home Depot. They look healthy with a good bit of brown wood and some younger shoots. I'd like to do a soil test before planting. I've had trouble in the past trying to establish blueberrys even after amending and pH adjusting the soil. Is it best to holdover untill spring when I have the soil data? Or plant now and amend later? If I hold over I have the choice of an unheated but well lighted south facing shed, an unheated attached garage or a southfacing wall of the house.
Thanks
jim |
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RE: Blueberrys Now?
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Sun, Oct 18, 09 at 17:38
| I transplanted a dwarf Northblue, and a Jersey seedling, both on October 5, 2009. Both of these shrubs are doing well. I will mulch them heavily with shredded tree leaves, in mid-November. When planting, I add about one-half pound of sulfur per shrub, to the dirt, below, and around the shrub. Our tap water contains considerable lime, so I also add some white vinegar to each bucket of tap water used for irrigation. It take 6 fluid ounces of 5% white vinegar to lower the pH of 4 gallons of water to 6. Our tap water has a pH of 7.6, as it leaves the faucet. |
RE: Blueberrys Now?
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| It would be better for the immediate future of the plant to plant them now and mulch heavily. It would be better for their long term future if the site were properly prepared ahead of time. I'd plant now with lots of sulfur as per eric's advice. Next yr do what you can to keep the pH headed in the right direction. The Fruitnut |
RE: Blueberrys Now?
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 10:52
| Regarding fall planting of two blueberry seedlings, both of these shrubs have been chewed up by rabbits in our yard, after less than a month in the ground. They were doing fine, with the leaves turning color, just like the larger, more established shrubs. The other day, I noticed that each of these shrubs were about half gone, with clear evidence of chewing. We have no deer here, we are too close to city center for that. But we have rabbits-usually I find rabbit damage during mid-winter, when the ground is covered with snow, and there is little else for them to eat. I guess they couldn't resist the young blueberry shoots. I have covered these shrubs with shredded maple leaves, to protect them from further damage. I expect them to survive and recover. |
RE: Blueberrys Now?
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| Eric- All my blueberries were RAVAGED by rabbits last Jan when we went on vacation and they were fenced in!... The snow was so deep the rabbits just jumped over the top. I've already got my trap set out because i've noticed one around lately. I'll keep trapping until they are gone. I had very few blueberries this year because of that. I"m ALMOST tempted to dig mine out this fall yet (suppose to warm up a lot next weekend) and just grow them in large pots. I've had success in the past with 100% peat moss and using miracle grow acid ferts... Blueberry roots are shallow, but can extend out and of course watering is very important. I'm growing Bluecrop, Chandler, Jersey, and a couple of others. Mine havent' dropped their leaves yet, but the colors have all changed. |
RE: Blueberrys Now?
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 14:58
| Some rabbit damage to blueberries is to be expected, I guess, when the ground is covered with snow, and there is nothing else for the rabbits to eat. I have had success with burying the shrubs in snow, at least this works for the lowbush varieties. Right now, I have several shrubs buried in shredded maple leaves. I will pull this material away from the base of the shrub in the early spring, maybe March 15th. So far, I have had no problems caused by too much mulch, too close to the trunk. It is possible to paint the blueberry shoots with a fungicide named Thiram, in the fall. This is supposed to make the shrub taste bitter, and discourage nibbling. I have not used this method, but I am considering it. |
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